The Northern Aegean Islands Feature

Samos Block Party: Pythagoras, Epicurus, and the fabulous Aesop were just a few of this island's brightest stars, and their spirits probably still haunt the ancient Heraion temple.

Mesmerizing Mastic Villages: Pirgi in Chios is known for the resin it produces, but with its Genoese houses patterned in black and white, it's the Escher-like landscape that's likely to stick with you.

Sappho's Island: If it's beauty you seek, head to one of Lesbos's oldest towns, Molyvos—a haven for artists and an aesthete's dream.

Sailing to Byzantium: Colorful Byzantine mosaics make Chios's 11th-century Nea Moni monastery an important piece of history—and a marvel to behold.

Dizzyingly Good Ouzo: Though you can get this potent potable anywhere in Greece, Lesbos's is reputedly the best—enjoy it with famed salt-baked Kalloni sardines.