At the Heart of the Greek Islands

Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint John Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas.

With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites all to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the center of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches and its large walkways, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

A simply ravishing gem in the Dodecanese, Symi is located northwest of Rhodes. This island of cypress forests, vineyards and olive orchards possesses a capital city of the same name that is as colorful as the surrounding countryside. The charm of the port district of Gialos is not to be missed: its quaysides are lined with picturesque houses with multi-colored facades. Get to the upper town by car or climb the 500 steps up the Kali Strata ramp. The second option offers superb viewing points of the coast and gorgeous turquoise waters.

The spectacular volcanic island of Santorini stands out proud in the Cyclades. Its basalt cliffs offer particularly expansive views of the Aegean. To enjoy these views, head for the capital, Fira. Its floral belvederes of bougainvillea provide a bird’s-eye view of several thousand feet of coastline. Further away, the gorgeous village of Oia looks like a stairway of blue and white houses on the slopes of the volcano. In the south of the island, visit the stunning ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city destroyed by an eruption and covered with a thick layer of lava stone.

It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, “The Big Blue.” Fall under the charm of this island as the ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call offers the chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.

Sailing in the waters of Santorini caldera is breathtaking. The gigantic scale of the unique setting and the majesty of the high cliffs surrounding this ancient crater that was flooded in 2000 years B.C., is one of the highlights of the cruise. From the ship, the colorful whites, greys and reds of the volcanic rocks, the blue of the Aegean Sea and the immaculate perched villages, form a unique and marvelous spectacle.

It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, “The Big Blue.” Fall under the charm of this island as the ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call offers the chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.

Although Milos is especially renowned for the famous statue of Venus found in a field there and now displayed in the Louvre in Paris, this mineral island is also a geological treasure. Its volcanic origin is evident in its breathtaking landscapes and the colors of its cliffs, ranging from pure white to deep red. You’ll discover the wild beauty of the shorelines lined with the most beautiful beaches in Greece from a ship deck, and you’ll enjoy privileged access to emerald-green coves. Tiny fishing ports like Adamas hide there, with brightly-painted doors and terraces. Milos is a charming port of call in the heart of the Cyclades.

The legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will amaze. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island, is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, make discovery after discovery against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theater steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.

Nicknamed Little Venice, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multicolored loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. Get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside,see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian center, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. Weave in and out of the little streets and snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.

The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Do not be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. Be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colorful streets and where, in the evenings, the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle the taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.