7 Days in Greece: Athens, the Cyclades and the Sea
Greece, Greece
One week in Greece is a classic first-timer's shape: two days in Athens for the ancient city, then three or four on the islands. This itinerary pairs Athens with Naxos and Santorini so you get beaches and villages as well as the postcard caldera view, without spending the week chasing ferries.
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Late May to early June and September to early October are ideal: warm sea, all ferries running and hotel prices below the July–August peak. July and August are hot and busy; many island hotels close from November to March.
€180–€320 per day for two in shoulder season: €100–€200 for hotels split between Athens and the islands, €50–€80 for taverna meals, and €60–€120 for ferries. Santorini's caldera-view rooms sit at the top of that range; Naxos is noticeably cheaper.
Athens is walkable with a good metro. Between the islands, take Blue Star or Seajets ferries from Piraeus — Naxos is about 5 hours, then 1.5–2 hours from Naxos to Santorini. Book high-speed ferries and caldera-view rooms several weeks ahead in summer; a short flight back to Athens saves half a day on the return.
Day-by-day itinerary
Athens — the Acropolis and Plaka
- Morning
- The Acropolis at the 8am opening — the Parthenon, Erechtheion and the view over the city before the heat and the crowds build.
- Afternoon
- The Acropolis Museum, then lunch in Plaka's back streets.
- Evening
- Sunset from Areopagus hill, then dinner in Monastiraki or Psiri.
Ancient Athens and Piraeus
- Morning
- The Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved Greek temple anywhere.
- Afternoon
- National Archaeological Museum, or the Kolonaki cafés below Lycabettus Hill.
- Evening
- Take the metro down to Piraeus for grilled fish by the harbour if tomorrow's ferry leaves early.
Ferry to Naxos
- Morning
- First Blue Star ferry from Piraeus — the slow boats are cheaper and steadier than the fast catamarans.
- Afternoon
- Portara, the marble doorway on the islet by Naxos town, at sunset.
- Evening
- Dinner in the old town lanes of Naxos Chora.
Naxos villages and beaches
- Morning
- Drive or bus to the mountain villages — Halki, Apiranthos — and the Temple of Demeter.
- Afternoon
- Agios Prokopios or Plaka beach; the west coast sand is the best in the Cyclades.
- Evening
- Seafood taverna dinner on the Naxos waterfront.
Ferry to Santorini
- Morning
- Ferry across to Santorini (about 2 hours) and check in on the caldera edge.
- Afternoon
- Walk the caldera path from Fira towards Imerovigli, the best free view on the island.
- Evening
- Sunset in Oia — stake out a spot on the Byzantine castle walls an hour ahead.
Santorini — volcano and beaches
- Morning
- Boat across to Nea Kameni and walk the volcanic crater, then a swim stop at the hot springs.
- Afternoon
- Akrotiri, the Minoan town preserved in ash, then red-sand Kokkini Paralia.
- Evening
- Assyrtiko wine tasting in Pyrgos, then your last caldera dinner.
Back to Athens and out
- Morning
- Fly or ferry back to Athens; the flight takes 45 minutes against a full day of ferry.
- Afternoon
- Last souvenirs around Adrianou Street, or the rooftop view from the Grand Promenade at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
- Evening
- Fly home from Athens International Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Greece?
Yes for Athens plus one or two islands. Seven days covers Athens, Naxos and Santorini at a comfortable pace; add a day each if you also want Crete or Delphi.
Should I fly or take the ferry between Athens and the islands?
Ferry out, fly back is the usual pattern: the fast Santorini ferry is about 8 hours from Athens, while the flight is 45 minutes. Naxos and Santorini connect to each other easily by ferry.
How many islands should I visit in one week?
Two at most. Ferries between non-neighbouring islands can eat a whole day, so a week fits Athens plus two islands — three if one is a same-island change of base.