Greece is a beautiful country, I mean I think just about everyone’s heard of Santorini. Greece is so much more than Santorini, and I’ll prove that with this perfect itinerary. Apart from well-traveled destinations like the famous island Santorini or Mykonos, there are plenty of other areas in Greece, some of which I’ve never seen on social media! When you plan your Greece itinerary, start your trip in Athens, and don’t skip spending a few days there. Our Athens hotel had a rooftop pool and the most incredible view of the Acropolis! Continue to some of Greece’s islands and visit one of Europe’s best pink-sand beaches! If you love hidden gems, there’s even a seaside town near Delphi you have to visit. If this sounds like the trip you want to plan, keep reading for the perfect 10-day Greece itinerary.

Greece Itinerary including Athens, Santorni, and Crete

Greece Itinerary Overview

Athens 2 nights • Santorini 2 nights • Heraklion Crete 1 night •Chania Crete 2 nights • Galaxidi 1 night • Delphi 1 night • Athens near the airport 1 night

If you want to extend your time to a 14-day Greece itinerary, I recommend hopping to another island or spending an additional night in Santorini or Crete. Greece has quite a few popular islands including Mykonos, Milos, Crete, Corfu, Naxos, and Zakynthos, but Paros and Santorini are some of the most popular. If you’re debating if Paros or Santorini is better for you to visit, Paros is known for its beaches and farm-to-table cuisine, and Santorini is known for its resorts and picture-perfect historical sights.

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10-Day Greece Itinerary

How to get around Athens

Getting to Athens city center from the Aiport

Start your 10-day Greece itinerary in Athens. It’s relatively easy to take the metro straight to the city center from the Athens airport. I will admit the signage is not the best when you get out of the airport, but head towards Sofitel Hotel and take the sky bridge going away from the airport. We arrived when someone was working at the ticket counter, but otherwise, they do have automated machines for tickets.

Don’t skip staying a few days in Athens. In my opinion, it’s entirely underrated, the same way I felt about Madrid. Sure, Barcelona gets all the hype, but I enjoyed Madrid far more than Barcelona and felt a similar way about Athens.

What’s the best way to get around Athens?

The best way to get around Athens is by walking or the metro. With the exception of airport transfers, we didn’t even need to use the metro during our time there, we walked everywhere. When we needed to head back to the airport to fly to Santorini, our hotel arranged a cab for us as it only cost around fifteen euros more than to use the metro. Using a cab versus the metro also saved us some time, around twenty to thirty minutes.

Best Hotels in Athens

CocoMat Athens BC $$ • Hotel Grande Bretagne $$$ • King George $$-$$$ • Electra Palace $$ • The Athenian Callirhoe $

Day 1: Settle into the Plaka neighborhood

What are the best things to do in Athens?

On our first day, we wandered around the Plaka and Psyri neighborhoods. We checked into the Coco-Mat Hotel in Plaka and headed out to explore. The Plaka neighborhood is very picturesque, but also since it’s right next to the Acropolis it is very touristy. If you wander off the beaten path you’ll find the most quaint streets. I would recommend if you’re searching for the best places to eat head to the Psyri neighborhood. Since we didn’t research too many restaurants in the area we went off Google recommendations. After dinner we walked around the side streets and found bars packed with people on high tops, quite enjoying themselves…it was such a lively atmosphere.

Without a doubt, one of the best hotels in Athens is the Coco-Mat Hotel in Plaka. We thoroughly enjoyed this hotel especially their breakfast buffet and rooftop pool with views of the Acropolis. Make sure to make a reservation for their rooftop restaurant, their dinner menu was divine!

Day 2: Visit the museum before the Acropolis

Start your day at Filopappeau Hill

The first full day of your Greece itinerary will include Filopappeau Hill to get a bird ‘s-eye view of the city and the Acropolis Museum. Since our hotel was located near the Acropolis and city center, it took us only around twenty minutes to walk from our hotel to the top of the hill. It was an easy hike, and then we headed to the Acropolis Museum after. My husband and I love doing this for each city we visit, getting a bird’s-eye view on the first day that we’re there to help us get a better sense of the city!

Visit the Acropolis Museum before the Acropolis

Researching this Greece itinerary we read so many articles suggesting you visit the museum first before going to the Acropolis. I would highly recommend this as well since there is limited information available at the Acropolis if you’re interested in learning the history.  Don’t miss the rooftop bar, it has wonderful views of the Acropolis! After visiting the Acropolis Museum, head to Agora and have lunch at the oldest restaurant in Psyri. We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and evening at our rooftop pool and restaurant that night to help with our jetlag.

Day 3: Spend the last day in Athens at the Acropolis

Get to the Acropolis early

We started this next day very early, we planned to be at the Acropolis entrance at least a half hour before they opened for the day. Even though it’s an early wake-up call, I wouldn’t have done this differently. We left the Acropolis around 10 and there was already a very long line to enter! Getting there early also helps you to avoid the heat, it was almost 98F by that early in the morning even in September!

Watch a sunset from Lycabettus Hill

In the afternoon we headed to the Pantheon stadium and Syntagma Square to do some shopping. There’s a long pedestrian boulevard with lots of shops on either side. End the day with sunset at Lycabettus Hill, but this is another spot you need to get there early to get a prime viewing spot!

Continue your Greece Itinerary from Athens to Santorini  

Santorini is an incredible travel destination, hence its popularity and why almost everyone knows about this island inhabited by white cities and stunning blue domes. We stayed in Santorini for a few nights during our time on the island, and what’s my biggest REGRET when traveling to Santorini?!

Why is Santorini Island so famous?

Santorini is stunning, it’s exactly as it looks in the photos. Santorini Island is famous because of its white-washed architecture including blue domes that paint the skyline, and its famous sunsets. Santorini is popular for couples and honeymooners looking for a romantic getaway. Santorni also has some of the best hotels on the Greek islands, as Santorni’s Oia is known for the most luxurious accommodations.

What’s the best place to stay in Santorini?

When researching where to stay in Santorini, I knew Oia was one of the most beautiful areas but also the most popular. Because of its popularity, Oia can be very pricey and extremely saturated with tourists. Even though we found the perfect Airbnb with a great location, privacy, and epic views, I would have opted to stay in Oia for one night and stay in a different area for the other two nights. This was my biggest regret when traveling to Santorini. If I had to do it again, I would stay in Imerovigli.

Best Hotels in Santorini

Andronis Boutqiue Hotel $$$ • Ducato di Oia $$ • Katikies $$$ • Aqua Cave Houses $$-$$$ • Andronis Luxury Suites $$$ • Meroviglia Boutique Hotel $ • Pegasus Spa Hotel $$ • Ilioperato Hotel $$ • Olia Vialla & Suites $$-$$$

Parking in Santorini

Should I rent a car in Santorini?

If you’re trying to decide to rent a vehicle during your Greece itinerary in Santorini, I would recommend it. The easiest way to get around Santorini is by car. We decided to rent a car, but you can rent smaller vehicles like mopeds and ATVs. 

Is parking difficult in Santorini?

Parking is difficult in Santorini as there are limited areas to park on the island, especially near popular towns like Oia Imerovigli. Many of the roads in Santorini are also very narrow and meant to be two-way traffic when it looks like it’s only one-way. Since parking is difficult, if you’re not traveling around the island and staying one one spot, a moped or ATV would be better to park. If you’re planning to do a bit of exploring from place to place, I would recommend a car. Even though parking isn’t the easiest, when traveling between towns we still managed to find places to park.

Santorini 3-Day Greece Itinerary

Day 4: See the beautiful Oia

Since our Airbnb was close to Oia Castle, we were up early to watch the sunrise. Oia Castle is one of the best things to see in Santorini, and for good reason. Make sure to also walk around Oia and visit Ammoudi Bay. Have lunch on the water in the bay at the fish tavern, and then take a leisurely walk towards Armonia Beach.

Day 5: Explore the towns of Meglachorri & Imerovigli

If you’re driving to these spots, stop at the Chapel of Agios Nikolaos, address Megalochori 847 00. The views here are insanely stunning, and you can see almost the entire island of Santorini.

When driving to Meglachorri, park in the parking lot before you get to the village. Roam around the village and have lunch at one of the many charming restaurants. This is a small village, but there’s not much to see.

After you’ve had lunch drive to Imerovigli, this town was one of my favorites. You’ll find some of the most beautiful views from the Agios Georgios Chapel Church of the Resurrection of the Lord. Have dinner at The Athenian House, or visit the Wine Bar.

Day 6: Explore Thera before taking a ferry to Crete

Thera is the only port in Santorini, so it’s quite large with a large parking lot. You’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants, and souvenirs and gifts will be cheaper here. Since it’s 500+ stairs down to the bay, take advantage of the gondola that offers incredible views. Don’t miss the St. John the Theologian Holy Orthodox Church when you’re visiting, it’s quite beautiful.

Greece Itinerary Day 7&8: Visit Crete via Seajets from Santorini

After we spent some time in Thera, we headed to the airport to drop off our rental car. We then took a cab from the airport to the ferry terminal. Arrive at the ferry terminal at least one hour in advance. The Greek ferries can be confusing, so this will give you time to make sure you are boarding at the right port.

Prepare yourself for the Greek ferry experience 

We read a lot about the ferry experience, and mentally prepared for chaos. The Greek ferries are huge, so you’ll be surrounded by crowds. All these crowds will board the ferry at the same time, and if you have a large suitcase you need to drop it in the cargo space before walking up to your seat. This is one reason to pack lightly in a carry-on, and only bring what you can carry up!

Crete 2-Day Greece Itinerary

We took the ferry from Santorini to Heraklion, Crete. We arrived around dinner time and were able to check into our hotel Marin Dream Hotel right away. For less than $100 a night, we had ocean views from our room and were able to walk from the ferry port to the hotel. There’s a popular restaurant Peskesi, where we made reservations ahead of time, I would highly recommend it for the ambiance and food!

Best Hotels in Chania

Chania Flair Boutique Hotel $$ • San Salvatore Monastery $-$$ • Aisha Hotel $-$$ • Porto Veneziano Hotel $ • The Chania Hotel $$

Day 7: Visit Arkadi Monastery on the way to Chania

On day 7 of your Greece itinerary pick up a rental car at the airport and drive to Chania. Stop in Rethymno on the way before arriving at Arkadi Monastery. Make sure to visit the Rethymno Old Town and have lunch on Emmanoil Vernardoy Street; a street with tons of great restaurants.

Be prepared that Arkadi Monastery is situated in the mountains, and about a half-hour drive off the main road. The entrance fee is cash only. Even though it may be warm, it can be cold in the mountains so I recommend bringing a jacket. You don’t need to spend too much time here, as you could easily see the entire site in an hour or two. Head to Chania after and enjoy a relaxing night in.

The hotel we chose for our time in Chania was Villa Andromeda. This hotel is beautiful but affordable, and a short walk to the main area of Chania. It also had the most beautiful balcony and even a pool with a small garden you could choose to have breakfast in.

Day 8: Have an Epic Balos Beach Day

Our Balos Beach day was one of my favorite days during our Greece itinerary. Make sure to arrive at their parking lot early, and with your swimsuit and sandals bring your sneakers! The hike down to the beach from the parking lot can be a bit strenuous.

Insider tip: When driving to Balos from Chania, Kissimos is the last town you’ll see to stop. Make sure to stop and grab coffee and lunch at a convenience store. After this town, you’ll still need to drive around 30-45 minutes on a dirt road. Look for signs for Balos Beach Hotel, the dirt road starts shortly after. Make sure to plan to arrive at the parking lot before 11. If you don’t get a parking spot in the lot, you’ll need to park on the side of the narrow, winding road.

Best Restaurants in Crete

Symposium Restaurant, Plaka Beach restaurant, Prima Plora Crete, Ntore (nice inside), Pelagos Sea Side Restaurant

Day 9: The seaside town of Galaxidi

If you’re planning a 10 days in Greece itinerary, I highly recommend visiting Galaxidi or Delphi. After flying from Crete to Athens, we rented a car and headed north towards Galaxidi and Delphi. We stayed the night at the picturesque seaside town Galaxidi at Galaxa Mansion. This town is so lovely, it was one of my favorite towns in Greece apart from Oia and Imerovigli.

Best Restaurants in Galaxidi

Galaxidi is popular for day trippers, so if you’re heading out to dinner you might have the town all to yourself. The restaurant recommendations from our hotel included Memories from the Port, Marista, and Skeletovranos. We opted for the last choice as it had the best reviews on Google. The food was delicious, and most of these restaurants focused on seafood. We tried eel, calamari, and squid ink risotto with partially raw trout. We ordered the white, house wine and that did not disappoint either. The other recommendations for restaurants but for Greek cuisine included Porto and Bebelis.

Best things to do in Galaxidi

The best things to do in Galaxadi are the Maritime Museum and Captain’s House- an idyllic-looking hotel on the most beautiful corner of town. Walk around the harbor, where you’ll find all the best restaurants. This town is fairly small, but Delphi is a short drive away!

Day 10: Visit Historical Delphi before heading back to Athens

Delphi is only a thirty-minute drive from Galaxidi. We opted after staying one night in Galaxidi to stay one night in Delphi at the Amalia Hotel. We chose this spot for its huge pool and incredible views of the mountains.

Visit the quaint town of Arachova

Known more for its winter sports scene, this town also offers many restaurants, picturesque alleyways, and mountain views that we didn’t experience anywhere else.

Visit the Archaeological Site of Delphi & Museum

Nearing the end of our 10 days in Greece, we knew we couldn’t miss this next spot. We got to this spot a few minutes before they opened, as it is the most popular thing to see in Delphi and popular with day trippers. We had the place completely to ourselves until around 9 when the tour buses started dropping off. We checked out the ruins first before heading to the museum. We spent four hours in total here which included a half-hour break. After visiting this site we drove back to Athens to catch our flight. Ours wasn’t until the next day and stayed at one of the airport hotels for convenience.

Greece Itinerary: What you need to know

How many days are enough in Greece?

When deciding how many days are enough in Greece, decide where you want to travel to including Athens, Delphi, Meteora, and which islands you want to visit. Many ask if 7 days in Greece is enough; 7 days in Greece is enough if you plan to visit only Athens and one or two of the Greek islands.

When’s the best time to visit Greece?

The best time to visit Greece is during the shoulder seasons between April to May and September to October. During the shoulder seasons in spring and fall, you’ll find fewer crowds and milder weather that will still be perfect for exploring the islands.

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