Aegean Odyssey

Istanbul (Byzantium from 660 BC, Constantinople from 330 CE, and Istanbul since 1930) is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth largest city proper in the world. It has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus, in the NW of the country, for 25 centuries, and as Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was a metropolis of stunning splendour when the great capitals of Europe were mere villages and is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Read more about Istanbul, Turkey

Canakkale is a pleasant Turkish town settled on both sides of a bridge of the same name, which connects the Biga Peninsula in Asia. Travelling across town is easiest by the use of regular ferries. It is well known for its proximity to the Gallipoli Peninsula, at which the famous Gallipoli Campaign took place in WW1. Read more about Canakkale, Turkey

Kavala is the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia, at the northern end of the Aegean Sea. It is the second largest city in northern Greece. Kavala is not as crowded as the famous sights in central and southern Greece, and the climate in Kavala is much milder. Read more about Kavala, Greece

Thessaloniki is the capital of Greek Macedonia, and has a history that dates back to the fourth century BC. The rebuilt 20th-century city has a modern European layout, and is a hub for international trade and culture. Regarded by many as Greece’s ‘hippiest city’, the influence of the east is pronounced, both in the delicious food and the relaxed lifestyle. Read more about Thessaloniki, Greece

Volos is a coastal port city situated about midway on the Greek mainland, 326 km north of Athens. This picturesque town earned its place in history as the birthplace of Achilles and the port from which Jason set out to find the Golden Fleece. It has a remarkably large proportion of modern buildings, built after the devastating earthquake of 1955. Read more about Volos, Greece

The Greek Island of Patmos is possibly best known as the place where the apostle John received his vision and wrote the Apocalypse, and is subsequently sometimes called the Jerusalem of the Aegean. Whether you are interested in history and religion or not, the Monastery of St. John is regarded as a 'must see'. Read more about Patmos, Greece

Mykonos is the principal town of the island of the same name, which is part of the Cyclades, and could well be described as the most sophisticated of the Greek Islands. Visited by innumerable international celebrities - you may even see some enjoying a coffee on the sidewalk - it is not surprising that it is considered by many to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It is also an island with beautiful landscapes, scores of churches, some fascinating monuments, and windmills. Read more about Mykonos, Greece

Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, is also one of the world's oldest cities with an unparalleled history that spans around 3,400 years. Experiencing long periods of sunshine throughout the year, and known as "the cradle of Western civilisation", it is a 'must-see' destination for world travellers. The city contains a fascinating variety of different architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman through Neo-Classical, to Modern. Read more about Athens, Greece