Blessed Isles and 
Turquoise Coasts

Spetses is a petite Elysium, a glamorous utopia draped in the scent of pine and sea, where sophistication dances with serenity. This car-free idyll, dubbed the "island of perfumes", lures business tycoons, celebrities, and cosmopolitan Athenians who slip into its embrace with quiet anonymity. Here, horse-drawn carriages clop alongside bicycles and mopeds, weaving through sun-dappled lanes to sandy beaches and secluded bays. The isle is famous for neoclassical mansions, its pivotal role in the 1821 Greek War of Independence, and regattas for both yachts and traditional caiques. It is an atmospheric elixir, blending aristocratic allure with natural beauty and laid-back elegance.

Greece’s most glamorous playground, Mykonos, is a magnet for its whitewashed villas and shared celebrations against a Cycladic sunset. Lose yourself in Chora's labyrinth of sugar-cube homes and twisting alleys that once were escape routes during pirate raids. Wander the heavenly Panagia Paraportiani, an iconic, blue-domed cathedral, join bronzed bodies at meditative spaces, or view Delos from the ageless Agios Ioannis Beach. During the golden hour, sip a sundowner in Little Venice, then continue the celebration at a contemporary agora where music, art and mindfulness shape the dawning of a new day. 

The exquisite tiny "jewel of the Dodecanese", Symi sparkles with castaway coves and a picture-perfect port. Glorious Gialos is a gem with a clear, deep sapphire harbor surrounded by row-upon-row of 18th-century neoclassical mansions, painted in every hue of apricot and orange. Find a sensational little taverna to enjoy flash-fried baby shrimp in the company of locals and the yacht set. For adventure, seek out ravishing beaches like Agios Giorgos Dysalona, framed by towering cliffs, or Marathounda, where friendly goats might amble onto the shore, both reachable by boat or spirited hike. Step lightly inside the Monastery of Archangel Michael, set against the tranquil Gulf of Panormos, to marvel at its baroque bell tower and the revered silver icons. Symi tugs on your soul.

The Turkish Riviera's posh playground for yachts, Göcek Marina gleams along the Turquoise Coast. Nestled in the Gulf of Fethiye and backed by pine-clad hills, the marina hums with understated glamour, petite boutiques and waterfront cafés. Just offshore await a constellation of tiny isles only accessible by boat, including one where, legend has it, Cleopatra and Antony would swim. Swim, snorkel and hike among the ruins, enjoying a true haven of sea and nature.

A bounteous island of mythical volcanic beauty, Milos captivates with its raw, otherworldly views. An isle of color and turquoise coves where time and tide carve dramatic cliffs into a surreal dreamscape. Wander the lunar-like expanse of Sarakiniko Beach with its white pumice rocks then find fishermen's boathouses in Klima, painted in colors of the rainbow. Stroll through Plaka where whitewashed alleys twist past quaint tavernas to a hilltop castle offering panoramic views of the gulf. Delve into history at the Ancient Catacombs near Trypiti, a subterranean marvel, or explore marble quarries from where Venus de Milo came into being. Sail to Kleftiko's sea caves, steeped in pirate lore and unwind at Firopotamos's olive-fringed cove. Milos is a geologic wonder twined with a mythical escape.

Fall under Athens' Grecian spell, where a grand rhapsody of antiquity meets avant-garde elegance. Ascend the Acropolis at golden hour, Parthenon's marble aglow over olive slopes, its Periclean legacy vivid in the Acropolis Museum, trace Socrates' debates in the ancient Agora, or the Lyceum's whispers of Plato and Aristotle. Sip freddo espresso in the best neighborhoods: meander couture ateliers in Kolonaki or pulse through Plaka's bougainvillea-veiled lanes and Monastiraki bazaars. Finally, peel back the layers of Athen's maritime history in Piraeus, the conduit that has consistently linked the Cradle of Civilization to the world.