Essential Athens and Greek Islands Vacation: Mykonos & Santorini

Erechtheion temple in the Acropolis, Athens, Greece

What to expect on this itinerary

Go beyond the traditional idea of Greece and into the essentials on this custom vacation tailored to show you the life of Athens and the islands. The vibrant blue roofs and whitewashed homes sit along the precipice overlooking a caldera. The lavish pillars of the Parthenon watch over the ancient city of Athens. The crystal waters of Mykonos brush against the shore. Spend your days experiencing the best of Greece, from the perfect views to the fabulous beaches, from the ancient ruins to the modern flavors; see the essentials and beyond.

Countries Visited

Greece

Places Visited

Athens, Mykonos, Santorini

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Athens – A Welcomed Sight

The morning sun glistens over the rolling arid hills that surround Athens. In the airport you will be greeted by a private transfer that will take you directly to your hotel within the center of the city. The freshness of the earth and lingering scent of olive groves wraps around the hills. White stone cascades along the mountains filled with marble that has been quarried for thousands of years. From the street you can see the Acropolis rising above the city, the pillars of the Parthenon proud and sturdy against the sands of time. Spend time strolling through the neighborhood of Anafiotika. Sitting along the slope of the Acropolis, the neighborhood gives you the first taste of the Cyclades, with whitewashed walls and charming narrow, pebbled paths. The creamy aroma of olive oil brushes against the bougainvillea and welcomes you to Greece.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Breakfast
Day 2

Athens – Inescapable Charm

Day 3

Athens – Old to New

Day 4

Mykonos – No More Pillars Ashore

Day 5

Mykonos – Essentially Cyclades

Day 6

Mykonos – The Classics of Mykonos

Day 7

Santorini – When Blue Roofs Shine

Day 8

Santorini – Quintessential Now

Day 9

Santorini – When Everything’s Better

Day 10

Santorini – Journey Home

Trip Highlights

  • Visit the wondrous temples of the Acropolis that overlook Athens
  • Lounge along the luxurious sands of Mykonos
  • Walk along the ancient history of Delos where Greek gods were born
  • Witness the unparalleled views of Santorini overlooking the caldera
  • Enjoy a stroll along the famous white walls and blue roofs of Santorini
  • Taste the luscious flavors of Santorini cuisine, rich from the volcanic soil

Detailed Description

The ideas of Greece have always been rounded into certain images: the Parthenon, whitewashed walls with blue roofs, and baklava. These are the quintessential pictures in your head waiting to be seen, touched, and tasted. On this 11-day tour of Greece you will find that there is so much more vibrancy and life to Greece waiting for you along the cliffs of Santorini, the shores of Mykonos, and the gilded streets of Athens. Witness the essentials of Greece and have the experience of lifetime.

Begin your wondrous journey through Greece with your arrival in Athens. Antiquity looms large along the streets and within the sky, rising over the city center. Tour through the Golden Age of Greece and see the Parthenon. Venture around the city’s diverse neighborhoods that often sit within the shadow of the Acropolis, filled with contemporary history and a particular essence, like the bazaar of Monastiraki. When the cityscape begins to become faint in the distance it is because you have made your way to the island of Mykonos.

The beaches of Mykonos are famed for their luxuries and opulence. The sands are warm and the water is clear. The town winds and meanders, once a deterrent for pirates that now lends a charming spirit to the island. With some excitement the island is yours to explore, including the nearby ruins on the island of Delos where gods were born and raised. The beaches of Mykonos will find themselves disappearing into the horizon as you land on the cliffs of Santorini. The whitewashed walls and blue roofs give you the picturesque view you have seen in photos. There is no limit to the brilliance that you can see on the island, from ancient cities to breathtaking views, sunset cruises to wine tasting. Greece is diverse, stunning, and unparalleled; take the chance to witness the essential Greece…and more.

Zicasso offers a variety of Greece vacations. Be sure to read the Greece travel agency reviews for information on traveler experiences.

Starting Price

$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2508 reviews

Gayathri R.
Greece Tour Review: Delphi, Santorini, 10 Nights

Zicasso's travel specialists did an excellent job. We loved the hotel in Santorini.

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Kimberly C.
Greece Trip Review: Naxos, 12 Nights

Everything was beautifully arranged for me, from the hotel and tours to transportation and food recommendations. I would not hesitate to recommend Zicasso's travel designer to any of my friends!

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Stephanie C.
Greece Honeymoon Review: Athens, Paros, Santorini, Crete, Jeep Tour, Byzantine Hike, Sunset Experience, 14-Day Trip

Our trip to Greece was absolutely incredible! We had high hopes for a great vacation and the actual trip far exceeded our hopes.

Zicasso's travel designer planned our two-week honeymoon in Greece (Athens, Paros, Santorini, and Crete) and it was absolutely incredible! All the sites were absolutely gorgeous and the activities planned were great, with amazing tour guides. We had private pick-up and drop-off on travel days, as well as for any of the tours provided. She was very responsive to any questions we had and helped accommodate anything we wanted to change in the itinerary. Everything was meticulously planned and there were really no issues that we ran into.

All the hotels were fantastic, all of them four or five stars and within our budget. They were all beautiful and had great service in desirable locations. We would definitely utilize this travel agency again, especially our agent! We would 10/10 recommend. We made unforgettable memories on our trip, all thanks to the travel company.

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Haley S.
Greece Trip Review: Culture, History, 8 Days

This was incredibly helpful on our trip. A lot of the planning was super-useful for navigating travel, suggestions on locations/things to do, and recommendations for food and activities. It was easy to plan with the team at Zicasso's tour company and they were very responsive to any questions or concerns.

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Cara H.
Greece Travel Review: Athens, Beaches, 10 Nights

Zicasso's trip coordinator and the rest of the travel company's team were amazing to work with. We had a wonderful trip. She was very helpful in booking accommodations, transfers, and activities, and even suggested restaurants in the towns we were staying in! We could not have asked for a better trip that was more curated to what we wanted to do and the types of places we wanted to stay. I highly recommend her and the travel company and would use them again (and again!).

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Tamara W.
Greece Tour Review: Local Cuisine, Culture, Scenic Beauty, 10 Nights

Zicasso's tour operators was fantastic to work with! They designed a trip tailored to our family that exceeded our expectations. They were attentive to detail and provided excellent communication throughout our trip.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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