METEORA A visit to Meteora monasteries offers a unique perspective of nature’s grandeur in conjunction with history, architecture, and man’s everlasting desire to connect with the Divine. Meteora today is the largest archaeological site of Greece in terms of the area that it covers. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989 and an official holy place for Greece since 1995. A vast complex of giant rock pillars with monasteries made on the picks of the sandstone cliffs centuries ago creates a truly surreal landscape found nowhere else in the world.

HYDRA So close to Athens that you can hop across whenever the mood takes you, this small, hilly island in the Saronic Gulf has over the years mesmerised its visitors with its quaintness, rich history and cultural allure. The moment you arrive on Hydra, you instantly feel the change of pace. The main port is cosmopolitan and elegant, with its 18th-century mansions, captains’ houses, old churches, wells and marble-covered alleyways that fan out everywhere. Everywhere you look, water taxis buzz around the island like bees.

SANTORINI is the supermodel of the Greek islands, a head-turner whose face is instantly recognisable around the world: multicoloured cliffs soar out of a sea-drowned caldera, topped by drifts of whitewashed buildings. With its reputation for dazzling panoramas, romantic sunsets and volcanic-sand beaches, it's hardly surprising the island features on so many travellers’ bucket lists.

FOLEGANDROS (My favorite!) Looking for a quiet Greek Island where you can get away from package tours and holiday-makers? Folegandros may be just the place but you better hurry. The word is out. One of the most beautiful Cycladic islands, Folegandros is known for the magical charm of its white-washed Hora with its old Castle that has been occupied since Medieval times.

NAXOS Chilled out, understated and friendly, Naxos is easy like a Sunday morning. Known for having some of the best beaches in all of Greece, it’s a popular but low key family destination with a high proportion of devoted return visitors. There are miles of white sandy beach and turquoise seas but no brash resorts here, the lack of international flights keeps the masses away. It’s also as a hotspot for windsurfers.

MYKONOS The high-season mix of hedonistic holidaymakers, cruise-ship crowds and posturing fashionistas throngs Mykonos Town (aka Hora), a traditional whitewashed Cycladic maze, delighting in its cubist charms and its chichi cafe-bar-boutique scene. The island is max'ed out with cashed up (or spendthrift) visitors, hip new hotels, beach bars and restaurants. There are a few provisos about visiting here. Come only if you are prepared to pay. And are intent on jostling with street crowds.

IOS Ios Greece is located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, sandwiched between Naxos and Santorini. And you can tell its beauty is equal to that of its famous neighbors. Traditional whitewashed houses, 365 (!) churches, picturesque villages, goat farms (!) and beautiful beaches make this island stand out in the Cycladic island scheme. In Ios, you’ll find more than 30 amazing beaches for every taste. Organized, secluded, pebbled or sandy, among them there’s the perfect one for you.

SYMI is one of the most picturesque and charming islands of the Dodecanese island group. The most impressive spot on the island is hands down the port. The hill above the port is packed with crayon-like mansions which emit a fairytale-like charm, while every corner of the town boasts a magnificent view of the Aegean Sea.

RHODES Also known as the "Knights’ island", Rhodes combines a rich history, impressive medieval architecture, amazing beaches and a lovely natural scenery. The Old Town of Rhodes with its stone-paved alleys and elegant mansions is a listed World Heritage Site.

ATHENS is known as the birthplace of civilization – its rich history dates from the Neolithic age. There is so much to see and do, both historic and modern, that a planned itinerary is essential if you’re going to get the most out of the must-see neighborhoods like Plaka, Thissio and Monastiraki. As you roam this vast metropolis, you will encounter a multitude of monuments, museums, tavernas, and ouzerias giving off the scent of garlic and oregano.