Corfu, Greece

History oozes from every corner of Corfu, an island prize coveted by a succession of maritime powers since the Peloponnesian War in the 4th century BC. But who can blame them? This Ionian idyll is the greenest of all Greek islands, swathed in orange and olive groves and endless beaches bathed by a cerulean sea. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Old Town of Corfu includes the magnificent Esplanade, where you can watch a game of cricket from a sidewalk café. There are also beautiful palaces, castles and archaeological sites to explore. Empress Elizabeth of Austria built the gorgeous Achillion Palace for her summer home, while the former Greek royal family used to vacation at Mon Repos. And don’t miss the lovely beaches of Paleokastritsa, where Odysseus was washed ashore.