Greece Will Soon Limit Daily Visitors to the Acropolis and Require Timed Entry — What to Know

Greece’s largest island, Crete is the do-it-all destination of the Aegean. You come for the obvious: beaches, and the resorts that sit on them. But much more than that, Crete ticks many other boxes that make it an immersive European island getaway. For one, there’s incredible history here thanks to the millenia of civilizations—from the ancient Minoans to the Venetians, Ottomans, and everything in between.

For nearly a century, the Monte-Carlo Beach hotel has been welcoming well-heeled guests—including Grace Kelly, Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna—to the French Riviera. After two years of renovation, the hotel reopened last year with a chic, minimalist redesign by architect India Mahdavi that pays homage to the 1930s. The reborn Monte-Carlo Beach features three restaurants, a PAOMA spa, and a new emphasis on sustainability.

I moved to Spain about a year ago and at one of my first meals in Madrid, I saw a handsome young couple drinking some kind of unidentifiable light brown cocktail on ice with a wedge of orange and green olives. It was before noon and I was stumped. I had to know what it was. Vermouth, they told me.

Elix, the newest property to join Mar-Bella Collection, a family-owned Greek hotel group opened in 2021, on the Ionian coast of the West side of mainland Greece. It’s in one of the most unspoilt regions of mainland Greece and feels like a real hideaway. It is the ideal destination for couples and families with grown up children keen on active outdoor adventures.

‘Slipping through my fingers all the time / I try to capture every minute …,” mourns Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! as we drive along a dusty road lined with goats and olive trees to Kefalos beach. I glance over at my girl – rosy cheeks, sun-kissed hair, phone glued to hand – and I’m overcome with emotion and involuntarily snort tears down my face.

Although the legend of Dionysus—a Greek deity responsible for wine and other pleasurable pursuits—is centuries old, the mythological figure is still influencing modern-day Greece. The nation’s indigenous grapes and unique terroir create one of the world’s most exciting wine-producing countries, but given Greece’s vast and mountainous geography it would take as much time to visit all the different regions as it did to build the Parthenon.

In a country full of hidden gems, it is hard to choose one. But I would highly recommend taking a trip to the south-east of Turkey – “cradle of civilisation” territory – and on the road between Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa, turn off near Yukarıincirli and head 17 miles north to Halfeti for a boat tour of the mighty Euphrates. This region was hit hard by the recent earthquake, but that gives added reasons to visit: a morale boost to the locals, and some help for their struggling economy. On that cruise you’ll get a chance to see the remarkable submerged city of Old Halfeti, as well as the ancient fortress of Rumkale and, if you’re lucky, a karagül, the black rose that is indigenous to this region.Umair

If you’re heading to one of Greece’s biggest tourist attractions later this year, make sure you are aware of the new visiting rules.

Norway’s coast may run 1,650 miles in length, but taking the country's countless fjords and islands into account, the actual shoreline adds up to some 62,000 miles. Upon its May christening in Amsterdam, Swan Hellenic’s new SH Diana expedition ship sailed north on a 10-night Norway Explored voyage to go deeper into those fjords than most ships can manage and explore some of the lesser visited spots in this Nordic geological wonder.

If you are looking for the ideal place to enjoy a terrific meal just steps from Broadway, this lovely Greek restaurant may just be the place for you. The atmosphere is festive and the ingredients are sourced from local farmers’ markets throughout the year. The highlight is undoubtedly the incredible selection of fresh fish that you are welcome to examine before you choose the perfect main course. The service is first-rate and your server can help you navigate Kellari Taverna’s extensive menu. A special pre-theatre option is also available. And Kellari Taveran is also a terrific place for a celebration. Greek food is best when shared with a group of your favorite people.

It’s a pink summer.

As a family sat vigil over a coffin containing the body of an elderly relative, the wooded hills around their apartment building in Palermo burned from wildfires. Winds blew the blazes closer, torching cars, dumpsters, sheds and electricity poles. Then the flames licked the apartment building, forcing its inhabitants to flee.