The Perfect Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini Travel Itinerary

I spent two months touring round Greece through the occasions of Coronavirus. It was completely unreal to go to all these islands in addition to Athens in the summertime months with out the standard summer time crowds.

I ended up visiting about 15 islands in complete which looks as if lots however isn’t even 10% of the inhabited islands Greece has to supply!

This put up will give attention to an itinerary centered round the preferred locations in Greece. For these with out months on finish to journey, it’s seemingly you’re considering of probably the most well-known and widespread locations: Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. These three locations are by far the preferred and well-known locations in Greece and a few of the finest identified locations on this planet.

This itinerary will aid you plan per week, 10 day, or two week journey centered round these locations!

The place I went in The Cyclades, Greece

So I had about 4 weeks to journey across the Cyclades. Previous to this, I used to be touring via the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia (which has probably the most superb seashores, extra superior to the Cyclades for certain), in addition to the capital of Athens (which is a should)!

In the event you’re on the lookout for seashores like this, you’ll have to go to the Ionian islands

In the event you’re on the lookout for this view, you’ll additionally have to go to the Ionian islands.

That is after all greater than what most individuals can have however I assumed it actually helped me see all of the locations I wished to with out speeding via it. I additionally traveled through the occasions of Coronavirus and was capable of work remotely which helped me take the extra time mandatory.

Octopus Drying in entrance of Medousa

Don’t fear, I’ll assist craft itineraries when you have one week or two weeks which is after all the extra frequent route!

If these locations ring a bell and sound just like the locations you wish to go to, that is the proper itinerary for you!

What do I have to learn about touring within the Cyclades?

The Cyclades archipelago is without doubt one of the most well-known and delightful components of Greece. It’s very developed and is kind of simple to journey via. Common ferry connections are potential between the islands and there are good paved roads in each place.

The meals in Greece is among the many finest on this planet so regardless of the place you go, you’ll be properly fed with recent Greek meals and scrumptious Greek wines.

One factor is for sure, you’ll eat like a king all day every single day.

Typically, most individuals come to Greece in the summertime months that are its warmest and busiest. Nonetheless, should you aren’t into massive crowds, touring through the shoulder months may swimsuit you higher.

There are a ton of various components to know concerning the Cyclades that it may be its personal put up. And what have you learnt? I’ve finished precisely that. Make sure that to learn my final information to touring the Cyclades along side this itinerary to know all of the nuances of touring right here!

The way to journey between the islands?

Nicely there isn’t any island hopping with no technique to get between the islands. Fortunately, Greece has certainly one of its most intensive and serviced ferry system within the Cyclades.

Ferries are the one technique to get between islands. In the summertime months, they run continuously with a number of ferries coming into an island per day. There are a number of corporations to select from which is nice for conserving prices affordable.

Ferries within the Cyclades

A few of the hottest islands have airports like Mykonos, Santorini, Milos, Naxos and many others. the place you possibly can fly into from Athens or worldwide locations. Nonetheless, there aren’t any flight routes (that I do know of) between the islands, so you’ll not discover any flight between Mykonos and Santorini. It’s because the distances are so brief that flights don’t make sense in addition to there being an intensive ferry system to cowl this.

Ferries within the Cyclades are usually fairly massive ships and are very snug. I took ten of them so I’ve skilled all several types of boats and for probably the most half, I’m fairly happy. Most ferries begin from Athens and make a route the place they cease at totally different islands. You might be primarily hopping on and hopping off relying in your level of origin and vacation spot.

There’s a lot to know concerning the Greek ferry system that I’ve written a complete put up devoted to this matter. Make sure that to learn that so you recognize what to anticipate if you arrive!

Full Athens, Mykonos, Santorini Itinerary

This itinerary begins in Athens, Greece’s capital. Most lengthy haul worldwide flights arrive into Athens. Mykonos and Santorini have worldwide arrivals however largely from Europe.

On a regular basis is an epic sundown like this.

From Athens, I took a flight to Mykonos to begin my island hopping journey. The entire purpose I didn’t take a ferry from Athens to Mykonos (which there are numerous choices), is as a result of the flight was truly cheaper than the ferry and it takes lower than half-hour.

I stayed 4 nights in Mykonos which is loads of time to discover the island for my part. From Mykonos, there are common each day ferries to Santorini (even through the off season as properly).

In Santorini, I stayed in and round Oia which is the primary city the place all the enduring pictures are taken. Three to 4 nights is nice to expertise Santorini for my part. From Santorini, you possibly can fly again residence as it’s related to quite a few massive airports in Europe!

Day 1-4: Athens

The itinerary begins in Athens, Greece’s modern-day capital! Athens is an incredible metropolis that’s actually underrated in comparison with the opposite European capitals. It’s residence to a lot historical past and great monuments that you just’ve in all probability discovered about in class. The world well-known Acropolis residence to the Parthenon is right here seen from all components of the town.

The meals and ingesting scene in Athens can be high notch. There’s a palpable sense of power right here which you can really feel as quickly as you step out. I had some superb cocktails and rooftop drinks right here in addition to consuming a few of the best delicacies that Greece has to supply.

I stayed in a fantastic Airbnb with unobstructed views of the Parthenon which I’d extremely advocate. You don’t really want that a lot time in Athens should you’re simply involved with seeing the primary sights. Nonetheless, I adored the vibe and really feel of the town and will have simply stayed per week right here.

In the event you don’t plan on visiting Athens and have a direct route into the islands (like Mykonos or Santorini), then ignore this a part of the itinerary and transfer to the subsequent part.

The well-known aegean negroni at Clumsies, one of many high rated bars on this planet.

Learn my detailed put up about visiting Athens!

From Athens, the subsequent step is to guide your switch to Mykonos. Your two choices listed here are to make use of the ferry system or to fly. Piraeus Port is the primary port of departure in Athens and the place you’ll take your ferry journey to Mykonos. You may get there through Uber for round €20. In any other case, take the road 1203 practice which takes 17 min and prices 1€.

Alternatively, reserving a flight might be barely costlier than the ferry however take you a fraction of the time. There are quite a few finances airways like Olympic Air, Volotea, and Sky Categorical the place you possibly can guide a a method flight to Mykonos for €50-75.

Day 4-7: Mykonos Island

From Athens, I flew to Mykonos the place I spent the subsequent three nights. Mykonos might be the second most visited island after Santorini and is legendary for its lovely Chora (the primary city) and its seashore golf equipment.

Due to COVID, the seashore golf equipment have been open however not at its full capability. Mykonos felt just like the gathering place of the European Jersey Shore crowd blended with all of the semi-pro influencers you’ll find. Most occasions it felt like individuals have been going that further step to look higher than they usually would. It’s just like the Miami of Greece in a way.

Laborious to compete with views like this in Mykonos

€18 not sufficient for you? How about €22 at this epic bar in Mykonos

However, it’s simple to keep away from this by merely staying away from the flowery seashore golf equipment and that entire vibe. The Chora is completely lovely to stroll round through the day when persons are nursing their hangovers from the evening earlier than. It’s all the pieces you’re on the lookout for in that typical Cycladic village with its completely manicured cobblestone streets, white homes, and blue doorways. I additionally actually loved the sundown from the Armenistis lighthouse in addition to from the 180 diploma sundown bar (even when the cocktails are €18).

Learn my detailed put up about visiting Mykonos!

Attending to Santorini from Mykonos

From Mykonos, you’ll have to take the ferry to Santorini. It is a quite common route (as you possibly can think about) between the 2 hottest islands in Greece. In the summertime months, there are a number of ferries a day that go between the 2 islands.

The ferries in Greece are a hop on hop off format so you’ll cease off in any respect the opposite islands earlier than arriving in Santorini (since Santorini is the final island earlier than Crete).

Make sure that to guide your ferry tickets upfront as a result of they do promote out particularly within the busy months!

Day 7-10: Santorini

Final however actually not least, what long run journey via the Cyclades is full with no go to to the mom of all of them in Santorini. Santorini is probably the most well-known and most visited island in all of Greece, and perhaps even the world.

Even should you’ve by no means heard of Santorini, there’s a excessive likelihood you’ve seen a photograph of its iconic blue domes floating round someplace. Mykonos has develop into the defacto upscale get together island of Greece whereas Santorini has develop into the mecca for romantic {couples} journeys, honeymoons, and influencer picture sprees.

Santorini is in contrast to the opposite islands in that it was shaped by a volcanic eruption hundreds of years in the past. Your complete island these days is constructed on the remnants of lava hardening within the sea. The island could be very lovely in that each one the homes have been constructed on the clifftops that descend straight into the ocean permitting for dramatic results.

The primary cities of Santorini are Fira and Oia with the latter being the well-known city that everybody takes pictures from. I stayed in an Airbnb with direct views onto the well-known three blue domes and there was an countless line of individuals ready to take pictures.

Santorini is extraordinarily overwhelming through the summer time months with hundreds of individuals per day descending into the small cities. I might extremely advise visiting in July and August.

To be sincere, Santorini was not my favourite island particularly having been to so many earlier than coming right here.

In case you have extra days in Santorini, think about a day journey to the neighboring island of Folegandros, which is my opinion far superior to Santorini (and less expensive).

Day by Day breakdown of my Athens, Mykonos, Santorini Itinerary

Here’s a day-to-day breakdown of the Greek island itinerary. It’s fairly concerned every day so completely be at liberty to unfold it out over extra days when you have the time!

Day 1: Land in Athens, discover the town
Day 2: Discover Athens, together with Acropolis
Day 3: Discover Athens
Day 4: Flight to Mykonos
Day 5: Fu day in Mykonos
Day 6: Full day in Mykonos
Day 7: Ferry to Santorini
Day 8: Full day exploring Santorini
Day 9: Full day in Santorini
Day 10: Fly out of Santorini again residence

It is a naked bones itinerary for my journey between Greece’s hottest sights. I believe when you have a Friday to the next Sunday kind of trip, this might be excellent for you. In case you have extra time to the tune of two weeks and extra, then I might truly go to one other island in between Mykonos and Santorini.

There isn’t any level to spend a lot time on these two islands as a result of I discover the opposite islands to be extra fascinating. I might construction my journey to incorporate an island or two in between Mykonos and Santorini so you possibly can actually get the total expertise.

The ferry from Mykonos to Santorini already stops in quite a few islands so you aren’t going out of the way in which. I might nonetheless begin in Mykonos, and work my approach down to finish in Santorini (since Santorini is actually the final cease on the ferry routes).

Two week itinerary with Naxos and Paros

Naxos is the largest island within the Cyclades and whereas near Mykonos, seems like a special world. The Chora is harking back to Mykonos though not as excellent. Nonetheless, the close by villages are a few of the most spectacular villages within the Cyclades. Lease a scooter and discover the island!

Paros is subsequent door to Naxos and is legendary for its lovely villages. Locations like Naoussa and Marpissa will make you swoon over Greek structure!

Day 1: Land in Athens, discover the town
Day 2: Discover Athens, together with Acropolis
Day 3: Discover Athens
Day 4: Flight to Mykonos
Day 5: Full day in Mykonos
Day 6: Full day in Mykonos
Day 7: Ferry from Mykonos to Naxos
Day 8: Full day Naxos
Day 9: Full day Naxos
Day 10: Naxos to Paros
Day 11: Full day Paros
Day 12: Paros to Santorini
Day 13: Full day exploring Santorini
Day 14: Full day in Santorini
Day 15: Fly out of Santorini again residence

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