Seven Day Greece Itinerary - Athens and the Greek Islands
Greece and it's islands offer some of the most beautiful and majestic historic sites, beaches and blue waters of any place in the world. The mainland is covered in historic architecture and mountains, and the Aegean Sea around it is filled with thousands of picture-perfect islands. And I mean thousands.
So, how does one see all of Greece's glory in the span of a week? Well, to be honest, it's impossible. There's just too many spots worth visiting. I told a taxi driver on my way back to the airport to fly home that I'd visited two of the islands, and he laughed and said I'd barely scratched the surface. It immediately became clear to me that I would need to take multiple trips to Greece to even come close to experiencing all it has to offer. I only, unfortunately, had seven days the first time through, and had to plan a one week itinerary. And, I'm guessing, this may be the case for many of you. So, how do you make the most of this country with endless beauty with only a seven day Greece itinerary?
Well, for starters, you need to accept that you won't see everything. And that's ok. Selecting a few spots on the mainland, a few islands, or a combination of both can lead to a trip that provides a satisfying taste for the country and its offerings. On my trip to Greece, we chose to explore Athens, and then visit a few of the more well-known islands. And those islands were great. Really, really great. But those islands created a passion and desire to travel back to the country and explore even more of the smaller, lesser known islands. So, consider your seven day Greece itinerary as a starting point. Because, once you experience Greece, you will want much, much more.
So, what does a starting point seven day Greece itinerary look like? Well, it looks like a bit of time on the mainland, a bit of time on the islands, and a lot of time spent eating, drinking and enjoying one of the most beautiful country's in the world:
Athens - 1 Day
Athens is the perfect place to start your seven day Greece itinerary because you not only typically fly into Athens, but it also provides a great intro to some of the historic elements and food that Greece has to offer. Wander around the streets, eat Greek food all day, and sip wine on Euro-style patios all night. And, of course, ensure that you check out the Acropolis of Athens, which is Athen's (and maybe even Greece's) most famous attraction. If you can, try to get on a flight that lands early in the morning (Athens Time). That way, you get your entire first day to fully explore this beautiful city.
Mykonos - 2 Days
Now, hopefully you didn't spend too much time on the patios in Athens the night before, as you'll most likely be hopping on a fairy to Mykonos the next morning. Sure, you could fly there in about twenty minutes, but experiencing the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the mountainous Greek islands from a boat is spectacular. If you leave super early (like we did), you can even watch the sunrise during your journey. If you take a fairly quick ferry, the trip will take about three or four hours.
Once you get to Mykonos, you will be welcomed by loud music, beach parties and lots of opportunities for all night parties. I'm not into these intense parties myself, but, if you are, it may be a good idea to go check out some of the parties on your first day / night. That way, you can recover the next day, actually enjoy the beautiful beaches that Mykonos has to offer, and explore the town itself, which is perfect for Instagram photo shoots. The beach I'd recommend for both partying and chilling would be Paradise Beach. That beach has a couple of clubs that party all day, lots of restaurants for when you get hungry, and a spectacular view of the Aegean Sea.
Santorini - 3-4 Days
So, once you've gotten your fill of partying and recovering in Mykonos, it's time to go to arguably Greece's most famous island, Santorini. Now, I've got Santorini marked down as 3-4 days on your Greece itinerary, however it is possible to trim this down to two. It just depends on how much island hopping you want to do. There is, however, quite a lot to do in Santorini, so you could easily stay here for 3-4 days and not get bored. I would also, again, suggest ferrying from Mykonos to Santorini, as the cruise on the water towards it is spectacular. The ferry ride takes about three to four hours.
Once in Santorini, spend the day walking the streets of either Fira or Oia, which are the two main towns on the island. If you can, go to Oia on your first night and get the sunset over with. It is world famous, which means the tiny streets of Oia are filled with thousands of tourists every night, making it a bit of cumbersome affair. Once you see the sun start to set, however, you'll understand why everyone comes to witness it.
Over the next few days, find time to take a catamaran cruise around the island, swim in Amoudi Bay, hike between Fira and Oia, and, of course, eat the local Greek food and wander around the beautiful cobblestone streets. And, while you're at, try and just relax at your hotel's pool, too.
If You Have a Day or Two More...
If you have a day or two more or you simply decided to only see Santorini for 2 days, check out some of the neighbouring islands, such as Ios and Paros. They are more low key / less touristy than Mykonos and Santorini, and they're apparently almost (if not just as) beautiful too. Alternatively, fly back to Athens (it only takes about thirty minutes!) and spend another night there. That way, you can spend an afternoon / night skipping the tourist spots like the Acropolis, and just wander around aimlessly going from patio to patio. Either way, just try to soak up as much of the Greek vibes as you can on your last day(s) there.
So, if you're planning on going to Greece for a week but don't know where to visit, start with this classic seven day Greece Itinerary. You'll see a lot of the main highlights in both Athens and on the Greek Islands. You'll also develop a huge sense of longing to go back and explore even more of that beautiful country. I know I did.
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