Oia Santorini, Greece

If you came to Santorini for the sunsets, the town of Oia is where you want to be when the sun sinks towards the horizon to such glorious effect. Perched on the steep edge of the caldera, with open views of the sea, the village is quieter than the island’s main town, Fira, at least outside sunset hours. A string of tavernas turn their faces to the caldera for those views, and it’s fun exploring the town’s tiny backstreets and rocky cliff face, where homes have been carved from the volcanic rock.

Kamari Beach Santorini, Greece

With its wide-arching strip of beach dotted with striped umbrellas, it’s easy to see why Kamari Beach is resort central on Santorini. The Brits feel at home with English-style breakfast cafes and pubs, but there are resorts, tavernas and restaurants here for all tastes, along with bobbing fishing boats and the easily accessible volcanic-sand beach. In fact, it’s the resort town’s variety when it comes to choosing restaurants and hotels that makes it so popular.

Ios, Greece

For many visitors, Ios is one big party island. The local traditions and history are ignored by the rave brigade but luckily, the word is out that there’s more to Ios than Hora’s party-hard scene. With Homer’s tomb and the excavated site of Skarkos, the island of Ios suits families, history buffs and party animals alike. During the day, the main town of Hora has lots to explore, including a typically labyrinthine old town of narrow lanes and lovely whitewashed houses. The large cathedral is the main landmark here. The beaches are a big draw on Ios, with perhaps the most lovely stretch of sand on the island’s southern tip at Manganari. Gialos is only a short walk from the port, and the beach at Milopotas is resort central with a nightly party scene and daytime water sports. Hire a scooter to reach quieter beaches dotted around the coast.

Meteora Greece

Acropolis, Greece

The Acropolis (Akropolis) means 'city on a hill' and dates from the 5th century BC. Dominated by its main temple, the Parthenon, the Acropolis can be seen from all around the city of Athens. In 510 BC, the Delphic Oracle told Pericles that this hill should be a place to worship the gods so he set about an ambitious building project which took half a century and employed both Athenians and foreigners. It reflects the wealth and power of Greece at the height of its cultural and influence.

Delphi, Greece

Delphi is the second-most important archeological site in Greece (after the Acropolis in Athens). In ancient times Delphi was considered the place where heaven and earth met so the gods were close-by. Established around the 7th century BC, Delphi was a sanctuary to the god Apollo. It was here that the Oracle of Delphi was situated, the most trusted oracle in the ancient world from which the spirit of Apollo gave advice on everything from domestic matters to wars.