Helen Iatrou

With its intriguing medieval Old Town, golden sand beaches and hearty traditional cuisine, Rhodes has lured travellers for decades, many of whom return year after year. While the Dodecanese island is renowned for its 300-plus days of sunshine each year, you could be forgiven for thinking Rhodes is all about hanging out on the beach, feasting at homely tavernas and partying at bohemian-styled beach bars.

The fun starts early in Corfu. Long summer days spell carefree, feet-in-the-sand dance parties led by guest DJs that kick off well before the sun starts to set at the island’s dizzying array of sublime beach bars dotted around the coast. Many double as all-day restaurants and cafés, which means you can drink, dine, swim and dance from morning until late. In Corfu Town, it's a more subdued affair.

The warm turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea are hard to beat. From tiny pockets of pebbled perfection hidden beneath firs and pines along the somewhat swanky yet still unspoilt northeastern coast to surprisingly long, wide swathes of golden sand to the west, there’s a beach to keep everyone happy. Families gravitate toward the larger beaches that are furnished with sun loungers, in easy reach of a taverna or two and replete with water sports.

There’s more to Corfu than its comely beaches. Dig deeper and you will uncover many centuries of history in and around the cobblestoned old town capital, dating from antiquity to the present day. One of Greece’s most lush islands, this Ionian jewel is made for hiking enthusiasts and there are marked trails everywhere you look. On the western and northern coasts strikingly sculpted cliffs, some bare and others verdant, plunge down to cerulean seas.

Corfu’s Venetian rulers dealt a decisive hand in the island’s collective recipe book. Be selective about where you sample local fare such as sofrito (veal with garlic and parsley), bianco (fish stew) and pastitsada (beef, veal or cockerel casserole) and seek out lesser-known dishes. Deep in the heart of Corfu Old Town there are low-key mezedopolia (where meze is served), long-established restaurants and upscale eateries where inventive chefs do Corfiot cuisine differently.

Corfu has long enticed conquerors and holidaymakers with its intoxicating mix of historical monuments, lush hillsides, blue skies, sand and pebble beaches and calm, azure waters. Hit television series The Durrells, inspired by Gerald Durrell’s entertaining trilogy on his family’s time on Corfu, has sparked a revival of interest in the Ionian island and attracted many enthusiastic first-timer visitors. Add to that new luxury hotels, and interesting openings on the dining, beach bar and nightlife scene – and you have an eternal Greek island classic on your hands.

As ancient as Greece might be, it’s a country that’s always looking ahead. With a slew of exciting hotel openings and the 70th anniversary of the prestigious Athens Epidaurus Festival, the Greek capital is coming into its own as a year-round destination. Meanwhile, northern Greece is becoming a new hot spot, while popular island staples like Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete are bringing in fresh lodgings far away from the crowded sunset selfie spots, trendy restaurants that go beyond Tripadvisor-topping souvlaki joints, and new museum shows with never-before-exhibited treasures.

So, you’re finally planning that dream vacation in Greece but can’t figure out the best time to visit? Many travelers consider the ideal time to visit the Mediterranean country to be the hot, dry summer months of June, July, and August. But there’s plenty to do beyond this period, which is also the busiest and most expensive time to holiday there.

In recent times, the main problem facing Greece’s picturesque island of Santorini has been the crowds of tourists jostling for space among the whitewashed walls of Oia town as they hunt for the best spot for sunset selfies.

Then, earlier this year, another problem reared its head — one that has been lurking deep beneath Santorini millions of years before camera phones turned it into an Instagram playground.

A swarm of mild earthquakes that saw thousands of residents and visitors leave Santorini, Greece, on flights and ferries appears to have petered off, according to experts.
In late January and February, more than 20,000 temblors were recorded in the Aegean Sea between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos.

When Athens-born-and-raised Alexandros Kaloutas abandoned the Greek capital for Amorgos to cultivate oregano on the sleepy Cycladic island, the locals thought he was crazy.

So, you’re finally going to go on that long-awaited getaway to Greece. But while you’re daydreaming about beach-hopping on the islands, marveling at ancient sites, and feasting on meze on the sand, consider adding some Greek phrases to your vocabulary. While digital translators can be useful tools to have, taking the time to learn a few keywords and phrases can go a long way with locals.

Milos, Greece, was born of earthquakes, tsunamis, and undersea volcanic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years—and destined to carve out a distinct name for itself. But up until the mid-2010s, the mineral-rich Greek island was little more than an unassuming summer hideaway for doe-eyed Athenian couples.

Born of earthquakes, tsunamis and undersea volcanic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years, Milos was destined to carve out a distinct name for itself. But, up until the mid-2010s, the mineral-rich Greek island was little more than an unassuming summer hideaway for doe-eyed Athenian couples. It was there, in 1820, when a farmer accidentally unearthed the Louvre’s prized Venus de Milo (Aphrodite to the Greeks) in a field. This might explain the subconscious pull this once-untouristy outpost had on young lovers.

Mi considero un'isolana greca al 100% e la vela è la mia grande passione. Le isole greche quindi sono quindi il mio parco giochi. Naturalmente è possibile visitare diverse isole nel corso dello stesso viaggio, ma a me piace prendermi tutto il tempo necessario, di solito una settimana, per familiarizzare con un'isola alla volta: ci sono talmente tante cose da vedere, anche nei posti più piccoli.