7-Day Greek Island Hopping Itinerary

Quick answer: This 7-day Greek Island Hopping itinerary covers the must-see highlights without rushing, with detailed day-by-day plans, restaurant recommendations, and budget guidance.

Best for: First-time visitors who want to maximize sightseeing while still tasting local culture.

Day 1 — Athens Arrival & Acropolis

Land at Athens International Airport and take the direct Metro Line 3 into the centre — roughly 40 minutes and about €9 (around $10) to Syntagma or Monastiraki, far cheaper than a taxi. Drop your bags in Plaka or Monastiraki, the walkable neighbourhoods below the rock. Spend the afternoon climbing the Acropolis; Acropolis entry runs about €30 (roughly $33) in high season; the old multi-site combo ticket that once bundled the Ancient Agora and Roman Forum was discontinued in April 2025, so those now need their own tickets. Go late, after 4pm, to dodge cruise crowds and the worst heat. Afterwards wander down through Anafiotika, a tiny whitewashed hamlet built by Cycladic stonemasons that feels like an island lane. Insider tip: book Acropolis timed-entry online in advance for summer, as walk-up slots sell out. For dinner, try a proper gyros or grilled octopus with an ouzo in a Plaka taverna before an early night.

Day 2 — Sail to Mykonos

Head to the port of Piraeus for the morning ferry to Mykonos — take the Metro Line 1 from Monastiraki straight to the harbour. High-speed catamarans (Seajets, Golden Star) cover the crossing in about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours, while conventional Blue Star ferries take closer to 5 hours for less money; expect roughly €55–70 (about $60–77) for a fast seat. Book ahead in July and August, when sailings fill. Arriving into Mykonos Town (Chora), lose yourself in the maze of marble alleys designed to confuse pirates, then follow the waterfront to Little Venice, where old sea-captains’ houses hang over the water. Climb to the Kato Mili windmills for sunset. Insider tip: the maze is intentional — don’t fight it, and note your hotel’s location on a map before wandering, as street signs are scarce.

Day 3 — Delos & Mykonos Nights

Give the morning to Delos, the sacred birthplace of Apollo and one of Greece’s richest archaeological sites. Small boats leave Mykonos Old Port around 9–10am; the round-trip runs about €25 (roughly $28) plus a site ticket near €12 (about $13), and the crossing takes 30–40 minutes. Walk the marble Terrace of the Lions and mosaic-floored merchant houses — bring water and a hat, as there is almost no shade. Note the last return boat is early afternoon, so don’t dawdle. Back on Mykonos, unwind on Agios Ioannis or the calmer Ornos beach. In the evening, sample kopanisti, the island’s peppery aged cheese, and louza cured pork. Insider tip: Delos has no restaurant or accommodation and closes at night, so time your visit around the boat schedule rather than the reverse.

Day 4 — Ferry to Naxos

Catch a ferry south to Naxos, the largest and greenest of the Cyclades — the hop is short, from about 35 minutes to under 1.5 hours depending on the vessel, and typically costs roughly €25–45 (about $28–50). You arrive right in Chora (Naxos Town). Walk the causeway to the Portara, the giant 6th-century-BC marble doorway that is all that remains of an unfinished Temple of Apollo; entry is free and it is open around the clock, so save it for sunset when the frame glows. Then climb the tangled lanes into the Kastro, the Venetian citadel built in 1207 that ruled the Cyclades for three centuries. Insider tip: Naxos is a working agricultural island, not a resort — seek out its famous graviera cheese and local Kitron citron liqueur, both genuinely produced here.

Day 5 — Naxos Mountain Villages

Rent a car or scooter (roughly €35–50, about $40–55 a day) to explore Naxos’s mountainous interior, which most island-hoppers skip. Drive up to the marble-quarry village of Apiranthos, where locals still speak a distinct dialect, then stop in Halki, the old commercial heart, for a tasting at its historic distillery. Energetic walkers can tackle Mount Zas (Zeus) — at 1,004 metres the highest peak in the Cyclades and, by legend, the birthplace of Zeus; the well-marked route from Agia Marina above Filoti takes around 3–4 hours return, so start early and carry plenty of water. Cool off afterwards on the long golden sands of Plaka or Agios Prokopios beach. Insider tip: fuel up on a Naxos potato dish — the island’s PDO potatoes are a genuine local point of pride, not a tourist gimmick.

Day 6 — Onward to Santorini

Board a ferry for the most dramatic leg to Santorini — from Naxos the crossing runs roughly 1 to 2.5 hours depending on the boat, usually around €35–60 (about $39–66). Ferries dock at Athinios, the port at the base of the cliff; take the pre-arranged shuttle or a bus up the switchbacks rather than the notorious donkey path. Base yourself in Fira or quieter Firostefani, then walk the caldera-edge path with its plunging volcanic views. In the evening, make your way to Oia for its famous sunset — the local bus is cheap at about €2 (roughly $2), but leaves well over an hour early to claim a spot, as the crowds are intense. Insider tip: skip the packed castle viewpoint and watch instead from the walk down toward Ammoudi Bay, where fresh seafood tavernas line the little harbour.

Day 7 — Akrotiri & The Journey Home

Spend the morning at Akrotiri, the astonishingly preserved Bronze Age town buried by a volcanic eruption around 1600 BC and often called the Aegean’s Pompeii; the covered site costs about €12 (roughly $13) and is far cooler and quieter than the caldera villages. Nearby, the striated cliffs of Red Beach are worth a photo, though swimming access can be restricted by rockfall — check locally first. Round off with a tasting of Santorini’s volcanic Assyrtiko white wine at a winery near Pyrgos, the island’s atmospheric hilltop old capital. For the journey home, decide between a 45-minute flight from Santorini Airport back to Athens or the high-speed ferry to Piraeus, which takes about 5 hours. Insider tip: fly if you have an onward connection — summer ferries run late often, and door-to-door flying is usually faster and only modestly pricier when booked ahead.