Piraeus/Athens, Katakolon (Ancient Olympia), Corfu, Kefalonia (Argostoli), Bari

Piraeus port is the gateway to Athens center. Don't miss the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which looms over Athens from its perch atop the Acropolis, an eternal icon of art and civilization. Completed in 438 B.C., the temple still astounds as the flowering of Greek art and architecture. When you come down off the hill, don't miss a visit to the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Acropolis Museum and the city's historic centre, around Plaka. Ideally, sit and relax at a cafe on the foot of the hill, sample some Greek souvlaki or a frappe, take a glance back up the hill from time to time and give the goddess her due.

Katakolon Port occupies the north-west part of the Peloponnese. To the west it is washed by the Ionian Sea. It is the current harbor of the regions capital city Pyrgos and serves as the gateway to the site of ancient Olympia, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and birthplace of the Olympic Games. Visitors can see the remains of the original Olympic stadium, the Bouleuterion and the Temple of Zeus, enjoy free time in modern Olympiato shop or visit the Museum of the Olympic Games. 

Fortresses flank your entrance to magnificent Corfu, one of the most beautiful of the Ionian Islands. Lose yourself in the Venetian old town or head north of the island, for dramatic seascapes. Explore the legacies of Greek, Roman and Venetian Empires or simply marvel at nature’s treasures that are hidden in this beautiful island, swathed in emerald green, lapped by turquoise waters and fringed with golden sand. The once pastel colours on Venetian buildings may have faded, but the welcoming scent of eucalyptus, fig and lemon trees are fragrant as ever. 

Greece's best-kept secret, Argostoli is the capital and largest town of Kefallonia Island. It is a natural harbour, surrounded by low hills that reach the sea. At the edge of the bay next to Argostoli lies the lagoon of Koutavos, with lush vegetation and a forest with very tall eucalyptus trees. Argostoli's attractions are mostly within walking distance of the port. A couple blocks south of the square is the main shopping street, Lithostroto, which is a pedestrian-only cobble shopping area. There are two nice small museums, the Archaeological Museum with artifacts from Mycenean to Roman times and the Korgialeneio History and Folk Art Museum, which includes many displays showing the island prior to the earthquake. Discover enticing beaches, tasty white wine, visit the fishing village of Fiskardo where you may while away the afternoon schmoozing with the locals.

Bari, the capital of Apulia and an important touristic destination and commercial harbor, lies on a fertile coastal plain facing the Adriatic Sea. A cultural crossroads since ancient times, it is a city where two souls meet: the old town, surrounded by an imposing wall and crossed with winding narrow streets (Barrivecchia) and the modern city, built at the beginning of the 19th Century. In the old city you’ll come across architectural masterpieces created over the centuries by Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Swabians.You can marvel the majestic Castello Svevo (Swabian Castle), the imposing Saint Nicholas's Basilica, the Cathedral and the famous Teatro Petruzzelli, considered the temple of opera in Bari. Bari is an ideal starting point for excursions to Alberobello, a small town in Puglia in southern Italy, famous for its trulli: white, cone-roofed houses, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Piraeus port is the gateway to Athens center. Don't miss the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which looms over Athens from its perch atop the Acropolis, an eternal icon of art and civilization. Completed in 438 B.C., the temple still astounds as the flowering of Greek art and architecture. When you come down off the hill, don't miss a visit to the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Acropolis Museum and the city's historic centre, around Plaka. Ideally, sit and relax at a cafe on the foot of the hill, sample some Greek souvlaki or a frappe, take a glance back up the hill from time to time and give the goddess her due.