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7 Day Itinerary Greece
A trip by Sandy PapasGreece Travel Secrets7 Day Itinerary Greece
Seven days is short for Greece, but it's plenty for a real taste – the caldera at Santorini, the long beaches and mountain villages of Naxos, and the Acropolis to close. Flights into Santorini, ferry across to Naxos, ferry or flight back to Athens for the international hop home.
Santorini
Days 1–2 of 7 · 2 nightsTwo nights in Santorini is enough for the postcards – Oia's caldera, the Fira-to-Oia hike, the wineries of the south, Akrotiri's buried Minoan city, and the famous red and black volcanic beaches. Fly straight in to save half a day on either side of the trip.
White Pearl Cavalieri Santorini Imerovigli
Restored wine canavas on the caldera rim in Imerovigli, turned into suites.
9.8 Alternative places to stay
SantoriniDay 1
Oia & the caldera walk
Oia
The white-and-blue village at the northern tip of Santorini, perched on the caldera rim – where the cruise crowds head for the sunset, and where you should head an hour earlier to walk the back streets while the light is best. The path down to Ammoudi Bay (300 steps) closes the loop for a fish dinner by the water.
The Caldera Walk
The famous Fira-to-Oia caldera walk – roughly 9 km along the cliff rim, three to four hours at a steady pace. Best done in reverse (Oia to Fira) in the late afternoon, so the sun is over your shoulder and you arrive in Fira with time for a cold beer at dusk.
Lefkes Taverna
Lefkes Taverna in Oia is also hard to beat for food or service. It often books out well in advance. Quiet stone courtyard tucked away from the sunset crowds, slow-grilled lamb, a wine list that knows its Assyrtiko. Exactly the dinner you want on Santorini that isn't on the caldera edge.
SantoriniDay 2
Akrotiri, Red Beach & Pyrgos
Red Beach
A huge attraction of the island and arguably the most famous beach lies on the southernmost part of Santorini. It is located in Akrotiri village, 12 kilometers south west of Fira. Red Beach is without a doubt worth a visit considering that it is a rare sight, probably unique in the whole world, where red is the dominant color. It is enclosed by steep red hills that create a captivating, wild scenery. If you stand on the top you will set eyes on enormous volcanic rocks situated in the sea, small pebbles and sand of various colors, mainly red, all along the beach and appealing dark blue waters. To reach the beach you have to walk a couple of minutes on a downhill path or you can access it by boat from Akrotiri port, Kamari or Perissa. The beach is semi-organized with white sunbeds and umbrellas. There are no facilities (make sure you provide yourself with the necessary supplies from the two canteens you can find right before the beginning of the path) or water sports on this small beach but you can take pleasure in snorkeling as there are interesting rock formations and rich marine life.
Ancient Akrotiri
Santorini's Pompeii – a Minoan town frozen mid-life by the volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE and uncovered in the 1960s. Streets, two-storey houses, and frescoes survived under metres of pumice. The roof over the site keeps the visit cool even in August.
Pyrgos
Pyrgos is a big village, with many mediaeval houses and noteworthy churches offering an excellent view of the island
Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna
Taverna that defines Ammoudi experience – fresh-caught fish at water's edge.
Naxos
Days 3–5 of 7 · 3 nightsNaxos is the surprise – bigger than expected, with mountain villages an hour from sandy western beaches, a hilltop Venetian Kastro at the heart of Chora, and the marble doorway of an ancient temple at the harbour entrance. Three nights here is the trip's anchor.
La Grande Vue Suites Naxos
Cave villas with private pools and a long view over the Naxian coast.
9.9 Alternative places to stay
NaxosDay 1
The Portara & Naxos Town
Agios Georgios Beach
Chora's own beach – a shallow sandy crescent curving south from the old town, water so calm it feels like a lagoon. You can walk to it from the port in ten minutes, drop your bag at a beach bar, and be swimming before lunch. Families love the gentle shelf; the south end is where the windsurfers go out. The rocky islet with the whitewashed church is the photo.
Portara (Temple of Apollo)
The Portara – a single marble doorway 6 metres tall, on a tiny islet just off Naxos's harbour, all that remains of an unfinished 6th-century BCE temple to Apollo. Walk out across the causeway at sunset; the doorway frames the sun setting over the Aegean. Five minutes from the ferry terminal – first stop on arrival.
Castle of Naxos
The only Venetian castle in Greece continuously inhabited since 1207 – eight centuries of life behind fortress walls.
Bourgos & The Old Market
The Greek quarter below the castle walls – historical churches, artisan shops, and courtyards that invite you to linger.
To Elliniko
Worth queuing for a table. A lively Greek taverna near St. George beach whose garden terrace fills up the moment dinner service opens – the grill runs non-stop and the portions are generous in that old-school Naxian way. Souvlaki, slow-cooked lamb, fresh salads, simple Naxos-produce plates done well and priced fairly. Come early or book ahead in July–August.
NaxosDay 2
Apeiranthos & the Cave of Za
Filoti
The largest of Naxos's mountain villages, terraced on the slopes of Mt. Zas. A pause here is an institution: a coffee at Platano on the square, under the shady plane trees, while the village goes about its day. From Filoti you can set off up the mountain to the Cave of Zeus, or simply wander the stepped lanes and the big neoclassical Panagia Filotitissa church.
Apeiranthos
A working mountain village at the eastern end of Naxos, with marble-paved streets and stone arcades. It's the kind of place you visit for a long lunch, with the village kafenia in shaded courtyards and emery (the volcanic abrasive Naxos mined for centuries) still on display in the small museum.
Halki & Vallindra Distillery
Halki was the capital of Naxos until the 19th century – neoclassical mansions, marble fountains, and the Vallindra distillery still making Kitron (Naxos's citron liqueur). Stop at the distillery for the tasting; the green Kitron is unique to Naxos and worth a bottle to bring home.
Cave of Za
A mythical cave on the Cyclades' highest peak – stalactites, Neolithic artefacts, and the birthplace of Zeus himself.
Rotonda
High in the hills just before Apeiranthos, Rotonda is a large restaurant and bar with sweeping views over the valley and out to sea – the kind of view that stops conversation when you walk in. Come for a long lunch after the mountain villages, or for a late dinner that turns slowly into drinks as the lights of the island come on below.
NaxosDay 3
Mikri Vigla & Aliko beaches
Mikri Vigla Beach
A long curving stretch of golden sand on Naxos's south-west coast, split in two by a granite headland. The north side (Parthenos) is the undisputed windsurfing and kitesurfing spot of the Cyclades; the south side (Sahara) is calmer, with shallow turquoise water that wades out forever. Simple tavernas sit on the dunes, and the whole place feels a world away from Chora.
Aliko Beach
A cedar-forested peninsula hiding secret coves and wild beaches – Naxos at its most untamed and beautiful.
Agia Anna Beach
A seamless continuation of golden coastline – tavernas lining the shore, gentle waves, and a village that lives for summer.
Avaton 1739
A beautifully restored Venetian-era townhouse in the heart of Chora, now a split-personality spot for the best hours of the day: golden-hour drinks on the upper terrace with the bougainvillea and the sea below, then down to the inner courtyard for a candlelit dinner. The wine list leans Cycladic, and the kitchen is refined without being fussy.
Flamingo Bar
For some great live music, plate smashing and dancing, Flamingo is the place to be. A late-night Chora institution that runs on house band energy, bouzouki and pitchers of house wine. Not a cocktail-and-cool-crowd bar – a plates-on-the-floor, everyone-on-their-feet kind of night. Come after dinner and let it build.
Athens
Days 6–7 of 7 · 2 nightsAthens to close – Acropolis and Acropolis Museum read together as one of the great archaeological pairings in Europe; Plaka and Monastiraki for the markets and tavernas; a rooftop bar to send the trip off. Two nights is the tasting-menu version.
Noble Suites
A 1901 neoclassical house under the Acropolis – four suites of marble and old wood.
9.7 Alternative places to stay
AthensDay 1
Plaka, Monastiraki & Syntagma
The Ultimate Food Tour
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square is Athens' central square. The name of the square is derived from an uprising on 3 September 1843, of the people and the guard of Athens before the then Royal Palace building, (what is now the Parliament), demanding that King Otto grant a Constitution (Syntagma means Constitution). Syntagma Square and Omonia Square are the two central locations of the city. You should not be surprised when you ask directions if people refer to Syntagma square. Plaka, Acropolis, the Cathedral, the National Garden, Ermou Str, and Kolonaki, are located in the vicinity of Syntagma Square. You will find fashionable cafes and small restaurants located here. The square is busy around the clock. At the kiosks you will find miscellaneous items, ranging from aspirin to souvenirs, newspapers and foreign magazines.
Plaka
The old neighbourhood at the foot of the Acropolis – marble lanes, neoclassical houses, and a hundred tavernas. Tourist-leaning, yes, but the heart of why people come to Athens. Walk the higher streets towards Anafiotika to dodge the bigger crowds.
Monastiraki
A distinctive old Athens area, with narrow, irregularly criss-crossing streets, and small buildings, characteristic of Ottoman and to some extent Byzantine urban planning. On the outdoor stands of street sellers, or the small shops on the central roads you can find anything, such as shoes, clothes, old and new furniture, old books and magazines, souvenirs, jewellery, hats, bronze objects, new and used records and CDs and traditional Greek instruments (bouzouki, touberleki). Shopping or walking in Monastiraki is an unforgettable experience. You will be stunned by the variety and quality of things you can buy in the market
Central Municipal Athens Market
Varvakeios Municipal (Central) Market is a rectangular building (1886) with a large covered court. There are a total of 73 food stalls (meat market, fish market, vegetable market and groceries) in the interior and exterior sections. The market is covered with a glass and metal roof and has symmetrical windows. You will find here small restaurants (eating-houses) with fresh food, attracting Athenians especially after midnight. There is a small grove on the square (Varvakeios Square) across the street.
Kostas
Amazing gyros – a tiny grill on Agia Irini Square that has been doing pork souvlaki the same way for decades. A handful of stools, a queue that moves fast, and the smell of charcoal two streets away. Grab one (or two) in the pita, open the wax paper on the square, and you've understood why this is the Athens food pilgrimage.
Grande Bretagne Rooftop
Enjoy sunset drinks at the Grande Bretagne rooftop bar – the floor-to-ceiling view takes in the Acropolis, Lykavittos and the whole spread of the old city going gold. The cocktail list is serious and the service is old-world; jacket optional but it lifts the room. Book ahead for a sunset table in high season.
AthensDay 2
The Acropolis & the Temple of Zeus
Acropolis
Go early or go late – the 8am opening before the cruise crowds, or the last 90 minutes before closing (8 pm in summer) for soft light and emptier paths. The Acropolis Museum sits 200 metres below the south slope; do the rock first while you have energy.
Acropolis Museum
The museum displays the Parthenon frieze on the top floor, in the same orientation and lighting as the original on the building you can see through the glass wall. Two hours minimum. The downstairs café and rooftop restaurant are both worth a stop.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
According to the geographer Pausanias, the temple of Olympian Zeus was founded by Deukalionas, a mythical ancestor of the Greeks. In the age of tyranny, circa 515 BC, Peisistratos the younger grandson of the tyrant Peisistratos, attempted to replace the old temple with a new, more impressive temple. The tyranny, however, was abolished and construction work was terminated. The construction of the new temple was later assigned to the Roman architect Decimus Cossutius by the king of Syria Antiochus IV, Epiphanes. Antiochus died in 163 BC and the construction of the temple was once again abandoned. The structure did not have a roof and pediment. The construction of the temple, which ranks among the biggest in antiquity, was completed in 131 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is of Corinthian order (110m in length and approximately 44m in width), three rows of eight columns at the narrow sides and two rows of twenty columns at its long sides. Inside the temple there was a gold and ivory statue of Zeus which does not exist today.
National Garden
The National Garden, open from dawn to sunset, is an oasis in the centre of the city. It has a total area of 160,000 m2. Some five hundred different kinds of plants, bushes and trees from various locations around the world are grown here (in total, it has 7,000 trees and 40,000 bushes). At the same time, it comprises an important natural life reserve in Athens as many different species of birds, hedgehogs, turtles, ducks and even bats are gathered here. The National Garden – which was formerly the palace garden - was laid out from 1838-1860. There are six entrances: at Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Irodou Attikou Str, Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, and two entrances connecting the National Garden to the Zappeion. You will also find here a small pond, a small zoo, the Botanical Museum, a traditional café, a children's library, a playground, various monuments of antiquity, and the busts of important personalities of modern Greece (among others, politicians and authors).
Lithos Taverna
Tucked into a Psirri side street, Lithos does my favourite Moussaka in Athens – layered the way your grandmother would approve, sitting in front of you within minutes of ordering. The room is stone-walled and unfussy, the wine comes in carafes, and the kitchen turns out the Greek classics with just enough finesse to make the regulars regulars.
Yiasemi
Yiasemi is a café in Athens, Greece on busy Mnisikleous -a steep, stepped, pedestrian street in the Plaka area that leads down from the Acropolis and is lined with cafés and restaurants. It feels like one of the more characterful offerings on the street, with two separate indoor spaces, seating outside on the steps (of course), tons of plants and flowers, and adorable mismatched furnishings and décor. There's a selection of meze and other dishes but your best bet is to grab a tea or Greek coffee and something sweet to snack on – one of the homemade pies or the honey-drenched, big-enough-to-share baklava. Yiasemi is a nice mix of locals and tourists, buzzy and busy without feeling rushed, and offers superb people-watching