Greece travel guide: the cities and islands, and how to link them
Greece is a country you plan around water. The mainland has Athens and Thessaloniki, and the islands are reached by ferry or a short flight. For a first trip, pick one city and one island group, not four. The crossing times are longer than the map suggests, and a summer ferry on the day you want it can sell out.
The short answer
- First trip
- Athens plus one island group. Santorini and Mykonos are the best known, but a second island that is quieter, such as Naxos, often makes the better week.
- How long
- Five to seven days covers Athens and one island. Ten days lets you add a second island or Crete. Two weeks is the least that makes island hopping feel unhurried.
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October. The sea is warm from June, the heat is easier than in July and August, and island ferries and restaurants are fully running.
- Getting around
- Ferries to the islands, short flights to the farther ones, and buses or the train on the mainland. A car is useful on Crete and Corfu, less so elsewhere.
- Money
- The euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere in towns, with cash still handy in villages and small tavernas.
- Book ahead
- The Acropolis ticket for a set hour, summer ferries and island hotels. Most of the rest can wait until you arrive.
Best places to visit in Greece
Athens
The capital and the best base for ancient sites, museums and long dinners. It suits first-timers and anyone who wants history before beaches.
Give it 2 to 4 days
Rhodes
An island with a walled medieval town, beaches along its east coast and Lindos on a hill. It suits families and history lovers who also want the sea.
Give it 3 to 5 days
Thessaloniki
A northern port city with Byzantine churches, a seafront promenade and a strong food culture. It suits people who want a city without the island crowds.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Santorini
A crescent island around a flooded volcano, known for caldera views and sunsets. It suits couples and short trips, and it is busy and expensive from June to September.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Mykonos
A white-washed island of beaches, a harbor town and a nightlife scene. It suits groups and beach trips, and prices climb fast in summer.
Give it 2 to 4 days
Heraklion
Crete's largest city, close to the Knossos palace and the island's beaches, mountains and villages. It suits a longer trip, ideally with a car.
Give it 3 to 5 days
Corfu
A green Ionian island with a Venetian old town, quiet bays and a long coast. It suits slower holidays and people who prefer trees to bare rock.
Give it 3 to 5 days
Beyond the cities
Meteora
Monasteries on rock pillars near Kalambaka in central Greece. The trip from Athens is a train and short bus ride, or a day tour, and one night there works better than a rush.
Delphi
An ancient sanctuary on a mountainside, about two and a half hours from Athens by road. Go by bus or on a day tour.
The Peloponnese
Ancient Olympia, Nafplio and the stone towers of the Mani. A car is the practical way to see it, and Nafplio is an easy first stop from Athens.
Naxos and Paros
Larger Cycladic islands with long beaches and villages inland, usually calmer and cheaper than Santorini and Mykonos. Both are served by ferry from Piraeus and Rafina.
Zagori villages
Stone bridges and mountain villages in the north-west, near Ioannina. Reach them by car, and go in spring or autumn for walking.
Greece itineraries
- One week: Athens and Santorini
Spend three nights in Athens and four on Santorini. Take the morning high-speed ferry from Piraeus or a short flight. Keep the last night in Athens if you have an early international flight.
- Ten days: Athens, Naxos and Santorini
Three nights in Athens, three on Naxos and three on Santorini, with a day to spare. The ferries between the two islands are short, and Naxos is the slower, greener stop between the two busier places.
- Two weeks: Athens, the Cyclades and Crete
Three nights in Athens, then three each on Mykonos and Santorini, and four on Crete around Heraklion. The Santorini to Crete ferry is the longest crossing, and one internal flight can save a day.
- Ten days in the north and west: Thessaloniki, Meteora and Corfu
Two nights in Thessaloniki, a day or two at Meteora by bus or rail, then fly to Corfu for the rest. This route avoids the Cycladic summer crowds and suits a car on the island.
Best time to visit Greece
May, June, September and early October are the best months for a first trip. The sea is warm enough from June, the islands are fully open, and the heat in Athens is easier than in midsummer. July and August are hot and busy, with the highest prices on Santorini and Mykonos.
From November to March many island hotels and restaurants close, ferries run less often and sea crossings can be canceled in high winds. Athens, Thessaloniki and Heraklion work all year, and winter is the time for museums and archaeological sites without queues.
How to get around Greece
- Ferries between the islandsFerries leave mainly from Piraeus, with others from Rafina and Lavrio. Conventional boats are slower and cheaper, and high-speed boats run from spring to autumn. Expect about five hours to Santorini by high-speed boat and more by conventional ferry, and book ahead in summer. Crossings can be delayed by wind, so do not plan a flight home on the day of a ferry.
- FlightsDomestic flights link Athens with Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos and Santorini in about an hour. On a short trip they often beat a long ferry, especially to Crete and Rhodes.
- TrainsHellenic Train runs the main intercity line from Athens to Thessaloniki, a journey of about four to five hours. The line has been closed at times for repair work, so check the timetable before you plan around it. There is no rail on the islands.
- Long-distance busesKTEL buses cover much of the mainland, including Delphi, Nafplio and Meteora's nearest town, and run on most islands. They are cheap and fine for main routes, and thin out on Sundays and in winter.
- CarsA hire car is worth it on Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and the Peloponnese, where sights are spread out. In Athens, Thessaloniki and on Santorini or Mykonos, taxis, buses and short walks usually cost less than the hassle of parking.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Greece. Each city guide has its own list.
- Acropolis ticket1 to 2 weeks ahead, longer in summer
Entry is by timed slot through the official site, and summer slots near midday and morning can sell out days in advance.
- Ferries between islands2 to 4 weeks ahead in summer
Boats are limited on busy routes in July and August, and car and cabin space goes first.
- Santorini and Mykonos hotels2 to 4 months ahead for summer
The caldera-view rooms and beachfront beds are few and the good ones go early.
- A hire car in summer1 to 2 months ahead
Automatic cars and cars on Crete and Corfu run short in peak weeks.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe euro.
- Cards and cashCards and contactless are accepted in towns, hotels, supermarkets and most restaurants. Keep some cash for small tavernas, village shops, buses and taxis in places that are less used to cards.
- TippingService is often included in the bill but a tip of about 10 per cent is common in restaurants, left in cash. Round up taxi fares.
- Tourist taxesGreece charges a national climate resilience fee on each night in a hotel or rental, set per room and rising with the property's rating and season. You usually pay it at the hotel on departure, and you will see it on the receipt.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType C and F, 230V, the same as most of Europe.
What to skip in Greece
- Trying to see too many islands
Every transfer costs half a day and a ferry can be delayed. Pick two bases for a week and take day trips from them.
- Midday at open ancient sites in summer
The Acropolis and Knossos have little shade. Go at opening time or late in the day, and spend the middle hours at a museum or the sea.
- Santorini in peak summer if you dislike crowds
The caldera towns are narrow and full at sunset. Go in May or late September, or pick Naxos or Corfu instead.
Greece: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Greece?
Five to seven days is enough for Athens and one island. Ten days lets you add a second island or Crete. With fewer than five, stay in Athens and take day trips, because ferries eat time.
What is the best way to visit Greece for the first time?
Start in Athens for two or three nights, then go to one island by ferry or a short flight. Santorini is the best known, and Naxos or Corfu is calmer. Keep the last night near the airport.
Which Greek island is best for a first visit?
Santorini suits couples and views, Mykonos suits beaches and nightlife, Rhodes suits history, and Corfu suits a slower trip. Naxos, which this site does not list, is a quieter all-round choice.
How do you get between the Greek islands?
By ferry, mostly from Piraeus, or by a short flight via Athens. Island to island ferries link many Cycladic islands, and high-speed boats run from spring to autumn. Check the timetable, because not every pair is linked every day.
Is it better to see Greece by ferry or by plane?
Ferries are cheaper and scenic, and suit the Cyclades. Planes win for Crete and Rhodes, where a boat takes most of a day. In high winds, ferries can be canceled, so keep a day of slack.
When is the best time to visit Greece?
May, June, September and early October. Summer is hot and busy, and winter closes many island businesses. Athens and the larger cities stay open all year.
Do you need cash in Greece?
Less than before. Cards and contactless work in towns and most restaurants. Keep some euros for villages, small tavernas, buses and tips.
Is Greece expensive?
Athens, Thessaloniki and smaller islands are moderate for Europe. Santorini and Mykonos cost more in summer, especially for hotels with views. Ferries add a real cost to island hopping.