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Serious Spanish and South American dancers dominate the dancefloor nightly; if you’re not up to the challenge, just enjoy the great Cuban food and music.

Free exhibits by contemporary Greek artists, a theatre museum, and a lovely café with great people-watching potential.

The prehistoric Cycladic civilization flourished on the islands of Naxos, Paros, Amorgos, Santorini and Keros (which form a rough circle in the Aegean, hence the name) for 1,000 years before mysteriously disappearing. It left behind hundreds of marble figures: most are elegant, angular, minimalist female figures, probably used in a goddess or fertility cult.

The lovely monastery here is one of the greatest treasures of the Byzantine Empire. Inside, the brilliant mosaics are among the most perfectly executed examples of the genre. It is currently closed for restoration work and is scheduled to reopen in 2006.

Built in the 6th century, this beautiful monastery church has been used in the course of its life as a prison, insane asylum and army barracks, as well as a revered place of worship. And, like so many churches in and around Athens, its foundations rest upon an ancient temple, this one to Apollo. The magnificent mosaics and awesome vaulted dome are being restored, and the church is hoping to reopen in 2006. (see Dafni)

If there’s a celebrity in town, they’re sure to eat in the frescoed dining room of this Neo-Classical mansion.

Greek alternative music kids and hipsters flock here to dance to the likes of Scotland’s Belle & Sebastian and Australia’s prince of darkness, Nick Cave.

These studios, suites and apartments are fairly basic but generously proportioned, with separate bedrooms, kitchens and living areas. The location offers little in the way of sights, restaurants and bars, so you’ll need to take a bus to the centre of town.

The centre of the world, as Zeus divined by releasing two eagles from opposite ends of the universe and seeing where they crossed. Great mystic powers are associated with this site, whose jutting mountain, gaping chasms and rushing springs indicate a place of dramatic geological upheaval. In ancient times, priestesses communed with the Oracle of Delphi, which gave famously abstruse prophecies. Apollo won dominion over the Oracle, and the site is full of temples to the god and prophets. (see Sights in Delphi)

Deeply trendy DeLuxe is usually packed with glossy media types enjoying its “sixties lounge” decor and groovy DJs. It also serves stellar food upstairs.