Greece

Greece occupies the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, between the Ionian and Aegean seas. The mainland is largely mountainous — the Pindus range runs through it and Mount Olympus is the country’s highest peak — and in the south it gives way to the Peloponnese. Hundreds of islands surround it: the Cyclades with Santorini and Mykonos, the Dodecanese with Kos and Rhodes, the green Ionian islands of Corfu and Zakynthos, and Crete, the largest of them all.

This is where European history begins: the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi, Mycenae, Sparta and Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. Alongside them lie sand and pebble beaches, the three peninsulas of Halkidiki near Thessaloniki, and a cuisine built on fish, seafood, vegetables and olive oil.

The coast and islands have a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters, with the south coast of Crete the warmest corner of the country. The beach season runs from May to October, while spring and autumn suit journeys to the ancient sites. Greece appeals to couples, families with children, lovers of history and anyone after an unhurried island escape.