ISSUE 111, APRIL 2023
There are many ways to experience the Greek islands. As a wide-eyed twentysomething, I boarded one of the ships that slowly ferry travellers around the Aegean Sea. Having departed the Athens port of Piraeus on the cheapest ticket I could buy, the five-hour journey to Santorini offered views of endless sea and sky before eventually revealing what I’d been waiting for. The moment the crescent-shaped caldera came into sight from the top deck of the ferry is one that has stayed with me to this day.
Yet Greece remains something of an enigma. From bustling beach resorts to remote mountain idylls, it ’s impossible to sum up the charms of its thousands of islands in a neat sentence. They remain distinct and unique, their individual histories and myths merging seamlessly into modern day life.
This issue, we cast a light on 25 of these outposts, where rocky escarpments, the scent of fragrant herbs and those exquisite soft, sandy beaches coexist with Byzantine monasteries, artist hangouts and world-class wineries.
Most impor tantly, it ’s easy to get off the beaten track on these captivating islands, whatever the season — whether it ’s high up in the hinterland or in a tranquil bay where the sea laps at your feet. And with our guide to the best Greek island escapes, now it ’s even easier to find your own corner to enjoy.
Pat Riddell, editor
EDITOR OF THE YEAR – TRAVEL (BSME AWARDS 2022) NATGEOTRAVELUK
AWARD-WINNING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER
AITO Travel Writer of the Year 2022 • Best US Travel Destination Article — 2022 IPW Travel Writer Awards
• Travel Content Award (Gold): VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022 • AITO Young Travel Writer of the Year 2021 • LATA Media Awards 2020: Online Consumer Feature of the Year Award • Travel Media
