7-Day Greece Itinerary: Athens, Santorini & Mykonos — Antiquity Meets Islands

Day-by-day plan

1. 

   Day 1Athens →

   Arrival + Plaka + sunset on Lykavittos

   • •Land at ATH; Metro Line 3 to Syntagma in 40 min (€10)
   • •Drop bags, walk Monastiraki Flea Market → Plaka
   • •Lunch: souvlaki at O Thanasis (since 1964)
   • •Funicular up Mount Lykavittos for sunset over the Acropolis
   • •Dinner in Plaka: moussaka + house wine at Klepsydra

   Stay in Plaka, Monastiraki, or Koukaki for walking-distance Acropolis access.

2. 

   Day 2Athens →

   Acropolis + Acropolis Museum + Anafiotika

   • •Acropolis 8 AM ($23 combined ticket includes Forum, Hadrian's Library)
   • •Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea
   • •Acropolis Museum (afternoon — Parthenon Marbles reproduction floor)
   • •Anafiotika (Cycladic-style hilltop alleys hidden behind the Acropolis)
   • •Dinner at To Kafeneio in Kolonaki: stuffed kalamari + retsina

   → Next: flight · ~50 min · ~$70 — ATH → JTR Santorini. Cheaper than the 8h ferry; book Aegean or Sky Express.

3. 

   Day 3Santorini →

   Santorini arrival + Oia sunset

   • •Bus to Fira (€2) — pick up rental ATV or hire driver for the week
   • •Coffee at Galini Café in Firostefani (best caldera view for the price)
   • •Drive to Oia, walk through blue-domed alleys
   • •Lunch at Lotza in Oia: fava + tomato keftedes
   • •Stake out the Oia castle 90 min before sunset (it's a scrum)
   • •Dinner at Ammoudi Bay (down the 287 steps from Oia) — fresh fish

   Stay in Oia for the views (expensive), Imerovigli for views + value, or Kamari beach for cheap and quiet.

4. 

   Day 4Santorini →

   Wine tour + Akrotiri ruins + Red Beach

   • •Santo Wines tasting (Assyrtiko, Vinsanto — €25 for flight + caldera view)
   • •Boutari Winery for a more serious tasting
   • •Akrotiri archaeological site (Minoan Pompeii, $15)
   • •Red Beach swim (volcanic cliffs)
   • •Dinner in Megalochori: Mama Thira's tomato keftedes
5. 

   Day 5Mykonos →

   Ferry to Mykonos + Mykonos Town

   • •High-speed ferry Santorini → Mykonos (~2h 30m, €70)
   • •Drop bags, walk Mykonos Town (Chora) — Little Venice, windmills
   • •Lunch at Kounelas: grilled octopus and ouzo
   • •Wander the maze of whitewashed alleys
   • •Sunset at 180° Sunset Bar (yes, it's expensive)
   • •Dinner at Kostantis Greek Restaurant

   Stay in Chora for walking-distance bars, or Platis Gialos for beach access.

6. 

   Day 6Mykonos →

   Beach day + Delos morning

   • •Morning ferry to Delos (UNESCO ruins, birthplace of Apollo, €25 + €12 site fee)
   • •Lunch back in Mykonos Town
   • •Beach afternoon: Paradise Beach for parties, Agios Sostis for quiet
   • •Sunset cocktails at Scorpios (book a daybed if you want a seat)
   • •Last dinner at Kounelas or Sea Satin Market

   → Next: flight · ~45 min · ~$80 — JMK Mykonos → ATH (or direct international from JMK in summer).

7. 

   Day 7Athens →

   Departure

   • •Fly back to Athens for connecting international flights
   • •OR fly direct from Mykonos (limited carriers, summer only)
   • •Allow 3 hours for international transfers

Want to swap something?

Quieter island combo: swap Mykonos for Naxos (3-4 days) — bigger, less party-focused, has its own ancient sites. History-focused: skip Mykonos entirely, add 2 days in Crete (Knossos, Chania). With kids: stay on Santorini whole trip + boat day to Thirassia.

Practical tips

• •Ferry tickets via Ferryhopper or DirectFerries — high-speed beats slow ferry by 2-3 hours but costs 2x.
• •Santorini sunset spots are insane in summer — go to Imerovigli or Skaros Rock instead of Oia for the same view, half the crowd.
• •ATV rental on Santorini is the best way around (€30/day, license required) — buses run but slowly.
• •Cash for tavernas in less touristy spots; cards everywhere on the islands.
• •Best months: May-June and September-October. July-August = oven hot + 4x prices + zero spontaneity (everything books out).