Greece Itinerary 10 Days: Athens, Naxos & Santorini by Ferry

This Greece itinerary for ten days gives you two nights in Athens, three on Naxos and four on Santorini, all joined by ferry, with the last day kept for getting home. It's the trip we suggest to most people who write to us asking how to see "Athens and the islands" in a week and a half. We run a small cave hotel in Fira, so yes, we've weighted it towards Santorini. We also think that's the right call, and we explain why below. For island basics, start with our Santorini travel guide.

Ferry times below come from the booking pages we checked in October 2026. Timetables change every season, so check your sailing before you book anything around it.

Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 10-day Greece itinerary at a glance

Days	Where	Nights	How you get there
Days 1-2	Athens	2	Fly in to Athens
Days 3-5	Naxos	3	Ferry from Piraeus
Days 6-9	Santorini	4	Ferry from Naxos
Final day	Home via Athens	0	Flight to Athens, then your flight out (by ferry, add a night in Athens)

Why this order? Naxos is the easy middle step between Athens and Santorini, and the ferries on both legs run all year. Ending on Santorini means your last nights are the best ones, and you don't spend the end of the trip wishing you'd stayed longer somewhere else.

Days 1-2: Athens

Land, drop your bags and go for a walk in Plaka and around the foot of the Acropolis. Don't plan much on the first day. Long flights and a heavy itinerary don't mix.

Give the second morning to the Acropolis, and go early, before the heat and the tour groups. In the afternoon, see the Acropolis Museum, then walk up Philopappos Hill for the view back across to the Parthenon. Have dinner in Psyrri or Koukaki.

Two nights is enough for a first look at Athens on a trip that's really about the islands. If you love cities and ancient sites, steal a night from Naxos, not from Santorini.

Day 3: Athens to Naxos by ferry

Ferries for Naxos leave from Piraeus, the main port of Athens. It's about 25 min by metro from Monastiraki in central Athens to the port, according to Ferryhopper's Piraeus data.

The crossing to Naxos takes from 3 hr 15 min to 7 hr, depending on the boat, per Ferryhopper's Piraeus to Naxos route data. The same page says there are up to 7 daily crossings all year, with tickets from around €52. Take a morning boat and you're on Naxos for a late lunch.

Days 3-5: Naxos

Naxos is the opposite of Santorini, which is the point of including it. It's big and green by Cycladic standards, with long sandy beaches on the west coast and mountain villages inland.

• Arrival afternoon: walk up to the Portara, the marble temple gateway by the harbour, for sunset, then get lost in the lanes of the old Kastro above the port.
• Day 4: beach day. Agios Prokopios and Plaka are the long sandy stretches south of town.
• Day 5: rent a car and drive into the mountains to the villages of Halki and Apiranthos, and stop for lunch somewhere along the way.

Photo: Manfred Werner (Tsui), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day 6: Naxos to Santorini by ferry

The hop from Naxos to Santorini is short. Ferryhopper lists the crossing at about 1 hr 5 min to about 3 hr, depending on the vessel and the stops (Ferryhopper Naxos-Santorini data). According to the same Ferryhopper page, the route runs all year round, with up to 8 daily crossings in summer and fares from around €31.

You land at Athinios, below the cliffs, and catch the bus or a taxi up to Fira. Our Santorini to Naxos ferry guide has the full detail on boats, fares and the port.

Spend the evening close to home. Walk the caldera path from Fira towards Firostefani and watch the sun drop into the Aegean beyond the caldera.

Days 6-9: Santorini

Four nights on Santorini is what we'd call the right amount: enough for the big sights without rushing. Our guide to how many days to spend in Santorini explains how we get to that number.

• Day 7: walk the Fira to Oia hike along the caldera rim in the morning, take the bus back, and decide whether Oia's sunset is worth the crowds or whether you'd rather watch it from a quieter terrace.
• Day 8: the south of the island. Visit the Bronze Age town at Akrotiri in the morning, then spend the afternoon on a Santorini wine tour through the vineyards around Pyrgos and Megalochori.
• Day 9: get out on the water. A caldera boat trip, with swimming stops and food and drinks on board, is the day most of our guests rave about afterwards. We can arrange the catamaran cruise for you from reception.

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Final day: Santorini to Athens and home

You have two ways back to Athens for your flight home.

Fly. Santorini's airport has short domestic flights to Athens all year. It's the safer choice on the last day, especially if the wind is up. Our Santorini airport guide covers transfers and timings.

Ferry. The Santorini to Piraeus ferry takes from 4 hr 50 min to 10 hr 45 min, depending on the boat, according to Ferryhopper's Santorini-Athens route data. It works if your flight out is the next day. Don't plan a same-day ferry and long-haul flight. One delayed boat and the whole trip ends badly.

Doing it the other way round and starting on Santorini? Our Athens to Santorini ferry guide covers that crossing.

Three ways to change the plan

Swap Naxos for Mykonos. Want beach clubs and nightlife instead of mountain villages? Mykonos fits the same slot. The direct boats are seasonal, though, and usually run from March to November. Our Santorini to Mykonos ferry guide has the details.

Swap Naxos for Crete. Crete is huge, so three nights only scratches it, but Heraklion and the Minoan palace at Knossos make a strong middle leg. The Santorini to Crete ferry covers the crossing in both directions.

Make it a honeymoon. Cut Athens to one night, give Santorini five, and book a room with a view and a private jacuzzi. Our Santorini honeymoon planning guide has the rest.

When to do this trip

Late May, June and September are our favourite months for it: the sea is warm, the ferries run often, and the islands aren't at their busiest. July and August work, but book ferries and rooms early. October is quieter, and some sailings thin out towards the end of the month.

Plan around the season. Aroma Suites is open from March to October, and so are many island hotels. For the month-by-month detail, see our guide to the best time to visit Santorini.

Where to stay on Santorini

Base yourself in Fira for the Santorini part of the trip. The port buses start there, it's on the caldera edge, and you can reach Oia, the beaches and the airport by bus.

Aroma Suites is our small hotel on Agiou Mina, on the caldera side of Fira. Four nights is a good fit for our cave suite with an indoor heated jacuzzi, and if you book direct for 4 nights or more, our offers page includes a free one-way airport transfer. Breakfast is included. If you're travelling as a family or a group, the same owner runs Uma Ray Suites in Fira and Casa di Terra Villa, a private villa.

Frequently asked questions

Is 10 days in Greece too long?

No. It's about right for a first trip that includes Athens and two islands. Shorter and you spend too much of it on boats. Longer and a third island becomes comfortable, or you can spend more time on Crete.

How many islands can you do in 10 days in Greece?

Two is comfortable, three is the most we'd suggest. Every island change costs you half a day for packing, the port and the crossing, so a fourth island means you mostly see ferries.

Is Athens worth it on a Greece itinerary?

Yes, for at least a night or two. The Acropolis is worth the trip on its own, and flights into Athens usually beat flights straight to the islands on price and choice.

Which Greek islands go well with Santorini?

Naxos and Mykonos are the easiest by ferry, and Crete is a short hop south. Naxos suits travellers who want beaches and a quieter pace. Mykonos suits nightlife. Crete suits anyone who wants to drive and explore.

Ready to plan the Santorini nights? Check availability and book direct at Aroma Suites for the best rate we offer.