Why Milos is unforgettable
Chris Rimell first noticed Milos while flying home from Crete, deciding they must visit next. The island was calm, peaceful, and strikingly beautiful. Milos is the true home of the Aphrodite of Melos, displayed in the Louvre as the Venus de Milo. The northern coast, shaped by volcanic activity, is spectacular, with Sarakiniko beach offering perfect photo opportunities with its white rock.
Chasing waterfalls on the Pelion peninsula
Layla Astley visited the Pelion peninsula in east central Greece, staying at Kastro Studios in Damouchari. They swam in the harbour and off the white pebble beach, snorkelling with fish and crustaceans. A hot walk to Fakistra beach led to a waterfall where her daughter did handstands in the sea. They enjoyed home-cooked meals and strong coffee under a 1,000-year-old plane tree.
Beach boat trips on Symi
Steve took the ferry from Rhodes to Symi, a hidden island in the Dodecanese near Turkey. Each day featured a boat trip to a different beach, like Marathounda Bay with free-ranging goats. Highlights were shaded tavernas serving seafood, salad, and cold Mythos beer.
Strolling around Venetian palazzos on Syros
Rosie explored Syros, the administrative capital of the Cyclades. They strolled around Venetian palazzos and swam off rocks in Ermoupoli. A bus to Galissas beach led to a hike to Agios Stefanos, a chapel in a cave near the sea. Watching the sunset there was magical; the chapel was built by a fisher saved from a giant octopus after praying to Saint Stephen.
The healing power of Hydra
After her mother June died, Dawn's family chose Hydra in the Saronic Gulf. They took a ferry from Piraeus to the Hydroussa hotel. The car-free island offered dips in the clearest seas she’s ever swum in, reading, eating, remembering, and gently healing.
An archaeological gem near Preveza
Gerald Willmore visited the little-known archaeological site of ancient Kassopi near Preveza. The mountainside was covered in wildflowers, with bees, butterflies, and lizards as companions. They had the entire site to themselves, wandering through remains of the city and its third-century BC theatre with an azure sea backdrop. Later, they went dolphin-watching in the Ambracian Gulf and ate Preveza prawns for dinner.
Back in time on Antiparos
Alice stayed on Antiparos for five days instead of a day trip from Paros. The island felt like stepping back decades, with modest beauty and a peaceful aura. They stayed at Statheros Garden and enjoyed morning dips at Panagia beach. Paros is a short ferry away for exploring beyond Antiparos Town and Sifneiko bay.
Amorgos is as epic as in the Big Blue
Ed Simpson travelled to Amorgos after watching The Big Blue countless times. Seeing the 11th-century monastery of Hozoviotissa rise out of the rock face, with Eric Serra's soundtrack in mind, was truly unforgettable.
A true adventure on Kefalonia and Ithaca
Dan Law-Jones visited Kefalonia with his parents as a boy, staying in Fiskardo. A highlight was hiring a motorboat with his father and darting to Ithaca. They ran out of fuel and had to be rescued, but it was a true adventure. His father passed in 2022, and the speedboat memory remains dear.
Winning tip: wildlife deep in the Vikos gorge
Beatrice returned from a road trip in northern Greece, highlighting the Vikos gorge, the deepest in Europe by ratio of depth to width. They saw tortoises and a horned viper, one of Europe’s most venomous snakes. The gorge hosts brown bears, wolves, Egyptian vultures, and wild boar. They enjoyed the tranquility of Voidomatis Springs, a crystal clear pool at the bottom, with water at 4-7°C year round.
