Greece

Expert guides reveal the best of the many sights and museums devoted to millennia-old art including the New Acropolis Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. The very central Dolli Hotel is located just steps from the vibrant Plaka district. A mere half-hour drive from the Parthenon, the beachside One & Only Aethesis and Four Seasons delight. Top tables in Athens include the new hip Makis and classic Delta in Piraeus.

From Athens, the options for active exploration are myriad. Fly north to Iouanina located the Epirus region in the northwest, near the Albanian border. Nestled within the Pindus Mountains lie James Bond’s Meteora monasteries featured in For Your Eyes Only, as well as 46 traditional stone villages and emerald-green rivers crisscrossed by vaulted stone bridges. From Aristi Mountain Lodge, hike, horse ride and truffle hunt in the pristine countryside. And then, Mamma Mia, there are the six island groups! The most popular are the Cycladic islands, which include Santorini, Mykonos, and Paros. Lesser-known Cycladic gems include Folegandros, Sifnos and Naxos. Fabulous hotels and beach clubs abound, including Canaves Oia Suites in Santorini, Bill and Coo Suites and Lounge on Mykonos, and the new Gundari on Folegandros.

For cycling enthusiasts, few places in Greece compare to the Peloponnese. Explore quiet roads, coastal scenery, and mountain landscapes from Hellenic times. Begin in the chic seaside town of Porto Heli and settle into Amanzoe. Nestled in between orange and lemon groves and bee sanctuaries, it’s our favourite luxury basecamp in the region. Spend a day aboard a private yacht cruising the Argosaronic Gulf, stopping to explore the nearby car-free islands of Spetses and Hydra, both perfect for biking back into history. For a side of Greece visitors may not expect, retreat to the forested mountains of Arcadia. Here, MANNA occupies a beautifully reimagined 1920s sanatorium, pairing striking architecture with wellness, hiking, and cycling in the rugged highlands, far different from the country’s iconic coast. Continue south on the peninsula to spectacular beaches, traditional villages, and rides that pass through ancient sites including Voidokilia Beach, the ancient Tomb of Thrasymedes, Koroni Castle and the medieval fortress of Methoni. Near Monemvasia, Kinsterna, a restored Byzantine estate surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, is the idyllic refuge for cycling, horseback riding, wine tasting, and exploring one of the richest historic landscapes there is. Along the coast, Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino provides direct access to more of the world’s best beaches and golf courses.

No matter where you choose to visit in Greece, you can always count on plenty of fresh fish, feta, honey, olives, ouzo and smiles to go around. Opa!