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Adventure travel in Greece means an abundance of choices. Dive into the turquoise waters of Corfu. Kayak around the white rocks of Milos. Climb to the top of Mount Zeus, the highest peak in the Greek Cyclades, on Naxos island, and peek inside the god’s hidden cave. Travel to Santorini, and hike from Fira to Oia at sunset to see a dramatic view of the sun sinking behind the caldera. In Greece, adventure is a given.

If you only have one week in Greece, stick to Athens and the islands of the Cyclades, and you’ll get a well-rounded glimpse into everything that Greece has to offer. Spend two days in Athens, two in Santorini, two in Naxos, and one night enjoying dinner and drinks at the water’s edge in Mykonos. You can do a lot with one week in Greece.

The ancient historian Herodotus described Naxos as the “happiest of islands.” It’s certainly hard not to have a good time on the largest of the Cycladic islands, with its antiquities, medieval watchtowers, mountain trails dotted with Byzantine churches, and miles and miles of soft, sandy beaches. Hidden in the hills are three marble kouroi―giant anthropomorphic statues measuring more than 35 feet long. Nobody knows why these 2,500-year-old statues were built or how they ended up there. Two of them lie snoozing in a shady lemon and oleander grove near Melanes. The third, unfinished kouros has been lying in a marble quarry near the seaside village of Apollonas since the 6th century B.C.E.

This museum is small but perfectly formed, just like the enigmatic marble figurines from the early Bronze Age that are the centerpiece of its collection. Their stark yet sensual forms inspired modern artists like Picasso, Cy Twombly, and Ai Wei Wei, modern artists whose work is sometimes displayed in juxtaposition with these ancient masterpieces. Thought-provoking temporary exhibitions by international art stars are usually held in the Stathatos Mansion, the neoclassical wing that makes a striking counterpoint to the boxy marble main building, constructed in the 1980s. On the top floor, a virtual tour of everyday life in antiquity sheds light on ancient attitudes to desire and death, religion and warfare.

The calm courtyard café, with its marble benches, floating roof, and wall-to-ceiling plants, serves refined dishes such as shrimp ravioli in a lime bisque and microgreens with grilled beetroot, carrots, and goat cheese. The adjacent shop has an ever-changing collection of gifts so eminently desirable that you’ll end up buying them for yourself. Look for the marble paperweights shaped like doves, jugs with the abstract features of Cycladic statues, and numbered prints of Greek antiquities by American photographer Robert McCabe.

Getting to Onar Andros requires a fair amount of determination. A ferry from Athens or Mykonos takes you to one of the northernmost Cycladic islands (there’s no airport nearby); once you arrive at the port in Gavrio, it’s a slow 25-mile drive to the hotel. Your reward, however, is a tiny slice of Eden, an enclave of 10 stone-and-timber cottages set amid a lush river valley that’s only a five-minute walk to Ahia Beach, arguably the most beautiful in all the Cyclades. Built and maintained by the owner, Mateo, the accommodations are deliberately spare yet modern and comfortable, each with a pergola-shaded veranda with loungers and a hammock. Meals are served at a communal table, and what Mateo doesn’t grow organically, he sources from local fisherman, farmers, and bakers. Guests can even accompany him to pick fruits and vegetables to be used in that night’s dinner. After all, this is a place to ditch your devices and surrender to your surroundings.

If you’re looking to move away from the popular Cycladic islands, head to the Ionian Sea. Besides the busy hub of Corfu, there’s also Paxos, a small island surrounded by turquoise sea, beautiful caves, and idyllic villages. Rumour has it that Poseidon and Aphrodite got cosy here. Loggos and Lakka are the two main villages to explore on Paxos. But since the island only has 2500 residents, you won’t have to try hard to compete for space.

Thanks to its location in the Northern Aegean, Lesvos island often gets overlooked for its more popular cousins in the Cyclades. But Lesvos has a lot to offer, including well-preserved ruins, like the Mytilene Castle. It’s one of the largest castles in the Mediterranean, originally built in the 6th century AD. This doesn’t exactly make it a ruin from Classical Greece, but it’s an impressive one nonetheless.

The village of Fira clings to the side of a cliff overlooking the Santorini caldera in the southern Aegean Sea. If you arrive by ship, you’ll likely be conveyed up to town by funicular, or on a donkey, unless your cardiovascular prowess can take the 500 narrow stairs that climb the side of the steep cliff. On the old volcano’s rim, the street level is actually above many of Fira’s restaurants and bars, which mark their entrances with facade doorways at the top of their steps. From the terraces of these establishments, guests are treated not only to some of the most delicious fare in the Cyclades, but also to breathtaking, panoramic views of the Santorini Archipelago.

Built by the sea, will guide you through the narrow streets to beautiful corners! You may visit the Archaeological Museum of Paros and the famous church of Virgin Mary of the Hundred Gates. At the port of Parikia, you will find many small shops, cafes and restaurants offering many options during your stay

Named for the Japanese word for enlightenment, this boutique property marries classic Cycladic architecture (cube-shaped structures, whitewashed stone walls, arched entryways) with the clean lines of locally made furnishings in naked wood. None of the 25 rooms and 10 suites are the same, but most have private outdoor whirlpools or plunge pools, plus plush beds that make it impossible to leave. Nearly all of the public spaces, however, offer stunning views over Mykonos (about 1.5 miles away) and the bay, and make striking use of night-lighting, especially at the pool, which is built into the natural rock face. A grottolike spa features two treatment rooms, a futuristic-looking whirlpool area, and a hammam for stylish pampering sessions. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to Mykonos, but with its inviting Bar & Sunset Lounge and a restaurant that is garnering awards and accolades, you may decide to stay put for the duration of your vacation.