Thasos

Tucked into the North Aegean just off the coast of Macedonia, Thasos is often called the emerald island, and one look at its pine-clad mountains sweeping down to turquoise bays explains why. Roughly circular and easy to loop by car in a day, it combines the relaxed feel of a mainland getaway with the clear water and beaches of a proper Aegean island, which makes it a favourite of Greek and Balkan holidaymakers.

The main town and port, Limenas (Thasos Town), sits over the ancient city, and you can wander among the remains of the agora, a theatre and an acropolis right beside the modern harbour. Around the coast, a string of beaches shows off the island's famous water: Golden Beach with its long sandy sweep, the dazzling white Marble Beach (Saliara) formed from crushed marble, and the natural rock pool of the Giola lagoon near Astris, where daring swimmers leap into deep clear water.

Inland, the mountains hide traditional stone villages that reward a detour. Panagia and Theologos, with their slate roofs and plane-shaded squares, preserve an older, quieter Thasos, while the abandoned marble quarries and twin coves of ancient Aliki tell of the trade that made the island wealthy in antiquity. Local honey, olive oil and walnut sweets are worth seeking out along the way.

Thasos is a summer island, at its best from May to early October. June and September offer warm seas with fewer visitors, while July and August are lively and busy, especially with weekenders from the mainland. Spring paints the hillsides green and is lovely for walking and exploring the villages before the beaches fill up.

What makes Thasos especially appealing is how easy it is to reach. There is no airport on the island, but nearby Kavala serves flights, and frequent ferries make the short crossing from Keramoti, about 35 to 40 minutes to Limenas, with a longer route from Kavala to Skala Prinos. That quick hop from the mainland means less time in transit and more time under the pines.