Greece: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini & Meteora
The classic combination for first-time visitors: Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, plus Delphi and Meteora.
The most popular route for first-time visitors, split evenly between the islands and the mainland. Take a ferry to Mykonos, continue by ferry to Santorini, fly back to Athens, and then join a 2-day bus tour to Delphi and Meteora. The pace is relatively fast with frequent transfers, but it allows you to see all the iconic sights in one trip. Leave buffer time for ferry connections.
Island hotels and ferry services operate mainly from May to October, with very limited options during the off-season.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Athens and Explore the Old Town
Athens（Syntagma Square & Changing of the Guard、Plaka）
Take the metro or a taxi from the airport to the city center, about 1 hour. Stroll through the Old Town in the evening.
Stay: Plaka
Day 2 · Acropolis and Ancient City Walk
Athens（Acropolis of Athens & Parthenon、Acropolis Museum、Ancient Agora of Athens、Monastiraki）
Explore on foot all day. The Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Monastiraki are all close to each other.
Buy time-slot tickets for the Acropolis in advance. You can store your main luggage at your Athens hotel.
Stay: Plaka
Day 3 · Ferry to Mykonos
Mykonos（Mykonos Town (Chora)、Kato Mili Windmills、Little Venice）
Take a high-speed ferry from Piraeus Port to Mykonos, about 3 hours. Explore the town on foot in the afternoon.
Stay: Mykonos Town
Day 4 · Delos Half-Day Round Trip
Mykonos（Delos、Church of Panagia Paraportiani）
Take a boat from Mykonos Old Port to Delos, about 30 minutes, for a half-day round trip.
There are no regular boats to Delos from December to March, and services are limited on Mondays.
Stay: Mykonos Town
Day 5 · South Coast Beaches and Mountain Villages
Mykonos（Ornos Beach、Ano Mera & Panagia Tourliani Monastery）
Take a local bus from town to the south coast beaches, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, rent a car to visit Ano Mera.
Stay: Mykonos Town
Day 6 · Ferry to Santorini
Santorini（Fira、Museum of Prehistoric Thera）
Take a high-speed ferry to Athinios Port in Santorini, about 2 to 3.5 hours, then take a bus or taxi up to Fira.
Ferries may be canceled due to rough seas; do not schedule a flight connection on the same day as an island transfer.
Stay: Fira
Day 7 · Prehistoric Site and Southern Villages
Santorini（Akrotiri Archaeological Site、Red Beach、Pyrgos）
Take a bus or join a day tour from Fira to Akrotiri, about 30 minutes, then explore the southern villages.
Akrotiri is closed on Tuesdays in winter and closes early in the afternoon.
Stay: Fira
Day 8 · Caldera Hike to Oia
Santorini（Fira to Oia Hiking Trail、Imerovigli & Skaros Rock、Oia）
Hike along the cliff path from Fira to Oia, about 3 hours. Take a bus back to Fira after sunset.
Stay: Fira
Day 9 · Fly back to Athens and Visit the Archaeological Museum
Athens（National Archaeological Museum）
Fly from Santorini to Athens, about 45 minutes. Visit the National Archaeological Museum in the afternoon.
Stay: Plaka
Day 10 · Delphi to Kalabaka
Athens（Delphi） → Meteora（Kalambaka）
Join a 2-day bus tour. Travel from Athens to Delphi, about 3 hours, then continue to Kalabaka, about 3 hours.
Direct train services are suspended; independent travelers should opt for a bus tour or car rental.
Stay: Kalambaka
Day 11 · Monasteries and Return to Athens
Meteora（Monastery of Great Meteoron、Monastery of St. Stephen、Roussanou Monastery） → Athens
Visit two or three monasteries with the tour group in the morning, then return to Athens in the afternoon, about 4.5 hours.
Stay: Plaka
Day 12 · Athens Departure
Athens（Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch、Panathenaic Stadium）
Stroll around the city center in the morning, then take the metro or a taxi to the airport, about 1 hour.