Trip highlights
- 1Acropolis at opening before the heat
- 2Oia sunset from the ruined castle
- 3Akrotiri Bronze Age ruins
- 4Delos archaeological island day trip
- 5Mykonos Little Venice at dusk
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Athens Arrival & Monastiraki
Saturday, July 10
Est. spend
$85
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
Athens International Airport
Metro Line 3 (Attiki Metro) from the airport to Monastiraki or Syntagma — 40 minutes, €9 each way. Most Plaka and Monastiraki hotels are within walking distance of these stations.
Athens is baking in July (35–38°C). Book early-morning Acropolis visits and plan afternoon rests. The Athens card (€30) covers unlimited transit and museum entry for 3 days.
☀️ Afternoon
Monastiraki Flea Market and Plaka
Monastiraki, Athens
The neighbourhood below the Acropolis — the flea market has genuine antiques alongside tourist goods, the tavernas on the square are tourist traps, and the bakeries on the side streets are extraordinary.
Avoid the 'traditional Greek' restaurants facing the Acropolis — tourist traps. Walk one block back into the Plaka lanes for the same food at half the price and better quality.
🌙 Evening
Acropolis view from Filopappou Hill
Filopappou Hill, Athens
The hill opposite the Acropolis gives the best full-frontal view of the Parthenon — free, uncrowded, and perfect at sunset when the marble turns amber. Walk up through the Filopappou monument path.
The view from Filopappou is what the postcards use. It's also free, unlike the Acropolis itself. Bring water — it's exposed to sun.
🍽️ Meals
Airport café
Greek · $10
Diporto, central Athens
Greek · $20 · A basement restaurant that's been serving since 1948. No menu — the waiter tells you what's available. The revithia (chickpea soup) and wine from the barrel are essential.
Tzitzikas kai Mermigas, Plaka
Modern Greek · $45 · Modern mezze restaurant. The cheese saganaki and the lamb chops are definitive.
Acropolis & National Museum
Sunday, July 11
Est. spend
$115
per person
🌅 Morning
Acropolis — 8am opening, before the heat
Acropolis, Athens
The Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaia, and Temple of Athena Nike on the Sacred Rock — the most important archaeological site in Western civilisation. At 8am opening, you'll have 30 minutes before tour groups arrive.
Book timed entry online at culture.gr. Arrive at 8am opening — by 10am it's 38°C and packed. Wear comfortable walking shoes (the marble is extremely slippery). The south slope (Dionysos Theatre) is included in the ticket.
New Acropolis Museum
15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Athens
The purpose-built museum housing the original Parthenon sculptures — the Caryatids, the Peplos Kore, and the frieze sections the British Museum won't return. The glass floor over active excavations is extraordinary.
Air-conditioned bliss after the Acropolis heat. The restaurant on the top floor has Acropolis views and reasonable prices. The museum is directly below the Acropolis — same ticket zone.
☀️ Afternoon
National Archaeological Museum
44 Patision Street, Athens
The greatest collection of ancient Greek art in the world — the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera Mechanism, Poseidon bronze, and 10,000 years of Greek history under one roof.
Air-conditioned. The Bronze Zeus/Poseidon (Room 15) and the Minoan frescos from Akrotiri (Room 48) are the two most extraordinary single objects. The museum is never as crowded as the Acropolis.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Exarcheia neighbourhood
Exarcheia, Athens
Athens' most authentic neighbourhood — anarchist political murals, cheap tavernas, excellent mezze, and no tourists. The most real Athenian evening out.
Yiantes taverna for the best home-style cooking in Athens. The horiatiki (Greek salad with barrel feta) and the stuffed aubergine are definitive.
🍽️ Meals
Morning coffee at Avocado Athens
Greek café · $10 · Freddo espresso (cold coffee shake) — the definitive Athenian summer drink.
Acropolis Museum restaurant
Greek · $20 · Reasonable quality with extraordinary views. The spanakopita and the Acropolis below.
Yiantes, Exarcheia
Traditional Greek · $35
Ferry to Santorini
Monday, July 12
Est. spend
$228
per person
🌅 Morning
Piraeus Port — high-speed ferry to Santorini
Gate E9, Piraeus Port
High-speed catamaran from Piraeus to Santorini (Thira) — 5 hours, Sea Jets or Minoan Lines. Book business class seats for the comfortable cabin with sea views and better meals.
Book ferry online at ferryhopper.com or directferries.co.uk at least 2 weeks ahead. Business class is €35 extra and worth it — economy seating is crowded and noisy. Bring motion sickness medication if sea-sensitive.
☀️ Afternoon
Arrive Santorini — cable car to Fira
Fira, Santorini
The ferry docks at Athinios port (not at Fira — ignore the donkeys). Take the bus or a taxi to Fira, then the cable car up the caldera cliff. The first view of the volcanic caldera from the cable car is extraordinary.
Cable car €6 one way. The donkeys are a tourist trap and animal welfare concern — use the cable car. Taxis from the port are fixed-rate: Fira €15, Oia €35.
Fira exploration — caldera edge walk
Fira to Imerovigli footpath, Santorini
Walk the caldera edge from Fira toward Imerovigli — 2km, dramatic cliff views, cave churches, and the multi-coloured volcanic rock exposed on the cliff face below.
The path is marked and maintained. Do this in the late afternoon (4–6pm) when the light is golden. Wear shoes with grip — the path is uneven volcanic rock.
🌙 Evening
First Santorini dinner — Imerovigli
Imerovigli, Santorini
Imerovigli has better restaurants with caldera views than Oia — same view, half the tourists, 30% lower prices.
Skaros Rock Restaurant (on the rock promontory) or Aris Caves for genuine caldera views without Oia prices. The Santorinian fava (yellow split pea purée) and the cherry tomato fritters are island specialties.
🍽️ Meals
Ferry café
Greek · $8
Ferry meal or port souvlaki
Greek · $10 · Souvlaki at Piraeus port before boarding — better than the ferry food.
Imerovigli caldera dinner
Greek · $65
Oia Sunset & Akrotiri Ruins
Tuesday, July 13
Est. spend
$122
per person
🌅 Morning
Akrotiri — the Bronze Age Pompeii
Akrotiri Archaeological Site, Santorini
The 3,600-year-old Minoan city preserved under volcanic ash — multi-storey buildings, indoor plumbing, frescoes still in place. The most sophisticated Bronze Age site in the Aegean and almost never as crowded as the Acropolis.
Go first thing (opens 8am) — the covered site has shade but gets warm by 10am. The building structures are remarkably complete. The frescoes are copies (originals in Athens National Museum) but the architecture is original.
Red Beach
Red Beach, near Akrotiri
The volcanic red-cliff beach adjacent to Akrotiri — dramatic red and black rock, warm Aegean water, and accessible in 10 minutes by foot from the archaeological site.
Sun loungers €10–15 per pair. The beach is small and fills quickly. Bring your own water — facilities are minimal. Swimming is excellent: clear water, good snorkelling.
☀️ Afternoon
Oia village exploration — before sunset crowds
Oia, Santorini
Walk Oia village between 3–5pm — the famous blue-domed churches, the cave houses carved into the cliff, the Kasteli (castle ruins), and the labyrinthine lanes. At 3pm the lunch tourists have gone and the sunset tourists haven't arrived.
The lanes are narrow — easy to find quiet spots by turning off the main pedestrian street. The boutique jewellery shops on the side streets are worth browsing; avoid the tourist-facing main strip.
🌙 Evening
Oia sunset from the castle ruins
Kasteli, Oia, Santorini
The Kasteli (Byzantine castle ruins) at the western tip of Oia is the best sunset viewpoint in Santorini — a completely round horizon with the sun dropping behind the smaller islands. 500 people watch every evening. They are not wrong.
Arrive by 6:30pm for an early sunset (July sunset is around 8:30pm). The crowd applauds when the sun sets. This is not embarrassing. Join the applause.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Greek · $0
Akrotiri area café
Greek · $15
Oia dinner — Roka Restaurant
Mediterranean · $70 · Roka in Oia is the best value fine-dining option in the village. The seafood risotto and the grilled sea bass are excellent.
Caldera Boat Tour & Perissa Beach
Wednesday, July 14
Est. spend
$170
per person
🌅 Morning
Caldera sailing tour — volcanic islands
Fira Old Port, Santorini
A half-day sailing tour of the caldera — visit the active Nea Kameni volcano (still steaming), swim in the warm mineral springs, visit the white village of Thirassia, and sail back with the islands behind you.
Book the semi-private (8–12 person) catamaran for €50 rather than the large group boat for €25 — completely different experience. Includes lunch, snorkelling equipment, and drinks.
☀️ Afternoon
Perissa Black Sand Beach
Perissa Beach, Santorini
The black volcanic sand beach on the east coast — longer, less crowded than the caldera side, with better swimming conditions and the most dramatic volcanic cliffs behind the beach.
Sun lounger €10–20 per pair. The black sand gets very hot — wear sandals to the water. The beach is 3km long with various tavernas. Kira Thira Jazz Bar at Perissa has the best beach bar atmosphere.
🌙 Evening
Ferry to Mykonos
Athinios Port, Santorini → Mykonos Port
Late afternoon ferry from Santorini to Mykonos — 2.5–3 hours on the high-speed catamaran. Arrive in Mykonos at sunset.
The afternoon departure (around 4–5pm) arrives in Mykonos at golden hour. Book 2+ weeks ahead on ferryhopper.com.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Greek · $0
Catamaran tour lunch (included)
Greek · $0 · Grilled meat and salad served on the boat.
Ferry snacks
Café · $10 · Eat a full meal at Perissa before the ferry.
Mykonos Town & Little Venice
Thursday, July 15
Est. spend
$160
per person
🌅 Morning
Mykonos Town (Chora) early morning
Mykonos Town (Chora), Mykonos
The whitewashed labyrinth of Mykonos Town is deserted before 9am — cats sleeping on doorsteps, bougainvillea against brilliant white walls, and silence. Walk before the crowds arrive.
Getting lost is the correct approach — there are no dead ends, every lane connects to something interesting. The Paraportiani Church (5 chapels fused into one asymmetric white mass) is the most photographed building on the island.
Windmills of Kato Mili
Windmills, Chora, Mykonos
The seven 16th-century windmills overlooking the town and the Aegean — the image of Mykonos. Best photographed from below (at the town level) with the windmills silhouetted against the blue sky.
Free to approach and photograph. The interior is not accessible. The view from behind the windmills looking over the harbour and town is the better composition.
☀️ Afternoon
Delos Archaeological Island
Delos Island (30min boat from Mykonos Old Port)
The sacred island birthplace of Apollo — one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and entirely car-free. The ancient city, the terrace of the lions, the mosaic of the Dolphins, and the Theatre Quarter.
Boat from Mykonos Old Port €20 return, entry €12. Bring water and sunscreen — no shade on the island. Morning boats (9am, 10am) are best. The island closes at 3pm. The original row of marble lions is the most iconic image.
🌙 Evening
Little Venice at sunset
Little Venice, Mykonos Town
The row of medieval houses built directly on the sea — waves break against the balconies at high tide. The cocktail bars here at sunset are the classic Mykonos experience.
Kastro Bar and Galleraki are the two best Little Venice bars for sunset. Drinks are expensive (€12–18 each) but the position is worth it once. Get there by 6pm for a seat with the view.
🍽️ Meals
Bakery breakfast in Chora
Greek · $8 · M-eating bakery in Chora has the best tiropita (cheese pie) and spanakopita. Buy on the way to the windmills.
Delos packed lunch
Greek · $8 · Buy from a supermarket before the boat — there's very little food on Delos and prices are extreme.
Kounelas fish taverna
Greek seafood · $60 · The best traditional taverna in Mykonos Town. The grilled whole fish, the Greek salad, and the house white wine are definitive. Book ahead.
Mykonos Beaches
Friday, July 16
Est. spend
$140
per person
🌅 Morning
Paradise Beach or Elia Beach — morning swim
Paradise Beach or Elia Beach, Mykonos
Paradise Beach is the famous party beach (DJ sets from 10pm). In the morning it's quiet, clean, and has excellent swimming conditions. Elia is more relaxed and family-friendly — longest beach on the island.
Take the bus from Fabrika Square (€2 each way). Sun loungers €15–25 per pair. The water is crystal clear — bring snorkelling gear.
☀️ Afternoon
Ano Mera — the inland village
Ano Mera Village, Mykonos
The only inland village on Mykonos — a complete contrast to the tourist coast. The monastery of Panagia Tourliani has extraordinary 16th-century icons, the village square has genuine local tavernas at honest prices.
The central square taverna (Taverna Kikis or similar) serves grilled lamb and beans at genuine local prices — AED 15 ($4) for a full lunch. A completely different Mykonos from the port scene.
🌙 Evening
Final Mykonos sunset dinner
Spilia Restaurant, Agia Anna Beach, Mykonos
Spilia Seaside Restaurant or Nammos — Mykonos at its most indulgent. The sunset from the cliff terrace, the fresh lobster pasta, and the inevitable last glass of Assyrtiko.
Spilia is built into a cliff cave — the most dramatic setting on the island. Book well ahead. The lobster pasta is the most photographed dish in Mykonos. Budget €100–150 per person.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Greek · $0
Ano Mera village taverna
Traditional Greek · $15
Spilia Seaside Restaurant
Mediterranean seafood · $80
Return to Athens + Cape Sounion
Saturday, July 17
Est. spend
$230
per person
🌅 Morning
Morning ferry back to Athens (Piraeus)
Mykonos Port → Piraeus
The 4–5 hour return crossing to Piraeus — arrive mid-afternoon. Buy the window seat for the Aegean view.
Book the morning departure (8–9am) — arrives in Athens in time for an afternoon excursion.
☀️ Afternoon
Cape Sounion — Temple of Poseidon at sunset
Cape Sounion, Attica (70km from Athens)
The 440BC temple on the southernmost tip of Attica — on the cliff above the sea. Lord Byron carved his name on one of the columns. The sunset from the temple with the Aegean on three sides is one of Greece's great moments.
KTEL bus from Mavromateon terminal in Athens (2 hours each way, €7 each). Or taxi/hire car. Entry €8. The sunset is the point — arrive 90 minutes before sunset.
🌙 Evening
Final Athens dinner — rooftop with Acropolis view
A for Athens rooftop, 2–4 Miaouli Street, Monastiraki
Several rooftop restaurants around Monastiraki and Thissio have direct Acropolis views at night — lit against the black Athenian sky. This is the dinner you'll describe to people for years.
A for Athens is the most famous rooftop — book weeks ahead for prime table. Alternative: Couleur Locale on Normanou Street. The Athenian wine (Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko) is excellent with any selection.
🍽️ Meals
Ferry departure café
Greek · $8
Cape Sounion snack at café
Greek · $12
A for Athens rooftop
Modern Greek · $60
Athens Final Day — Ancient Agora
Sunday, July 18
Est. spend
$128
per person
🌅 Morning
Ancient Agora of Athens — the democracy birthplace
Ancient Agora, Thissio, Athens
The marketplace and civic centre of ancient Athens — where Socrates argued, democracy was practiced, and the Stoa of Attalos still stands complete. Less famous than the Acropolis but arguably more important historically.
Go early (8am opening) before the heat. The Hephaestion temple (completely preserved, built 449 BC) is the best-preserved temple in the ancient world. Included in the combined Acropolis ticket.
☀️ Afternoon
Kifissia neighbourhood lunch and shopping
Kifissia, Athens
The upscale northern suburb of Athens — tree-lined boulevards, excellent cafés, and boutique shopping in a cooler (higher altitude) environment away from the tourist centre.
Metro Line 1 from Omonia to Kifissia (30 minutes). The central square has the best traditional Greek pastry shops — kataifi, baklava, galaktoboureko.
Benaki Museum — Greek history and design
1 Koumbari Street, Kolonaki, Athens
The best private collection in Greece — from prehistoric gold to Byzantine icons to modern Greek paintings. The café terrace has good views and the gift shop has excellent Greek design products.
The Byzantine and Post-Byzantine collection (Rooms 11–18) is the finest in any museum outside Constantinople. The Islamic art section (Room 36) covers the Ottoman period.
🌙 Evening
Athenian Riviera — Glyfada seafront
Glyfada, Athens Riviera
A 20-minute tram from central Athens takes you to the seafront — Athens' answer to the Riviera. Long seafront promenade, outdoor cinemas in summer, and the last Greek seafood dinner.
Tram from Syntagma (€1.40). The seafront restaurants at Glyfada are less expensive than central Athens and have excellent fresh fish. Order the chtapodi (grilled octopus) for the definitive farewell.
🍽️ Meals
Athenian coffee culture breakfast
Greek café · $8 · Freddo cappuccino and koulouri (sesame ring bread) from a street vendor. €2 total.
Kifissia pastry shop
Greek · $15 · Sit-down galaktoboureko (custard pastry) and coffee. The definitive Athenian afternoon treat.
Glyfada seafront taverna
Greek seafood · $50
Departure Day
Monday, July 19
Est. spend
$30
per person
🌅 Morning
Final Athens breakfast and airport
Athens International Airport
Athens Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) — allow 2.5 hours for international departure. The departures-level café has good Greek coffee and decent food.
Metro Line 3 from Syntagma to the airport takes 40 minutes. The airport has a reasonable shopping area post-security including good Greek olive oil, wine, and honey.
🍽️ Meals
Airport breakfast
Greek · $10 · The bakery at Gate A has good tyropita and loukoumades (honey doughnuts).
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
May–June and September–October for the best balance of warmth, manageable crowds, and lower prices. July–August: peak crowds at Oia sunset (up to 800 people), accommodation at premium prices. October is arguably the best month — warm enough to swim, empty beaches, dramatically lower prices.
🛂 Visas
Greece is in the Schengen Area. EU citizens need only national ID. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, NZ passport holders: visa-free for up to 90 days across Schengen.
💱 Currency
Euro (€). Cards accepted everywhere on the islands. ATMs (Eurobank, Alpha Bank) have the lowest foreign withdrawal fees. Tavernas on the islands increasingly accept cards but keep €50–100 cash for small shops and boats.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 100
ambulance: 166
tourist-helpline: 171
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Book Oia sunset viewing from the Kasteli well ahead — it's free but standing room only by 7pm.
- Ferry booking: ferryhopper.com has English interface and all routes. Book 2+ weeks ahead in July-August.
- The best restaurant rule in Greece: if it has a view, it's for tourists. Walk one block from the view for genuinely good food.
- Greek coffee (ellinikos kafes) is drunk thick, hot, and slow. Never rush it.
- In Athens: the heat is brutal in July. Siesta hours (2–5pm) exist for a reason — plan accordingly.
One thing worth not skipping
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