Seby Gurrieri

South Africa is more than a destination to me—it’s home. I choose to spend so much time here because there is nothing quite like it; in many ways, it spoils you for anywhere else. What makes it truly special is the contrast: wild landscapes, world-class food and wine, and a richly layered cultural identity, all in one place. Living here has given me access to off-the-beaten-track places that locals genuinely cherish. This guide reflects not just where to go, but how to experience South Africa with intention and local insight.

I first discovered Formentera and Menorca almost 20 years ago as my antidote to Ibiza, and over time they’ve become places I’ve returned to again and again. In recent years, I’ve seen a beautiful evolution unfold across the two islands—one that has only made them more special, while still preserving what makes them so magnetic in the first place: untouched beaches, a growing collection of fabulous boutique hotels, and a distinct Balearic rhythm that blends barefoot simplicity with understated sophistication. Think Ibiza or Mallorca, then think the opposite. Formentera is elemental and stripped-back, where time is measured in swims, sunsets, and long lunches. Menorca is the more grown-up sister; it feels quieter and more rooted, with rural landscapes, hidden coves, and a quietly sophisticated cultural and artistic scene.

Sifnos is what the Greek islands were before the world found them and somehow, it has stayed that way. I know this because I arrived for four days and left after twenty-two. There are no cruise ships, no beach clubs pumping commercial music at noon, no queues at a famous caldera. What there is: whitewashed villages strung along hillside paths, a coast of quiet coves and sandy bays, a pottery tradition older than recorded history, and a culinary culture so deeply embedded in the island’s identity that Sifnos is simply known across Greece as the food island. For couples seeking a genuinely romantic, unhurried Aegean escape, with exceptional boutique hotels, world-class cooking, and the freedom to feel like you’ve actually discovered somewhere. Sifnos has a way of making you cancel your onward ferry. Consider yourself warned.

Northern Italy’s lake district is one of those rare corners of Europe where beauty feels almost excessive and entirely earned. Lake Como seduces immediately, with its dramatic mountain backdrops, Belle Époque grandeur, and a social energy that draws the world’s most discerning travelers every summer. Lake Garda, by contrast, rewards those who linger: wider, wilder in places, and rich with medieval villages, Michelin-starred kitchens, and long afternoons on the water. A divine combination for a romantic escape.

Athens is a city of layers, where ancient history and contemporary life exist in constant dialogue. There is an energy here that feels both timeless and immediate, and in recent years the city has evolved significantly, with new world-class hotels, a dynamic culinary scene, and a renewed cultural momentum that makes it one of the most compelling cities in Europe today. What defines Athens is not just its monuments, but the contrast between them. This 3-day itinerary moves from grand archaeological sites to intimate neighborhoods and coastal corners, inviting you to experience the city in all its depth, past and present, at once.