One Week in Greece: The Classic Itinerary
Contents
- Before You Go
- Day 1: Athens — Arrival and Monastiraki
- Day 2: Athens — Acropolis and Ancient Agora
- Day 3: Athens → Santorini
- Day 4: Santorini — Caldera, Akrotiri, and Red Beach
- Day 5: Santorini — Catamaran Tour and Perissa Beach
- Day 6: Santorini → Mykonos
- Day 7: Mykonos — Beaches and Departure
- Budget Summary
This itinerary covers the most-visited combination in Greece — Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos — in seven days. It is not the most adventurous route, but it is tested and works. All three destinations are excellent; the challenge is managing expectations about cost on Santorini and Mykonos.
Before You Go
Book in advance: Accommodation in Santorini and Mykonos sells out months ahead for July–August. For this itinerary in peak season, book hotels before booking flights. Ferries also book up — reserve all ferry crossings at ferryscanner.com or with the operator at least 4 weeks ahead.
Ferry or flight to Santorini? A direct flight from Athens (45 minutes) is faster and more comfortable than the ferry (5–8 hours). For budget travellers, the overnight ferry from Piraeus (~€35 deck class) saves a night’s accommodation cost.
Day 1: Athens — Arrival and Monastiraki
Arrive in Athens. Metro from the airport to Syntagma (40 minutes, €10.50 single, or Monastiraki). Check in to your hotel. The first afternoon: walk Monastiraki Square, the Roman Agora, and the edge of the Plaka district. Evening meal in Psyrri (the neighbourhood just northwest of Monastiraki) — better value than the Plaka.
Where to eat: Taverna tou Psyrri (Eshilou 12, Psyrri, traditional Athens food, approximately €20–28 per person).
Where to stay — Athens:
- Budget: Athens Backpackers (Makri 12, dorm from €22, good location near Acropolis)
- Mid-range: Athens Gate Hotel (Syngrou Ave, opposite the Olympieion, from approximately €120/night)
- Upmarket: Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma, from approximately €400/night, the classic Athens hotel)
Day 2: Athens — Acropolis and Ancient Agora
Full day for the Acropolis and its immediate area.
Morning (8am): Arrive at the Acropolis at opening time (8am) to beat the crowds. Allow 2 hours on site: the Propylaia entrance gateway, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion (caryatid porch), and the view from the south slope. Entry €30 adult — buy online in advance to skip the ticket queue.
Late morning: Walk down to the Ancient Agora (below the north slope) — the heart of classical Athenian public life. The Temple of Hephaestus is the best-preserved ancient temple in Greece. Entry included in the Acropolis combined ticket.
Afternoon: The Acropolis Museum (Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, entry €10 adult) — allow 2 hours. The third-floor Parthenon gallery is outstanding.
Evening: Walk along the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian promenade (from the Acropolis Museum toward Thissio) — the best evening walk in Athens. Dinner in Thissio or Gazi.
Transport cost today: Metro/walking. Budget approximately €5.
Day 3: Athens → Santorini
Morning: Check out of your Athens hotel. Metro to Piraeus (Metro Line 1 Green to Piraeus, 20 minutes, €1.40). Ferry from Piraeus to Santorini Athinios port (conventional ferry approximately 8–9 hours, from €35 deck class; high-speed catamaran approximately 5 hours from €65).
Alternatively: Domestic flight from Athens to Santorini (45 minutes, from €40 — significantly faster). If you take an early flight, you gain an afternoon in Santorini.
Arriving Santorini: From the Athinios port, bus to Fira (€2.20) or taxi (€25–30). Check in to your accommodation.
Evening: First sunset in Oia — walk the cliff-edge path from Imerovigli to Oia (approximately 2 hours) for the best approach, or take the bus to Oia directly (€2.80). The sunset from the kasteli in Oia is the famous experience; arrive by 6pm in summer (the viewpoint fills completely).
Transport costs today: Athens Metro €1.40 + ferry/flight €35–65 + Santorini bus/taxi.
Day 4: Santorini — Caldera, Akrotiri, and Red Beach
Morning: Akrotiri Archaeological Site — the Bronze Age Minoan city buried by the volcanic eruption, often called the “Pompeii of the Aegean”. Entry €12 adult, open 8am–8pm. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon: Red Beach — a 10-minute walk from Akrotiri village (follow the coastal path). The red volcanic cliffs and dark sand are dramatic. Busy in summer; no sunbeds, two beach bars.
Evening: Dinner in Fira (cheaper than Oia, wider choice). Sygros taverna (approximately €20–30 per person) for reliable local food; or splurge at one of the caldera-view restaurants.
Where to stay — Santorini:
- Budget: Youth Hostel Anna (Fira, dorm from €25), Maria’s Place (Karterados, from approximately €70/night)
- Mid-range: Hotel Keti (Fira, caldera view, from approximately €180/night peak), Villa Renos (Fira, from approximately €160/night)
- Upmarket: Katikies Hotel (Oia, from approximately €600/night peak), Canaves Oia (from approximately €700/night)
Day 5: Santorini — Catamaran Tour and Perissa Beach
Morning: Catamaran tour of the caldera — a half-day sailing trip circling the volcanic islands, stopping at the hot springs, Thirassia island, and the submerged volcanic rock. Approximately €50–90 per person depending on operator and boat type. Book via GetYourGuide.
Afternoon: Perissa beach — black volcanic sand on the southeast coast, busy but with good tavernas and watersports. KTEL bus from Fira (€2.80, 30 minutes).
Evening in Fira: Walk along the caldera path from Fira to Imerovigli (approximately 3km, 1 hour). Good evening light on the caldera.
Day 6: Santorini → Mykonos
Ferry Santorini to Mykonos — approximately 3–4 hours by conventional ferry or 2.5 hours by catamaran (from €30–50 per person). Multiple daily services in season.
Arrive Mykonos. Check in. Afternoon: explore Mykonos Town (Chora) — get genuinely lost in the whitewashed alleys, find the pelicans, photograph the windmills.
Evening: Little Venice (Alefkandra) for sunset drinks — expensive (cocktails approximately €14–22) but the setting is worth one drink. Dinner in the backstreets of Chora, not on the harbour front.
Where to stay — Mykonos:
- Budget: Paradise Beach Camping (from approximately €20/person), small old town guesthouses from €100–150/night peak
- Mid-range: Hotel Carbonaki (old town, from approximately €180/night peak), Semeli Hotel (from approximately €220/night peak)
- Upmarket: Cavo Tagoo (from approximately €600/night peak), Bill & Coo (from approximately €500/night peak)
Day 7: Mykonos — Beaches and Departure
Morning: Choose a beach based on your preference — Paradise Beach (party atmosphere, music, beach clubs), Elia (longer, quieter), or Agios Sostis (no development, no umbrellas, genuinely quiet). KTEL buses from the Old Port, approximately €2–3.
Afternoon: Return to Mykonos Town. Final lunch, shopping in the alleys.
Departure: Domestic flight from Mykonos to Athens (45 minutes, from €40), then onward. Or direct international flights from Mykonos Airport (JMK) to several European cities in summer.
Budget Summary
Per person (mid-range category, peak season):
| Item | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Athens accommodation (2 nights) | €240 |
| Athens–Santorini (ferry economy) | €35–65 |
| Santorini accommodation (2 nights) | €360 (caldera view mid-range) |
| Santorini catamaran tour | €70 |
| Santorini–Mykonos ferry | €35–50 |
| Mykonos accommodation (2 nights) | €400 |
| Food (7 days × €45/day) | €315 |
| Transport within cities/islands | €60 |
| Site entries (Acropolis €30, others) | €60 |
| Total | ~€1,575 |
Budget category travellers (hostels, economy ferries, cheaper eating): approximately €900–1,100 per person.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is one week enough for Greece?
- One week is enough to see Athens properly and two islands. The classic combination — Athens (2 nights), Santorini (2–3 nights), Mykonos (2 nights) — is well-tested and works well. A week is not enough to explore both the mainland and multiple islands; choose one focus.
- How much does a week in Greece cost?
- Rough estimate for the Athens + Santorini + Mykonos route: flights to/from Greece (varies widely), hotels €120–400/night depending on category, ferries €35–65 per crossing, food €30–80 per person per day. Budget approximately €1,200–2,000 per person for a week (excluding international flights) at mid-range; significantly more at Santorini's caldera hotels.
- Should I go to Santorini or Mykonos first?
- The practical order depends on ferry schedules — Santorini and Mykonos are both connected to Piraeus by direct ferry, and there is a Santorini–Mykonos ferry route. Santorini is usually done first (the volcanic island logic: fly or ferry south, then loop north through the Cyclades). But logistically either order works.
- Can I do Athens–Santorini–Mykonos without a car?
- Yes — this itinerary is designed for public transport. Athens metro + taxis, ferries between islands, and KTEL buses on the islands are all that's needed. A car is unnecessary on Santorini and Mykonos (and expensive to bring on ferries).