Syros

An enchanting fleck in the Cyclades Islands, Syros shimmers in the Aegean Sea, surrounded by a circle of Cycladic isles such as sister isles Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Paros and Sifnos. The best and only way to arrive here is by sea crossing taking the main route from the port of Piraeus in Athens, or if you're island-hopping, you might come from a hub such as Mykonos, Santorini or Tinos.

Either way, you'll sail onto Syros soil at the maritime port capital Ermoupoli / Hermoupolis, where you will pass by an amphitheatre of cascading Venetian houses of Vaporia decked in pastel hues. Named after the god of trade, Hermes, Ermoupoli was built on the wealth of shipbuilding and is such a 'mature' Chora compared to the likes of the other nearby islands. Neo-classical magnificence – marble squares, a hilltop cathedral, sea captains' houses and its town hall designed by Bavarian architect Ziller cast a scene of faded romance. Syros was founded by the refugees of the 19th-century Greek revolution; today, the lively city of Hermoupolis still holds its own as a commercial centre of the Cyclades. Clasped in the hillside above Hermoupolis is the medieval settlement Ano Syros, a romantic tangle of cobbled streets open to panoramic views over the Aegean and its islands. Despite the buzz of its capital and port, the island retains a quiet way of life, pottering around and discovering wineries, eating at beachside tavernas, and listening to the strains of local rebetiko music. Best of all, the rocky coastline gives way to countless pockets of sandy and pebbly beaches, licked by that irresistible Aegean water.