Greece is all about the clear seas, friendly people, colourful villages, boating life, the casual way in which ancient history and culture is part of daily life and the huge variety of islands to suit every taste. Sunny days and warm evenings, where all life takes place outside, embrace visitors for the three summer months, while balmy days and cooler nights offer low-season visitors another two to three months of enjoying the country in tranquillity.
Choosing where to go will depend on what you are looking for from your holiday:
The Ionian Islands
Off the west coast of Greece, these are lush, mountainous islands with good international flight connections, an Italianate feel, pretty pastel villages, calm seas and a languorous gentleness. They are ideal for those wanting to potter around on boats in the sheltered archipelagos of small islets, or enjoy lazy swims and water skiing, shady snoozes and beachfront tavernas.
The Cyclades
To the east lie the scattered group of the Cyclades. Dry, dramatic rocks in the middle of the Aegean, wind-blown, fringed with sandy beaches, studded with windmills, iconic white cubic villages and picturesque mazes of lanes, Mykonos and Santorini are the most famous for their sophistication and extremely high quality of guest amenities, activities, services and villas, but there are some little known beauties for those wanting something more rustic and authentic. There is a bracing liveliness to the Cyclades, vibes of energy that are unique to this region.
The Peloponnese and the Argo Saronic Gulf.
The greatest sites of Ancient and medieval Greece are found on the Peloponnese, while Aegina, Hydra and Spetses are the chic and historical island stars, and this is a great area to explore.
