How many days do you need?
- Most travelers spend 5-7 days in Athens and Santorini combined
- Visiting Athens and Santorini in 4 days is possible, but will feel rushed
- With 8 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Mykonos, Naxos, and Chania
How Many Days Should You Spend in Athens?
How Many Days Should you Spend on Santorini?
Recommended Itineraries for Athens and Santorini
Recommended Itinerary for 5 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens | Athens |
| Day 2 | The Acropolis & Ancient Greek Mythology & Museum Tour | Athens |
| Day 3 | Arrive in Santorini - Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tasting | Santorini |
| Day 4 | Catamaran Cruise | Santorini |
| Day 5 | Santorini to Athens - Depart Athens |
Visit two Greek classics during this 5-day tour of some of the country's most beautiful and iconic sites. You'll start in Athens, with a day to experience the Acropolis and the capital's buzzing neighborhoods. End the trip in Santorini with its white-topped cliffs and caldera views, complete with island cruising, wine tasting, and stunning sunsets to spare. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 6 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens | Athens |
| Day 2 | The Acropolis & Ancient Greek Mythology & Museum Tour | Athens |
| Day 3 | Athens Food Tour | Athens |
| Day 4 | Arrive in Santorini - Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tasting | Santorini |
| Day 5 | Catamaran Cruise | Santorini |
| Day 6 | Santorini to Athens - Depart Athens |
Combine ancient Athens with Santorini sunsets on this quick 6-day jaunt through a few of Greece's most stunning sights. After discovering the capital's classical treasures and gastronomic gems, you'll hop over to Santorini to finish your trip with a taste of island life—sailing its rugged coast, exploring whitewashed villages, and sampling local wines. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 7 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens | Athens |
| Day 2 | Acropolis and Ancient Greek Mythology Tour | Athens |
| Day 3 | Museums and Ancient Cooking Class | Athens |
| Day 4 | Athens to Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 5 | Santorini Tour & Wine Tasting | Santorini |
| Day 6 | Discover Prehistoric Akrotiri | Santorini |
| Day 7 | Santorini to Athens - Depart Athens |
Get to know ancient Athens and get a taste of island life on Santorini with this weeklong itinerary. Sample volcanic wine varietals in centuries-old vineyards, take a mythological tour of the capital, take a cooking class based on ancient Greek culinary methods, and more. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
8-Day Itinerary Including Mykonos
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens | Athens |
| Day 2 | The Acropolis & Ancient Greek Mythology & Museum Tour | Athens |
| Day 3 | Athens to Mykonos | Mykonos |
| Day 4 | Explore Authentic Mykonos | Mykonos |
| Day 5 | Mykonos to Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 6 | Catamaran Cruise | Santorini |
| Day 7 | Santorini Wine Tasting Tour | Santorini |
| Day 8 | Santorini to Athens - Depart Athens |
Hit three major hotspots on this eight-day tour of some of Greece's most iconic sites. Start in Athens before hopping a ferry to glamorous Mykonos. Here you'll explore beaches, boardwalks, and nightlife under the island's famous windmills. End the trip in Santorini with its classic white-topped cliffs and caldera views, complete with island cruising, wine tasting, and sunsets to spare. Read more
10-Day Itinerary Including Naxos and Mykonos
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens, Welcome Dinner | Athens |
| Day 2 | Athens Food Tour | Athens |
| Day 3 | Athens to Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 4 | Catamaran Cruise | Santorini |
| Day 5 | Ferry to Naxos | Naxos |
| Day 6 | Naxos Beaches and Villages Bike Tour | Naxos |
| Day 7 | Cooking Class on Naxos | Naxos |
| Day 8 | Ferry to Mykonos | Mykonos |
| Day 9 | Farm Visit and Mykonian Dinner | Mykonos |
| Day 10 | Return to Athens, Depart |
Take the coast of the Cyclades from guidebook covers straight to your own social media feed with this 10-day itinerary. These famous islands have captured travelers' imaginations for centuries, and now it's your turn to explore via boat, bike, and more, whether you're riding smoothly past sunny beaches or settling in for dinner and stories on an island farm. Read more
10-Day Itinerary Including Naxos
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Athens | Athens |
| Day 2 | Guided Acropolis Visit | Athens |
| Day 3 | Vouliagmeni Coastal Town & Windsurfing | Athens |
| Day 4 | Ferry to Naxos | Naxos |
| Day 5 | Historic Naxos Hike | Naxos |
| Day 6 | Naxos to Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 7 | Free Day in Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 8 | Sea Kayaking in Santorini | Santorini |
| Day 9 | Return to Athens & Free Evening | Athens |
| Day 10 | Depart Athens |
Spend ten days amid some of the most popular spots in Greece. You'll start off in Athens, where you'll experience the Acropolis and the shores of the Athenian Riviera. Then sail into the Cyclades, landing first at Naxos for a hike through the island's history, then continuing to Santorini to explore its beaches and enjoy the caldera views. Read more
How to travel between Athens and Santorini
The distance between Athens and Santorini is 186 miles (300 km). The most convenient way to travel between them is by plane, which takes 50 minutes flying from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH). Direct flights run daily between Athens and Santorini throughout the year, with the number of flights per day increasing during the high summer season. Read more