I am looking for the gates to Hades, but have overshot the turn. Somewhere below is the cave from which Heracles dragged the fearsome three-headed dog Cerberus into daylight so bright its slobber formed yellow flowers of aconite. Instead, I find a beach of pale rock and water that's glass-calm to the horizon. Beneath its surface are hundreds of curled little fish with flanks of tarnished silver.
The family-run Kyrimai Hotel in the village of Gerolimenas
On the water during the annual Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta
I'm in mountainous Southern Greece, midway through an epic road trip across the Peloponnese, the four-tentacled peninsula connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth and surrounded by the Ionian Sea to the west, the Mediterranean to the south, and the Aegean to the east. This storied peninsula contains traces of classical, Venetian, Byzantine, and Turkish rule. Modern European history springs from the Peloponnese. It is home to Sparta and Olympia, names that sound so like myths of antiquity you might forget they're actual places. There are towns such as Kardamyli, so lovely that Agamemnon offered it to sulky Achilles to lure him out of bed to fight the Trojan War. In deepest Mani, the longest of the peninsula's tentacles—one of the last wild parts of Europe, a place that turned back even the Ottomans—the cliffs and gorges seem to be made of shadows, and empty stone villages rupture the sky like mausoleums.
Stuffed and grilled sardines at the Kyrimai Hotel
The entrance to Porto Heli PK villa
I started at Porto Heli, a resort town in a bay in the Argolic Gulf. Tall villas as creamy as squill spike the cliffs, and there's a modern marina full of boats dotted with drying swimsuits and hungover yachters reading newspapers. From here to the island of Spetses it's an irresistible five minutes in a water taxi. Famed for its occupants' shipbuilding and naval skills, this territory, especially the islands of Hydra and Spetses, played a crucial role in overcoming nearly 400 years of Ottoman rule, and there are reminders everywhere of the Revolution of 1821 along this eastern rim of the Peloponnese. I'm in time for the annual regatta, catching a lift with a group of sailors who are preparing to unfurl a vast revolutionary flag on a sail for one of the races.
Colorful bougainvillea
A rental villa in the resort town of Porto Heli
Later, when I'm on Spetses and wandering past its lovely neoclassical houses and old mariners' mansions, the first wind in weeks picks up, and even the cicadas seem to dig themselves out of the oleander and languid weeds. I hear billows of conversation from restaurants, some with tables set on pebbles inches from the water. Diners raise drams of Greek brandy over plates of
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Italy and Greece may come to mind when planning a summer holiday in Europe. But travelers are gravitating toward other destinations that offer similar amenities at lower prices. A 2024 travel trends report from Mastercard showed increased air traffic and longer stays in some cheaper destinations.
Whether it is the outstanding Renaissance monuments or authentic, regional cuisine, Italy’s appeal has long been far-reaching. As a country, it has never had to ‘hard sell’ itself to tourists, with the country being a perennial favourite destination for travellers. As well as having more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country (59 in total), its rich culture, architecture, art and beloved gastronomy is a source of inspiration for tourists across the world.
Nestled between the intensely blue waters of the Ionian Sea and the stunning backdrop of the Peloponnese Mountains, Costa Navarino is steeped in history dating back thousands of years. This peninsula in southwest Greece, while ripe with its own Messinia heritage, is also just three hours from Athens, so it’s a haven for history and culture lovers.
Destinations across Europe are battling overtourism - visit Venice and you’ll have to pay an entry fee, book for Amsterdam and you’ll be asked to take a quiz about your holiday activities, head to the Canary Islands and you might see graffiti telling tourists to go home.
Brussels is one of the coolest cities in Europe—and it doesn’t even have to try. The Belgian capital is a hub for foodies and pop culture fiends alike but it also has its fair share of outdoor things to see and do, which particularly come alive in the spring time.
Imagine Austria and your mind might well drift to the lavish palaces and coffeehouses of Vienna, the snow-white peaks of the Tyrolean Alps, the river romance of the Danube and Mozart symphonies ringing out in the baroque concert halls of Salzburg.
When planning a trip to Oia in Santorini, Greece, choosing the right season can greatly enhance your experience. Each season in Oia offers unique attractions and activities, making it crucial to select a time that aligns with your travel preferences and expectations.
Nikos Chardalias, Governor of the Attica Region, Greece, has hailed the role played by the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai in bringing together all tourism and travel companies, airlines, and industry stakeholders from around the world under one roof.