Mykonos

The tiny Cycladic island of Mykonos sprung to blossom as a tourist destination in the 1960s and 1970s when it was first discovered by the global glitterati and became featured in magazines as the new hot place to be for the "it" crowd. The island today has kept little of its past exclusivity–although celebrities do make appearances at some of its fashion boutiques every now and then–and welcomes diverse crowds every summer season. July and August are the busiest, with late spring and early fall allowing visitors to discover a quieter, more tranquil side to the island. During high season, avoid the narrow streets of Mykonos Town (also referred to as "Hora", or "Chora") during the daytime to escape cruise ship crowds and venture out to one of the island's many beaches, or try scuba diving under the careful supervision of professionals from the island's many dive centres. The island, along with its tiny neighbour of Delos, featured prominently in Greek mythology and was first settled in the 11th century BC. Excursions into the past may be made via the island's several tiny museums and the well-maintained Archaeological Site of Delos.