A week in Greece: Recommended itinerary

Have you chosen to go on a trip to Greece ?

In order to help you organize your stay, we have prepared a one-week itinerary in Greece to discover some of the country’s unmissable places of interest .

In addition to things to do and see for each stage, you will find in this guide my selection of the best hotels according to your budget. And of course, I also give you all my best advice so that you make the most of your stay.

You will see, with our tips and good plans, organizing your trip to Greece will be super easy!

So, what to do in Greece for a week?

Day 1: Athens

It is impossible not to start this 4-5 day tour of Greece without spending at least one day in Athens, the capital. Since the main tourist attractions are relatively close to each other, you can easily visit the city on foot.

Of course, it won’t be possible to see everything on this first day, but don’t worry, you will have a little time left at the end of your stay to finish discovering the city.

To visit Athens in 1 day, I advise you to start with the Acropolis Museum . Quite simply because it allows you to learn more about the emblematic place of the city and above all to better represent it before going to admire it more closely.

Don’t miss going to the top floor to contemplate the breathtaking view of the Parthenon.

This must-see museum is now the most visited in Athens. It is open every day and admission costs €10 in high season. To avoid wasting time on site, it is best to buy your skip-the-line ticket in advance on the internet.

You can also book a guided tour of the museum by clicking here!

Find all the information about the Acropolis Museum on the official website (in English).

After the museum, head for the Acropolis, which is right next to it. The site, built on a hill, dominates the whole city.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can discover the Parthenon in particular. It is the best preserved and most emblematic element of the Acropolis. This temple is dedicated to Athena and was one of the first Greek monuments to be built entirely in marble. 

During your walk, you will also see 2 other temples, as well as a theater and an amphitheater. 

At the foot of the Acropolis, I then suggest that you continue your walk in Athens through the Plaka district.

If you’re feeling peckish, you’ll find plenty of snack bars selling the famous pork or chicken gyros, the traditional Greek sandwich. With a good ice cream for dessert, or, more typically, a Greek yogurt accompanied by honey or fruit, you will have already tried 2 Greek specialties on the first day!

And if you prefer to relax a bit, I recommend Le Liondi Traditional Greek Restaurant. Much better than all the tourist trap restaurants around, it offers really tasty typical Greek food. It is right in front of the museum exit.

To digest, you can then stroll through the district, which is one of the oldest in the city. There are many souvenir shops but everything has kept a picturesque side. 

I then recommend that you visit the Ancient Agora, the second site not to be missed during your 7 day stay in Greece.

The Agora represented the center of the city in antiquity. There were many buildings including the market or the center of government. Religious festivals, elections and even certain sports competitions were held there.

Today the visit is especially worth it for the temple of Hephaestus, one of the best preserved Doric temples in Greece. There is also a museum with a model of the site and some statues.

Leaving the Agora, you will find yourself in the Monastiraki district, which, along with that of Plaka, is one of the oldest. It is however very different from the latter. It’s more like walking through a souk, with lots of shops selling cheap clothes, shoes, or jewelry.

At the end of the day, head to the hill of Philopappos and hike up to the top. This is the best place to watch the sun set over the city and the Acropolis. If the sky is clear, it is even possible to have a panoramic view as far as the port of Piraeus.

Finally, for those who would like to end their first day in Athens with a drink or go out partying all night long, it is in the Gazi district that it happens. All you have to do is choose between the many trendy bars!

Spend the night in Athens.

Accommodation in Athens

• Bedbox Hostel:  Hostel located 300 meters from Monastiraki Square and 700 meters from the Acropolis. Bed in dormitory from 18€ per night. Most: the location, the super friendly staff, the cleanliness.
• Evripides Hotel:  Located 400 meters from Ermou Street and 500 from Monastiraki. Room with a simple and comfortable decor from €70 per night, breakfast included. The pluses: the magnificent view of the Acropolis from the rooftop, the location for visiting Athens on foot, the welcome. It is our favorite for its performance / price ratio. 
• Amalia Hotel:  Located on Syntagma Square, just opposite the National Garden. Modern and spacious double room, some with a balcony overlooking the garden, from €155, breakfast included. Most: the comfort, the very hearty breakfast, the geographical location in the center.
• Wyndham Grand Athens:  5 star hotel located 1 km from Ermou Street and 1.5 km from the Acropolis. Design and elegant double room from €200, breakfast at €16. Most: the swimming pool on the roof, the panoramic view of the Acropolis, the Spa, the metro station just opposite.
• Electra Metropolis:  5 star hotel located just 200 meters from Syntagma Square and 600 from the Acropolis. Spacious and comfortable double room from €270, breakfast included. The pluses: the ideal geographical location, the view of the Acropolis from the roof terrace, the quality of the meals, the swimming pool. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Athens. 

Day 2: Excursion to the Saronic Islands

For the second day of this 7 day itinerary in Greece, I suggest you leave Athens to discover the surroundings.

On the program: the discovery of the Saronic Islands, the islands closest to Athens.

2 possibilities are available to you:

• You can do it yourself. That is to say, take the bus from Athens to the port of Piraeus, and board a ferry that will take you to one of the islands.

The easiest to access and the largest being the island of Aegina. The trip takes about 1h15 for 8€ but there are only 3 departures per day: around 8am, noon and 4pm.

So it is better to get up early to be able to spend the full day on the island.

• From Athens, there are also day trips to the Saronic Islands.

The advantage is that you don’t have to worry about anything. We pick you up directly at your hotel to drive you to the port of Piraeus and you will embark on a boat for a cruise around the islands. The other positive point compared to an independent discovery is that you will be able to see several islands and not just one.

The program includes 3 islands:

• Poros, the smallest of the islands and which has pretty colorful houses
• Hydra whose beaches are really beautiful
• Aegina, the largest of the Saronic Islands and home to an ancient Byzantine village.

You can also enjoy a buffet lunch served on the boat. It is included in the price.

If you want to make an excursion to the Saronic Islands, you can book directly here:
Book my cruise now!

Return to spend the night in Athens.

Day 3: The Peloponnese

Today, for the third day of your 4-5 day trip to Greece, I suggest you visit part of the Peloponnese .

To get there, you can choose to rent a car in Athens. In these cases, I advise you to rent it until the end of your vacation in Greece because you will need it for the next few days.

Once these practical considerations are settled, head to the Peloponnese and the first stop of the day: the Corinth Canal.

Only 1 hour drive from Athens, it would be a shame not to stop for a little souvenir photo. And since it is on the road, there is not even a detour to be made!

The history and construction of this canal, which allows boats to avoid a 400 km detour between the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea, spans several centuries. We had to wait for the success of the Suez Canal to finally be able to complete the Corinth Canal in 1893.

6 km long, surrounded by 80 meter cliffs, and no wider than 24.6 meters, it is quite impressive today if you are lucky enough to witness the spectacle of a boat making its way between the walls. .

And for an exceptional experience during your stay in Greece, you can also go bungee jumping at the Corinth Canal! 

After this short stop, get back in the car to reach Mycenae, about a 40-minute drive away. The site, one of the oldest in Greece, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mycenae was the city where the hero of the Trojan War, King Agamemnon, lived . There is the royal palace, the tombs and an archaeological museum.

However, expect to see only old stones as there is not much left.

I recommend this visit to history buffs. Otherwise it is better to go directly to the following site!

Head to Epidaurus, 45 minutes away, or 1 hour by road if you reach it from the Corinth Canal.

Also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a must on a tour of the Peloponnese. The place is renowned for its extremely well-preserved theatre, whose architecture and acoustics are exceptional.

Admission to Epidaurus costs €12 and includes, in addition to the theatre, a temple dedicated to the god of medicine and a small museum.

For the last visit of the day, I recommend that you push on to Nafplion. The city, located by the sea is only 30 minutes from Epidaurus.

The old town of Nafplion allows you to take a pleasant walk through its picturesque streets. 

In Nafplio there are also 3 fortresses to see:

• The Bourtzi islet, which you can see at the entrance to the port
• The fortress of Acronauplia and its panoramic view of the city and the islet. You can get there by car in just 5 minutes from the city center.
• The Palamidi fortress that you can visit. There is parking at the entrance to park your car. You can then visit the interior for €8 and admire the different viewpoints of the sea and Nauplia from the bastions. The fortress being really big, count about 1h30 to go through it.

And to end the day in relaxation mode, I recommend Arvanitia beach, still in Nafplion. A small pebble beach, ideal for swimming and relaxing.

Then take the road in the opposite direction to Athens.

If you do n’t feel like renting a car and driving in Greece, good news, you can still follow this program and visit all the places I recommend.

All you have to do is go on an organized day trip from Athens!

The excursion includes pick-up at your hotel as well as bus transport + a guide and entrance tickets to the sites.

The visits planned in the program:

• The Corinth Canal
• Mycenae
• Nauplie
• Epidaurus

So exactly the same as independent. It’s up to you to choose the option you prefer.

For the organized excursion, you can book directly here:
Book my Peloponnese excursion now!

Day 4: Delphi

For the fourth day of this 7 day tour in Greece, I advise you to continue exploring the surroundings of Athens. For this, I suggest you visit the archaeological site of Delphi .

For those who chose to rent a car at the previous stage, count around 2h20 by road from Athens. Alternatively, as with the Peloponnese, you can take a day trip from Athens (more on this below).

About ten kilometers before arriving in Delphi, you can make a stop in the small tourist town of Arachova, built on the mountainside. It has pretty stone houses and charming alleys. You can taste formaella, a traditional cheese from Central Greece made from sheep’s milk.

In winter, Arachova becomes the largest ski resort in the country with almost 22 slopes. It is considered one of the most luxurious destinations in Greece. We certainly come here to ski but also to show off and party all night long.

Once you arrive in Delphi from Arachova, you can go directly to the archaeological site which is located at the entrance of the city. There is a large parking lot to park. The ticket costs €12 and includes access to the site + the archaeological museum grouping the remains and statues found on site.

Delphi was built in the middle of the mountains, on Mount Parnassus. For 6 centuries, it housed the pythia who delivered the famous oracles of Delphi. Their interpretation has also led to more or less tragic events for the history of Greece. For the Greeks, the place was so important that they considered it the center of the world!

On the site, in addition to being able to see the various monuments such as the Temple of Apollo, the theater and the stadium, you will enjoy splendid views of the valley and the mountains.

After your visit, if you don’t want to take the road in the opposite direction the same evening, you can sleep in Delphi and leave the next morning for Athens. To be seen depending on the time of your return flight. I give you a list of the best accommodations in Delphi, a little further down in the article.

Staying in Delphi in the evening will also allow you to test the Taverna Vakhos, a good little restaurant that offers a slightly more upscale menu for the same price as its competitors. The dishes are good and plentiful, and I recommend that you book because it is quite popular.

Tips

If, as for day 3, you don’t want to rent a car, no problem, visiting Delphi is also possible as a day trip from Athens.

Here too, the price includes pick-up in front of your hotel, transport, guide and entrance to Delphi and the museum. The stop at Arachova is also planned.

Book this excursion directly here.

By choosing this day trip, you will return to Athens at the end of the day.

Accommodation in Delphi

• Fedriades Delphi Hotel: Located 10 minutes walk from the ancient site of Delphi. Modern and warm double room with balcony from €55, breakfast at €8. Most: the panoramic view, the quality of the bedding, the warm welcome.
• Kastalia Boutique Hotel: Located just 5 minutes from the city of Delphi. Spacious and modern double room from €62, breakfast included. Most: the terrace for breakfast, the excellent welcome, the location. It is our favorite for its performance / price ratio in Delphi. 
• Nidimos Hotel: Located 1 km from the archaeological site. Bright and comfortable double room with balcony from €65, breakfast €10. Most: the rich and varied breakfast, the free parking under the hotel, the beautiful view.
• Amalia Hotel Delphi : Located 800 meters from the archaeological site. Modern and bright double room with large bay windows offering a view of the sea from €90, breakfast included. Most: the large swimming pool, the view, the setting.

Day 5-7: Santorini

For the rest of your vacation, I suggest you visit the Cyclades Islands, starting with the most famous: Santorini!

Here is the program that I suggest you follow to visit the whole island for 3 days.

On the first day, discover Fira and Oia, the 2 most famous villages of Santorini and enjoy the spectacular sunset.

On the second day, opt for one of the most popular activities, a boat trip to discover the still active volcano of Néa Kaméni and bathe in the hot springs.

Must be reserved in advance by clicking on the link below.
Book my mini cruise now!

And for the luxury and romantic version on a catamaran, it’s here:
Book my cruise now!

For the third day, go around the island in road trip mode:

• Discover the other villages:  Pyrgos, Megalohori and Emporio.
• Visit the archaeological sites of Akrotiri (often compared to Pompeii, Italy ) and Ancient Thira.
• Wine lovers can also book a small-group wine tour of Santorini’s estates with tasting included. Book here!
• End of the day cool on one of the beaches. The Red Beach or the Black Beach are the best known. Monolithos beach is more family friendly.

Spend one last night in Santorini.

For the complete and detailed guide to the island of Santorini, it is in the article: Visit Santorini in 3 days. 

Accommodation in Santorini

Top hotels in Oia

• Aethrio Aparthotel:  Located in Oia, just a few steps from the main square. Double room, studios or apartments with balcony for the most part, from €160, breakfast included. Most: the large swimming pool, the spacious rooms, the roof terrace to admire the sunset. It is one of the cheapest establishments in Oia and its price/performance ratio is excellent!
• Caldera Premium Villas:  Located in the center of Oia. The establishment offers troglodyte suites with sea and caldera views from €290 per night, breakfast included. Most: the pool, the decor, the view, the location.
• Theodora Suites Apartment:  Located in the heart of Oia. Studio with kitchenette, fridge, private terrace and outdoor or indoor jacuzzi from €350, breakfast included. Most: the jacuzzi, the breathtaking view, the friendliness of the staff.
• Andronis Boutique Hotel:  5 star hotel located in Oia. You will be welcomed in suites with a view of the Caldera, private balcony and jacuzzi or private swimming pool, from 800€, breakfast included. Most: the idyllic setting, the calm. This is our recommendation for a romantic week-long trip to Greece!
• Katikies Hotel – The Leading Hotels of the World:  Luxury hotel in Oia, the establishment offers rooms and suites with a view and spa bath from €1,000, breakfast included. The pluses: the swimming pools, the jacuzzis, the splendid view, the catering. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Santorini!

Top hotels in Fira

• Galatia Villas:  Located 10 minutes from Fira town center. Fairly basic but pleasant double room from 80€ per night. Most: the jacuzzi on the roof, the warm welcome, the price/performance ratio for Santorini.
• Lilium Santorini Villa:  Located at the edge of the caldera. Elegant and modern room with sea view from €315, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the exceptional location, the warm welcome.
• Cosmopolitan Suites – Small Luxury Hotels of the World:  Located in the heart of Fira. Charming room decorated in the style of the Cyclades with private balcony from 550€, breakfast included. The pluses: the infinity pool overlooking the cliff, the services of a luxury hotel. This is the perfect hotel for a romantic getaway in Santorini.
• Aria Suites:  Located in Fira, this high standard hotel offers only 6 luxury suites and villas fully equipped with CD player, DVD and laptop, from 700€. Most: the beautiful location, the pool, the availability of staff. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay with complete privacy in Fira!

The other best accommodations on the island of Santorini

• Memories Beach Hotel:  Located next to Monolithos beach. Comfortable and modern room from €65 per night, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the calm, the lovely staff.
• Rose Suites:  Located in Vourvoulos, 4 km from Fira. Very well equipped and tastefully decorated studios and apartments, furnished with kitchenette and private terrace from €75 per night. Most: the swimming pool, the calm, the equipment, the decor, the fridge filled with everything you need for breakfast. It is our favorite for its performance / price ratio!
• Hippocampus Hotel:  Located in Kamari, 50 meters from the beach. Room with balcony overlooking the pool or garden from €85 per night, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pool, the proximity to the beach, the setting and the friendly staff.
• Meltemi Village Hotel:  Located in Perissa, 5 minutes from the black beach. Rooms and suites with jacuzzi from €100 per night, breakfast included. Most: the swimming pools, the fitness center, the good breakfast. An excellent choice where to sleep by the sea in Santorini.

Do not hesitate to give us your opinions and suggestions on our 7 day itinerary in Greece!