See Also
- Aegina – suitable locations to stay
- Andros – suitable locations to stay
- Athens – recommended locations to stay
- This link covers where to stay on the island of Corfu, Greece.
- Crete – where to stay
- Delphi – suitable locations to stay
- Hydra – where to remain
- Where travelers can stay near the unique rock formations in Meteora, Greece
- Milos – where to remain
- Recommendations for areas to stay on the island of Mykonos, Greece.
- Places to lodge in Nafplio
- Naxos – where to remain
- Where to spend time in Naxos
- Where to stay in Paros
- Rhodes – suitable places to stay
- Recommended locations to lodge in Santorini
- Locations to reside in Spetses
- Zakynthos – where to stay
My Favorites for First Time Visitors
- Most Popular Places to Visit: Athens,Santorini,Mykonos,Naxos,Paros
- Top Activities: Santorini Wine Experiences – Santorini Boat Excursions – Mykonos Boat Journeys – Athens Historical Excursions
- Best Ancient Sites: The historic locations of Delphi,Meteora,Delos which lies near Mykonos, and the Peloponnese region stand out amongst some of Greece`s memorable landmarks from history.
- Santorini makes for an ideal honeymoon destination, such as its marvelous romatic qualities. On the island of Crete, the town of Chania also creates an great atmosphere for newlyweds.
- Esteemed Dining Establishments: Most towns and every island have several quality restaurants. Athens,Naxos, and Santorini have abundant wonderful spots to feast (both modern and traditional).
- Best Coastlines: Naxos has the finest coastlines in Greece.
- Best Nightlife: Santorini • Mykonos
- One of the most enjoyable activities is the Fira-Oia Hike along the caldera in Santorini. (Bonus: It’s free!)
- Top Hotels: Athens,Santorini, and Mykonos house the finest luxury accommodations.
- For most visitors, I advise a stay of 10 to 15 days to fully experience Greece. This allows for a few days in Athens; a day or overnight trip to Nafplio, Delphi, or the Meteora; and a few nights on 2 or 3 Greek islands. Of course, trips of more or fewer days can be great too. If possible, arrive at one airport and depart from a different airport to avoid retracing your route (e.g. Fly into Greece at Athens, and fly out of Greece from Santorini).
- Can you visit Greece for only two or three nights? Yes, it’s possible, but in this case limit your visit to either Athens or just one Greek island and arrive and depart from an identical airport.
Table of Contents
Greek Island Itinerary – The Basics
• Santorini – Stunning views of the volcano, boat trips, and wine tours.
• Mykonos – Known for great beaches and nightlife.
• Crete – History, acceptable shorelines, genuine Greek towns, decent hiking.
• Naxos – My preferred beaches in Greece, good hiking, history, traditional Greek villages.
• Paros – Excellent beaches, trendy dining options, lively nightlife • Corfu – Amazing beaches, stunning scenery, wonderful historic Corfu Town.
• The town of Zakynthos is recommended – Enjoy the beaches and scenery while avoiding excessive package trips • Rhodes – Fantastic beaches and the wonderful medieval town of Rhodes.
• Kos – Very touristy but still enjoyable. Good for biking.
• Lesser-touristy Greek Islands: Folegandros and Milos are our favorites. Also Sifnos, Syros, Ikaria, Lesvos, Samos, Karpathos.
• Mainland Greece, while overlooked in this itinerary, encompasses wonderfully diverse sights and experiences that could occupy two weeks of exploration, as outlined on this website.
5 Days in Greece
- Athens – 1 Full Day
- Spend the remainder of time exploring the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, or Naxos.
1 Week in Greece
- Athens – 1 Full Day
- Mykonos, Paros, or Naxos – 3 Days
- Santorini – 3 Days
10 Days in Greece
- Athens – 1 Full Day
- Mykonos – 3 Days
- Paros or Naxos – 3 Days
- Santorini – 3 Days
2 Weeks in Greece
- Athens – 2 Full Days
- Nafplio or Delphi day trip – 1 Day
- Mykonos – 3 Days
- Paros – 2 Days
- Naxos – 2 Days
- Santorini – 4 Days
3 Weeks in Greece
- Athens – 2 Full Days
- Nafplio, Delphi, or Meteora – 1 or 2 Days
- Mykonos – 3 Days
- Paros – 2 Days
- Naxos – 3 Days
- Milos, Folegandros, or Sifnos – 2 Days
- Santorini – 4 Days
- Agios Nikolaos (Crete) – 2 Days
- Chania (Crete) – 3 Days
Greece Itinerary: Top 5 Highlights
1. The Santorini Caldera
2. The Beaches of Naxos (and Many Greek Islands)
3. The Parthenon and Acropolis in Athens
4. The Beach Clubs & Nightlife of Mykonos
5. The Town of Chania in Crete
