Greece
Itineraries
A selection of island-hops and car-tours, lasting from 5 to 14 days, designed to show independent travellers the best of mainland Greece and the isles.
back to topThe Cyclades (10+ days)
Islands: Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini - and (optionally) Syros,
Folegandros, Milos
Best times: April-October (hotels closed in winter).
Day 1 - Fly to Mykonos (direct or via Athens). Stay at
Ostraco, Mykonos Grace or
Kivotos
Days 2-3 - On Mykonos - beaches, shopping, sunbathing,
partying, and perhaps a day boat-trip to Delos, a sacred isle with
classical ruins
Day 4 - Boat to Naxos (2-4 hours; departures most days).
Stay at Castro Residence or
Kavos
Days 5-6 - Explore Naxos - the largest island in the
Cyclades, with excellent beaches, windsurfing and hiking.
Day 7 - Boat to Santorini (2-4 hours, departures most days)
- it's a great way to arrive, sailing into Santorini's sea-filled
crater. Wide choice of hotels.
Days 8-9 - Visit the Minoan city of Akrotiri / ancient Thira
/ the lava islets (boat trip) / the black-sand beaches
Day 10 - Fly back from Santorini via Athens; or fly / boat
on to Crete
If you want to visit some more offbeat islands, add:
Syros - before or after Mykonos - for its wonderful
Neoclassical capital town and its secluded beaches in the north (by
boat or on foot only). Stay at Syrou
Melathron
Folegandros - before or after Santorini - for its total
isolation and its picturesque main village. Stay at
Anemomilos
Milos - before or after Santorini - for its dramatic
coastline (take a day cruise) and tourist-free interior. Stay at
the Milos Windmill
Peloponnese (7+ days ex Athens)
The Peloponnese has it all: ancient sites, Byzantine churches,
Frankish castles, crystal-clear coves and spectacular mountain
scenery. Best of all it's only a couple of hours from Athens by
car; or you can fly into Kalamata (southern Peloponnese) from some
European countries. Here's how to cherry pick the best of the
region.
Best times: April, May, June, September
Transport: There are buses and (slow) trains but you will
probably want a hire car.
Day 1: Fly to Athens. Drive to Nafplion (2 hours), an
elegant waterside town with two fortresses and plenty of history.
Stay at the Ilion Suites (££)
Day 2: Visit some (or fewer) of the nearby sites: Mycenae /
Tiryns / Epidavros / Argos. If you are a keen classicist, add an
extra day; if not, just visit Epidavros. Leave time for a swim at
Arvanitia beach, and a stroll round Nafplion headland (stunning sea
views).
Day 3: Drive to Areopolis in the Mani (3 hours); stay
at Londas Towerhouse (£). On the way you can
stop at Mystras near Sparta (evocative Byzantine churches and a
Frankish castle) or Gythion .(fish lunch on the harbourside?)
Day 4: Scenic drive around the Deep Mani peninsula (3
hours). Highlights include the fishing village of Gerolimenas, the
cliff-chapel of Odigitria and the spectacular tower-village of
Vathia. You can detour to Cape Tainaron, Greece's southerly tip, to
walk to the ancient site and lighthouse.
Days 5-7: Morning visit to the breathtaking sea-caves of
Dirou. Drive to Kardamyli (1 hour), a gorgeous seaside village
which makes the perfect lazy end to the holiday. Staying at least 2
nights in Elies or Notos - you might want to
hike through the Viros gorge, swim from Stoupa's sandy beaches, and
enjoy plenty of Lela's irresistible home cooking!
Drive back to Athens (4+ hours) or Kalamata (1 hour).
If you want to take it at a leisurely pace, we recommend adding a
3rd night in each of the stops to make 9 nights in total.
Another possible extension is to visit ancient Olympia on your
return from Kardamyli to Athens; the site includes temples, the
original stadium and an excellent museum. You'll need to stay 1
night in Olympia town (several fairly standard hotels).
back to topCrete (7-14 days)
With such dramatic and varied terrain - from palm-shaded beaches to
snow-capped mountain - plus a quartet of entertaining and elegant
harbour towns (Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Ayios
Nikolaos-Elounda), not to mention Minoan sites and legendary
hospitality, Crete has plenty to offer for a fortnight's tour.
There are direct flights from Europe to Heraklion (central Crete)
or Chania (west) from April / May to October; otherwise fly to
Athens and take an onward flight, or an overnight boat from
Piraeus. Don't underestimate its size, though: Crete is 250km from
end to end.
Best times: April, May, September, October
Transport: you can hire a car cheaply and easily at any of
the airports or ports.
1 week: choose either western, central or eastern Crete -
don't try to do it all. We suggest 3-4 nights in the hills or on
the coast (depending on your preference), followed by 3-4 nights in
one of the coastal towns for some shopping, culture or partying
(again, depending on your preference):
Western Crete:
Head to Milia (hiking in the hills) or
Anidri (budget hideaway near beaches) or
Elia (spa / wellness escape) - followed by Chania
(plenty of choice, including Splanzia and
Casa Delfino).
Central Crete:
Start at Villa Kynthia (boutique guesthouse in a
lazy seaside village), end at Veneto Suites (in
the heart of historic Rethymnon).
Eastern Crete:
Begin at White River Cottages or The
White Houses, both in/near Makriyialos, end in luxury at at
Elounda Gulf Villas or in simpler style at
Elounda Island Villas.
2 weeks: this gives you time to explore the whole island,
spending 5-6 days in the west, 5-6 days in the east, and a break in
the centre en route.