6. Syros, Greece
Instead of going to glitzy Mykonos, take the high-speed ferry to Syros, which will only take 30 minutes. Syros is an excellent mix of city life and quiet country life. Ermoupoli, the seaside capital of Syros, is busy but not full of tourists. The shores are lined with tiers of neoclassical homes. Greeks stay for long lunches at tavernas here, and the scenery is varied, with a wild interior dotted with olive groves and orchards and quiet, empty beaches that can only be reached by boat in many places. The new eco-art hotel Aristide has nine stylish rooms and is also home to artists who live there full-time.