Greece rewards curiosity. In one week, you can walk the marble slopes of the Acropolis where democracy first found its voice, then sail a caldera forged by fire in Santorini. This itinerary strings together antiquity, island life, and nightly feasts that linger as long as the twilight.

Athens is your launchpad: a city of ancient stones and lively neighborhoods where souvlaki stands rub shoulders with modern bistros. Santorini follows—blue-domed chapels, whitewashed lanes, and a coastline of black, red, and white sands, best seen from a boat.

Expect sunny days, late dinners, and an easy rhythm. Cards are widely accepted, though small cash is handy for kiosks and bakeries. Summer can be hot; start early for major sites and bring water. Dress modestly for churches, tip 5–10% at tavernas, and always book popular restaurants and tours in peak months.

Athens

Ancient Athens wears its history in plain sight. The Acropolis crowns the city, while the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, and Hephaestus Temple unfurl below. Yet the modern city hums—graffiti art in Psyrri, third-wave coffee, and some of Europe’s most exciting cocktail bars.

• Don’t miss: Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Plaka and Anafiotika lanes, Monastiraki Flea Market, Panathenaic Stadium, and the sunset at Areopagus Hill.
• Where to eat: Classic tavernas, modern Greek bistros (Nolan), legendary souvlaki (Kostas), and meze halls (Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani).
• Fun fact: The Parthenon once housed a 12-meter statue of Athena made of gold and ivory.

Arriving in Athens: Search flights via Omio (within Europe) or Trip.com / Kiwi.com (from outside Europe). From the airport, take Metro Line 3 (~40 min to Syntagma, ~€9) or the X95 bus (~50–60 min, ~€5.5).

Where to stay in Athens: Browse VRBO Athens stays or Hotels.com Athens. Favorites: Hotel Grande Bretagne (heritage views over Syntagma), City Circus Athens (stylish budget in Psyrri), and Novotel Athenes (family-friendly, rooftop pool).

Day 1: Arrival, Plaka Stroll, and an Acropolis Sunset

Afternoon: Check in and take a soft landing walk through Plaka’s neoclassical streets. Duck into Anafiotika, the Cycladic micro-village beneath the Acropolis, for whitewashed alleys and cats sunning on steps.

Evening: Catch golden hour at Areopagus Hill with sweeping city views. Dinner at Strofi for grilled lamb and baked feta with a floodlit Parthenon backdrop; or try Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani for pastirma, aged cheeses, and meze. Finish with loukoumades (honey-drenched donuts) at Lukumades on Aiolou and a nightcap at Brettos, Plaka’s 1909 distillery lined with colorful bottles.

Day 2: The Acropolis, Museum Masterpieces, and Athens After Dark

Morning: Join a guided Acropolis + Museum tour to skip lines and decode the myths and marble.

Athens All Included: Acropolis and Museum Guided Tour with Ticket

After the tour, coffee at The Underdog (Thiseio) for award-winning espresso or Dope Roasting Co. near the market. Try a koulouri (sesame bread ring) from a street cart.

Afternoon: Wander the Ancient Agora to see the Temple of Hephaestus, then browse Monastiraki Flea Market. Lunch at Kostas (since 1950) for a perfectly messy pork souvlaki with tomato and parsley; or sit down at Oinomageireio Epirus inside Varvakios Market for rich beef soups and slow-cooked stews.

Evening: Watch the ceremonial Evzones guard change at Syntagma. Dinner at Nolan, where chef Sotiris Kontizas riffs on Greek comfort (try the cod with miso and lemon). Cocktails at The Clumsies or Baba au Rum—both fixtures on global best-bar lists.

Day 3: Saronic Gulf Island-Hopping Cruise

Trade marble for the Aegean on a full-day wooden boat cruise, swimming in clear coves and mooring at Agistri, Moni, and Aegina. Lunch and drinks are included; bring a towel, sunscreen, and a book for deck-lounging.

All Day Cruise - 3 Islands to Agistri, Moni, Aegina (with lunch and drinks)

Evening: Back in Athens, meze-hop around Psyrri: start at Lithos for grilled octopus, then move to Klimataria for live rembetiko on some nights. If you prefer a sunset on land, book the Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon tour another evening for an oceanfront finale.

Santorini

Santorini is the celebrity of the Cyclades: a crescent-shaped remnant of a colossal volcanic eruption circa 1600 BCE. Towns cling to cliffs, and light seems to pour rather than shine, especially at sunset in Oia.

• Top experiences: Caldera catamaran cruise, hike Fira–Oia, Akrotiri Bronze Age settlement, black-sand beaches (Perissa, Perivolos), and winery tastings (Assyrtiko, Nykteri, Vinsanto).
• Flavor to seek: Santorini fava (yellow split peas), cherry tomatoes, capers, white eggplant, and line-caught fish grilled simply by the sea.
• Getting around: Public buses connect Fira with major villages; taxis and pre-booked drivers are prudent in peak season.

Getting to Santorini (Day 4 morning): Ferries from Piraeus take ~4h45–6.5h (Blue Star slower and steadier; high-speed ~4.5–5h). Economy usually €40–€100. Search and book via Omio ferries. Flights ATH–JTR are ~45–50 minutes (plus airport time), often €50–€150; compare via Omio flights or, if coming from outside Europe, Trip.com/Kiwi.com.

Where to stay in Santorini: See VRBO Santorini or Hotels.com Santorini. Tried-and-true: Canaves Oia Hotel (bucket-list cliff suites), Aegean Plaza Hotel (Kamari beach access), Santo Miramare Resort (Perivolos), or splurge on Canaves Oia Suites & Spa.

Day 4: Athens → Santorini, Caldera Walk, Oia Sunset

Morning: Ferry or fly to Santorini. If you ferry, grab a koulouri and coffee at the port; if you fly, aim for an early departure to maximize the day.

Afternoon: Check in, then take the clifftop path from Fira to Imerovigli for outrageous caldera vistas (stop at Volkan on the Rocks for iced coffee with a view). Quick lunch at Lucky’s Souvlakis in Fira or pita gyros at Pitogyros in Oia.

Evening: Oia for sunset—arrive early to avoid the crowds near the castle ruins. Dinner down at Ammoudi Bay at Katina for grilled calamari and tomato fritters, or Sunset by Paraskevas for the fisherman’s catch. Gelato stroll back through Oia’s lanes.

Day 5: Catamaran Cruise and Beach Time

There’s no better way to understand Santorini’s geology than from the water. A half-day catamaran hits the Red and White Beaches, swims the volcanic hot springs, and cruises inside the caldera. BBQ lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and transfers are typically included.

Santorini Classic Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfers

Evening: Clean up and drift to Imerovigli. Dinner at Avocado (Mediterranean plates, terrace views) or meze at Mezzo in a historic mansion. Toast the night at a wine bar in Fira—try a flight of Assyrtiko, Nykteri, and sweet Vinsanto.

Day 6: Santorini Wine, Villages, and a Slow Food Dinner

Morning: Easy breakfast—try Galini Café in Imerovigli for pastries and panoramic coffee. If you’re itching for a swim, head to Perivolos Beach for black sand and beach clubs with sunbed service.

Afternoon to Sunset: Join a small-group circuit of the island’s best wineries, learning about basket-trained vines that creep close to the ground to survive wind and drought. Expect ~12 tastings and vineyard tapas; sunsets from a winery terrace are a show.

Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset

Evening: Dinner at Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia—locals swear by the grilled cheese saganaki with honey and the slow-braised lamb. Book ahead; it’s beloved for good reason.

Day 7: Akrotiri, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Visit Akrotiri, the Minoan “Pompeii” preserved in volcanic ash—multi-story homes, fresco fragments, and a window into Bronze Age Aegean life. Brunch in Fira at Pelican Kipos, a leafy garden spot with baked eggs and seasonal salads.

Afternoon: Final shopping for ceramics and capers, then head to the airport or the ferry port. Flights to Athens take ~50 minutes; ferries ~4.5–6.5 hours. Compare schedules and prices via Omio flights or Omio ferries; if you’re connecting outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If your flight is late, grab an early seaside lunch at To Psaraki in Vlychada for the fisherman’s platter and Santorini fava. Squeeze in one last espresso freddo and promise yourself a return.

Optional/Alternate Athens Add-ons

If you want more archaeology context or a gentler pace, swap Day 3’s cruise for a focused city tour with hotel pickup.

Athens Sightseeing Small Group Tour (Acropolis Tickets Included)

Food lovers can also fold in an evening graze through markets and tucked-away eateries:

Athens Evening Food Tour

Booking and Logistics Cheatsheet

• Hotels: Athens Hotels | Santorini Hotels | VRBO Athens | VRBO Santorini
• Transport: Omio flights | Omio trains (Europe) | Omio ferries | Trip.com flights | Kiwi.com flights
• Tours: Book Acropolis, cruises, and wine experiences via the Viator links above for up-to-date schedules and inclusions.

In a week, you’ll read the marbles in Athens and the volcano in Santorini. Between market lunches, caldera sails, and starlit dinners, Greece reveals both its ancient heart and its modern appetite for life. You’ll leave with sun on your skin, sea salt on your lips, and plans to return.