The Ultimate Greece 2-3 Week Travel Guide
Greece is as awe inspiring as all the pictures and videos you have seen and is sure to be a bucket list destination. Read all about the best places to go, what to do, your travel budget, and all you need to do before you start your Greek adventure.
Takeaways
Greece is gorgeous- blue dome buildings, epic ocean views, incredible hikes, fresh delicious food, it really has it all.
Touristy areas are expensive- prepare yourself to spend more when in those areas. If you walk a couple blocks out of these areas you will see prices drop dramitically.
Ferries will be late if you are not one of the first stops- more information in the ferry section because oh dear is it an experience!
Your Greece Itinerary:
Athens
Fly in here and then catch a domestic flight to Santorini!
Santorini (3-4 Days)
Ferry to Mykonos using ferry hopper app.
Mykonos (2-3 Days)
Ferry to Naxos from Mykonos using ferry hopper app.
Naxos (2-5 Days)
Ferry to Heraklion, Crete using ferry hopper app.
Halki (small authentic Greek village day trip)
Drive to Halki from Naxos and back in a day.
Crete (4-6 Days)
Pick up your rental car at the ferry port. Drive from port to Heraklion. After 2-3 days drive to Chania.
If you can spend more than 6 days extend your trip in Crete, There is so much to do! You can easily spend 1-2 weeks in Crete.
Fly from Chania, Crete to Athens.
Athens (3 Days)
After spending your last 3 days in Greece exploring Athens fly home or to your next destination.
How to get there?
The best way is to fly into Athens. You can also start on an island but it will take you through Athens anyways. I would recommend flying into Athens and booking a domestic flight to Santorini. Yes this means you will need to go through customs and back to domestic but this went pretty quickly in Greece. Give yourself a 2.5-3 hour window between landing in Athens and hopping on the Santorini flight.
If this makes you nervous you can also stay in Athens for a night or two and then head to the islands. You can sandwich your trip with 1-2 days in Athens at the start of your trip and the end of your trip to catch flights in and out of Greece.
Some of my favorite sites to look for flights are Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Going (Previously Scott's Cheap Flights). To find affordable flights be flexible with dates and set flight alerts on all of these sites!
Language Barriers?
Most places people speak wonderful English and when they don't rely on google translate and referring to images. You will not have very few issues with language barriers in Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos where there is a large tourism base.
Learn some basic Greek phrases. This will go a long way with locals.
Good Evening- ka-li-spe-ra
Hello or goodbye- yiasas
Yes- ne
No- o-hi
Thank you- ef-ha-ri-stoh
Sorry or Excuse me- sig-no-mii
Do you speak English- mi-la-te-a-gli-ka
For more Greek phrases and to hear the pronunciations click the link below.
Culture Shock
Slower Service- Now remember you are in Greece and like most places in Europe service is sloooooww. So soak it all in and enjoy being in Greece, no need to stress about rushing to the next thing on your list. Although if you are a busy traveler like we are ask for your check early on.
Not in America anymore- Greeks are not going to be all smiles and positivity like Americans often are. We found all the people to be so kind and helpful but the overly smiley attitude you find in America will not be what you find in Greece and that is part of the charm. They are real and honest and a little rough around the edges at times.
Tipping?
Tipping is not required or expected in Greece but a 10-15% tip is appreciated.
Budget
The Budget you can expect will change greatly from where in Greece you are located.
Low Cost: For example places like Crete and even Athens you can easily have a backpacker's budget
50.00 a day for food, attractions, drinks,
100 or less for accomodations per night
Moderate Cost: You can expect a moderate budget for Naxos.
70-140 a day for food, attractions, drinks
150 or below for accomodations per night
High Cost: The most expensive locations are going to be Santorini and Mykonos with Mykonos being the more expensive of the two.
100-200 a day for food, attractions, drinks
200-500 for accomodations per night
These are just estimations and depend on what season you are traveling. High season in the summer will be on the higher end of the budget. For more affordable prices I would stick to Crete which was my Favorite island! Click the link below to learn more about why Crete is so great!
Must Need Packing Items
Awe now comes the fun part or stressful part- the packing! You will be in Greece for 2-3 Weeks and need to look adorable for all your instagram pics while also being prepared for anything right? Here is what you need to pack for your adventure!
I would highly recommend packing in a carry on, you can do it! I promise! It will make the island hopping and carrying your suitcase down cobblestone streets much easier. You can always pack a compact bag to bring back if you shop til you drop!
I would recommend packing cubes to help keep your clothes organized and easy to find when moving from your destinations.
A couple of my favorite suitcases are away bags (the bigger carry on) that comes in fun colors and is a sturder roller suitcase. For the backpackers, Tortuga is the best backpack that looks sleek while also opening like a suitcase making it easier to find your items.
Transportation
Transportation will vary widley on where you are in Greece. You will be able to easily find transportation via taxis, ubers, ferries, or so on. I will go into more detail in each destination section.
Ferries
Ohhh Greek Ferries- you may of heard about the insanity that are Greek ferries but honestly you just need to experience it, it is NUTS! So first off it's the entering and exiting that I'm referring to. It is a mad rush of hundreds of people just swarming out and can be very overwhelming. Keep love ones close and go.
Another part to prepare for is punctuality. It does not exisit unless you are the first stop of the day. After that each stop gets further and further behind. Now the best part is you can track the ferry and plan your day around this part. Download Ferry Hopper app. This is the only way you want to book your ferry. It allows you to have a digital ticket, search for ferries, and even track your ferries location and duration to the detination. This was a game changer.
Now as nutty as the process can be it is a must when going between islands and when aboard is really pretty painless.
Don't worry about what class to buy, get the cheapest. You just walk on and sit anywhere anyways.
*Takeaways- book on ferry hopper and buy cheapest ticket.
Other tips and tricks
If you are traveling in high season be sure to book as early as possible to get the best prices. If you book a year out for example you will save tons on accomodations! Try to book atleast a month or two out.
Athens
Start off flying into Athens and cathing a flight or ferry to Santorni. I would recommend doing a domestic flight to save you time.
Santorini (3-4 Days)
Santorini is what dreams are made of (cue Lizzie McGuire song). The blue dome buildings, wonderful Greek food, picturisque ally ways, and incredible hikes. This is a must for your Greek trip.
Where to base yourself?
I recommend basing yourself in Fira or Oia. Read more about each location to help you pick the best option. Also look to see what activities you want to do and factor that into your decesion. Being closer to the city you are based in will make traveling around more easily.
Transportation
Santorini is very walkable but to get to most beaches and Akrotiri you will need a car or taxis or bus. A car does give you more flexibility to come and go as you like but this is completely up to you!
I would recommend renting a car for a day or getting a taxi driver's number or whats app to easily pick you up when needed. Uber also operates in Santorini to allow for use when needed.
What to do in Santorini?
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a fishing village located just 20 minutes from Fira. You can visit the lighthouse, the Akrotiri Excavations, and the Red Beach. I would recommend booking a tour, renting a car, or taking a taxi but be sure to have a taxi scheduled for your way back. A great way to do this is get your hotel or a local taxi driver's number or whatsapp number.
Mykonos (2-3 Days)
The famous Mykonos is just as stunning as in every instagram post you've seen. The unique painted pebble streets, white washed buildings, and the iconic windmills make Mykonos such a wonderful destination. All the fame has made it an expensive destination from food, shopping, to accomodations. It is still possible to do it cheaper but it is not a budget destination.
Budget
Expect to spend 300-500 a night on accomodations. For daily expenses expect to spend around 100-200 a person and even much higher depending on how much you want to eat, drink, or shop.
Transportation
Mykonos is a very walkable city and you can easily get by on foot with the occasional taxi. There is currently no uber available in Mykonos. Taxis were easy to find when needed.
Where to stay in Mykonos?
We recommend staying near Little Venice, it is located in the prime location in Mykonos with lots of shops, pebble painted streets, the windmills, and so much more.
We stayed in Poseidon Hotel Suites and loved it! It has spacious rooms, super comfy beds, private balcanies, a pool, pool bar, and breakfast included.
Things to do in Mykonos
Naxos (2-5 Days)
Naxos is an island in Cyclades island group. It is a mountanous village with ancient ruins, beaches, quaint villages, great local food and drinks, whitewashed buildings, and venetian castles. Naxos is becoming a tourist destination but is still far less crowded that other hot spots in Greece like Santorini and Mykonos. It is a perfect stop to add on your Greek itinerary.
Budget
In Naxos you can expect to spend around 70-100 a day in activities, food, and drink. You can expect to spend less if you cooking in but in Naxos the food is just amazing so be sure to enjoy it! For accomodations you can expect
Where to stay?
Chora is a great location and is the main area of Naxos. Here are a couple of my recommendations for Naxos that are affordable and in a desirable location.
Things to do in Naxos
Where to go for a cocktail and a view?
Naxos had GREAT cocktails! Be prepared to be impressed. They have great tiki drinks, a variety of cocktail drinks and kitron cocktails. Kitron is made locally and is a spirit Naxos is known for. It has a very unique taste. Almost gin like with a funky after taste, not bad but unique for sure.
Halki
Halki (also known as Chalki) is the sweetest village that is so very picturesque, exactly what you dream a Greek Village is going to look like. There are tons of cute local shops with handmade goods, amazing restaurants with the best outdoor seating in the middle of the village center, and hiking too! Filoti is another village in Naxos that you can easily stop at too as it is only ten minute drive from Chalki.
What stops should I make in Chalki?
Chalki is a great place to shop for authentic handcrafted goods that will make quality awe inspiring souveneirs where most of the time are being sold by the people who made them which is always a cool experience. You will find delicate linens, local edible goods such as olive oil, honey, and spices, kitron liquor, and beatiful art to take home.
Naxos, Greece is one of the best islands in Greece! It has great food, drinks, Greek ruins, friendly locals, and not overrun by tourists! Take the time to wander the ally ways in Naxos and see the adorable local shops, eats, and wonderful Greek vibes.
For more Naxos info, check out my blog post!
Crete (4-6 Days)
Crete is the largest of all the Greek Islands. It is home to vibrant and bustling cities, beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and so much more. Crete is far less touristy than the other destinations on our itinerary and felt more authentic and just as beautiful. Crete is by far my favorite island in Greece and the best part of my trip to greece. Check out my Crete Blog Posts to learn more why I love Crete!
Heraklion, Crete
Heraklion, Crete is the capital of Crete and is a port city in Crete. It is best known for having the Palace of Knossos just outside the city and having the Heraklion Archelogical Museum. Heraklion was one of my favorite cities in all of Greece. It is a huge bustling city and is very different than the other cities and islands you have visited in Greece so far but in the best way. It is gritty, artsy, affordable, gorgeous, vibrant, and just lovely.
Budget:
You can easily have a budget of 50 a day and find affordable food, coffee, drinks, and more. The accomodations are going to run around 70-100 a night. It is the destinations in Greece that you can let your wallet and soul breathe a little.
How Long to stay?
I would recommend staying in Heraklion for half your time in Crete and Chania the other half. Around 3 days in each is preferred to give yourself time to explore without feeling too rushed. But anywhere from 2-5 days would work. If you can do more than that do it! You will love Crete and there are tons of options for day trips if you extend your trip.
Where to stay in Heraklion?
I would recommend staying in Old Town in Heraklion. It is the heart of Heraklion with all the shops, restaurants, and local life hustle and bustle. You are also a short walk from the beautiful port and the gorgeous views!
We stayed in Heraklion Old Port Apartments which was an apartment which had a kitchen and was located in Old Town which we loved! This is more of an affordable option but is a great pick while in Heraklion.
Things to do in Heraklion?
Chania, Crete
Aww Chania what a paradise. You will think you are in Italy with the colorful peach and pink buildings, sparkling harbor, and charming ally ways. It is just charm on charm and is so pretty.
Budget
You can easily do 50-100 dollars a day but Chania is slightly more expensive than Heraklion but still SO much more affordable than the rest of Greece. Your accomodations will be slightly more as well with around 100-150 a night.
Where to stay in Chania?
I would highly recommend staying in Old Town where you will be in the heart of all the restaurants, shopping, and adorable buildings. If you can grab a balcany which will have epic Italy style views.
We stayed in Veneri Boutique Hotels and loved it! The location was great with a balcany, comfy beds, and in a beautiful building.
Things to do in Chania
Athens (3 Days)
Athens is gritty, artsy, colorful, delicious, enchanting, and beautiful. It is the perfect place to wander and explore from the market to the ancient Greek ruins. There is so much to see and do in this city. Be sure to give yourself atleast 3 days to really explore Athens.
Budget
Athens can be a great budget destination once you wander out of the touristy areas. You can easily travel Athens on 100-130 dollars a day. If you eat in you can make this number even less. You can find accomodations much cheaper in Athens, around 50-100 a night and on up the nicer you want to go.
Where to stay in Athens?
I would highly recommend staying in Monastiraki and Syntagma Square area. They are both spirited and fun areas of town full of tons of things to do, see, eat, drink, shop, and so much more!
What to do in Athens?
Check out my Ultimate Guide of Greece if you want more Greek fun!
Enjoy your trip to Greece! Soak it all in, this will be sure to be a trip of a lifetime! Take time to explore and find your own adventure and don't stick too tightly to an itinerary.
Appreciate the incredible views, soak in the sunshine, learn from the past and explore ancient ruins, eat, and drink to your hearts contents, and release your inner dancing queen and dance under the stars. Happy Travels!
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