GREEK ISLAND TRIBES: WHO GOES WHERE
KEFALONIA
BEST FOR RELAXING An Ionian island to the west of the mainland Brought into the spotlight by the 2001 film Captain
Corelli’s Mandolin. Head to the endless pine-fringed beach at Horgota or hike up the deer-filled Mount Ainos National Park. For dinner, eat at Tassia Restaurant in Fiscardo (tassia.gr). This family-run place is the place to eat – the lobster is superb – and you might even find yourself queuing next to a celebrity.
WHO GOES? Giorgio Armani, Tom Hanks, Jon Bon Jovi.
STAY AT The beautiful Zeus Temple villa, which sleeps eight from £2,036 per week (uniquekefalonia.com).
WEAR A draped, printed-silk crepe de chine wrap top by Marni. Above: The Zeus Temple villa, which overlooks Lourdas Bay, Kefalonia
MYKONOS BEST FOR DANCING TILL DAWN
A Cyclades island to the south east of the mainland Ever since the Sixties, Mykonos has been all about hedonism. It’s louche, boozy and ever so slightly naughty. Expect to find a Rolling Stone or Kate Moss arranged on a lounger. Don’t expect much sleep. Eat the octopus marinated in vinegar at
Kiki’s Tavern (+30 694 075 93560) on Agios Sostis beach like everyone else, and expect to wait a little while for a table.
WHO GOES? Kate Moss, Alessandra Ambrosio, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mariah Carey.
STAY AT Kivotos, a boutique hotel overlooking Ornos Bay (kivotosmykonos.com), away from the noise. Prices from £217 per night, room only.
WEAR Not much at all. Above: Blooming bougainvillea. Below: The ancient Cycladic-inspired fountain at Kivotos Hotel
HYDRA
BEST FOR BOHEMIANS
A Saronic island south of Athens Car-free Hydra in the summer has something of the French Riviera about it. As well as champagne, the other obsession on the island is art. Head to the DESTE Projectspace (deste. gr/hydra) to see what’s on, or guess which yacht belongs to which art dealer in the horseshoe-shaped harbour. After that, dine on the terrace at Kodylenia’s Taverna (hydra-kodylenia.gr) and watch the sun set.
WHO GOES? Olivia Palermo, Chloë Sevigny, art dealers.
STAY AT The beautifully restored Orloff Boutique Hotel (orloff.gr) is housed in an 18th-century mansion built by a Russian count. Prices start at £124 per night, room only.
WEAR A Victoria Beckham floral-print crépon dress. Top: The Orloff Boutique Hotel. Above: A DESTE Projectspace installation
SANTORINI BEST FOR FALLING IN LOVE
A Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea Broadly arranged like a film set around a large volcanic caldera, Santorini’s hotels are an Instagrammer’s dream. It can get incredibly busy during the high season in the main town, Oia, so it pays to retreat to the calm of the island’s vineyards for some R&R, or go off-season.
WHO GOES? Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, the Kardashians and Jenners.
STAY AT The most famous hotel in Santorini, Perivolas Lifestyle Houses (perivolas. gr), a stylish oasis amid the crowds where the prices start at £688 per night, or the Villa Renos (villarenos.com), from £267 per night.
WEAR All white. Top: Santorini’s Kamari Beach. Below: Nautical detail at Villa Renos
SIFNOS BEST FOR EATING YOUR WAY AROUND
A Cyclades island, six hours south east of Athens Tiny Sifnos has Greek chef Nikólaos Tselementés to thank for its reputation as a foodie paradise – he was born here in 1878, and went on to write the famous Greek
Cookery book. Step off the ferry in the tiny port of Kamares and you are assailed by the delicious smell of wood-cooked meat and sizzling calamari. The best of the many tavernas is Cheronissos Fish Tavern (+30 2284033119), in the small village of Cheronissos (north east of Sifnos), whose fish is practically hauled from the sea and put straight on to your plate. Top: The Church of Epta Martires, Sifnos. Below: Verina Sifnos
WHO GOES?
ELLE’s
Editor- in- Chief Anne-Marie Curtis, and foodies.
STAY AT Airbnb.com has some of the best villas on the island.
WEAR An Adriana Degreas halterneck swimsuit.