Greece simply seems built for holidays. With its treasure trove of beaches , informal, family-embracing culture and dazzling summer sunshine, it rarely disappoints. A large, sprawling nation, it comprises 110,496 square kilometres of (largely underrated and under-visited) mainland, plus 227 inhabited islands – not to mention thousands more uninhabited islets.
You could go back dozens of times and barely scratch the surface – especially if, like most Grecophiles, you find one place that suits you perfectly and end up going back. When tourists think of the mainland, they usually picture Athens – one of Europe’s great culture capitals, with millennia-old ruins peppered around smart or hip neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, “ Greek islands ” conjures a travel-brochure image of sugar-cube houses and dramatic, charcoal-grey cliffs, a look that’s specific to the Cycladic islands.
Other island groups have a different feel, many richer in dense pine forests or golden-sand beaches, though you’ll find classic Greek cuisine and warm hospitality all over. Here’s where to start. Greece ’s handsome capital is a must-do city break that works at any time of year – but if you go from May to October, you’ll also find ferries from its Piraeus port, making it easy to tack on a beach or nature break.
Read more: How to spend a day in Piraeus, Athens’ rejuvenated seaside neighbourhood Most of the ancient Greek sites are based on and around the Acropolis Hill, so for very short brea.