Helen Iatrou

In 2003, Greece was feverishly preparing a homecoming for the Olympics. Despite countless news headlines claiming Athens wouldn’t be ready in time, the 2004 Games were staged successfully, more than a century after the Greek capital hosted the first modern Games in 1896.
But if you ran a Google search for "Athens" at the time, the results would surprise you. Page after page listed links to information on Athens, Georgia. Sure, the southern US city, incorporated in 1806, was named in honor of the intellectual thought and higher learning that thrived in classical Greece.

Everywhere you look along Rhodes’ extensive coastline, you’re likely to spot a beach. From the family-friendly golden shores and ultramarine waters of Tsambika in the northeast to the rolling sand dunes of Mavros Kavos in the southeast, the choices are endless. Not only that but several beaches are linked with significant individuals and periods in the island’s history – even a Hollywood star. St Paul’s Bay is named after the Apostle who is thought to have paid a visit; Kallithea Springs was built during Mussolini’s reign when Rhodes was under Italian occupation.

The heart of Rhodes' nightlife is mostly split between the Old Town and the new town. Within the medieval streets, there are some excellent wine bars showcasing the country’s most formidable wineries, frequently with soloist performances. Locals tend to congregate at unpretentious, dimly lit bars on buzzy Arionos Square, or burn off energy dancing until late in small, lively open-air establishments. Rhodes Town offers curious diversity, from a craft beer joint to a speakeasy, most of which are hidden down alleyways.

Brimming with olive groves, fruit trees and vegetable patches, verdant Rhodes offers up a delectable array of culinary offerings that ranges from firmly old school to five-star innovative. While the choice of quality establishments in the medieval Old Town is slim, there is a diamond or two to be found in the back alleys. A down-home taverna hidden in a remote village and a fine dining restaurant at a resort on the northeast coast are both striving to reawaken local dishes almost lost to time, albeit in different ways.

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Rhodes, fittingly, gives praise to Greek sun god Helios. Beyond the myriad beaches, there lies historical drawcards such as the ancient Acropolis of Lindos and Europe's best preserved and liveliest medieval city. On the north-east coast, a trek to a hilltop monastery rewards you with a phenomenal beachscape. Inland offerings are plentiful: from a remote traditional village whose women's cooperative remains faithful to age-old recipes, to a young vintner quietly spreading the word on wine produced with the island's little-known grape varieties.

Despite being a classic bucket-and-spade destination, there is so much more to Rhodes than its 300-plus days of sunshine and long, sandy beaches. The grand Dodecanese island’s Unesco World Heritage-listed capital is Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited medieval town and worth a visit in its own right. The Knights of the Order of St John, the Ottomans and Fascist-era Italian occupiers have all passed through, leaving an indelible mark.

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.