Split to Piraeus

Split is a busy port with numerous ferries operating to and from nearby islands. It is also a popular resort with beaches, pleasant promenades and good hotels. Venetian Gothic and Renaissance houses and several medieval churches add architectural interest. As a major cultural center, Split does not lack in museums and art galleries. However, the city’s principal attraction is Diocletian’s Palace. It occupies an area of 34,680 square yards and was constructed to serve as a residence and a fortified military camp. By the Middle Ages, the palace had been enclosed within a strong wall with square corner towers, enclosing a town with narrow house-lined alleys. As the city grew, people gradually moved outside the walls and the city center shifted westward.

Croatia’s Capital of Cool, Zadar is a dazzling mesh of influences and creativity. Romans founded the city before the Venetians, Austrians, French and Italians all had their say, leaving a wealth of architectural interest. Glorious turquoise-water beaches and heavenly waterfalls also lie within easy reach of this energetic city of festivals and outdoor fun. See the old town, with its robust city walls, boasting decorative stone gateways and marble streets. View less

The church of St Donatus, was built from stones pillaged from the Roman forum, while Zadar Cathedral – Dalmatia’s biggest – stands among the many architectural treats of this city, which was once an impenetrable stronghold of Venice’s republic. Head for the ‘pillar of shame’ with its chains to humiliate the criminals of a bygone time – or succumb to the tempting treats of shopping in the market. The sparkling Adriatic’s waters calls you, and Kolovare Beach is a mere ten-minute stroll from the old town. A day trip to Kornat National Park – which incorporates the Zadar Archipelago’s immaculate scattering of beach-fringed islands – or to the divine waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park, will introduce you to more of Croatia’s thrilling natural beauty. The sea truly does sing here in Zadar, thanks to a unique waterfront artwork, which encapsulates the city’s playful spirit. Designed to make music when the waves wash over it, the ebb and flow of the Adriatic, plays the Sea Organ instrument like a maestro. Not far away, the Monument to the Sun is a 22-metre-wide disc, which gathers the sun’s rays during the sunny days, and releases the solar energy in the form of a magical light show after dark. Sit and admire the artwork coming to life, as one of the city’s famous sunsets plays out before you.

Croatia’s fractured Adriatic coast is scattered with hundreds of islands – but few can match the elegant beauty of lovely Korčula. Tucked away behind bustling Hvar, Croatia’s sixth-largest island is a little harder to reach, making for a more peaceful affair. Decorated with beautiful medieval fortifications, time stands still as you stroll narrow paths, cutting between the stone facades of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Hear the stomps of feet and clacks of swords rattling off of the walls, during traditional Moreška performances – an enchanting, authentic sword dance. View less

Revelin Tower looms over the grand entrance to the walled old town – nicknamed Little Dubrovnik – which was built and fortified in 1485 to protect Korčula. The island is also said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, and his former house contains a narrow staircase leading to Marco Polo Tower, which peeks above the tight streets. The majestic Cathedral of St. Mark also rises high, and you’ll spot the gorgeous vaulted bell tower, framed between narrow alleyways. Climb to the top for views of the red roof cluster, and sparkling Adriatic below. A beautiful island to explore, its dark blanket of pine tree forest led to the Greek’s naming the island, Korkyra Melaina – or Black Corfu. Explore the gorgeous ring of coastline, which is lined with pebble beaches, sandy bays and hidden coves. Or, indulge in the island’s tastes – like luxurious olive oils and white wines grown from grapes including posip, and grk – cultivated only on this island.

Embedded into the slopes of the steep Lovćen mountain, and overlooking the deep blue Adriatic, the fortified town of Kotor boasts a spectacular, imposing staging that few can match. Squeezing in through the tight Bay of Kotor is a daunting and impressive approach in itself, as you arrive via the waterway of Europe’s most southerly fjord. A pearl of Montenegro and the Adriatic, Kotor’s warren-like streets drip with history and authenticity. View less

Under Venetian influence for four centuries, the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site old town invites you to wander amid atmospheric stone-clad streets, overlooked by a sea of terracotta roofs and the double towers of the cathedral. Protected by thick stone walls – and the mountains behind – Kotor draws comparisons with another fortified Adriatic wonder in Dubrovnik. Many favour Kotor for its compact layout, smaller crowds, and authenticity, however – having been spared from shelling during Yugoslavia’s breakup. The tightknit streets here are patrolled by a slinking population of feline residents, who were adopted as the town’s mascots, after being left behind by transient trader ships. Learn of the city’s extensive heritage on the waves, in the dedicated maritime museum that is contained within Grgurina Palace. Pick your way through tight alleys of workshops and studios, walking below fresh laundry strung from windows, before settling into shiny, paved piazzas for an afternoon coffee or seafood meal. If you’re up for an aerobic challenge, tackle the 1,350 steps up the steep walls to St John’s fortress. The views over the gorgeous bay make the arduous slog worth it, as you rise past the city’s eye-catching 15th-century church bell tower.

Kalè polis, meaning beautiful city, is the name ancient Greek mariners bestowed on Gallipoli, with good reason. Situated on a mound, the Old Town with its labyrinth of winding lanes, emerges from the Ionian Sea. It is connected to the mainland and modern Gallipoli via a 17th-century bridge. The area lies on the Salentina Peninsula in the extreme southeast end of Italy, commonly referred to as the heel of the boot. The Salento region was inhabited already in prehistoric times; later centuries were marked by Greek, Norman, Byzantine and Baroque cultures. It is a land of farms, castles, works of art, myths and legends. Many heroic battles were fought; fierce resistance was shown by Gallipoli’s citizens against numerous invaders that included Romans, Vandals, Swabians, Venetians, French and lastly the English in 1809.

Famed for its location on important trading routes, this Saronic Island offers plenty of spice. Revered across Greece for its leading role in the uprising against the Ottomans, Spetses symbolically hoisted the flag of rebellion aloft over the Cathedral of Ayios Nikolaos, back in 1821. Today, the earthy, rustic atmosphere charms all visitors, and you’ll love sitting in quiet cafes, watching as horse-drawn carriages trundle by, and lapping up the peace and quiet in the car-free town.

A romantic arrival, below honey-coloured Venetian fortifications, welcomes you to the historic heart of Rethymnon. Sandwiched between the sprawling city of Heraklion and the pretty old town of Chania, Rethymnon offers history and gorgeous swathes of wide sandy beaches. Delve into the area’s heritage, beauty and mythology – surrounded by legendary caves where Zeus is said to have lived, monasteries that perch on mountain slopes, and gorges that slice through dramatic island scenery. View less

Hours slide past at the beautiful Venetian harbour, where coffee cups are cradled and conversations linger in the sun, as occasional fishing boats bob by. The 1830-40 era lighthouse sparkles in the sunshine nearby, while the overlooking 16th-century fortress is a stunning, fortified highlight. Towering minarets point to the Ottoman influence, among the Venetian flourishes. Rethymnon is one of Crete’s prettiest places, and wandering the old town, soaking in the charm, is a day well spent. Stop off at ivy-tangled cafes in hidden courtyards, and admire colourful, ornate doorways. Wander to the sparkling water of Rimondi fountain, which has quenched the thirst of locals since 1626. To the east, Rethymno Beach unravels with well-maintained facilities and plenty of room to relax or swim in the warm Aegean’s embrace. Episkopi Beach is another leisurely option unwinding to the west. Outside of Rethymnon, farms cultivate olives and grapes on the sunned slopes – best enjoyed with freshly baked bread and a selection of sheep’s cheese. A splash of local raki – a moreish brandy shot – will also go down a treat. Or, dig deep into Crete’s rich archaeological past and Minoan history at Knossos’s ancient city, and the world-class Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum.

If you feel a sense of déjà vu when you arrive in Amorgos, don’t be surprised. The little island in the Cyclades found fame in the late 1980s thanks to Luc Besson’s cult film “The Big Blue”. But movie stars aside (and for anyone who has seen the film, you know we are talking about the dolphins who are the real stars of the show), Amorgos is what everything a Greek island should be.

Think pink bougainvillea climbing up every whitewashed wall and scarlet geraniums spilling out of every blue framed window. Small, friendly cafes line the (labyrinthine, cobbled) streets, beach bars serve tall glasses of ouzo over ice and traditional tavernas serve everything from souvlaki to tzatziki. Amorgos might be most famous however for its lack of mass tourism. You won’t find any wild nightclubs nor luxury boutiques here. Instead you’ll feel the pull of the past with the vestiges of a Minoan city, the beautiful 13-th century Venetian Kastro and its windmills and the 11th century Pangaea Hozoviotissa Monastery. Nature lovers will no doubt be in their element here too: seven main trails connect the villages to each other. Most hikes take around an hour and are considered easy but there are one or two exceptions, so beware! Divers will also be happy; the southern end of the island is home to the famous shipwreck features in The Big Blue. Now rife with algae, it is a prime feeding spot for the local marine life.

A city of legend, civilisation and enduring culture, Athens is a majestic and magical urban sprawl. Extraordinary elegance and grace combine with grit and graft in Greece’s capital, where highways encase ruins from antiquity, and gleaming museums and galleries stand beside concrete sprayed with edgy street art. These contrasts enhance and elevate the wonders of this 2,500-year-old city, however, which can count notable contributions to philosophy, drama and democracy, among its global legacy. Piraeus’ giant port and naval base welcome you to the edge of the Athens’ urban area.

From there it’s a simple jaunt to the centre. The majestic ancient citadel of the Acropolis dominates an elevated platform and is a constant presence as you explore the city. The wonderful remains of the columned temple of the Parthenon – which date back to the 5th century BC – stand here, representing the pinnacle of classical architecture. The nearby Acropolis Museum adds context to your visit and frames the broad views from its giant glass windows. Or rise up Mount Lycabettus, to be rewarded with perhaps Athens’ best panorama of the Acropolis sitting high over the city on its grand stage. See the marble horseshoe of the Old Olympic Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, for more of the city’s enduring legacy. Elsewhere, golden beaches and temples stretch out along the coastline, should you wish to explore a little further afield. Coffee is an art form to the Greeks, and it’s an unwritten rule that coffee time must never be rushed. So prepare to settle down for a couple of hours and lose yourself in a good chat. Feeling hungry – try traditional souvlaki made with sauces handed from generation to generation.