As Henry Miller once said, “It takes a lifetime to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her.” I couldn’t agree more. Falling in love is almost a given. Exploration takes a lot longer. After all, there are over 6,000 Greek Islands to discover. And that is aside from the mainland.
The starting point for many is Ancient Athens, now a modern Metropolis that also happens to be home to the famous ancient citadel, the Acropolis. The archaeological sites of Delphi and Olympia, Mount Olympus, Thessaloniki, and the monasteries of Meteora will also keep you busy long before you step off the mainland.
When you are ready to explore the Greek Islands, there is an almost overwhelming cluster of island groups to choose between. You can start your visit one summer and will feel compelled to come back year after year to continue your exploration. Whether you focus on the Cyclades Islands just south of Athens, the Ionian Islands in the west, the Aegeans and Dodecanese Islands off the coast of Turkey, you’re in for a treat. And they’re incredibly easy to get around, with regular, efficient and affordable public ferries plying every imaginable route. So, no need to book a sailing trip to explore Greece. Though, it is, of course, an extravagant luxury to see Greece under the sails of a tall ship.
Those more adventurous will set sail for the lesser known Sporades Islands and Saronic Islands for the highlights they hold.
From the windmills of Mykonos to the famous sunset of Santorini with the party Island Ios in between, the Greek Islands feel like a country all in themselves.
Don’t miss the Greek cuisine, either. As enticing as the sun and sea and themselves, dining on grilled octopus or stuffed vine leaves, you’re going to leave the Greek islands glowing inside and out.
Books about Greece: If you’re looking for pre-trip inspiration, my suggested reading list includes: The Island by Victoria Hislop, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières, It’s All Greek To Me by John Mole, and Zorba The Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis.
Movie Fans: Prefer to see the sights on TV? Sing along to Mama Mia, watch Zorba the Greek and split your sides in laughter at My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
The Peloponnese is a peninsula of myths and legends, ancient sights and civilisations that pre-date written history. It’s a land that covers over 21,000 square kilometres (8,000 sqm) and is located on the southwest tip of mainland Greece. Home to Olympia, Delphi, and the Corinth Canal, and a short distance from Athens, it’s a destination … Read more
Into the ocean I go, to soothe my mind and find my soul. I saw this quote once in a store in Europe and couldn’t get it out of my head. Except, for me, it wasn’t swimming that made me feel this way; it was unfurling my yoga mat – into the postures I go… … Read more
Milos is a natural wonder. Geologically speaking, this Greek island is the tip of a sunken volcano and, similar to Santorini, this gives Milos a dramatic coastline as well as a fascinating mining history. Until relatively recently, Milos was one of Greece’s better kept secrets but the tourists are slowly arriving. Milos is a Greek … Read more
Watching a fiery sunset fade into the sea, knowing that beneath the surface lies a sunken volcano – it sounds like something from Greek Mythology. But it’s not. That’s just Santorini for you. From the white Cycladic houses dotting the steep slopes of the crater rim to those postcard blue-domed roofs, and hotels with infinity … Read more
I always feel like I’m glowing when I return from Greece, and it’s not just the sun. From Greek yoghurt breakfasts to al fresco lunches of grilled meats, fish and lashings of olive oil, the Greek Mediterranean diet will leave you feeling in peak health. Sure, there are some indulgences to be had – I … Read more
From the blue-domed churches to the ancient ruins, celebrity hot-spots, glittering green seas and sizzling sands, there’s something uniquely magical about the Greek Islands, which are as numerous as they are unique. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year (around 250 sunny days), it’s easy to find yourself gravitating to Greece year after … Read more
You could spend a lifetime visiting only Greece and not be left wanting. There are, after all, over 6,000 Greek Islands to explore. From the ancient ruins to the twisting cobbled alleys, to the swanky hotspots, Greece is a dream destination that’s wrapped up in sapphire seas and fringed with red, black and white-diamond beaches. … Read more
Place a glossy travel mag in my hands and I’m as happy as the proverbial pig in sh!t. Page after page, I love pouring over pictures of cerulean seas and cloudless skies. But here’s the thing – those pictures of those destinations are no more real than the images of celebs in Vogue. Airbrushed and … Read more