Greece Mainland and Islands

With more than 13 million tourists every year, Greece is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. And it’s not hard to see why. Spotless sands, centuries of history, and traditional sugar-cube towns are just the start of what the country has to offer.

The biggest of the Greek islands is Crete, which boasts 650 miles of coastline and some impressive historical sights. Corfu – AKA the Emerald Isle – is known for its lush interior. Rhodes, meanwhile, gets the prize for the best sunshine record in these parts. As for Kos and Rhodes, they have great beaches and have impressive after-dark scenes. Santorini, Mykonos and Skiathos have all put a cosmopolitan gloss on the classic Greek combination of sun, sea and sand, while Kefalonia and Skopelos offer up beautiful beaches and laid-back towns. Thassos and Samos like to stay out of the spotlight – the beaches here are footprint-free and cypress trees are the only high rises you’ll find.

However, if you want to stay on the mainland, consider Halkidiki or Parga – they’re great springboards for exploring the rest of the country.