Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, but all content is based off our own opinions and experiences. We may receive a commission from purchases made through the links enclosed at no additional cost to you!
Between the ancient history, pristine beaches, and delectable food, it’s easy to fall in love with Greece. With so many fascinating destinations and noteworthy attractions, it may be challenging to decipher how to spend a single week in the country. This ultimate 1-week Greece itinerary gives a little taste of some of the best of the country in a short time. You will only scrape the surface of beautiful Greece between Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. Still, it will show you how incredible the country is.
Greece Itinerary Days 1-3: Athens
Many vacationers to Greece tend to first stop in Athens, and for good reason. Not only is it the most accessible point into the country, but you must spend at least a few days there during your Greece getaway.
Day 1: Free Walking Tour + Food Tour
Breakfast at a local café
Do as the locals do and find a café near your accommodations to enjoy breakfast. Bonus points if you can find somewhere with outdoor seating to people-watch while you eat and drink your coffee.
Free Walking Tour
Kickstart your time in Athens with a free walking tour of the city. The tour will take you to the city’s main highlights while sharing history and local tips!
Food Tour
One of our favorite ways to get to know a country is through a local food tour, and Greece is no exception. Athens is home to some delectable cuisine, and a food tour is a necessary addition to any Greece itinerary. Devour’s Ultimate Athens Food Tour will help you navigate the best places to go and dishes to order. You’ll get to sample local favorites like souvlaki, moussaka, and baklava.
Day 2: Ancient Ruins + Acropolis Museum
Breakfast at a local café
Like on day one, I will leave this open for you to discover a café on your own. Not every detail has to or should be planned. This way, you’ll be able to find somewhere that sparks your interest or where you see many locals hanging out.
Acropolis
If you only had one attraction on your Greece itinerary, it’s likely the Acropolis, home to the Parthenon. The ancient citadel sits atop a hill over Athens and is the most visited attraction in the city. It’s a must-visit, but beware that it gets crowded.
It’s recommended to book in advance or, even better, take a guided tour. We have visited the Acropolis both with and without a tour, and I can assure you the tour is worth it. Without a guide explaining it, you will likely have no idea what you’re looking at or its history. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still neat but not as impactful without the knowledge behind it.
Other Ruins
While the Acropolis is the most famous, it is only one of the several sections of ancient ruins that sprawl across the city. Some other noteworthy ones to check out include the Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Hadrian’s Library, and more. You can see most of the ruins from the outside without paying for a ticket to enter. The only one that may be worth entering is the Ancient Agora!
Lunch at a restaurant nearby
One of our tour guides emphasized that there are few tourist traps for restaurants in Athens regarding food quality. Yes, some may be pricier, but they will still taste delicious. So, pick one of the several restaurants nearby to take a break from your exploration.
Acropolis Museum
After a day outside exploring ruins, head to the indoor Acropolis Museum (a nice break from the heat if you visit in summer) to learn more about what you saw. The Acropolis Museum could keep you occupied for hours, so it’s your discretion how long you want to spend there.
If you’d prefer a guide for the museum to help you decipher the most significant bits, you can book a combined Acropolis and Acropolis Museum tour.
Dinner at Trattoria Plaka
Our tour guide recommended Trattoria Plaka, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s located in a square with other restaurants, which I’m sure are also delicious.
Plaka
Plaka is a lively neighborhood worth exploring at night. Although it seems touristy, the later you’re there, the more likely you will be surrounded by locals. Spend some time strolling the streets and getting a feeling of the city’s vibe.
Day 3: Museum/Shopping + Escape room/Nightlife
I recommend customizing your third day in Athens to match your particular interests. I give a couple of options below, but none of these are “musts” for a 1-week Greece itinerary. You have the flexibility to make this day your own and use it to explore parts of the city that interest you.
Museum or Shopping
Spend the first half of the day in a museum or shopping (or both if you have the time).
For museums, my recommendation is the National Archaeological Museum! If you thought the Acropolis Museum was large, the Archaeological Museum will blow you away. To tackle this museum, plan to dedicate a few hours to it. If you’re looking for something different, there’s the Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, Numismatic Museum, and more.
For shopping, there are different areas depending on what you’re looking for. Pretty self-explanatory: there’s always Shopping Street or the Mall Athens, which offers various stores. For souvenirs, you can always walk through the streets of Plaka to find some neat gifts. Otherwise, my favorite place to browse for unique items is at the Monastiraki Flea Market, where you’ll find literal heaps of antiques.
Escape room or nightlife
For the second half of the day, choose between an escape room and experiencing Athens’ nightlife (or both if you have the energy).
For the escape room, there are several incredible escape rooms in Athens. In fact, the city is home to 15+ of the world’s top 100 escape rooms, according to TERPECA. We can vouch for two escape rooms we did that were unlike any of the other 25+ escape rooms we’ve done.
If you’re looking for a 2.5-hour horror-themed escape room with live actors, Chapels and Catacombs at Lockhill Escape Rooms is ranked third-best worldwide. I’m warning that this escape room is NOT for the faint of heart. It will scare the bejeebies out of you, but if you’re up for the challenge, you will talk about that escape room for days after you experience it. I know we did. If horror is not your thing, another top escape room that is more of a comedic relief is Wanted: Dead Or Alive. This western-themed escape room with live actors will have you rolling with laughter and having an unforgettable time.
For nightlife, Athens will not disappoint. You’ll find plenty of places between the neighborhoods for a chill drink or an epic night of partying. A whole post can be dedicated to the nightlife of Athens (and there are many posts out there). Unfortunately, this is not my area of expertise, so I’ll refer you to a local’s guide to the Athens nightlife scene.
Greece Itinerary Days 4-5: Naxos
After three days in Athens, it’s time to slow down on the island of Naxos, a great addition to any Greece itinerary. With its stunning beaches and charming villages, there is plenty to explore to keep you occupied for two days.
Day 4: Naxos Town + Temple of Apollo
Ferry to Naxos
One of the beautiful things about the Greek islands is how well they are connected by ferry. Before your trip, book your 3.5-hour ferry journey from Piraeus (Athens) to Naxos online. We booked our ride with Seajets.
Lunch at Café Lotto
When you arrive in Naxos Town, you’ll notice all the cafes and restaurants lined along the oceanfront. You can take your pick of one that looks good for lunch, but we ate at Café Lotto and enjoyed it! Nothing beats a meal by the water.
Naxos Town
Start your time in Naxos by exploring Naxos Town (known as Chora). Here, you’ll find winding streets and alleys lined with small shops. Window shop for clothes, handmade crafts, or other souvenirs, or simply enjoy soaking in the town’s ambiance.
Temple of Apollo
Opposite the ferry port, you can’t miss what looks like a giant stone doorway. This structure is part of the Temple of Apollo, which you can easily visit from Naxos Town Center. It’s also a great place to catch a stunning Naxos sunset.
Dinner at Maro’s Taverna
Maro’s Taverna is a little outside the town center, secluded from most touristy restaurants. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. We asked the waiter what they recommended we eat and ordered all their recommendations. They did not steer us wrong, and we left with happy bellies and raving reviews.
Day 5: Road trip around the island
Rent a car
The best way to see Naxos Island is by car. We rented ours from Hertz and easily picked it up by the ferry port.
Apiranthos
Start your day by visiting the famous mountain villages of Naxos. Apiranthos is the most popular, but the villages of Chalkio and Filoti are also along the way. Get an early start on this one because parking spots fill up fast. We left too late and never found parking, so we did not get to explore these villages.
Lunch at Matina Stavros
Although we didn’t get to visit the popular Apiranthos, it led us to one of our new favorite restaurants on the island, Matina Stavros. Nestled in the small village of Koronos, getting to the restaurant is no easy feat. Most of the town is only accessible by foot and has limited parking, but the effort is worth it. There are a couple of small parking lots on the outskirts of the village. If you’re like us and some of the locals, you can park on the street (but it’s not recommended).
Beach hop
You can’t have a 1-week Greece itinerary without some beach time. After lunch, start beach hopping around the island. Depending on your time or how many beaches you want to visit, you can begin with Agiassos Beach and go north. One of our favorite beaches, Hawaii Beach, is where we spent the most time. In the same area as Hawaii Beach, there are also many intriguing art murals on abandoned buildings.
Dinner at Paradiso Taverna
Finish your day with dinner by the water at Paradiso Taverna. A local recommended this restaurant to us, and it was an excellent spot to watch the sunset and enjoy some fresh seafood.
Greece Itinerary Days 6-7: Santorini
Lastly, we have the infamous Santorini. The island is on most people’s Greece itinerary and is one of the most visited Greek islands. Despite the excessive tourism to the island, locals still told us that it is a must-see at least once.
Disclaimer: I will be transparent in saying that we view Santorini as one of the most overhyped destinations we have ever visited. That is not to say that people shouldn’t see it. It may have just been our experience (especially since we visited in peak summer season). But we have no intention of returning as it seemed overly busy, overly expensive, and underly impressive.
Day 6: Fira + Oia
Ferry to Santorini
You’ll travel to Santorini like you did to Naxos, by ferry! We booked the 2-hour journey with Blue Star Ferries.
Lunch at Lucky Souvlakis in Fira
Souvlaki is a staple of Greek food that is easy on the wallet and is the perfect street food in Fira. Trust me, you’ll want to save money where you can. Don’t expect a sit-down restaurant, aside from some stools at the bar. Instead, grab your food and head to the benches outside to eat while people-watching.
Streets of Fira
As one of the main destinations for cruise tour groups, Fira is filled with many different shops to explore. Make your way through the streets to get a feel for the town.
Drinks at Two Brothers in Fira
Two Brothers is a small bar in the middle of the streets of Fira. It doesn’t look like a whole lot from the outside, but the bar has character and, more importantly, well-priced drinks (at least for Santorini). You can get Sex on the Beach or Long Island cocktails for €6 each or shots for as low as €3 each. Not to mention, they play some great music.
Bus or Hike to Oia
We took the bus from Fira to Oia to spend the evening there. Alternatively, if you want to be more active and admire ocean views, the Fira to Oia trail is a popular hike between the two towns.
Find the Photo Spots
The reality is that most travelers to Santorini are going because they have seen incredible photos of the island and want to see it for themselves. Oia is the place to do that, but not without searching for those particular views. If you’re like me, you thought the whole city would be filled with blue domes like the photos online. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s untrue. To find the views that look like the photos you’ve seen online, head to these spots (named as they are on Google Maps): Castle of Oia, 3 Domes Viewpoint, Picturesque Blue Dome Santorini, and Views of Santorini and Caldera.
Dinner at Roka or KooKoo Bar Restaurant
There are so many options for places to have dinner in Oia, but I wanted to share these two in particular. Suppose you are simply looking for delicious food. In that case, I have heard so many good things about Roka (even my food tour guide in Athens recommended it). If you are looking for a rooftop dinner for views of the famous Santorini sunset, check out KooKoo Bar Restaurant. We went with KooKoo Bar Restaurant; it was great and one of the cheaper rooftop options. Yet, it was still our most expensive meal the entire week by far.
Day 7: Roadtrip around the island
Rent a Car
There’s more to Santorini than Fira and Oia. Rent a car and take some time to explore the rest of the island.
Ancient Thera
The ancient mountaintop city and archaeological sight of Thera features fascinating ruins and lovely ocean views. Entry tickets are only €6, which is a steal for Santorini.
Perissa/Perivolos Black Sand Beach
One of the most popular beaches on the island (and one recommended by locals) is the stretch along Perissa and Perivolos. You will hear locals referring to it by either of these names because the beach stretches across both these villages. You’ll find several beach clubs and restaurants with cabana setups for guests along the coast. There are so many to choose from that it can be overwhelming, and prices vary drastically. We settled on Ta Kavourakia because it had good ratings and was only €10 per beach lounger. You can try negotiating if they aren’t busy; we got three loungers for €20.
Lunch along the Beach
What’s better than an oceanfront lunch? If you rent a cabana along the beach, it’s likely attached to a restaurant and bar, where they will deliver lunch to your lounge chair.
Prehistoric Town of Akrotiri
Akrotiri is one of the most important prehistoric settlements in the Aegean. The ruins date back to 5,000 BC and are an impressive site. At 12€ per ticket, this is a noteworthy place to spend an afternoon learning more about Greek history. Make sure to book your timed entry ticket for this attraction in advance.
Red Beach
While we didn’t find this to be the most impressive spot, you can stop if you have time to kill and want to see it for yourself. Keep in mind that this isn’t a typical beach where people go to lounge and swim. In fact, swimming in this area is dangerous and prone to landslides. Instead, it’ll be a quick stop to look at the unique red coloring caused by the island’s volcanic activity. With that said, we observed from afar and moved on.
Akrotiri Lighthouse
If you have more time and want to make your way to the island’s edge, Akrotiri Lighthouse could be a good destination. The picturesque lighthouse sits on the southwestern tip of Santorini. It offers incredible views of the open ocean and the other side of the island.
Dinner in Megalochori
The traditional village of Megalochori is a noteworthy stop in itself but also offers various dinner choices. Some top restaurants to consider are Raki, Taverna Geromanolis, and Feggera. If you’re looking for something more upscale, check out Athermi Restaurant.
Santorini Sunset
This is your last chance to catch that world-renowned Santorini sunset. If you want to stay in Megalochori, head to “Heart of Santorini” (as listed on Google Maps) for an incredible view. Otherwise, you can head a bit outside the town back to “Akrotiri Sunset View” (as listed on Google Maps) as we did! Either option will allow you to soak in the red and orange hues as the sun sets on the horizon.
There is no doubt that Greece is a bucket list destination. You could spend months, if not years, exploring the mainland and the islands. Yet, with only one week to discover this paradise, this ultimate 1-week Greece itinerary will take you to some of the best and most noteworthy stops to give you a taste of this beautiful country.
Leave a reply