With good reason, Greek vacations are more popular than ever. A place that is worth returning to time and time again is one with stunning oceans and beaches, stunning islands and mountains, traditional villages, historic cities, excellent cuisine and wine, extraordinary archaeological sites and nightlife, clear sky, and starry nights. Here are some of the greatest places to visit in Greece outside well-known locations like Athens, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini to suit whichever kind of vacation you’re after active or relaxing, as a family or couple, close to main attractions, or away from the crowds.

1. Corfu

The picturesque northeast coast, made famous by the Durrell family, is home to luxurious villas, but Corfu also offers budget-friendly package vacations on the island’s golden sands. Nature? There are beautiful pathways there, particularly near the green Mount Pantokrator, where the only sounds are the bleating of goat bells and bees. Culture? It’s everywhere in the elegant Venetian-French-Georgian Corfu Town. Along with a taste for tzitzibira, or ginger beer, there is golf and even cricket, which were introduced in the 1800s when the Ionian islands were a British protectorate.

2. Evia

Evia, the second-largest island in the nation, is a haven for travelers and admirers of ancient Greece. Even most Greeks don’t understand it, yet you can get there by car in a little over an hour from the airport in Athens. About 10 minutes farther is Eretria, one of the island’s finest beach resorts and archaeological attractions. It’s an excellent starting point for seeing historic towns and spas, such Loutra Edipsou, one of Greece’s best spas where hot springs flow directly into the sea. Aim for the enigmatic dragon houses on Mount Ochi near Karystos, a town in the south noted for its marble quarries, where you may enjoy wonderful hill climbs.

3. Kalymnos

Kalymnos, an island formerly known for its sponge fishers, has high-adrenaline thrills ingrained in its very being; here, Greek Easter is celebrated with dynamite rather than fireworks. Its world-class precipices don’t need an introduction if you’re a rock climber. Excellent diving may be found in the reefs, wrecks, underwater volcanic crater, and nearby islets, notably the striking Telendos, which is located across from the beach resort of Masouri. The lone fjord among the Greek islands is on Kalymnos, and its bustling, large city, Pothia, is crammed with antique stores and kafenions (Greek cafés). Pothia is situated in a massive natural amphitheatre.

4. Symi

Even though Symi is only a short distance from Rhodes, it couldn’t be more different: it is small and arid yet has a wonderful harbor. A magnificent neoclassical town in colors of lemon, tangerine, and cherry-red was constructed here by Symi’s famed shipbuilders and merchants, rising 500 steps to a sky so blue that it appears to pulse. You can get to the beaches via a bus or taxi boat, and at night the isolated town comes to life. Because it is protected, it is warm till late as its lights dance across the calm port water.