This tiny island cluster in the narrow strait between Chios and Turkey is said to be one of the wealthiest spots in Greece – several millionaire ship owners have their roots and family homes here. They prize their peace and quiet, so the islands are pleasantly unspoiled and there are good (but tiny) beaches next to the main island's small port village. There is also a Maritime Museum which celebrates the island’s seafaring traditions.

Pic Saint-Loup is the highest observation point in the Montpellier area and a perfect place to go for a rewarding hike. As you ascend, the true reward unveils at the summit, where lush valleys stretch out below, offering breathtaking panoramic views.

Halmstad City Library is a modern and airy glass-and-steel building located along the Nissan river. Drop by to pick up a book or a film, read in a cosy air-conditioned environment. There's also a cafe: take your coffee to go and enjoy it by the water. Check the calendar or art events, too.

Further inland, in the southern part of the island, lie the so-called masticochoria (mastic villages). These well-preserved, fortified villages date from the 14th-16th centuries and were centres for the cultivation of mastic. Mastic is the sweet-tasting gum of the lentisk bush, which was exported all over the Mediterranean – and the area still produces around 300 tonnes of mastic every year. The most picturesque villages are Pyrgi, with its houses decorated in black and white geometric patterns called xysta Mesta, where towers and walls surround a baffling labyrinth of village streets as well as Olympoi and Vessa are all a worth a visit.