Cyclades
in Greece

Two hundred and twenty islands scattered across the Aegean, each one slightly different from the last. Santorini has the caldera and the crowds that come with it. Mykonos has the parties and the prices. But the Cyclades are far more than their most famous members: Naxos with its marble mountains and excellent local cheese, Folegandros clinging to a clifftop above a sea that has no bottom you can see, Sifnos with the finest food in the archipelago and a walking trail that connects the whole island in a day. The logic of island-hopping takes hold quickly. A ferry, a taverna on the harbour, a room with a view of the water. It is a formula that does not get old.

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Antiparos

Barefoot, sun-kissed and blissfully unhurried, Antiparos is the quieter, cooler little sister of Paros. Days drift between hidden coves, long lunches and swims in impossibly clear water, while evenings begin with a wander through the bougainvillea-draped lanes of Antiparos Town.

Folegandros

As an island of 12 square miles and with no direct transit links, Folegandros is one of the most tranquil islands of the southern Cyclades. Where the neighbouring islands of Santorini and Milos attract healthy crowds, Folegandros is that bit more untouched. Steeped in tradition and culture, 85 Greek Orthodox chapels scatter about the rocky terrain. Rosy bougainvillaea drapes over the white-licked, royal-blue detailed houses in the main village of Chora, just a short amble from the port, Karavostasi, and the traditional farming themonies of Ano Merià in the north-west edge. Days are spent idling on the various peaceful beaches or hiking on one of the many, oregano bush covered trails before the squares fill up for the evening shenegins. Raki glasses are tossed about the tables, wafts of rabbit stifado drift from the tiny eateries, and live music fills the winding streets.

Milos

Beach bums rejoice! Milos is perfect for those aching to spend their days rolling around like a sugared doughnut on pristine sands. With crystal-clear waters and myriad archaelogical marvels, there's something for everyone.

Mykonos

Mykonos earns its reputation - bleached white cubes stacked against an electric blue sky, windmills on the ridge, and a harbour that never quite slows down. Chora is the heart of it: winding lanes designed to confuse pirates (and tourists alike) that open suddenly onto a terrace with the best view you've had all year. The beaches hit every register, from party to peaceful. Come for the scene, stay for the light.

Sifnos

Sifnos is a beautifully delicious patch of land in the more-rugged set western Cyclades, sandwiched between the islands of Serifos and Milos and just a ferry ride away from Piraeus port in Athens. Less trampled, less tourist-jammed. Amongst the white-splattered buildings, the largely raw, untended lanes, the rocky hills and sandy beaches are the low-intervention wine bars, the brasseries and bistros turning freshly-caught fish into sensational sharing dishes and sunset DJ sessions spinning the decks to a panoramic backdrop. This island beckons the foodies, the creatives and the peace seekers.

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