In a recently published article titled ‘See you down the taverna — why Greece is the place to go’, The Times praises three Greek islands, namely Crete, Corfu and Kefalonia and offers tips on where to stay eat and visit. “New direct flights from Scotland let you turn on the old-town charm less than four hours from home,” writes The Times.

Greece’s Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilas got the local media buzzing when he shared the article on his Twitter feed.

The Times proposes that in Crete visitors see deeply historical Hania for its “heady old-town charm with its sprinkling of medieval Venetian architecture, buzzy harbourside restaurants and bustling street markets.” It also recommends visits to Samaria Gorge and “unspoilt villages such as Vamos, known for authentic Cretan food”. A visit to the Turkish hammam is also recommended.

In Corfu, the article recommends visitors stay in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town “for winding medieval lanes, mosaic-studded Venetian fortresses and ten-a-drachma tavernas.” The island’s mountainous landscapes and sandy beaches and stores selling traditional goods such as honey are also mentioned. The article recommends dinner at a seaside taverna in Lawrence and Nancy Durrell’s former residence.

Kefalonia is described as having maintained a “sleepy beach charm” despite no longer being “the undiscovered idyll it was before Captain Corelli’s Mandolin came out in 1994”. The article focuses on the island’s beaches of Antisamos and Petani “for its can’t-believe-your-eyes turquoise bay and verdant cliffs”.