Kastoria, perched on the edge of a serene lake in northern Greece, is a city that feels like it’s been paused in time. Famous for its Byzantine churches—over 70 survive within the city—it was once a thriving hub of fur trade and craftsmanship, giving it a wealth and charm reflected in its well-preserved mansions along the lakefront. The old town climbs the hillsides with narrow cobbled streets, where Ottoman-era architecture blends with neoclassical homes, and the lake mirrors the surrounding mountains for a picture-perfect setting. Kastoria is a place of quiet elegance, where history, natural beauty, and a sense of timelessness meet. 

What a great little town and spectacular views! Spectacular.

Litochoro is a small town on the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus in northern Greece, and it has long been the gateway to the legendary home of the Greek gods. Its history is closely tied to the mountain itself: the town has served as a base for pilgrims, climbers, and travellers since ancient times. In the 19th century, Litochoro became a centre of resistance during the Greek War of Independence, with locals supporting revolutionary efforts against Ottoman rule. Today, it retains a traditional Greek mountain-town charm, with cobbled streets, neoclassical houses, and a backdrop of dramatic peaks, making it both a historical hub and a starting point for exploring the myths and natural beauty of Olympus. 

Athens - I love it. In fact it was love at first sight! Its a city that blends ancient history with modern life, and it’s easy to see why so many, like me, fall in love with it. The city takes its name from Athena, the daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom and war, whose spirit still seems to hover over the streets and hills. At the heart of Athens rises the Acropolis, home to iconic structures like the Parthenon and the smaller Temple of Athena Nike, a reconstructed Ionic temple adorned with intricate sculptures celebrating victory and devotion. The Ionic order, one of the three classical Greek architectural styles alongside Doric and Corinthian, l contrasts with the more robust lines of the Parthenon.  

The only thing I didn't love was the transport strike that happened on, what should have been, our ferry trip to Syros. But it did mean I could go down to the beach area of Athens on the tram. It was divine..... until I tried to get back before the industrial action came into force at 5pm. That's when things got ugly and I got stranded!

This little blonde traveller was excited. Island hopping in Greece is something people dream about and this was about to be mine. The excitment got to me and I was awake from 2am. It was a long night of watching movies until our 6.15am group meeting. Suffice to say I was out of my room and downstairs by 5.45am. Yep, I was excited.

The taxi run to the port was a surprise in itself. The streets by my hotel apparently moonlight as a neon-lit collection of sex clubs (oh hello) but Piraeus is the real show. I knew it was big, but the scale is something else: ferries lined up like a maritime catwalk. FastFerry, Hellenic Seaways, Aegean Speed Lines, Blue Star (my vessel of transport ), all glowing under the floodlights, all looking ready to whisk people off to islands they can’t pronounce.

Ferry travel from Piraeus is actually brilliant once you’re aboard. You’ve got everything from slow, scenic giants to high-speed catamarans, with sailings to pretty much every corner of the Aegean. It’s organised chaos, but it works - just don’t expect anyone to baby you. And absolutely don’t leave your bag unattended; travelling without my wonderful companion from my last trip left me painfully aware of my bladder weakness and my lack of a trusted lookout.

An hour in, three to go, and I finally settled into ferry life. By 11.30 we docked, and by noon I was checked into the hotel on Syros; mildly sleep-deprived, thoroughly caffeinated, and very pleased with myself for surviving a 2am start.

Syros is the understated beauty of the family. Ermoupoli has neoclassical charm for days, marble streets, pastel buildings, little lanes that twist just enough to keep things interesting, and none of the “I must fight twenty influencers for a photo” nonsense. It feels lived-in, real, elegant — the sort of island where you can exhale properly.  Just bliss....

We had an outstanding dinner at Mitsos, perched high on the island with views that honestly stopped us mid-sentence. As the sun dropped, the white buildings glowed, Ermoupoli lit up, and the churches appeared like beacons — absolutely stunning. Our amazing guide had sorted everything, including transport and a spread of dishes: three salads, a baked cheese masterpiece, and some ridiculously good red-pepper-ish fritters with tzatziki. Mains ranged from liver and chips to pork with mash, beef cheek with pasta, and spicy little sliders — all superb. We finished with a glass of masticha, that fragrant tree-sap liqueur made only on Chios, and it was the perfect end to an unforgettable night.  Dinner there is a must.

But note to self,  when you talk the group into "one for the road" don't go drinking in biker bars! 

Mykonos is unapologetically divine. The classic Cycladic white cubes, the tangled laneways, the blue doors, the windmills (yes) all exactly as pretty as Instagram wants you to believe, except in real life you’re dodging cruise-ship day-trippers like some kind of quaint, nautical obstacle course. Still, the place works. It’s beautiful, outrageous, and strangely impossible not to love, even when you’re elbow-to-elbow with three thousand people who all arrived ten minutes ago.   The waterfront bars and the windmills (yes!) are things not to be missed.  I loved it here. 

A quick 45 minute hop from Old Town Mykonos lands you on the old UNESCO site of the Island of Delos. This is the island where gods were supposedly born and mortals got rich.

According to Greek mythology, Apollo and Artemis entered the world here, which made Delos the most sacred spot in the Aegean for centuries. Estimated 700 to 100 BC, the Romans turned it into a trading powerhouse (and a rather shady slave market), so let’s just say its history swings from divine to dubious.

These days, no one lives there. There's no hotels, no cafes, just a few hundred cats. The ancient ruins, marble lions keeping watch, and sea views that remind you why the gods picked this postcode. You can only visit by ferry from Mykonos, but it’s absolutely worth the trip. Think of it as Mykonos’ serious older sibling with less champagne but more civilisation.

This was followed by dinner at Baboulos, sitting on the seashore of the old town, sampling a fusion of Greek and Italian cuisine with a seafood focus. Unfortunately the tourists were in from the ships and town was busy - for us. But not for the locals who view the 2,000 tourists scornfully and long for the 25k ++ each evening in the height of summer season.  Really?

Santorini really is the drama queen of the Greek Islands but in the best possible way. Those luminous white towns spilling down volcanic cliffs… honestly, there’s no bad angle. Oia and Fira are spectacular they almost don’t look real and from the sea look like snow topped hills! But yes, the cruise ships do roll in, and suddenly you’re sharing the world's most romantic sunset with half of Western Europe with a huge dollop of US tourists too. Doesn’t matter. You’ll still gasp, still take too many photos, and still forgive Santorini for being over-loved and over-priced because it really is that good.