Day 1 - Piraeus

Piraeus, Greece: It's no wonder that all roads lead to the fascinating and maddening metropolis of Athens. Lift your eyes 200 feet above the city to the Parthenon, its honey-coloured marble columns rising from a massive limestone base, and you behold architectural perfection that has not been surpassed in 2,500 years. But today, this shrine of classical form dominates a 21st-century boomtown. To fully experience Athens—Athína in Greek—is to understand the essence of Greece: ancient monuments surviving in a sea of cement, startling beauty amid the squalor, tradition juxtaposed with modernity. Locals depend on humour and flexibility to deal with the chaos; you should do the same. The rewards are immense. Although Athens covers a huge area, the major landmarks of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods are close to the modern city centre. You can easily walk from the Acropolis to many other key sites, taking time to browse shops and relax in cafés and tavernas along the way. From many quarters of the city, you can glimpse "the glory that was Greece" in the form of the Acropolis looming above the horizon, but only by actually climbing that rocky precipice can you feel the impact of the ancient settlement. The Acropolis and Filopappou, two craggy hills sitting side by side; the ancient Agora (marketplace); and Kerameikos, the first cemetery, form the core of ancient and Roman Athens. Along the Unification of Archaeological Sites promenade, you can follow stone-paved, tree-lined walkways from site to site, undisturbed by traffic. Cars have also been banned or reduced in other streets in the historical centre. In the National Archaeological Museum, vast numbers of artefacts illustrate the many millennia of Greek civilisation; smaller museums such as the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine and Christian Museum illuminate the history of particular regions or periods. Athens may seem like one huge city, but it is really a conglomeration of neighbourhoods each with distinctive characters. The Eastern influences that prevailed during the 400-year rule of the Ottoman Empire are still evident in Monastiraki, the bazaar area near the foot of the Acropolis. On the northern slope of the Acropolis, stroll through Plaka (if possible by moonlight), an area of tranquil streets lined with renovated mansions, to get the flavour of the 19th-century's gracious lifestyle. The narrow lanes of Anafiotika, a section of Plaka, thread past tiny churches and small, colour-washed houses with wooden upper stories, recalling a Cycladic island village. In this maze of winding streets, vestiges of the older city are everywhere: crumbling stairways lined with festive tavernas; dank cellars filled with wine vats; occasionally a court or diminutive garden, enclosed within high walls and filled with magnolia trees and the flaming trumpet-shaped flowers of hibiscus bushes. Formerly run-down old quarters, such as Thission, Gazi, and Psirri, popular nightlife areas filled with bars and mezedopoleia (similar to tapas bars), are now in the process of gentrification, although they still retain much of their original charm, as does the colourful produce and meat market on Athinas. The area around Syntagma Square, the tourist hub, and Omonia Square, the commercial heart of the city about 1 km (½ mi) northwest, is distinctly European, having been designed by the court architects of King Otho, a Bavarian, in the 19th century. The chic shops and bistros of ritzy Kolonaki nestle at the foot of Mt. Lycabettus, Athens's highest hill (909 feet). Each of Athens's outlying suburbs has a distinctive character: in the north is wealthy, tree-lined Kifissia, once a summer resort for aristocratic Athenians, and in the south and southeast lie Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni, with their sandy beaches, seaside bars, and lively summer nightlife. Just beyond the city's southern fringes is Piraeus, a bustling port city of waterside fish tavernas and Saronic Gulf views.

Day 2 - At Sea

A Day of Relaxation: Spend a day easing into your holiday by taking advantage of the amenities on board. Enjoy a day of leisure, perhaps indulging in a spa treatment, attending a seminar, or simply basking in the sea breeze as you sail towards your next destination.

Day 3 - Rhodes

Rhodes, Greece: Early travellers described Rhodes as a town of two parts: a castle or high town (Collachium) and a lower city. Today, Rhodes town—sometimes referred to as Ródos town—still embodies this duality: the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site that incorporates both the high town and lower city, and the modern metropolis, or New Town, which spreads away from the protective walls that surround the Old Town. The narrow streets of the Old Town are mostly closed to cars and are lined with Orthodox and Catholic churches, Turkish houses, and imposing medieval public buildings constructed with exquisitely cut limestone from nearby Lindos. Recent careful reconstruction efforts have further enhanced the town's harmonious appeal.

Day 4 - Bodrum

Bodrum, Turkey: This enchanting coastal city is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, pristine beaches, and historical landmarks. A focal point of Bodrum is the medieval Bodrum Castle, which dominates the waterfront and offers panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Explore the labyrinthine streets, lined with whitewashed buildings and lush bougainvillaea, that lead to the city's bustling bazaars and authentic Turkish eateries. Bodrum serves as a gateway to ancient ruins, including the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, ensuring a day filled with both relaxation and discovery.

Day 5 - At Sea

A Day of Tranquillity: As you sail towards your next destination, take in the serene beauty of the endless sea. This is an excellent opportunity to unwind, perhaps with a good book or by participating in some onboard activities and entertainment. Enjoy the calm that only a day at sea can provide.

Day 6 - Santorini

Santorini, Greece: Undoubtedly the most extraordinary island in the Aegean, crescent-shaped Santorini remains a mandatory stop on the Cycladic tourist route—even with a million other travellers. Renowned for its sensational sunsets from Ia, fascinating archaeological excavations, and dazzling white towns perched high above the volcanic caldera, the island is steeped in history and myth. Called Kállisti (the "Loveliest") when first settled, the island has since reverted to its subsequent name of Thira. The white clusters of the towns of Fira and Ia perched along the top of the cliffs offer spectacular views. The volcanic soil yields small, intense tomatoes, the famous Santorini fava beans, and white-skin aubergines, reflecting the island's rich culinary tradition.

Day 7 - Hydra

Hydra, Greece: Rising from the turquoise expanse of the sunny Mediterranean, Hydra offers the perfect retreat. Known for its celebrity appeal since Leonard Cohen purchased a house here in the 60s, Hydra is a charming island of narrow cobblestone streets, immaculate whitewashed mansions, and an air of carefree clamour. Just a short journey from the Greek mainland, Hydra remains delightfully preserved by resisting the temptation for modern development. Cars are banned, ensuring that life remains in the slow lane as donkeys meander through the streets and fishing boats bob gently on the harbour's gentle waves.

Day 8 - Piraeus

Piraeus, Greece: As we return to Piraeus, the gateway to Athens, your expedition holiday concludes where it began, with opportunities to further explore this dynamic and historic city or prepare for the journey home. Relive the memories of the Acropolis's towering presence, the vibrant local culture, and the historical richness that makes Athens a city like no other.