Most travelers will find that 9 to 12 days is perfect for a well-paced Greece trip with stops in Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Mykonos. Travelers with less time can hit the route's highlights in 7 or 8 days, which makes for a fast-paced journey. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop, or explore more of the country—some of our favorite itinerary extensions include Chania, Ios, or Nafpaktos. Get inspired with our Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Mykonos trip ideas below.

How many days do you need?

  • Most travelers spend 9-12 days in Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Mykonos combined
  • Making the trip in 7 or 8 days is possible, but will feel rushed
  • With 13 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
  • The most common extensions are Chania, Ios, and Nafpaktos

How Many Days Should You Spend in Athens?
How Many Days Should you Spend on Santorini?
How Many Days Should You Spend on Naxos?
How Many Days Should You Spend on Mykonos?

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Recommended Itineraries for Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Mykonos

Recommended Itinerary for 9 Days

Sufficient serenity
Sufficient serenity
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens, Welcome Dinner Athens
Day 2 Athens Food Tour Athens
Day 3 Athens to Santorini Santorini
Day 4 Catamaran Cruise Santorini
Day 5 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 7 Ferry to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 8 Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner Mykonos
Day 9 Return to Athens, Depart  


Spend nine days getting your full nine hours of sleep and still taking in some of the best the Cyclades have to offer on this itinerary. Your mornings have plenty of time for lounging on the shore or strolling through the streets of Santorini, Naxos, and Mykonos. In the afternoons, you'll set off for sunset cruises, cooking classes, and freshly cut produce-filled dinners. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days

Santorini rooftop foliage
Santorini rooftop foliage
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens, Welcome Dinner Athens
Day 2 Athens Food Tour Athens
Day 3 Athens to Santorini Santorini
Day 4 Catamaran Cruise Santorini
Day 5 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Naxos Beaches and Villages Bike Tour Naxos
Day 7 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 8 Ferry to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 9 Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner Mykonos
Day 10 Return to Athens, Depart  


Take the coast of the Cyclades from guidebook covers straight to your own social media feed with this 10-day itinerary. These famous islands have captured travelers' imaginations for centuries, and now it's your turn to explore via boat, bike, and more, whether you're riding smoothly past sunny beaches or settling in for dinner and stories on an island farm. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 11 Days

Catting about on the caldera
Catting about on the caldera
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens, Welcome Dinner Athens
Day 2 Athens Food Tour Athens
Day 3 Athens to Santorini Santorini
Day 4 Catamaran Cruise Santorini
Day 5 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Naxos Beaches and Villages Bike Tour Naxos
Day 7 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 8 Ferry to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 9 Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner Mykonos
Day 10 Return to Athens, Sunset at Cape Sounion Athens
Day 11 Depart Athens  


Greece has an average of 250 sunny days a year, so enjoy 11 of them with this island itinerary. Go from the street food stalls of Athens to the white clifftop buildings of Santorini. Venture over to Naxos for some cooking and cycling, then find some food of your own at a farm on Mykonos before you return to watch the sunset over Athens. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 12 Days

Oia windmill
Oia windmill
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens, Welcome Dinner Athens
Day 2 Athens Food Tour Athens
Day 3 Athens to Santorini Santorini
Day 4 Catamaran Cruise Santorini
Day 5 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Naxos Beaches and Villages Bike Tour Naxos
Day 7 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 8 Ferry to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 9 Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner Mykonos
Day 10 Mykonos Beach Day Mykonos
Day 11 Return to Athens, Sunset at Cape Sounion Athens
Day 12 Depart Athens  


Greece has roughly 2,000 islands within its borders, but with 12 days to travel, you'll focus on these three favorites after a tour through the capital's food scene. See the star Santorini caldera, then sail to Naxos to take a spin around the beaches. Then it's off to Mykonos for a farm tour and more beach time before you head back to Athens. Read more

Extended Itineraries

12-Day Itinerary Including Ios

Get curious about the Cyclades
Get curious about the Cyclades
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens Athens
Day 2 Athens to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 3 Explore Authentic Mykonos Mykonos
Day 4 Day Trip to Delos Mykonos
Day 5 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 7 Naxos to Ios Ios
Day 8 Ios Village Tour Ios
Day 9 Ios to Santorini Santorini
Day 10 Santorini Tour & Wine Tasting Santorini
Day 11 Discover Prehistoric Akrotiri Santorini
Day 12 Santorini to Athens - Depart Athens  


Visit four distinct islands in Greece's most famous archipelago with this 12-day itinerary. Shop the glamorous boutiques of Mykonos, take a cooking workshop on cultural hotspot Naxos, experience village life on tiny Ios, and soak in the sun (and sunsets) of Santorini. Along the way, you'll enjoy lots of Greek history, glorious beach time, and pretty ferry rides across the Aegean sea. Read more

14-Day Itinerary Including Chania

The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek isles
The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek isles
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens Athens
Day 2 Athens to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 3 Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner Mykonos
Day 4 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 5 Cooking Class on Naxos Naxos
Day 6 Beach Day on Naxos Naxos
Day 7 Arrive in Santorini - Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tasting Santorini
Day 8 Catamaran Cruise Santorini
Day 9 Santorini to Chania Chania
Day 10 Old Town of Chania Tour Chania
Day 11 Dinner and Traditional Dancing at the Botanical Gardens Chania
Day 12 Gramvousa and Balos Beaches Chania
Day 13 Return to Athens and Athens Food Tour Athens
Day 14 Depart Athens  


The glittering Cyclades span hundreds of miles, with centuries of history under their belt. The two-week version of this itinerary starts in glamorous Mykonos before a stop in Naxos for beach time and a cooking class. Then, make your way to the volcanic sunsets and cliffside architecture of Santorini. End your trip on Crete, where amazing beaches, excellent cuisine, and great hospitality await. Read more

21-Day Itinerary Including Nafplio, Heraklion, and Chania

Terrace of Lions on Delos
Terrace of Lions on Delos
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens Athens
Day 2 Guided Acropolis Visit Athens
Day 3 Museums and Ancient Cooking Class Athens
Day 4 Architecture of Athens Tour Athens
Day 5 Day Trip to Delphi Athens
Day 6 Athens to Mykonos Mykonos
Day 7 Day Trip to Delos Mykonos
Day 8 Ferry to Naxos Naxos
Day 9 Ancient Naxos Guided Hike Naxos
Day 10 Naxos to Santorini Santorini
Day 11 Discover Prehistoric Akrotiri, Ferry to Crete Heraklion
Day 12 Guided Knossos and Heraklion Tour Heraklion
Day 13 Travel to Chania Chania
Day 14 Ancient Aptera Tour Chania
Day 15 Return to Athens, Visit Archaeological Site of Eleusis Athens
Day 16 Visit Mycenae and Nafplio Nafplio
Day 17 Day Trip to Olympia from Nafplio Nafplio
Day 18 Olive Experience Nafplio
Day 19 Monuments of Epidaurus Tour Nafplio
Day 20 Return to Athens, Sunset at Cape Sounion Athens
Day 21 Depart Athens  


Travel through the rich mythology and history of Classical Greece from the mainland to the islands and back. You'll start and end in Athens, beginning by taking in the city from above from the Acropolis and its famous Parthenon. Then down into the islands, with stops at the sacred site of Delos off of Mykonos, prehistoric Akrotiri in Santorini, and the Palace of Knossos on Crete. Return to the mainland to see the Cyclopean walls of Mycenae, stroll the stadium grounds at Olympia, and more before your return to the modern era. Read more