Greece is a dream destination for many that has everything from history, culture, iconic sunsets, and amazing beaches. But with around 6,000 islands, it can be challenging to decide which island to visit on your vacation. Even a lifetime might be less to explore all the Greek islands.
We visited Greece in September 2024 for 10 days. I had never struggled this much with creating a vacation itinerary before. It took me a few days just to shortlist the islands we wanted to visit. As first‑time travellers to Greece, we knew we had to include Santorini, the most popular Greek island. Other islands in consideration were Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Crete, and Corfu. We had initially planned to stay in three islands including Santorini, but in the end we decided to limit ourselves to Paros and Santorini, with a day trip to Mykonos from Paros.
To help you plan your trip, here is our detailed Greece 10 day itinerary, including a breakdown of expenses and what to expect each day.
Breakdown of our Greece 10 day itinerary
- Day 1: Flight to Athens; Philopappos Hill
- Day 2: Morning ferry to Paros; Livadia Beach; sunset views from Saint Constant Church
- Day 3: Day trip to Mykonos (Little Venice, Matoyianni Street, Windmills of Mykonos, exploring narrow lanes)
- Day 4: Beach day (Golden Beach, Kolympethres Beach); night ferry to Santorini
- Day 5: Fira to Imerovigli hike
- Day 6: Explored Oia in the morning; relaxed at hotel in the evening
- Day 7: Lost Atlantis 9D experience, caldera and sea view from Heart of Santorini
- Day 8: Morning flight to Athens; Panathenaic Stadium; Monastiraki Street
- Day 9: Acropolis
- Day 10: Flight to Delhi
This Greece 10 day itinerary is ideal if you want a mix of city, culture, and island life without feeling too rushed.
Flight
We booked a roundtrip Etihad flight on the Delhi–Athens–Delhi route with a short layover in Abu Dhabi each way. The Delhi–Abu Dhabi–Delhi leg was on a Boeing wide‑body with a 3‑3‑3 economy configuration. The plane looked fairly new, seats were comfortable, and the in‑flight entertainment system had a good selection of movies, shows, and games. The food was also good.
The Abu Dhabi–Athens–Abu Dhabi leg was on an Airbus A320 neo. Naturally, narrow‑body seats don’t recline as much, but the legroom was ample and overall the ride was comfortable. These planes don’t have seatback screens, but you can connect your own device to the airline’s Wi‑Fi to access entertainment. The food was again good, and the Aloo Parantha served on the Athens–Abu Dhabi leg was particularly delicious.
The actual cost for a roundtrip economy ticket was about INR 61,500, but we paid roughly INR 49,700 per person. We didn’t save as much this time because we had already used most of our HDFC Infinia reward points on earlier trips.
Expense: ₹49,700 × 2 = ₹99,400
Accommodation
We had five different accommodations on our Greece 10 day itinerary.
Airbnb in Athens (1N)
We only needed a room in Athens for one night because we had an early ferry to Paros next morning. We wanted something cheap but decent and close to the centre. We found Stergios’s apartment in the Attiki area that fit the bill perfectly. It was affordable and not too far from the city centre.
Stergios even served us complimentary food on arrival and let us wait in another room until our room was ready. He turned out to be one of the best hosts we’ve met on our travels.
Expense: ₹4,000 (1 night)
Porto Bello Di Paros Hotel in Paros (2N)
We didn’t want to pay expensive taxi fares in Europe, so we chose a hotel within walking distance of Parikia port. Porto Bello Di Paros Hotel was just a short walk from the port and also close to the bus station. It offered a complimentary buffet breakfast. The staff were soft‑spoken and helpful, and though the breakfast variety was limited, the food was tasty.
Expense: ₹11,500 (2 nights)
Galatias Villa in Santorini (2N)
We stayed in Santorini for four nights but split our stay into two different villas. Galatias Villa was the more budget‑friendly option. The room was big and spacious, though there were no complimentary water bottles. The villa also had a swimming pool just outside our room, and it was only about a kilometre from Fira bus station. The staff were okay, not as warm as elsewhere, but overall it felt like good value for money in Santorini.
Expense: ₹13,500 (2 nights)
Nectarios Villa in Santorini (2N)
This was the most expensive stay on our Greece 10 day itinerary, costing around ₹15,000 per night. The villa had a bedroom, a small living room, a kitchen, and a balcony with a jacuzzi offering distant caldera and Aegean sea views. We kept our schedule relaxed during these two days so we could really enjoy the stay.
Accommodations right on the caldera edge with infinity pools and dramatic views start from about ₹50,000 per night, so Nectarios Villa was a much cheaper alternative. It was still only about a kilometre from the Fira bus station.
Expense: ₹29,300 (2 nights)
Airbnb in Athens (2N)
Our final stay on the Greece 10 day itinerary was an Airbnb near Syntagma Square, just a short walk from the X95 bus stop to the airport. We wanted to minimise walking late at night and early in the morning, especially since Athens feels a bit less safe than some other European cities. The apartment had two rooms, each with a double bed, and everything was spacious, clean, and well decorated.
Expense: ₹14,800 (2 nights)
Day 1: Athens
Our flight landed in Athens in the morning. We took the X95 bus from the airport to Syntagma Square, which took about an hour. From there we took the metro to Attiki station and walked about 15 minutes to reach our Airbnb in Athens at around 11:30 AM.
Stergios, our host, kindly provided us breakfast. After a meal and a short nap, we were ready to start exploring our Greece 10 day itinerary in the evening.
Expense: Bus ticket – ₹550 x 2 = ₹1,100
Philopappos Hill
Later in the evening we took the metro to Acropoli station and then walked uphill to Philopappos Hill. It’s a relatively short hike of less than a kilometre to the top. The hill is a popular sunrise and sunset viewpoint in Athens, and we sat for about half an hour enjoying a lovely sunset. You also get clear views of the Acropolis from the opposite side.
Day 2: Athens → Paros
Morning Ferry to Paros
We checked out early and took the metro to Piraeus Port to catch a 4.5‑hour ferry to Paros. For breakfast we picked up a Spinach pie and a Falafel tortilla from a bakery near the port.
The journey was smooth and comfortable. Our ferry was large and the water was calm, so we barely felt the movement. The seats were comfortable, though the air‑conditioning was quite cold. There was a small canteen for snacks and drinks.
We went up to the deck for photos, but the sun was brutal, so we were quick and then went back inside.
We reached Paros (Parikia Port) around 1 PM and walked less than a kilometre to Porto Bello Di Paros Hotel.
Expense: Ferry ticket – ₹4,900 x 2 = ₹9,800
Livadia Beach
Later we explored Parikia town a bit and visited Livadia Beach. The beach was okay, water was not crystal clear, and the sand wasn’t very clean. Parikia is a port town, so beaches here aren’t the highlight. The best beaches are further out on the island.
Sunset views from St. Constant Church
There isn’t much to see inside St. Constant Church, but the rooftop is a popular spot for sunset views. When we arrived there were very few people. We stayed for about an hour and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
Day 3: Paros
We started with breakfast at the hotel that included croissant, apple pie, Greek yogurt, and juices.
Day trip to Mykonos
We booked a guided tour from GetYourGuide that included ferry transfer with hotel pickup and drop‑off, plus about 6 hours of free time in Mykonos. Since the next day was a dedicated beach day in Paros, we didn’t plan to spend time on Mykonos beaches. Instead, we explored the narrow lanes, markets, and whitewashed houses with blue doors.
We had lunch at Rhino Vegetarian Street Food, a vegan restaurant. We ordered a Rhino burger, fries, and a Greek Gyro. The burger used a lentil patty instead of the usual soy patty, and both the burger and Gyro were excellent.
If you’re not into beaches, Mykonos can feel a bit boring. The 6 hours there turned out to be quite long, and we were a bit bored after a while.
Expense: Tour ticket – ₹5,000 x 2 = ₹10,00
Day 4: Paros
After breakfast at the hotel we checked out, left our luggage at reception, and headed to Parikia station for a beach‑hopping day using public buses.
Expense: Bus day pass – ₹935 x 2 = ₹1,870
Golden Beach
We bought a bus day pass and boarded a bus to Golden Beach. The beach was beautiful, with clear water and hardly any people. We spent a couple of hours playing in the water and just enjoying the views.
Lunch at Anemos Taverna
From Golden Beach we took several buses to reach Kolympethres Beach. We stopped at Anemos Taverna first for lunch and ordered Vegetarian pasta, a sandwich, and a Frappe Iced Coffee.
Expense: ₹2,350
Kolympethres Beach
Kolympethres was stunning, with marble‑like rocks and pristine water. We actually liked it more than Golden Beach. We sat on one of the rocks and just soaked in the scenery.
Ferry to Santorini
Our ferry to Santorini was delayed by about three hours and arrived at Athinios Port late at night. The ferry was smaller than the one from Athens to Paros, and with rougher water, the motion made us feel seasick. We took medication and slept through most of the journey.
We reached Santorini (Athinios Port) after 1 AM. There were no public buses, and a shuttle operator tried to charge us triple the normal fare. We managed to negotiate and pay only the regular amount (see the section on how we handled that).
Expense: Ferry ticket – ₹5,200 x 2 = ₹10,400
Day 5: Santorini
We had reached our accommodation (Galatias Villa) very late, so we kept the morning free. We had ready‑to‑eat meals we’d brought from India for breakfast.
Fira to Imerovigli hike
The Fira to Imerovigli hike is one of Santorini’s most rewarding short walks, offering stunning caldera views, picturesque villages, and a glimpse into the island’s unique charm. It’s only 2.5 km and takes about 45 minutes. It’s actually part of the longer 10‑km hike from Fira to Oia.
We left our accommodation in the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun. Along the way we stopped many times to take photos of the caldera, Aegean Sea, and blue‑dome churches. We finished the hike at Imerovigli just in time for what turned out to be the prettiest sunset of our trip.
Day 6: Santorini
Exploring Oia
Oia is famous for its sunsets and Instagrammable views, which also means it gets packed with tourists in the evening. We visited in the morning instead and took the first bus (around 7 AM) to Oia.
The Oia Castle, the famous sunset viewpoint, was almost empty in the morning. We spent some time there, admiring the views and taking photos. Later we wandered through Oia’s alleys and snapped iconic shots of blue‑dome churches. Even early in the day there were people queuing, but far fewer than during sunset hour.
Breakfast at Skiza Café in Oia
After about three hours in Oia we had breakfast at Skiza Café. We took a window table with Aegean Sea views, though the sun was already strong. For good‑value meals with a view, visit early morning or late evening. We ordered a Feta Cheese sandwich, Grilled Eggplant sandwich, and a milkshake.
Expense: ₹2,000
Relaxing in the jacuzzi
We had booked Nectarios Villa specifically for the jacuzzi on the balcony to enjoy the views. The scenery wasn’t quite as dramatic as from clifftop villas on the caldera edge, but the price was about five times cheaper. We stayed in the jacuzzi for a couple of hours, watching the sunset.
Day 7: Santorini
After breakfast with ready‑to‑eat meals, we headed to Fira bus station to take a bus to the Lost Atlantis Experience.
Lost Atlantis Experience
We boarded the bus to Akrotiri and asked the conductor to drop us at the Lost Atlantis (9D) Experience.
The museum is an interactive exhibit about the mythological island of Atlantis and claims Santorini as its possible location. There are several interactive displays about Atlantis and the philosopher Plato, plus a 9D movie showing life in Atlantis and how earthquakes and a tsunami supposedly destroyed it.
Overall, it was an okay experience. Because we had free time in Santorini we decided to visit, but you won’t miss much if you choose to skip it.
Expense: Ticket – ₹910 x 2 = ₹1,820
Heart of Santorini
Another spot that is becoming popular for its sunset and sea views is Heart of Santorini, located about a kilometre from the Lost Atlantis Experience. It offers open, unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea, nearby islands, and the caldera. The name comes from a heart‑shaped hole in a rock, which serves as a photo point.
The path around the “heart” is a bit slippery with loose rocks, so proper shoes are recommended instead of slippers. There’s also a small chapel nearby. The “heart” itself is just a photo spot; our best shots were from the wider areas on the caldera edge.
Goof‑up with the bus stop
We walked to Megalochori bus stop and waited for the bus to Fira, but we were at the stop for the opposite direction. After about 30 minutes a bus driver corrected us, and we crossed the road and waited another 30 minutes for the right bus. It was afternoon, very hot, and the stop had no roof or bench. Public transport in Santorini is cheap (our total bus fare was about €8, roughly ₹800), but the wait can be uncomfortable.
ALSO READ: Guide On Using Santorini Buses
Lunch at Bharat Indian Restaurant
We liked our previous day’s lunch at Bharat Indian Restaurant so much that we went back for a second meal. This time we ordered Chole Bhature, Aloo Parantha, and Sweet Lassi. Everything was absolutely delicious and turned out to be the best Indian food we had eaten in Europe so far, including our two‑week trip to Austria and Prague in 2023.
Expense: ₹2,400
Jacuzzi experience one last time
We returned to Nectarios Villa and after a short rest went into the jacuzzi one last time. We sat in the warm water for about an hour, watching the sunset and enjoying the views from our balcony. It was a lovely way to wrap up our Santorini days on this Greece 10 day itinerary.
Day 8: Santorini → Athens
We checked out from the villa at 5:30 AM and wheeled our luggage to the Fira bus station to catch the bus to Santorini Airport for our morning flight to Athens.
Flight to Athens
We had booked a Ryanair morning flight to Athens. Ryanair is a low‑cost European airline known for its cheap fares, though you have to pay extra for services like carry‑on and checked baggage, meals, and seat selection. We had added 20 kg of checked baggage to each ticket.
Santorini’s airport is small and does not have any lounge facilities. We ate ready‑to‑eat meals at the villa before heading to the airport. Ryanair seats don’t recline much, but the legroom was surprisingly better than most Indian low‑cost carriers like IndiGo. The flight lasted about an hour, and we landed in Athens at around 9 AM.
As on Day 1, we took the X95 bus to Syntagma Square. This time I had booked an Airbnb less than a minute’s walk from the bus stop, which made everything much easier.
Expense: Flight ticket – ₹9,300 x 2 = ₹18,600; X95 bus tickets – ₹550 x 2 = ₹1,100
Panathenaic Stadium
We reached our accommodation well before check‑in time and had about 3–4 hours to spare. So, we decided to see the historic Panathenaic Stadium.
The Panathenaic Stadium was originally built in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games. It was later restored and used as a venue during the first modern Olympics in 1896 and again in 2004. It is the only stadium in the world entirely built of marble.
There used to be a podium for photos with the Olympic rings in the background, but during our visit the podium had been removed and the stadium grounds were being used as a stage for a music concert. This made it difficult to walk around and enjoy the space; we were mostly limited to the seating area. There is also a small museum displaying Olympic‑related exhibits, but nothing very remarkable.
Expense: Ticket – ₹925 x 2 = ₹1,850
Shopping in Monastiraki
We headed to Monastiraki Square and explored what’s marketed as the “flea market.” In reality, it’s more of a mixed‑use area with clothing boutiques and souvenir shops than a traditional flea market. We picked up some souvenirs, Baklava, and candies.
Expense: ₹10,300
Day 9: Athens
This was our last full day in Greece. We had an early morning flight to Delhi the next day, so we kept the schedule light. We only planned to visit the Acropolis, one of the most iconic sites in Athens.
Acropolis
The Acropolis is the most famous landmark in Athens. It is an ancient citadel perched on a rocky hill above the city, with temples dedicated to various Greek gods. The most famous of these is the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena. The structures were damaged during a Venetian attack in the 17th century, and many parts have since been restored, with ongoing work still in progress.
We booked our tickets in advance to avoid long queues at the entrance. We chose an evening slot, roughly one hour before closing, to escape both the heat and the midday crowds.
Expense: Ticket – ₹1,850 x 2 = ₹3,700
Day 10: Flight to India
We took the X95 bus from Syntagma Square to the airport at around 3 AM.
Before boarding our Etihad flight to Delhi via Abu Dhabi, we entered the Goldair Handling CIP lounge and had a proper breakfast. It was a comfortable way to start our long journey back to India and to wrap up our Greece 10 day itinerary on a relaxed note.
Expense: X95 bus tickets – ₹550 x 2 = ₹1,100
Greece 10 Day Itinerary: Expense Breakdown
| Expense | Cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| Delhi – Athens – Delhi Etihad flight x2 | ~99,300 |
| 9-night accommodation | ~73,300 |
| Santorini – Athens Ryanair flight x2 | ~18,600 |
| Ferry (x2) | ~20,200 |
| Local transportation (x2) | ~12,200 |
| Activities & Tours (x2) | ~17,400 |
| Food | ~36,500 |
| Shopping | ~7,200 |
| Misc. | ~2700 |
| Visa x2 | ~20,000 |
| Travel Insurance | ~1,400 |
| Local Sim Card | ~1,050 |
| Gifts and Souvenirs | ~4,400 |
| Total | ~3,14,500 |
If you have any questions about this Greece 10 day itinerary, please feel free to drop your query in the comments below!
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