Greece

Most journeys start in Athens, where the Acropolis rises above a modern, sprawling city. The Parthenon, the new Acropolis Museum and the old neighbourhood of Plaka can fill a couple of days on their own, and the evening view of the floodlit temple from a rooftop restaurant is hard to beat. In the north, Thessaloniki is a relaxed university city with Byzantine churches, a long seafront and some of the best food in the country.

Then there are the islands. Santorini, with the clifftop village of Oia looking out over the flooded volcanic caldera, is famous for its sunsets. Mykonos is known for its windmills, beaches and nightlife, and Rhodes has a walled medieval old town built by the Knights of St John. Our Greece programme includes Athens city breaks, private walks and photo shoots, rail tours within Greece and a combined Italy and Greece rail journey, and island stays can be added by ferry or short flight.

Food and drink

Greek food is built around good olive oil, fresh vegetables and grilled meat and fish. Order a spread of meze to share: tzatziki, fava, grilled octopus, saganaki cheese. Moussaka, souvlaki and spanakopita are the classics, and island tavernas serve whatever the boats brought in. Santorini’s volcanic soil produces the crisp white Assyrtiko wine, and ouzo is the aperitif.

How to travel

Start with an Athens city break and a guided walk to put the ancient sites in context, then add one or two islands. Rail is useful on the mainland between Athens and Thessaloniki. For a more leisurely island-hopping trip, we can also arrange yacht or gulet charters in Greek waters.