When Venice still ruled the Adriatic, Dubrovnik was an important maritime republic and the floating city's chief rival. Dubrovnik proudly calls itself the "Pearl of the Adriatic" and its fortress is one of the best preserved in Europe. As you walk around the imposing walls of the old town, you can look out across two seas – the deep blue Adriatic and a sea of red roof shingles. The old town, with its beautiful squares, magnificent boulevards and narrow winding alleyways, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Adriatic island of Korcula is one of the greenest in the region. Vineyards and olive groves stretch across rolling hills. The island's main town of the same name is protected by a city wall. It is one of the best-preserved medieval Mediterranean towns. Some buildings evoke the time when the maritime power of Venice ruled. Tintoretto is immortalised in the cathedral, and in one of the narrow streets you can search for the house where Marco Polo was born.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Otranto is the most easterly port in Italy and, due to its geographic location in the Adriatic, has had an extremely eventful history over the centuries. Not far away is Lecce, one of the most beautiful and affluent cities in southern Italy whose heyday was immortalised in stone over 200 years. The Baroque cityscape, in the idiosyncratic "barocco leccese" style, is characterised by a marble-like stone known as Lecce stone. The numerous palaces and the Basilica di Santa Croce have profusely decorated facades and art feels right at home here. There is good reason why people are proud of its evocative nickname, the Florence of the South.

Close to the small seaport of Sarande, amidst a national park, lies Butrint, one of Albania's greatest attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city became a spa and festival town in the ancient world as early as 2,500 years ago, and every era in Greek, Roman and Byzantine history has left behind evidence in stone. Discover the spectacular Lion Gate from the 4th century BC. Four fifths of this archaeological site still remain to be uncovered.

Even gods need a break! In search of a romantic beach together with his wife Amphitrite, Poseidon once used his trident to tear off a piece of Corfu. And in a flash, Paxos was created. This slim, rocky Ionian island is still as fabulous today as the myth of its creation. More than 30 famous beaches with crystal clear water and bright pebbles stretch out in the warm Greek sun. Most of them nestle up to the beautiful east coast. To the west, impressive rock formations with magical grottoes and caves dominate the coastline. Whether down in its pretty fishing villages or up in its scattered mountain villages, Paxos likes to be laid-back.

The largest, greenest, most picturesque of the Ionian Islands – while Kefalonia is bursting with superlatives, it remains a well-kept secret. This is good for us because the island in the middle of the Gulf of Patras has so much to offer – from its 1,600 meter-high black Mount Ainos to the depths of the Melissani lake in a legendary stalactite cave. The cliffs on Kefalonia’s coastline offer fantastic views of clear waters and bright pebble beaches. And if you just want to relax, then nab a quiet spot in the idyllic fishing village of Fiskardo amidst colorful flowers and bright window shutters, and just take it easy.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

The little town of Monemvasia nestles closely against a rock that lies just off the coast. This impregnable fortress was an important trading center in Byzantine times. Today it is a retreat for wealthy Athenians who spend their weekends here. Behind its walls you can discover the beautifully restored lower town, where you simply want to drift along the tranquil narrow lanes. This picturesque little town on a rock transports you back in time to the romantic Middle Ages, when it was exceptionally modern and lively.

"A ship will come...", declared the singer Melina Mercouri to the port of Piraeus. Later, as Greek Minister for Culture, she made Athens the first European Capital of Culture in 1985. The city is considered the birthplace of Europe, of philosophy and of democracy, and is the embodiment of the Olympic ideal. World-famous and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, its landmark is the magnificent Parthenon temple, lying high up on the Acropolis in all its glory. At the foot of the Acropolis hill is the Plaka, the oldest quarter of Athens, and the world's most modern archaeological museum, the new Acropolis Museum, has been here since 2009.