Mykonos

Mykonos greets arriving ships with the Cycladic postcard: whitewashed walls, blue-domed churches, and old windmills above the harbour. Ships anchor offshore and passengers tender to Tourlos, where a shuttle or water taxi reaches Mykonos Town in minutes. The town is a labyrinth of narrow alleys and small squares, easy to get lost in. Bougainvillea spills over walls, bouzouki music drifts from tavernas, and boutiques sell handcrafted sandals and jewellery. The Church of Panagia Paraportiani, a 15th-century cluster of whitewashed chapels, is the most photographed spot on the island. In Little Venice, tables perch over the water, a good place for grilled octopus or kopanisti, a spicy local cheese. A boat to Delos, the UNESCO-listed island where Apollo was said to have been born, takes about 30 minutes. Buses run to beaches like Platis Gialos and Paradise Beach. Taxis are scarce, so walking is often fastest.