Rethymnon Crete

Many travelers miss out on Rethymno’s lovely Old Town and Venetian port, soaking up the waterfront ambiance in Hania instead. But Rethymno has just as much charm as its larger neighbor, with a Venetian fortress, pretty harbor and Turkish quarter of winding lanes and wooden Ottoman houses. Minoans also settled in this part of Crete, but it owes its grandeur to the Venetian period (1210 to 1645). Wander around and admire Venetian monuments like the 16th-century loggia, Great Gate and wall remnants. A highlight of the Old Town is the Rimondi Fountain, with water spouting from the heads of lions. Several lovely mosques are a reminder of the town’s Ottoman past. The town also has several notable museums, exhibiting antique relics like statues and coins, folk art weaving and Byzantine artworks. Rethymno has a youthful university population, and its waterfront bars and Venetian harbor clubs get particularly lively at night. Several rural walks lead into the hinterland from Rethymno, and diving is also popular.

Hania, Crete

Crete’s former capital is perhaps its most idyllic town. With its intertwined Venetian and Ottoman legacy, there’s an east and west magic to its grand harbor, narrow lanes, sea walls and port buildings. Minoans lived near Hania’s harbor at Ancient Kydonia, and today’s beach lovers head to the modern seashore at Nea Hora. There are waterfront cafes to relax in at Koum Kapi, the old Turkish quarter. Hania’s archaeological museum traces the history of this part of Crete since Neolithic times, and it’s housed in a 16th-century Venetian church that’s an impressive sight in itself. If you like ships, head to the Naval Museum in the headland fortress, once an Ottoman prison, and the Venetian shipyard museum by the harbor. Both museums exhibit maritime displays from the Bronze Age onwards, including memorabilia from WWII. You’ll also find displays of Byzantine jewelry, mosaics and artifacts in the fortress’ Byzantine museum.

Palace of Knossos, Crete

The best place to capture the mystery and magic of Crete’s ancient Minoan civilization is the ruins of Knossos, just outside Heraklion. The secrets of this enigmatic civilization were only unraveled in the 20th century, by the man who would go on to restore the palace ruins, Sir Arthur Evans. The Palace of Knossos was built at the height of the Minoans’ glory, in around 3400 to 2100 BC, reflecting their wealth and sophistication. Best known for their incredibly naturalistic frescos and exquisite ceramics, the Minoans traded with other contemporary great powers in Egypt and Asia Minor. The original palace was destroyed by an earthquake in around 1700 BC, and a more sophisticated complex was built over the ruins. Knossos was eventually destroyed by fire in 1400 BC.

Plaka Greece

Plaka is the oldest residential district of Athens. Its historic narrow lanes and stepped alleys wind up the lower slope of the Acropolis. Once the heart of working class Athens, then the centre of music and nightclubbing, nowadays it's full of cafes and restaurants, also shops which tend to be aimed at tourists with prices to match. But it's definitely the nicest part of Athens to wander around between visits to the nearby archaeological sites and museums.

Paros, Greece

The holiday island of Paros is the place for chilling out and napping on the beach, soaking up the relaxed Aegean vibe. Away from the beaches, terraced hills climb up to the mountainous interior, where the island’s famous pure white marble is quarried. The Paros marble has been famous for millennia, used by the ancient Greek genius who carved the beautiful Venus de Milo and by the sculptors who adorned Napoleon’s tomb. Your main base on the island is the port of Parikia, at the head of the bay on the northwest coast. There’s a labyrinthine old town to explore, a 13th-century Venetian fort and taverna-thronged waterfront for sunset drinks and seafood meals.

Chora Mykonos, Greece

The island’s capital, Chora Mykonos also goes by the names of Hora and Mykonos Town. From the sea, the sun glances off the town’s jumble of whitewashed houses lining a maze of narrow winding streets designed to trick would-be pirates. Take a stroll through these traffic-free laneways and watch the sunset from a waterfront tavern are highlights of Mykonos, long regarded the Aegean’s most stylish and sophisticated island retreat. There are boutiques to browse and bars to discover, and photogenic churches like the five-in-one Church of Panagia Paraportiani. Whitewashed fishermen’s houses crowd the waterfront in Little Venice, along with the quarter’s renowned clutch of bars and restaurants. Nearby, the hilltop row of whitewashed windmills are a signature sight of Mykonos. Archaeological relics and sculptures from Delos are preserved in the town’s museum, and there are icons and folk weavings on show at the folklore museum. Bring your camera to this picture-perfect island, to snap photos of the whitewashed houses set off by turquoise doors and balconies trailing with purple bougainvillea. When the sun goes down, Mykonos Town comes alive with partygoers hitting the island’s renowned nightclubs and bars.