Best of Greece Island Hopping Itinerary

The islands of Greece are each unique but equally picturesque and beautiful. You will arrive at Athens International Airport in Athens on day one to begin your exciting exploration of these amazing islands. A private transfer will greet you upon your arrival and lead you to your luxurious hotel that will be located in the heart of Athens. A brief stay in Greece’s capital city will be an ideal way to start your adventure before you head to the islands. Athens is an ancient city that is filled with historical landmarks. At the same time, the capital is a business and economic center. You can begin to explore the city on your own, where you can wander the streets that are filled with locals and tourists alike and feel the enthralling culture. The mouthwatering scents that emanate from the city’s many restaurants will draw you in for your first dinner in Greece. You can delight in a warm moussaka, which is a traditional Greek dish of eggplant, tomatoes, and meat, before returning to your hotel for the night.

A cup of freshly brewed coffee and tasty breakfast at the hotel will be an ideal way to begin day two. Soon after, your expert guide will arrive to whisk you away on a private tour of some of Athens’ most popular attractions. The tour will lead you to the famous Acropolis. Here, you will travel back in time to ancient Greece as you discover the remains of various temples and buildings. You will marvel at the Theatre of Dionysus, which is thought to be the first theater in the world and numerous impressive temples. The Temple of Athena Nike, which dates back to 420 BC, will be especially memorable. Another marvelous sight will be the Erechtheion, which is a temple that was dedicated to the Greeks gods Athena and Poseidon. The temple contains multiple porches, and you will admire the Porch of the Caryatids that display detailed female sculptures as part of its support system. Your guide will then lead you to perhaps the best-known attraction, which is the iconic Parthenon. Another former temple, the Parthenon was dedicated to Athena, the patron of Athens, and was completed in the fifth century BC. It is considered one of the most essential examples of Greek architecture and an important cultural monument. You will be blown away by the sheer size and design of this legendary landmark. Just thinking about how this ancient civilization conquered these amazing architectural feats will leave you in awe.

You can take a break for a light and refreshing lunch before your guide leads you to the nearby Acropolis Museum. The museum is home to many artifacts and discoveries from the Acropolis and nearby areas. Displays of ancient relics can be found around every corner, and the afternoon will easily pass as you view some of the almost 4,000 pieces that belong to the museum. Once the tour concludes, you can spend the balance of the day at your leisure. You may continue to explore all Athens has to offer during your last night in this charming city.

Today, you can watch the sunrise over Athens, and after breakfast, it will be time to transfer to the first Greek island of your trip. Once at the port, you will board a private speed boat. With a sparkling glass of champagne in hand, you will be able to feel the cool breeze from the sea as you absorb the gorgeous scenery and head for the idyllic island of Mykonos. The stunning, blue waters and clear sky will be breathtaking, and you will enjoy every moment of the ride. Upon your arrival in Mykonos, a private transfer will escort you to your luxurious waterfront hotel. Feelings of pure relaxation will set in as you settle into your plush surroundings, and you can begin to explore Mykonos at your own pace, where you will discover some of the winding streets of the island before venturing to the hotel’s amazing pool. In the evening, you can dine at a local restaurant with breathtaking views of the water. The fresh fish catches of the day will make for a delicious seafood dinner, and you may culminate your meal with some amygdalota, which is a traditional cookie that is made with almonds. Then, you will enjoy the stroll back to the hotel as the first wonderful day in Mykonos comes to an end.

The soft breeze off the sea will be a welcoming wake-up call on the morning of day four. You can delight in a light breakfast before your experienced guide arrives to lead you on a tour of the island. As you walk along the quaint streets of the town of Mykonos, you will admire the white and blue homes and storefronts for which the island is known. Then, you can journey into some of the shops to discover beautiful handmade goods before receiving an up-close look at the island’s windmills, which are located in an area known as Kato Milli.  Although no longer in use, the windmills are considered a symbol of the island and will be a picturesque sight. Then, as you continue to tour the island, you will soon arrive at the village of Ano Mera, where you can witness the ancient monastery of Panagia Tourliani, which is centuries old. The history of the island will continue to come to life when you view Gyzi Castle, which also dates back to the 13th century.

After the tour for the day concludes, you can stop at one of the local restaurants to indulge in a fresh Greek salad for lunch. Then, it will be time to explore one of the island’s magnificent beaches. Here, you can feel the golden sand under your toes as you step foot on Ornos Beach. The gorgeous beach is ideally located on the sparkling blue waters and will be the ultimate place to spend the remainder of the day. Time will easily pass as you soak up the warm sun, refreshing sea, and spectacular scenery.

On the morning of day five, it will be time to transfer to the next amazing Greek island of Santorini. After breakfast, you will board a private boat for another relaxing ride across the Aegean Sea. The island of Santorini was formed as a result of volcanic eruptions that occurred hundreds of years ago. Its towns are perched on a cliff, making the island a truly unique and fascinating destination. Upon your arrival, you will be led to the luxurious hotel with magnificent views, and after becoming acquainted with your room, a local guide will arrive to lead you on a tour of the ancient site of Akrotiri. Akrotiri was founded by the Minoans and dates back thousands of years. It was subsequently buried under volcanic ash for centuries and was only unearthed again in the 20th century. You will feel as though you are an archeologist as you discover the many ruins and witness the well-preserved frescoes and many pieces of pottery that have been recovered as you travel around the site.

After the tour concludes, you can sip on sparkling water as you are led back to the hotel. You will then be free to explore more of beautiful Santorini on your own. The luxurious hotel, glistening blue waters of the island, and delicious cuisine will be yours to enjoy as you spend a fantastic afternoon and evening on this captivating island.

Today, you can indulge in a scenic breakfast on the water. Soon after, your local guide will begin the day’s tour, and you will discover more of the island. Your guide will lead you on a journey around the winding streets that are lined with the island’s picturesque, white buildings and striking, blue-domed roofs. The Village of Fira, which is a top destination for visitors to the island, will be one of the places that you further explore. It is known for its quaint shops, and you will enjoy looking at the beautiful handmade jewelry and artwork on display as you visit a few of the stores. Your guide will also lead you on a private tour of the Museum of Prehistoric Thira, where you will learn more about the history of Santorini and see age-old artifacts up-close.

Afterward, you will delight in a light lunch at one of the many cafes, where you will have some free time to discover more of the boutiques and pristine beaches. The peaceful atmosphere of the island will put you at ease as you continue to immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of Santorini. As the afternoon winds down, you will rendezvous with your guide who will lead you to the Village of Oia. Situated among the cliffs, Oia has some of the best views on the island and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. You may even lose track of time as you gaze out on the magnificent horizon before indulging in dinner at one of Oia’s authentic restaurants, which will be the ideal culmination to this adventurous day.

It will be time to leave the cliffs of Santorini in the background this morning. After breakfast, you will board a private boat and venture to the final destination of your trip: the intriguing island of Ios. Upon your arrival to the island, another private transfer will lead you to your luxurious hotel that will be ideally located on the gorgeous blue waters. After checking in, the day will be yours to see and discover all that Ios to offer. Perhaps, you will visit the Church of Panagia Gremiotissa, which dates back to 1797 AD and sits perfectly perched on a hill. For another look into history, you can see the artifacts at Skarkos, which is an archaeological site with well-preserved remains of the island’s past. There will also have your choice of wonderful beaches to explore. Mylopotas and Manganari are just two of the many pristine beaches where you can head, and with a refreshing drink in hand, you can relax in the warm sun, swim in the crystal-clear waters, or enjoy exhilarating water sports. The beauty of the island will captivate you, and every moment of the day will be absolutely delightful. Fantastic restaurants can be found all around the island, and fresh-grilled vegetables, amazing seafood, and a sweet dessert will make for a delicious dinner on your final night of this Greek excursion.

This morning, you can watch one last beautiful sunrise in Greece. The breathtaking views from your hotel will beckon you to wander around the island one last time. You can explore a few of the shops or stop into one more cafe as you soak up the last rays of sun and sights of the serene waters before returning to your hotel. Your private transfer will then lead you to the mainland of Greece and then to Athens International Airport for your return flight. This amazing trip will leave you dreaming for a return to Greece and its idyllic islands.