Greeks Islands' Top 16
Island Hopping in the Cyclades
From the spirited nightlife and celebrity hideaways of Mykonos and Ios, to the isolated sandy coasts of tiny, far-flung specks such as Anafi, hopping through the Cyclades is a Greek experience not to be missed. Peppered with ancient ruins (try Delos), mystical castles (head to Naxos), lush scenery and dramatic coastlines (visit Milos), the islands are spread like Greek jewels across the sea. Speed over the Aegean on catamarans and sway on old-fashioned ferry boats. You won’t regret a single saltwater-splashed second of it.
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Santorini Sunsets
There’s more to Santorini than sunsets, but this remarkable island, shaped by the fire of prehistoric eruptions, has made the celebratory sunset its own. On summer evenings, the clifftop towns of Fira and Oia are packed with visitors awed by the vast blood-red canvas of the cliff face as the sun struts its stuff. You can catch the sunset without the crowds from almost anywhere along the cliff edge. And if you miss sundown, you can always face east at first light for some fairly stunning sunrises.
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Rhodes' Old Town
Getting lost in Rhodes' Old Town is a must. Away from the crowds, you'll find yourself meandering down twisting cobbled alleyways with soaring archways and lively squares. In these hidden corners, your imagination will take off with flights of medieval fancy. Explore the ancient Knights’ Quarter, the old Jewish neighbourhood or the Turkish Quarter. Hear traditional live music in tiny tavernas or dine on fresh seafood at atmospheric outdoor restaurants. Wander along the top of the city’s walls, with the sea on one side and a bird’s-eye view into this living museum.
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Easter Festivities on Patmos
The Greek calendar is chock-full of festivals and holidays, but the biggest event of the Greek Orthodox church is Easter. And the best place to experience it is on Patmos in the Dodecanese. The island comes to life with fireworks, dancing in the streets, huge outdoor lamb roasts and plenty of ouzo shots. Begin by witnessing the moving, candlelit processions of flower-filled biers through the capital, marking the start of the celebration on Good Friday. By Saturday night you’ll be shouting Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen) and cracking vibrant red-dyed eggs.
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Samaria Gorge
The dramatic gorge of Samaria is the most-trodden canyon in Crete – and with good reason. Starting at Omalos and running down through an ancient riverbed to the Libyan Sea, it's home to varied wildlife, soaring birds of prey and a dazzling array of wildflowers in spring. It’s a full day’s walk (about six hours down) but the jaw-dropping views make it worth every step. To get more solitude, try lesser-known gorges such as Imbros Gorge, which runs roughly parallel to Samaria.
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Cretan Cuisine
Waistlines be damned: Crete is the perfect place to indulge. The island’s Mediterranean diet is known for its health benefits but the farm-fresh produce, aromatic herbs, straight-from-the-ocean seafood, soft, tangy cheese and some of the world’s best virgin olive oil make it legendary. Whether it’s a bowl of snails, fresh artichokes, mussels or figs, the essence of this rustic cuisine is a balance of flavours. It’s hard to beat traditional hand-spun filo, a salad of horta (wild greens) picked from a backyard garden and red mullet just hauled in.
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Experiencing the Acropolis
Regal on its Athens hilltop, the elegant Acropolis remains the quintessential landmark of Western civilisation. Explore it early in the morning or soak up the view from a dinnertime terrace; no matter how you experience the Acropolis, you will be mesmerised by its beauty, history and sheer size. Beyond the Parthenon, you can find quieter spots such as the exquisite Temple of Athena Nike and the Theatre of Dionysos. Nearby, the Acropolis Museum showcases the surviving treasures of the Acropolis.
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Hydra
Everyone approaches Hydra by sea. There is no airport, there are no cars. The white-gold houses of the tiny island's stunningly preserved stone village fill a natural cove and hug the edges of the surrounding mountains. Below, sailboats, caïques (little boats) and mega-yachts fill Hydra’s quays, while locals and vacationers fill the harbourside cafes. Here, a mere hour and a half from Athens, you’ll find a great cappuccino, rich naval and architectural history, and the raw sea coast beckoning you for a swim.
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Knossos
Rub shoulders with the ghosts of the mighty Minoans. Knossos was their Bronze Age capital more than 4000 years ago, from where they attained an astonishingly high level of civilisation and ruled vast parts of the Aegean. After mysteriously disappearing less than a thousand years later, an extraordinary wealth of frescoes, sculptures, jewellery and structures lay buried under the Cretan soil until the site’s excavation in the early 20th century. Despite a controversial partial reconstruction, Knossos remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean.
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Cutting-Edge Capital
Life in Athens is a magnificent mash-up of the ancient and the contemporary. Beneath the majestic facades of the many venerable landmarks, the city is teeming with life and creativity. Galleries and clubs hold the exhibitions, performances and installations of the city’s booming arts scene. Fashionable restaurants and humble tavernas rustle up plate after plate of satisfying fare. Soulful rembetica (blues songs) serenade the cobbled streets, while discos and bars abound and swing deep into the night.
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Preveli Beach
With its heart-shaped boulder lapped by the bluest waves just offshore, Crete’s Preveli Beach is one of Greece's most iconic. Bisected by a freshwater river and flanked by cliffs concealing sea caves, Preveli is a thick ribbon of soft sand on the Libyan Sea, with clear pools of water along its palm-lined riverbank that are perfect for cool dips. The beach lies under the sacred gaze of a magnificent monastery perched high above. Once the centre of anti-Ottoman resistance and later a shelter for Allied soldiers, this tranquil building offers magnificent views.
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Hania
Getting lost in the cobbled lanes of Hania is like wandering back in time. This former Venetian port town is a warren of history and beauty, with stunning Venetian and Turkish architecture. The pastel-hued buildings along the crescent harbour seem to shimmer with the reflection of the sea. Delve into the pedestrianised shopping streets for local crafts; dine on some of Crete's top dishes in pavement tavernas; and relax with a sunset walk out to the lighthouse: Hania’s offerings excel in all of these pursuits.
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Corfu
The story of Corfu is written across the handsome facades of its main town’s buildings. This is a place that crams a remarkable mix of architecture into its small compass. Stroll past Byzantine fortresses, neoclassical 19th-century British buildings, Parisian–style arcades, Orthodox church towers and the narrow, sun-dappled streets of the Venetian Old Town. Beyond the town, Corfu offers lush green mountains, rolling countryside and dramatic coastlines. And if the architecture and scenery aren’t enough, come to enjoy the Italian-influenced food.
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Lesvos
Bulky and imposing, Lesvos does its size justice with tremendously varied landscape. Rolling olive groves and cool pine forests stretch into grassy plains, where one of the world’s few petrified forests stands. The island's coast is lined with beaches, many hardly touched by tourism. Lesvos' capital, Mytilini, is energised by a large student population and a busy cafe and bar scene aided by fine local ouzo and wine. Some exploration will reveal a medieval castle town and two exquisite Byzantine churches. The only thing you may be short of here is time.
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Olymbos
On Karpathos, let your mind drift from the sandy coast to the interior, where secluded mountaintop villages have developed unique cultures. Olymbos looks precarious at best, perched high above the plunging rocky shoreline. Once the daytrippers leave, the village exudes a certain quietness. Along narrow cobbled alleyways, women bake bread in communal ovens and men whittle on doorsteps. They’re dressed the way they’ve dressed for centuries and speak a language nearly lost. In a shrinking world, there aren’t many places like Olymbos left. Soak up some of the magic while it still survives.
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Skyros
Soak up the artistic vibe in the vibrant island community of Skyros. The potters here are among the most accomplished in Greece, and their wares among the most beautiful. The island’s ceramics date back to the days when passing pirates traded pottery and other pilfered treasures for local goods, spurring Skyrians on to begin their own pottery tradition. Skyros Town, Magazia and Atsitsa have open studios where visitors can check out this legacy of larceny. If visiting in spring, witness further artistry in the carved goat masks and the spirited dancing of the island's wild Carnival.
