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Turn off the main Chania-Rethymno road at Paleloni, and you will find the road winds down for a mile or so into a picture-postcard bay. This taverna is right on the bay, offering the freshest fish, an upmarket Cretan wine list, and views of the sea from every table. A deservedly popular spot.
Near Paleloni, Chania, Crete
High above Crete's Lasithi Plateau is this extraordinary late Minoan site, slung across a strategic mountain pass with views to the sea below. It's a steep 30-minute walk up from the nearest road - though when I visited, I saw a man shepherding his goats on the plain below from inside his 4x4. The site was excavated by John Pendlebury, the archaeologist, whose grave you can see at the Allied War Cemetery at Soudha Bay.
Near Tzermiado village, Lasithi, Crete;
The much overlooked islands in the northern Sporades are like stepping stones leading out into the azure waters of the Aegean National Marine Park, each one less inhabited than the other.
The largest island, Skiathos, hosts the only airport and once landed you should quickly make your way to the more beautiful and less touristy, Skopelos. Once there I would recommend making the exhausting climb through Skopelos Town to "Anatoli" restaurant where the views are breathtaking and the food is sumptuous - all accompanied by traditional rembetika music.
If possible travel by boat to the other islands; the sleepy Greek island of Alonissos with it's crystalline waters and hidden coves; the tranquil monastery at Kyra Panagia inhabited only by monks and male donkeys and the flat volcanic island of Psathoura hiding the underwater ruins of a lost city.
Fly direct to Skiathos and take one of the daily Flying Dolphin boats or a high-speed catamaran to the islands of Skopelos or Alonissos. Alternatively, hydrofoils go directly to the islands from either Athens or Thessaloniki;
www.skopelos.net
A restaurant on the main square in Lindos that serves up amazing food. It is rumoured that Jackie Onassis once dined there!
Main square, Lindos
A local winery that offers free tastings.
Tel: 30 22410 62575
www.cair.gr/indexeng.html
A great place to tuck into traditional fish dishes in Rhodes Town.
8 Menekleus Street, Old Town, Rhodes
www.fotisgroup.com
My top tip is to head to Rhodes Town early in the morning before the tourist rush. Make your way around the Old Town in peace - visiting the Grand Master's Palace and Archealogical Museum.
Egiali, at the top of the island, is extremely quiet and friendly with just a couple of shops and a handful of restaurants. There are decent rooms and a really good campsite to stay in, all within 5 minutes of a quiet beach with good swimming.
There is a lovely morning's triangular walk to the two nearest villages, Tholaria and Langada. Katarina restaurant in Langada serves THE BEST TARAMASALATA ON THE PLANET.
You can get boats directly from Piraeus to Katapola at the south of the island. Egiali Camping sends a minibus on spec and I'm sure a lot of the private rooms in Egiali do too. You can get the 'Skopelitis Express' from Naxos straight to Egiali, but it is slow.
This slightly mad but safe village with labyrinthine streets offers stunning views of the Acropolis of Lindos.
Visited in 1999 and it was by far the best restaurant on the Island. Situated in the Old Port, it's a little bit more expensive, but then it's not your average greek grub. Well worth a visit.
Fiskardo is a small (by British standards) local fishing port on the northern point of Kefalonia. With good restaurants and a good-quality chandlers at the far end of the port, it's very easy to spend a day relaxing there. The restaurants on the whole serve excellent traditional Greek and Kefalonian dishes.
Fiskardo is very popular in August, and is quietest at the beginning and end of the season. There's plenty to do, and plenty of seats if you just want to sit. There are also boats to nip across to Ithaka for some calamari, and a ferry to take you to the nearby islands.
It’s my favourite place in Kefalonia - I have often found myself spending a whole day there watching the world go by, enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner with a few Mythos in between.
50km north of Argostoli. Catch a bus from there, or a ferry from Lefkada or Ithaki. N.B: The bus drops you off in a carpark. Walk down the steps to the left of the church and go straight ahead to get into the town.
Lovely town, despite being the capital. Stroll along the quayside in the evening and enjoy good and plentiful food at reasonable prices in the many tavernas.
In the day wander over to Loutsa beach (20 minutes easy walk). Nice bar, ice-cold beer and good beach food, sheltered cove providing good swimming. If you fancy something more substantial try Dennes (the Australian) which you pass going to or from the beach. Good food with lovely views towards Vathy.
You need a car to get to the lovely Skinos or Sarakiniko beaches. If you go to Skinos take the footpath over the hills to Gidaki beach on the east coast; a delightful walk with stunning views as you climb.
Bus service runs twice-daily between Kioni and Vathy (though not during school holidays), and taxis can be expensive, so it's best to hire your own transport.
A real caricature of a Greek beach village. Wide, clean, sandy beach. Good self-catering accommodation, limited choice in the Tavernas. Nothing doing, so just get there, slow down, then stop.
South-west of the island. Catch a bus from Kamares to Apollonia, and then a bus to Vathy, or get a taxi from Kamares harbour (about 10 euros);
www.greektravel.com/sifnos/vathy.html
North-west Crete - particularly the Apokoronos plain - is beautiful: good beaches with gorgeous views of the White Mountains. The national road makes travelling across the north of the island easy and safe. Good access to Xania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Knossos. Kalives, Almerida and Plaka all make good beach holiday bases. Or for somewhere more secluded go up into the mountain villages.
Crete is big enough to have plenty to offer: culture, historical sites, stunning gorges and mountains, and probably one of the best beaches ever at Elafonissi (south-west Crete, but it can be crowded at peak times).
Of all the Greek Islands visited we've found Cretans to be the friendliest and most hospitable people. Greeks are generally very friendly, but we found Cretans to be exceptionally so.
The island's 'capital' is the perfect place to sit and have a coffee surrounded by mountain peaks and sea. The backstreets have excellent estiatoria (restaurants).
Bus service runs twice-daily between Kioni and Vathy (though not during school holidays), and taxis can be expensive, so it's best to hire your own transport.
Cephalonia is a dream: permanently surrounded by low clouds on the horizon, you feel as if you are suspended in the air, on an island floating in heaven. The coastline is breathtaking and the northern coast is perhaps the most fantastic: sounds pretentious, but driving, walking, biking the northern coastline is a transcendental experience.
The main Volcanic eruption in Santorini which is disputed to be some time around 1630 BC, is said to have been the downfall of the Minoan civilisation flourishing at that point upon the island. The ruins of this fascinating society can be seen at Akrotiri, which is on the south side of the island.
The capital, Fira, sits above the caldera, which was produced by this eruption, a sheer drop of between 500 and 900 ft. At the very edge of the caldera are a number of cafes and restaurants, some of which serve cake as lovely as the view.
From this location one attempts to visualise the way in which Santorini appeared prior to the main eruption, when it was one large island, as opposed to it’s present form of two main islands, a volcanic island, and a number of smaller ones in between.
The view from the top of the caldera is unquestionably breathtaking, yet serene in its beauty. Not recommended for those who have other things to do that day, as you will probably want to stay for seconds, and possibly thirds.
Boats sail daily from Piraeus to the port at Fira;
www.santorini.com;
www.travel-to-santorini.com;
www.santorini.net;
Head to Samothraki if you are tired of overdeveloped resorts, filled with drunken revellers, and you'd rather spend your time in peace while enjoying the mediterranean climate.
Samothraki offers you a quiet stay, a beautiful natural environment and some good local cuisine. Since the only tourists who visit with any regularity are Greeks, prices are low too. The hotels are generally cheap, clean and well-kept with no frills.
If you are on Paros in August don’t miss the festival on the 15th, when everyone with anything vaguely seaworthy heads out into the bay armed with flares and fireworks for the Festival of the Panagia.
www.worldeventsguide.com/event.ehtml?o=3062;
www.parosweb.com
The food and ambience at Levantis restaurant in the old market street of Parikia are worth visiting Paros for alone.
Market Street, Parikia;
tel: (22840) 23613;
For directions see www.parosweb.com/paros-goingout/restaurants/levantis/index.html
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