Athens

 

Planning a trip to Greece? Greece, in one word, is a beautiful country. It has history, culture, scenic views, food, blue waters, all that and more.

 

Below I am taking you on a 10 day Greece itinerary; an Athens, Santorini and Mykonos Itinerary! This country has something to offer to tourists of all tastes and budgets; visiting it once is never enough Greece will always call you back for more.

 

Visiting this culturally diverse country can be as affordable or as lux as your budget will allow. The best time to visit Greece I have found to be is Spring, mid-summer and autumn.

 

 

An Athens, Santorini And Mykonos Itinerary In 10 Days

 

No matter how much time you have, Greece has so much to offer that you would never be able to do justice to completely visiting this country.

 

However, I have a 10-day itinerary planned for you, covering the three major cities and visiting the maximum places. Start your journey from Athens and then head to Santorini; followed by Mykonos.

 

You also have the options of doing Athens, Mykonos and then Santorini. I have a post on how to get from Athens to Mykonos and another on how to get from Mykonos to Santorini.

 

You will explore the mainland as well as explore Cyclades; the most famous group of islands in the Aegean Sea and among the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.

 

Cool white and blue coloured Cycladic architecture, stunning coastlines and amazing beaches. I have also shared a travel guide for Santorini as well as a 3 day Santorini itinerary that will complement this post as well as provide more details on daily activities to consider for the Athens, Santorini and Mykonos itinerary.

 

If you would rather everything was arranged for you, I would recommend checking out the 8 Day Aegean islands tour of Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. It runs from April to October and can be changed to fit around your preferences.

 

Athens: days 1-2

 

Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the oldest cities in the world; it is packed with historical monuments as well as has a bustling nightlife.

 

Therefore, you would need two days at best to explore this city. In Athens, you can find a lot of hotels in many budgets but if possible make sure you pick a hotel with a roof terrace or view.

 

Nothing beats a glass of wine in the evening with a view of the Acropolis in the distance.  The below can also be done as stand alone if you have 2 days in Athens or if you have more time and can do 2 or even 4 days in Athens, I have also added a couple of tips on the best day trips from Athens you can do beyond the travel tips on how to spend 2 days in Athens.

 

Day 1 in Athens

Start your day early and have a wholesome breakfast and head out for a full day of exploring.

In Greece, you will never have a shortage of food and food options; delicious food for people with all kinds of taste buds. Most hotels will offer free breakfast but failing that cafes and restaurants are plenty.

 

 

Whether you only have time for an Athens itinerary or more this is one place not to miss on your travel plans for Athens.  Head to Syntagma Square.

It is one of the most important squares in Athens and is flocked with tourists and locals all the time. This is the center of the city.

Formerly a palace, the Parliament building and the square in front of it have been the ground of many political events.

 

In fact when we visited there were demonstrations in and around the square.  Starting your day from here is to introduce you to Greek culture and society and without further ado, head to Acropolis to explore the ancient ruins there. I shared more pictures from our explorations of Athens here and here.

 

 

 

Even if you are not a fan of historical places; no trip to Athens is complete without exploring the Acropolis since it is one of the most iconic attractions of Greece.

Entering into Acropolis Hill(entrance from Dionysiou Arepagitou Street) requires tickets and before doing that you can pay a visit to Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the ancient theatre and a good spot for taking pictures.

 

As you climb the hill to the Acropolis, history unfolds before you. Make sure you have ample time (about three hours would suffice) to explore and do justice to these remnants of past and also wear something comfortable since you would have to walk a lot.

There is also the Acropolis museum when additional artifacts of the Ancient Agora. There are amazing spots for pictures as you head to the top as well as cool views from the top. Parthenon and Erectheum are popular among tourists for taking pictures.

 

 

When you are done with exploring the Acropolis, take a stroll around Plaka and absorb the peace and serenity of that neighborhood.

When you exit the Acropolis and head back down you will find yourself in Monastiraki Flea Market; there is hustle; there is bustle, food, people and culture.

 

You can also buy your trip souvenirs from here. With all that walking you may have worked up an appetite.

Plaka and Monastiraki have plenty of cafes and restaurants serving amazing food where you can taste the traditional Kebab and souvlaki.

As well as shops, both Plaka and Monastiraki contain endless historical sites from different eras can civilisations; from pre-historic, Greek, Roman and Ottoman

 

 

 

Day 2 in Athens

 

The first day in Athens was bent towards exploring the city and its historical sites, dedicate your second day to shopping and laid-back exploring because in your next two destinations, you would not get time and energy to do shopping.

Ermou street is located opposite to Acropolis and is home to international brands as well as locally owned ventures.

 

Spend your day in Varvakios Food Market, a food lover’s paradise, where you will devour some of the freshest and most wholesome meals of your life.

Stroll the Voukourestiou Street, treat yourself to a bit of luxury as this street is filled with shops leaning towards the expensive side. Explore the boutiques in Kolonaki and Psyri and also get a taste of Greek fine dining and live jazz bars.

 

Note: Getting around Athens is really easy, the metros are really easy to use as are taxis which are plenty.

 

 

Have More Time In Athens? Consider These Day Trips From Athens

 

• A day trip to Delhi
• A day trip to greek islands like Hyrda, Paros or Aegina
• A day trip to Mycenae or even Meteora.
• A day trip to Temple of Olympian Zeus and Olympic Stadium.
• A day trip to the Temple of Poseidon.

 

There are plenty of options for DIY tours as well as those arranged by tour companies. To make the most of your time and travel between sights I would highly recommend doing day trips from Athens as transportation as well as a guide are provided. With some also providing food. 

 

Things To Do In The Evening In Athens

 

Athens has a vibrant nightlife. Only a short walk from Monastiraki is Thissio. Here you will find restaurants and taverns lined up along Dionyssiou Areopagitous Street with many having an amazing view of the Acropolis.

Here you can also find nightclubs and bars to experience Athens nightlife. If that is not your cup of tea there is also an open-air cinema in the summer months. 

 

In addition to Monastiraki, Gazi and Thissio(Thiseio), you also have Psyrri district where you can enjoy dinner and dance to live Greek music.

If you want to experience Athens nightlife like a local then head to Gazi. This is where locals hang out for clubbing, live music from jazz to rock and then some. For more tips on things to do in Athens at night check out my post.

 

For something understated but upscale head to Kolonaki with more restaurants and bars. If you are visiting Athens in the summer there are festivals you can also check out. Like Summer Nostos Festival, Plissken Festival, Rockwave Festival.

 

Where To Stay In Athens

 

There are plenty of places to stay in Athens covering all budgets. I will cover more of this in later posts including tips with a full list of things to do in Athens, but would really recommend a hotel with a view of the Acropolis on the roof terraces it looks so beautiful when lit up in the evening. 

 

 

Santorini: days 3-6

 

Whenever you think of Greece, the whitewashed houses of Santorini and its clean sandy beaches come to your mind.

The island of Santorini is an ideal honeymoon destination and you would have to use a ferry from Athens to reach here and check in to your hotel. I have shared tips on how to get from Athens to Santorini on the blog.

 

Day 1 in Santorini

 

Oia would be your first destination in Santorini. It is a coastal village where all houses are whitewashed and are carved into rugged clifftops.

Have breakfast in any of the eateries in this small town. Oia is filled with small book shops and galleries.

However, for those who are not interested in shopping, you can walk down the village, sit, relax in the blowing winds, and absorb the magnificent view from the caldera.

 

Since it is a coastal establishment, there is one Maritime Museum as well, exhibiting local seafaring history.

In my recent post I shared tips on how to get around Santorini but the majority of towns like Oia and Fira don’t really require you to have a car as they are very walkable.

For the other towns buses and taxis are accessible. Check out my post for additional information.

 

 

Spend the rest of your day in Fira, the capital of Santorini which is much alike yet modern and more developed from Oia.

Fira also has a lot of small shops, restaurants and bars. You can get majestic views of the island from this place.

Especially, spending your evening in Fira would allow you to witness the most glorious sunset of your life, at the edge of an island.

 

For dinner, descend to the charming port of Ammoudi  Bay and have a taste of the fresh produce from the Mediterranean sea.

Having a dip into the crystal-clear water at night would set you up for the mood. Ammoudi Bay is great for having a night out for party, food and drinks.

For more tips on where to eat, I shared a post of my top restaurants in Santorini to check out.

 

 

Day 2 in Santorini

 

For your second day in Santorini, explore the archaeological site of Akrotiri. This town is home to ruins from the Minoan period.

Exploring these ruins won’t take much time. Most people come to this town just for the ruins and then head out to the beaches as there isn’t much to do in the area.

The population here mostly consists of farmers. However, strolling here and there for a while could bring you some refreshment and relaxation. Head to the red beach which is one of the most unique beaches in Greece.

 

 

As beautiful as this beach is there aren’t a lot of activities to do at the Red Beach but it’s popular with sunbathers and light swimming.

If you want more activities, I would suggest heading towards Perissa. The village and beach offer more, there are shops, cafes, clubs for evening entertainment.

 

Perissa is developed and the main attraction here is the black sand beach. There are different water activities you can try apart from swimming in the deep blue waters.

There are shops offering diving and other water activities The night time at Perissa beach is pretty crowded, with people pouring in and out of restaurants, shops and nightclubs. For more tips, I have a post on the best beaches in Santorini.

 

 

Day 3 in Santorini

 

What’s the point of visiting an island if you’re not going on a cruise? So, your day three in Santorini would compromise of a full day catamaran tour exploring the Aegean Sea.

If you are going with a partner or family; sailing whole day on a boat gives you time to bond and cherish each other’s company.

There are a lot of sailing companies in Santorini that offer full day catamaran tours with different packages. I shared a post on our Santorini sunset cruise around the island.

 

 

 

 

 

Where To Stay In Santorini

 

I have covered where to stay in Santorini extensively on the blog. From tips on the best areas to stay in Santorini to covering tops on cheap hotels in Oia as well as cheap hotels with views of the Caldera and more.

There are plenty of options to choose from; luxury suites with private pool to affordable places to stay that won’t break the bank whiles still allowing you to have insta-moments.

 

Mykonos: days 7-10

 

Mykonos, just like Santorini is another Greek island that is a hit with tourists. The island is known for its white homes, windmills, majestic sea view and night scenes.

From Santorini, a ferry would take you to Mykonos in about 3 hours. That is why get a ferry early morning so that you could start exploring Mykonos pretty early. I shared a post on how to get from Santorini to Mykonos and vice versa.

 

Day 1 in Mykonos

 

Since the whole Greece trip might have gotten you tired by now, you can spend this day doing light strolling, exploring the city, absorbing the cultural vibes. Get to Mykonos old Town. It is famous for its cobbled narrow streets.

 

That’s a change when you are used to the city scrappers and take in this simplicity as much as you can. In these cobbled streets, there are hidden gems of eateries producing authentic Greek culinary wonders.

In the evening, sip onto fine vine, sitting in a balcony restaurant, under the starry sky, looking over the coastal lights.

 

Day 2 in Mykonos

 

The Greek islands have to withstand some pretty strong winds. Hence windmills are an iconic symbol of these islands. Visit the historical windmills of Kato Myli which are nothing like the traditional windmills.

 

They were constructed in the 16^th century and have straw roof tops. These windmills overlook the coastal town of Little Venice. Visit this town as watching the sunset or sunrise at this port is one of the main attractions here. This town consists of colorful houses, restaurants, antique shops and bars.

 

Armenistis Lighthouse is present on the North-Western tip of the island. Pay a visit to this lighthouse. This lighthouse is a local landscape trademark, it offers great views of the Aegean Sea.

 

Mykonos is home to 365 churches, one for each day of the year. Head to Paraportiani church, which is one of the most visited and photographed religious mausoleum here.

 

 

Day 3 in Mykonos

 

Spend your third day in Mykonos exploring the Delos island. It is known to be the mythical birthplace of the Greek God Apollo and Artemis.

 

Although it is a tiny island, you can spend your whole day here. Explore the ruins of Propylaea and the sanctuary of Apollo. Hike up to the mount Kythnos to get a view of the neighboring islands and the sea.

 

 

Day 4 in Mykonos

 

Mykonos is famous for its clean, sandy beaches with deep blue, fresh waters. There are a lot of beaches in Mykonos. You can either spend your whole day at one beach or explore them one by one.  Ornos beach is a peaceful family friendly beach along with many tavernas. Platys Gialos Beach has the best waters. It is lined with luxury hotels and a mini market. Paradise beach is the most fun to go. A lot of water sports, party and music; and as the sun goes down the crowd as well as the clamor increases.

 

 

Where To Stay In Mykonos

 

I have shared a complete guide on the best areas to stay in Mykonos with tips on hotels in various budgets for each of the areas.

 

Alternative Itinerary For Athens, Santorini and Mykonos

 

Option 1: If you are short on time I would recommend cutting down your Greece itinerary to 2 days in Athens, 2 days in Santorini then a ferry to Mykonos for a day of exploring and then catching the flight back to Athens for your flight out to your country of origin. This would give you about 5-7 day itinerary for Athens, Santorini and Mykonos.

 

Option 2: If you have more time then I would suggest you also add Crete. The beauty of the Cyclades is that most have easy access to ferry options just make sure you plan and check the ferry dates when planning as some ferry services operate on specific dates in the week.

 

So you can do 2 weeks where you do 3 days in Athens, 3 days in Santorini, 3 days in Mykonos and 3 days in Crete.

 

The other 2 days will be spent resting and light exploring of the city you are departing from as well as arriving in by ferry. That gives you about 14 days itinerary for Athens, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.

 

There you have it tips on how to do a 10 day Greece trip with plenty of options whether you have 5 days, 7 days or 8 days. Everything you need to considering when planning a Greece vacation especially when considering 10 day greek island hopper to the most popular islands in the country.

 

Greek Island Hopping Itineraries: Athens Mykonos Santorini Vacation Packages

 

If you have a set time and want to make the most of your trip to Greece, I would highly recommend Greek Island hopping vacation packages.

Currently, Contiki Tours does a 12 day Greece itinerary covering Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Ios before returning to Athens for your flight out. This gives you 2 nights Athens, 3 nights in Mykonos, 3 nights in Santorini and 3 nights in Ios then returning to Athens for 1 night. 

 

The Greek islands have much more to offer than most would think: archaeological treasures, history, culture, dramatic landscapes overlooking an azure coloured sea and, of course, delicious food. 

For something a little different, Exodus Travels has a 7 days Greek Island Hopping itinerary covering Santorini, Paros and Naxos. With all accommodation on the islands and transportation included. 

 

Then there is GAdventures with runs three package vacations to Greece. Two 8 days trips and one 10 days Greece itinerary sailing tour.

All are some group tours allowing you to meet people as well as explore on your own when you are on the islands and off the boat. On average 10 days, Greece cost of the trip is about £800-1000.

 

Also See

• Coastal Cliff Walking From Oia To Fira
• The Coolest Cafes To Visit In Santorini
• Cheap Hotels In Fira Santorini
• The Best Villas With Infinity Pools In Santorini
• The Best Bars In Santorini
• Santorini’s Best Cooking Classes For Foodies
• How To Get From Santorini Airport To Oia

 

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