GREEK ISLES, ISTANBUL & CAIRO

Welcome to Athens, you have two days to explore at your leisure.

Athens is where mythology and modern life sit on top of each other. Wander the Acropolis in the morning and you’re back among motorbikes and coffee bars by lunch. Piraeus sits close enough that your transfer barely counts as a commute, so make time to walk Plaka’s old streets before you board.

Informality rules on this sunny isle where pleasure-seekers from around the world come to play. Ramble along narrow streets past white-washed houses and blue-domed churches, bouganvillea-covered walls and thread-like, step-laden footpaths leading everywhere.

Istanbul straddles two continents, and you’ll feel that push and pull the moment you step off the ship. Head straight for the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace while the light’s good, then lose an hour in the Grand Bazaar’s endless stalls. Staying overnight means you’re not racing the clock today.

With a second day in Istanbul, skip the sights you’ve already ticked off and go local. The Spice Market rewards slow browsing, and a ferry across the Bosphorus gives you Europe and Asia in the same afternoon. Save room for baklava on the way back to the ship.

Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to one of the most legendary cities of the ancient world: Ephesus. St. Paul preached in its Great Theater, while the facade of the Celsus Library survives as a testament to the city’s role as a center of learning and culture.

Not far from Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis (also known as the Temple of Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, once stood, drawing pilgrims from around the Mediterranean. While it no longer stands, it is possible to walk amongst its foundations and the remains of its towering columns.

Other historic sites can also be found nearby: The House of Mary is believed to be the home of Jesus’s mother at the end of her life, and the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the 6th century, marks the location of his tomb. (Like Mary, he spent his final years in Ephesus.) Nearby, the Selcuk fortress reflects the period of Byzantine and Ottoman control of the region.

From ancient wonders to holy sites, there are few ports in the Mediterranean as magical as Kusadasi, and a day here is a day spent in the company of some of antiquity’s greatest figures.

Rhodes, set behind impregnable 14th-century walls, invites you to navigate through crooked streets to shop for sea sponges and visit the gorgeous Palace of the Grand Masters from where the Knights of St John set out on the Crusades. Tour to the village of Lindos and climb to the Acropolis. Look down and you’ll see where St Paul landed, as well as the rocky peninsulas where many believe the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. This 110-foot-tall statue of Helios was destroyed by an earthquake, and its remains were melted down by the Arabs for scrap metal.

A second call at Piraeus gives you a free pass to revisit anything you missed the first time round. Head back up to the Acropolis for golden hour, or skip the crowds and find a taverna in the port town itself.

Alexandria was built as a bridge between Europe and Africa, and it still feels that way. Spend today on the coast, exploring the Citadel of Qaitbay and the modern Bibliotheca built in tribute to the ancient library. Cairo is close enough for those who want to go further afield.

Use your second day in Alexandria for the trip that brought you here: Giza. The pyramids and the Sphinx are a few hours inland, worth the early start. Back in Khan el-Khalili by evening, haggle for something small to take home.

The port of Souda on the Aegean Sea is home to a Greek and NATO naval base and is located six kilometers (three miles) from Chania—the second-largest city on Crete, which itself is the largest of the Greek Islands. Once you’re in Chania, set your compass for the historic waterfront with its famous Venetian Harbor dating to the 14th century. Walk along the breakwater to the restored 500-year-old lighthouse for views that are particularly photogenic from late afternoon until sunset. The atmospheric tangle of streets that is Old Town is easily explored on foot, and you can stop at one of the many outdoor cafés for a bougatsa (custard pastry) or a glass of Cretan red wine.Soúda can also be a jumping-off point for a visit to Rethymnon, located about 54 kilometers (33 miles) to the east. Shaped by centuries of invasion, namely by the Venetians and Turks, its Fortezza was built by the Venetians in the late 16th century and captured by the Ottomans in 1646. The Old Town has the same kind of architectural character as Chania, but on a smaller scale.

Your harbor on this island was created by a volcano in 1500 BC., and the effect is still explosive: steep cliffs rise from sea level, cubist white houses glow in the Aegean sun. Sample shore excursion: Panoramic Santorini.

Your journey ends where it began, back among the ruins and rooftop bars of Athens. Use the last few hours for the Acropolis Museum or a final coffee in Syntagma Square before your transfer to the airport. Piraeus makes the goodbye easy since the port sits so close to the city centre.