A city of legend, civilization, and enduring culture, Athens is a majestic and magical urban sprawl. Extraordinary elegance and grace combine with grit and graft in Greece's capital, where highways encase ruins from antiquity, and gleaming museums and galleries stand beside concrete sprayed with edgy street art. These contrasts enhance and elevate the wonders of this 2,500-year-old city, however, which can count notable contributions to philosophy, drama, and democracy, among its global legacy. Piraeus' giant port and naval base welcome you to the edge of Athens' urban area. From there it's a simple jaunt to the centre. The majestic ancient citadel of the Acropolis dominates an elevated platform and is a constant presence as you explore the city. The wonderful remains of the columned temple of the Parthenon - which date back to the 5th century BC - stand here, representing the pinnacle of classical architecture. The nearby Acropolis Museum adds context to your visit and frames the broad views from its giant glass windows. Or rise up Mount Lycabettus, to be rewarded with perhaps Athens' best panorama of the Acropolis sitting high over the city on its grand stage. See the marble horseshoe of the Old Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, for more of the city's enduring legacy. Elsewhere, golden beaches and temples stretch out along the coastline, should you wish to explore a little further afield. Coffee is an art form to the Greeks, and it's an unwritten rule that coffee time must never be rushed. So prepare to settle down for a couple of hours and lose yourself in a good chat. Feeling hungry - try traditional souvlaki made with sauces handed from generation to generation.

As one of the lesser-known islands in the Aegean Sea, Paros enjoys its reputation as being the underdog of the Cyclades. Often overshadowed by Mykonos to the north, or Santorini to the south, the savvy traveler knows this island paints one of the finest pictures of Greece that you’re ever likely to find. Arrival in Paros is postcard-perfect and exactly as you imagine it. Cafes and tavernas line the pretty port, bougainvillea covers narrow streets, and brightly painted fishing boats bob gently in the harbor. If you arrive early enough, you’ll find the catches of the day being sold for pennies. All the touch points are there: evocative blue shuttered, white-washed houses, windmills, and domed churches on the horizon, the arid hillside above an azure bay that homes promise of fresh figs, olives and the seductive lullaby of cicadas. This image might seem clichéd but in Paros, it’s reality. If strolling the cobbled streets that snake into the village does not sustain your love of Greek history, then head for the Archaeological Museum in the center of town. Paros has been inhabited since 3200 BC and has a past of maritime battles, followed by economic development and cultural flourishing. The island was well known for its fabulous marble, a fine example of which is the lovely Town Hall in Lefkes village (notably Venus de Milo was also crafted from Parian marble). Literary lovers will also know that Paros was the birthplace of Greek lyrical poet Archilochus, statues of whom can be found all over the island.

With an endless sun-soaked season, earthy history, and vibrant culture, the island of Rhodes has it all. At the crossroads between continents, and sandwiched between Crete and Turkey’s coastline, Rhodes has swayed between many mighty civilizations throughout its tumultuous history. Part of the Dodecanese Islands, which are sprinkled across the blissfully blue Aegean Sea, dive into this island of dazzling beaches, historic medieval towns, and whitewashed villages. Crusted with turrets and walls, alluding to its strategic significance over the years. Incredible history has been left behind, and the cobbled streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site listed Old Town are some of Europe’s best. Wander back through time, with occasional minarets from Ottoman-era mosques rising from the tangle of Medieval history, and the smells of cinnamon, cumin, and pepper lingering above stone-paved streets. Discover inviting outdoor restaurants, which spill across flower-filled courtyards, and enjoy fresh Greek cuisine with an Eastern influence. The preserved columns of Lindos's spectacular Ancient Greek Acropolis watch out over electric blue water, while the Gothic Medieval stronghold of the 14th-century Palace of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Rhodes, adds more fascinating history to explore. Fragrant, pine tree-coated hills, and gorgeous beaches of eye-watering blue water, offer your choice of unbridled relaxation or thrilling action, and you can raise the pulse with water sports, or shelter in coves with shocks of turquoise water and monolithic rock formations.

The seahorse-shaped Patmos is a Greek island of stunning seascapes and immense cultural significance. Rising from the Aegean Sea, Christians embark on pilgrimages here from all across the world, seeking out the small hillside cave, said to be the location where St. John penned the Book of Revelations, in AD 95. Whether you’re religious or not, there is something of the divine in this gorgeous island - a place of sanctuary fringed by crystal-clear waters and blissful beaches. Sleepy, whitewash towns gleam in the strong sunshine, while cats slink between the crumbling walls of this ruggedly beautiful island. High on the hillside, above the cobalt-blue bay, you’ll find the sacred chapel, where an exiled John of Patmos is said to have entered the Cave of the Apocalypse and prophesied of the end of the world’s fire and brimstone – a striking juxtaposition with the peaceful serenity of the calm location. Higher up you’ll find the 11th-century Monastery of St. John, which offers spectacular views of the island’s mounds curving around like a scorpion’s tail. It stands watch over the island like a fortified crown. Sun-wrinkled, black-robed, monks climb the streets up to this World Heritage site, where bells peel out melodically. Inside, vaulted chambers and stunning frescoes tell stories amid the striking religious iconography. Chora’s incredible narrow streets - molded white - are an enchanting place to lose your bearings, spreading below the monastery. Elsewhere, blissful beaches stretch out across the coastline, or this remote Greek island’s curves can be admired while bobbing offshore in a sailboat.

The white houses act as a blank canvas for splashes of color provided by the climbing purple bougainvillea, subtropical gardens, and front doors that come in every shade of blue to match the sea. Bodrum is Turkey’s coast at its most vibrant.

Located at the junction of the Mediterranean and the Aegean, Bodrum is all about the sea. It boasts a world-class marina, a favorite of super yachts, fine dining restaurants and bars.
Set sail from here on one of the many boats heading out to the peninsular. Relax, and soak up the sun and coastal scenery whilst drifting through the turquoise water. For a totally authentic experience, choose a “gulet”, a beautiful two-masted, wooden sailing boat traditional to Bodrum.

Once ashore, dip into the history of Bodrum or Halicarnassus as it was once known. Still visible are remains of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum of Mausolus, once an impressive 46 meters high. In the 15th century, some of the stones of the ruined Mausoleum were reused by the Knights Hospitallers of St John to build the Castle of St Peter which still dominates the seafront today. As much as the foundations of the castle are steeped in history, so are its exhibits today as home to the Underwater Archaeology Museum.

Looking for a souvenir or a chance to people watch, head to the large bazaar by the castle. Set out as shops rather than stalls you can find almost anything from spices, fruit, and vegetables to textiles and local pottery. You won’t be able to leave empty-handed.

As you sail into Symi harbor don’t be surprised if you’re left speechless. With its rows of elegant cream and beige neo-classical houses, its unique blend of gentle aristocratic beauty, and its bleating hillside goats, Symi seems set in another time. This is the Greece of history; well-preserved mansions, pretty inlets, and film set prettiness that is the real deal. As part of the Dodecanese Islands, Symi is one of the lesser-known Greek Islands. Once a thriving sponge-diving and ship-building center, the island attracted riches that far outstripped its neighbor Rhodes (and placed it among Greece’s richest islands). The island’s history is too, rich and rewarding. Although not much is known pre-14th century (bar a mention in Homer’s Illiad), it is known that the name comes from Greek mythology, and the island is widely thought to be the birthplace of the Syme, daughter Ialysos, and Dotis. Syme was one of the wives of Poseidon, God of the Seas, and mother of Hthonios. But Symi is above all a place to relax, whether it be in by splashing in the achingly beautiful waters, climbing the rocky hinterland (be on the lookout for these goats) or just gazing at the Aegean Sea. The Panormitis monastery, on the south of the island, is well worth visiting. Foodies should note that Symi’s eponymous shrimps are a must-try - pan-fried and eaten with the shell, they are a quintessential delicacy of the island. Enjoying a seaside taverna, experience authentic Greece.

If you feel a sense of déjà vu when you arrive in Amorgos, don’t be surprised. The little island in the Cyclades found fame in the late 1980s thanks to Luc Besson’s cult film “The Big Blue”. But movie stars aside (and anyone who has seen the film, knows it's about the dolphins who are the real stars of the show), Amorgos is what everything a Greek island should be. Think pink bougainvillea climbing up every whitewashed wall and scarlet geraniums spilling out of every blue framed window. Small, friendly cafes line the (labyrinthine, cobbled) streets, beach bars serve tall glasses of ouzo over ice and traditional tavernas serve everything from souvlaki to tzatziki. Amorgos might be most famous however for its lack of mass tourism. You won’t find any wild nightclubs or luxury boutiques here. Instead, you’ll feel the pull of the past with the vestiges of a Minoan city, the beautiful 13th-century Venetian Kastro and its windmills, and the 11th-century Pangaea Hozoviotissa Monastery. Nature lovers will no doubt be in their element here too: seven main trails connect the villages to each other. Most hikes take around an hour and are considered easy but there are one or two exceptions, so beware! Divers will also be happy; the southern end of the island is home to the famous shipwreck features in The Big Blue. Now rife with algae, it is a prime feeding spot for the local marine life.

Disembark after breakfast.