How does one begin to describe the Aegean islands? Some islands are party destinations, while others are home to yoga and wellness retreats, and yet others are so serene and rural, visits there feel like going back in time. Some embrace their local culinary heritage, inspiring talented chefs and hosting festivals, while a number of them are popular walking or climbing destinations. From drystone walls and terraces, windmills and sugar-cube villages of the Cyclades to the neoclassical townhouses typical of the Dodecanese, each stop on an island-hopping tour is like a descent into a different, spectacular world.
 
Greece Is Aegean, Vol. 1 The South, is as much a handy guide to the islands as a love letter to the places where we love to spend our summers.
 
Over the 143 pages in this issue, we present an informative overlook of the islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, share little-known fun facts about the region and a six-day sailing guide, and deep-dive into nine of our favorite destinations: Paros, Tinos, Santorini, Kimolos, Mykonos, Astypalea, Symi, Tilos and Patmos.