Greece and Turkey

With the highest ratio of space per guest at sea, Ilma features just 228 airy, light-filled suites, all with private terraces. Five restaurants, six bars and a wine vault offer culinary experiences to please every palate. The yacht’s aft Marina includes expansive spaces where you can dine alfresco while admiring the seascapes or enjoy watersports directly from the yacht.

Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Athens is the cradle of the Western democratic tradition, home to a civilization as radiant as any before or since. Feel the pulse of history as you climb to the hilltop Acropolis, home to some of the city’s most renowned ancient sites. Gaze in amazement at the massive columns of the Parthenon, Pericles' greatest monument. Admire the little Temple of Nike and the fantastic carvings of the caryatids that support a porch of the Erechtheion. At the bottom of the hill, the Acropolis Museum includes original statues of the maidens and numerous other artifacts unearthed here. Equally outstanding is the National Archaeological Museum, one of the largest in the world. In the Agora, you can walk in the footsteps of Plato and Aristotle, carry on an imaginary dialogue with Socrates and discover where Hippocrates healed and Pericles ruled. Then for lighter fare, savor the lively tavernas and twisting lanes of the Plaka neighborhood.

Mykonos, Greece

Bronze bodies bask in the sun on golden beaches, blue-domed churches dot the island, and picturesque windmills paddle the horizon. This is Mykonos, one of the most charming and fashionable of the Greek isles. Chora, its capital, is a cubist jumble of whitewashed houses and a maze of alleyways built long ago to foil pirates. Get lost in these narrow, twisting lanes filled with exclusive boutiques, art galleries and world-class restaurants. Take a 4x4 to explore the hidden corners of this stunning Cycladic island, or take a short boat trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Delos, a sacred islet of ancient ruins and the mythological birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis.

Ephesus (Kuşadasi), Turkey

Simple seaside pleasures – a waterfront promenade, open-air cafés and some gorgeous beaches – are the focus of life in the resort town of Kuşadası. This modern port is the gateway to Ephesus, one of the great cities of antiquity, which lies just 10 miles inland. Founded by the Ionian Greeks, Ephesus flourished as a provincial capital of Imperial Rome. Wandering around its agoras, baths, libraries and mosaic-adorned houses is an experience you’ll never forget. Although Ephesians were forced to abandon their city, Byzantine and Ottoman sites in the nearby town of Selçuk illustrate the unstoppable march of history in this corner of Asia Minor. Back in Kuşadası, pull up a chair in a çay bahçesi (tea garden) on the water's edge in the evening, or join the party along Bar Street. 

Patmos, Greece

The sacred and the secular share Patmos, the holy island of the Aegean where St. John is held to have written the Book of Revelation while in exile. Dominating the island, the Monastery of St. John the Theologian is a castle-like complex wrapped by the white-washed buildings of the historic Chora. For centuries, Christian pilgrims have visited this hilltop site, the nearby Cave of the Apocalypse and the many other churches and religious edifices that dot the rugged interior. Skála, the capital, is a pretty port town whose natural harbor, curved around Patmos’ narrow middle, provides wonderful anchorage for visitors who come to swim, dine and relax. The village of Kámpos is a popular spot for sun-seekers and water sports while peaceful coves and beaches are found along the intricate coastline.

Rhodes, Greece

The largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes is renowned for its sunshine, sandy beaches and spectacular heritage. During two centuries of occupation, the crusading Knights Hospitaller transformed Rhodes Town into a medieval stronghold. Today its Old Town is a wonderful tangle of streets and squares that are bustling with cafés and restaurants. The architecture here is fascinating – a beautiful blend Gothic, Byzantine and Ottoman styles. To the north you’ll find Mandraki Harbor, which was purportedly the location of the Colossus of Rhodes, an ancient towering statue of the sun god Helios. Head down the coast and you’ll find the island’s most beautiful ancient site, Lindos. The hilltop acropolis here offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Agean Sea and surrounding villages. Lindos’ main square and dine on delicious local specialties like grilled tuna or cuttlefish-ink risotto. 

Santorini, Greece

Make sure to be on deck to witness sailing into one of the Aegean’s most spectacular sights: the volcanic caldera that is Santorini’s bay. Rising from the sea, the earth transforms into a wall of stone that looms in striating hues of ochres, grays and pinks. Dotted with the island’s iconic blue-domed churches, the whitewashed village of Fira hovers in the cliffs, bustling with shops, tavernas and a fine museum while clinging to the caldera’s rim. After gazing down at the stunning view from Fira, you can hike the Caldera Trail to Oia – a different and equally breathtaking perspective of the exquisite bay awaits you at every turn. Or sample other island delights – the wineries, the black sand beaches or the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri, which Plato believed was the lost city of Atlantis. Then relax in a cliffside taverna with a local assyrtiko wine and watch an amazing sunset.