The eyes of the world may be focused on Athens this summer, but the best of Greece lies away from the bustling capital city. Every day dozens of flights and hundreds of ferries connect travellers from Athens with the Greek islands, which are as varied as they are plentiful. There are also daily direct flights to islands such as Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini from Britain and other European countries throughout the high season.
Homer, the great Greek poet of antiquity, described Corfu as a 'beautiful and rich land', and little has changed in 3,000 years. Tucked into the folds of the coastline of mainland Greece and neighbouring Albania, the capital of the Ionian islands has been fought over, occupied and prettified by Romans, Normans, Venetians, Turks, even the British. The result is a mixture of influences that has left Corfu town looking like a cross between Naples and Nice.
North of Corfu town, the coastal road that winds around the top of the island passes picturesque villages that tumble down to waterfront tavernas and hundreds of exclusive holiday villas. Boat is the favoured mode of transport and there's no better way to spend a summer afternoon than chugging along in your dinghy, finding a deserted cove and unloading your picnic.
Beyond the lush interior, the west coast boasts prehistoric monuments, spectacular clifftop views and, in Paleokastritsa, one of Greece's prettiest seaside towns, set around a couple of sandy bays and backed by pine forests.
Naxos (pictured) may be best known as the crossroads for ferry traffic in the Cyclades islands, but it's worth a few days of exploration. The west coast beaches are irresistible - a string of them stretches 20 kilometres and, protected by sand dunes, they're perfect for setting up camp for the day.
On the other side of the island, through groves of citrus and olive trees, the tiny tracks that link Lionas and Moutsounas with the port village of Apollon offer a glimpse of Greece before the tourist boom, with farmers and their donkeys, herds of goats and atmospheric roadside bars. You can find traces of an older Greece in the ruined temples and classical statues dotted around the island.
The busy main town, also known as Naxos, is a succession of winding whitewashed streets wrapped around an old Venetian castle. There are bistros, cool bars, traditional tavernas and coffee shops at every turn and the fish in the quayside restaurants is as fresh as you can get.