Glamorous Mykonos is the most popular of the Cyclades islands, well known as a haunt of the rich and the famous. It’s also the gateway to the nearby island of Delos, home to one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

The bustling port of Volos sits on the site of the ancient city of Iolkos, the mythological home of Jason and the Argonauts. The modern city has plenty of interesting museums and churches, along with a pleasant waterfront lined with restaurants.

Greece’s bustling second city has a rich history, shaped by Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, and was once home to a large Jewish community. Sadly many of Thessaloniki’s historic buildings were destroyed by a fire in 1917, but the famous White Tower survives, along with the city’s vibrant, multicultural spirit.

Istanbul is the place where East meets West, where Asia Minor reaches out across the Bosphorus and almost touches Europe, and the city remains a bristling, bustling cultural melting pot, the skyline dotted with magnificent minarets and domes.

Sun-kissed Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, is steeped in history; the medieval heart of Rhodes Town was once home to the crusading Knights of St John, and later fell to the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The hillside village of Lindos, with its pretty whitewashed houses, is another highlight.

The volcanic island of Santorini (known officially as Thira) is one of the most spectacularly beautiful in the Mediterranean. The pretty village of Oia, with its whitewashed houses and windmills tumbling down the hillside, is particularly photogenic.