Elsewhere,warm up in hot springs and hamams and explore theLesvos Archaeological Museum,13th-centuryMolyvos Castle and an extraordinary petrified forest. The pretty village of Plomari is home toThe World of Ouzo,a family-run distillery. An Aegean Island;seevisitgreece.gr/islands
Kos
Kos has lush valleys,Greek ruins and attractive harbours.Credit:iStock
One of the larger islands,which is said to have sent ships to the Trojan War,Kos has lush valleys,Greek ruins and attractive harbours. Though resorts close for winter,many cafes and tavernas in Kos Town,the region’s administrative hub that’s fronted by a medieval castle,buzz with locals.
Winter bird-watching is superb – observe the pink flamingos atPsalidi wetlands andTigaki salt lake and hike upMount Dikaios or toPalio Pyli,a Byzantine fortress. In the Dodecanese Group;seekos.gr
Rhodes
The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes,once a hospital of the Knights of Saint John.Credit:iStock
Sadly,Rhodes suffered recent bushfires,but that’s a good reason to support this lovely island. Old Town,a medieval time capsule of Byzantine,Turkish and Italian architecture,is protected by walls and a moat.
Spend a day being blown away by theArchaeological Museum andPalace of the Grand Master built by the Knights of Rhodes. The contrasting New Town has plentiful local shops and bars and cafes and is the administrative centre.
Beyond this,theacropolis of Lindos is open for business,as is a nearby tavern. Beach strolls anywhere on Rhodes are pleasant here in the cooler climes,too. In the Dodecanese Group;seerhodeswelcome.gr
Leros
The mythological island of Artemis,Goddess of Hunting,Leros has several appealing villages. But the most fascinating is Lakki,whose “Rational” architecture is the legacy of fascist leader Mussolini during the Italian Occupation in WWII.
The ordered wide streets,former officers’ villas and apartment blocks with their curved balconies remain intact. Granted,all the popular beach areas close here after the summer season,but the main settlement,Panteli,still operates. In winter,you’ll be joining the locals over ameze at the traditionalkafeneio(small traditional cafes). In the Dodecanese Group;seeleros.gr/en/
Poros
The waterfront at Poros.Credit:iStock
Poros hosts about 4000 permanent residents,some of whom work on the Peloponnese,an easy five-minute ferry ride. Narrow alleys and neoclassical buildings fill the main settlement of Poros Town and casual tavernas line the waterfront.
Follow the walking trails to theMonastery of Zoodochou Pigi and through verdant pine forests. Dig into a prawn and pasta linguini atApagio,a favourite island family-run taverna in Punda,or a fresh-from-the-family-butcher grilled steak atDimitris Family Taverna in Poros town. In the Saronic Gulf;seevisitporos.com
Aegina
The Temple of Aphaea Athena on Aegina Island.Credit:iStock
Favoured by Athenians for its proximity to the capital,Aegina is open year-round. Explore ancient sites – theTemple of Aphaia Athena,the archeological sites of Kolona and Paleochora,plus the Monastery of Agia Aikaterini.
Amble through Eleonas,a valley covered in ancient olive grove,or hike a more strenuous route up Mount Oros,for a 360-degree view of the island. Revel in the nightlife with the locals over live music in tavernas and bars. In the Saronic Gulf;seevisitgreece.gr/islands
Corfu
The markets and streets of Corfu Old Town.Credit:iStock
Corfu Town,the island’s elegant capital,oozes ambience. Lines of Venetian-style mansions create the quaint pedestrian alleys,and café-bars fill the arches of the beautiful Liston Arcade.
Resorts aside,you can visit theAchilleion Palace,12 kilometres south of Corfu Town,a summer palace that was built in the 1890s for Austria’s empress Elisabeth (note:temporarily closed for renovation at the time of writing).
In town,enjoy the CorfuMuseum of Asian Art and the old and new fortresses. And driving around the island,largely devoid of traffic,is a joy. In the Ionian Sea,seevisit.corfu.gr
The writer travelled at her own expense.