Fusina (Venice) → Piraeus (Athens) (21 nights)

Delve into ancient palaces, century-old galleries, and modern-day exhibits as you whirl through Venice. Walk through masterpieces, catch an opera, gaze at medieval buildings, blow Murano glass and drift down the Grand Canal by gondola to visit churches, convents and campi “squares” that vary in spirit and scale. Cross hump-backed bridges, reach teeming Piazza San Marco’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, or duck down passages to escape reality. From palazzos to perfumeries and the must-see Bridge of Sighs, you’re only moments from a place of beauty in this liquid-gold city of treasures.

Head back in time through impressive walls and city gates to a treasure trove of architecture and natural beauty. Hike, ride or climb through an enchanting heartland of national parks; cruise up pine-cloaked rivers, swim under a crescent of cascades and spot sapphire dragonflies over emerald pools. Dance across the Monument to the Sun, follow whispers to remote turquoise shallows and hear the rhythm of the ocean from an underwater Sea Organ. Visit the Venetian towers, atmospheric wells and a superbly carved Romanesque Cathedral or climb a bell tower with far-reaching views. Infused in sunshine, Venetian charm and (according to Hitchcock) the world's best sunset - intriguing Zadar is a cultural gem resplendent.

Marvel at this chic walled city paved with a wealth of aristocratic palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter grand Pile Gate to lose yourself in intricate alleys, stage-set squares, museums and baroque churches. Ease out of town to kayak around sturdy ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in the Konavle countryside, and visit archaic Cavtat and history-packed Mostar. Escape the crowds to cacti-clad Lokrum for a spot of yoga and botanical walking, or join in to graze at trendy restaurants on the rocks. It’s no wonder the glitterati flock to the strength of this charming and inspiring medieval Dalmatian marvel.

Revel in a heady mix of Ionian landmarks amid spirit-boosting views. Sit beneath the iconic Liston arches in the atmospheric Old Town, span Spianada Square where skinny streets radiate off past churches and cross the moat to the Old Fortress. Slip into homey tavernas where chefs work meze finesse, skip aboard a caique, mountain bike, horse ride or shop ceramics. Head for staggering Paleokastritsa views strewn with pines, firs and sleepy Corfiot villages, bird spot in lush wetlands and climb Mount Pantokrator to capture rare icons. An enticing and scenic jaunt through an eternal Greek classic.

Volos deals a perfect blend of architectural gems, scented archaic landscapes and beach-fringed salty bays. Discover treasures in the mythical home of Jason and the Argonauts before bearing off to Pelion, homeland of the mythical Centaurs. Zig zag through a network of old cobbled donkey tracks linking villages and wander a botanist’s dream of eucalyptus, fruit trees and thyme-scented woodland. Dip in blissfully quiet Pagasitic waters, bring history to life on gorge and bridge crossing Moutzouris and paddle past secluded coves into eerie sea caves and the Secret School. Visit Damouchari for a riot of bougainvillea and silvery olive trees, Tsagarada for the oldest plane tree in Greece and Milies for murals and absurd acoustics. This playground of the gods remains a quiet memory of Greek gone by - the Centaurs have protected it well.

Breeze into a beguiling mix of vintage and modern, awash with a thriving art, culture and history scene. Crowded with museums dedicated to the past plus an extraordinary 15 UNESCO sites – there’s much to learn. Admire ramparts built to last; the impressive Galerius Palace, the beautiful domed multi-serving Rotunda, a bevy of Byzantine churches and the curious 15th century White Tower. Dig deeper into the past to trace pre-historic times at the Archaeological Museum. Rove around Ladadika narrow streets and charming squares that emit a Parisian air, absorb Greek produce in the Market’s holy halls and soak up modern art on the lively waterfront. Raise hairs at Heptapyrgion, take coffee in Aristotelous Square or head out of town to peer at Alexander the Great’s birthplace in Pella and Vergina’s royal tombs. Perfectly poised on the placid Thermaic Gulf, Thessaloniki brings past and present together in remarkable harmony.

If you start early, you’ll have Mykonos to yourself. Stroll narrow streets famous for Cycladic architecture and getting lost; white-washed cubed buildings, alluring boutiques, orthodox churches and traditional windmills. Join glitterati guests at elegant events on iconic beaches, sink into saltwater pools, tour vineyards and dance at bars where beats evolve in tempo (and volume). When the heat of the day dies down, drop into the sacred isle of Delos to explore remarkable ruins; amphitheatres, temples, public squares, marketplaces and shrines to Greek Gods. Take a table in central Chora for perfectly-cooked, local dishes with generous views; mounds of flaky filo, Greek salads, halloumi and sea urchin, washed down with freddo. When the sun sets, head for a signature sundowner with views across the ocean. After dark, follow the fun to legendary bars and clubs. Progressive and profoundly beautiful.

This horseshoe-shaped island at the outer edge of the Cyclades is where Venus de Milo was unearthed in 1820 – the unexpected bounty of a local farmer that now sits in the Louvre and remains one of the world’s greatest antiquities. Visitors here might find the ruins of the Hellenistic marble amphitheatre and 1st-century catacombs just as compelling, whilst others will be drawn to the island’s wild and colourful landscape, from hot springs, mines and volcanoes to rocky hillsides coloured russet, pink and orange. Of the 78 beaches, Sarakiniko’s white rocks sculpted by wind and waves lend it a lunar quality, whilst others proffer volcanic sands, sea caves and rock arches, each home to crystalline waters. Climb to the castle ruins in the hilltop capital Plaka for sunset views.

Neat Nafplio, one of Greece’s most romantic cities, leads us to the UNESCO dotted Peloponnese Peninsula. Namesake of Poseidon’s son, this rakish retreat is a dream to discover with its medieval old town, castle ramparts, and cafés lining Syntagma Square. Further afield, we vault into vestiges belonging to Bronze Age kings: colossal Mycenae fortress with its 14m (46ft) wide walls; the perfectly acoustic Epidaurus amphitheatre; and wedge-like Corinth Canal which was 2,500 years in the making.

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.

Syros might be just across the water from Mykonos, but this snug island feels a world away from its hedonism. But this is no sleepy backwater: arrive at the capital Ermoupoli, once the mercantile heart of the Aegean, to find an elegant neo-classical enclave humming with real Greek hustle and bustle. Wander wide boulevards sparkling with Cyclades marble to Vaporia, a chic pocket with the best-preserved merchant palaces, the waterfront cafes of Little Venice and the Apollo Theatre, known as La Piccola Scala. Climb to Ano Syros, the scenic hilltop village settled by 13th-century Venetians and crowned by San Giorgio cathedral or seek the island’s fishing villages upon sandy shores and quiet coves cradled by forests.

Unveil picturesque Paros' unadorned charms from ancient remains to traditional tavernas and sweet villages and blue-domed churches to a bounty of blonde-sand beaches. Head out to Parikia to find the awe-inspiring AD326 Byzantine monastery or take a ferry across to explore caves in the rugged natural beauty of Antiparos. Walk through the island's ancient archaeological history at the tiny museum and lose yourself in the labyrinth of lanes at the old Venetian port of Náoussa. Banish any tension on a sunlounger, then breeze through home-cooked mezze feasts in white-washed tavernas. Windsurf, kite-surf, dive, swim au naturel and enjoy a network of walking trails. Somehow Páros has managed to preserve more of the soft spirit than some of her Cyclade cousins.

Set along a sunlit harbour on the island of Kefalonia, Argostoli welcomes with a gentle rhythm shaped by sea and light. Along the waterfront, fishing boats drift and loggerhead turtles glide beneath the surface, while shaded squares and cafés invite unhurried moments. Beyond the town, the island reveals its wonders—from the luminous blues of Myrtos Beach to the underground stillness of Melissani Cave, where sunlight dances on hidden waters. In Argostoli, nature’s beauty and island life come together in effortless harmony.

Comely Kotor Bay, a lesser-travelled amphitheatre etched into the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, welcomes with hypnotic jade waters encircled by emerald-crowned slopes. Sheltered in the fjord’s angelic embrace, Kotor Old Town beckons as a fairy-tale city whose formidable walls, Romanesque churches and medieval bastions have witnessed the highs and lows of masked carnivals and devastating earthquakes. Italian and Mediterranean influences flavour the cuisine, where gelato and brodetto accompany fresh Adriatic seafood. Uphill, the Church of our Lady of Remedy affords spectacular views of Kotor’s red-tiled UNESCO World Heritage rooftops, a manmade jewel amongst landscapes where the inspired will wander.

Stroll into Bari Vecchia, an atmospheric tangle of medieval streets, Romanesque churches, Baroque palaces and Greek, Roman and Norman history. Amidst nonnas rolling their orecchiette, pause at the basilica, housing the relics of Saint Nicholas, the 1170 cathedral, the Norman fortress and the harbour-front theatre, where Pavarotti and Nureyev performed. Head south to find numerous fine beaches (amongst the best in Italy) dotted with countless coves and bays, particularly in pretty Polignano a Mare. Puglia’s capital is an easy catapult to the region’s famous trulli in Alberobello, the UNESCO town with 1500 conical houses or choose to make your way to cinematic Matera, where the limestone cliffs are peppered in ancient caves, many now masquerading as chic restaurants.

Ancient ruins, picturesque beaches and Ottoman castles dot the landscape of southern Albania, an open-air museum reclaimed by nature. You’ll want to linger longer in the UNESCO-protected ruins within Butrint National Park, where Roman mosaics and Greek columns lie half-consumed by coastal forest. Time slows in Gjirokaster, the Ottoman-era City of Stone and its hilltop castle, whose unhurried charm is matched only by the swirling sapphire waters of Blue Eye spring.

Dreamily sail into Santorini when others leave. Romantic, exuberant and pure; roam one of the world’s most enchanting islands as you enjoy breathtaking scenery, rock-set whitewashed houses, paved paths, sugar white sand, black beaches and terracotta cliffs. Experience the many geological and architectural delights; blue-domed churches, an active volcano, excavate with experts and cover the caldera between cliff-hanging Oia and Fira. Glide through sapphire seas in a catamaran, taste local wine, eat freshly-caught seafood, break plates and shop elegant boutiques. Then settle in for a slow moonlit dinner high on a hilltop, just in time for the world-famous sunset.

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.