Where you Need to go in Greece

Greece! You know its name. You know its beauty. You know it’s a dream place to visit. But seeing it in real life is so much more spectacular than any postcard (or travel blog) could make it out to be.

With its otherworldly beautiful beaches, fresh food, blue domes, colorful vistas and alleyways, coastal hikes, perfect climate, and lively people, Greece is everything that can make your Mamma Mia dreams come true.

We were in Greece for three weeks and did both Athens and island hopping in Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, and Crete. It was a fast-paced trip while also allowing us time to relax and enjoy all that each destination offered.

Read on to learn what to do and what not to do on your Greece Trip. Enjoy!

How to get to Greece?

First off, how to get to Greece?

We recommend flying into Athens and fly to your first island. For us, that was Santorini, and this is a great route to take because Santorni is the perfect starter island for your Greek island adventure.

Do not stress about making the domestic flight to Santorini, we only left two hours between our arrival time and departure to Santorini and it was perfect. Customs in Greece were very laxed and moved fairly quickly.

Be sure to check into your Santorini flight and download the app for the airline to help easily check in and have your tickets ready to go!

Check out Skyscanner, Kayak, or Going for great deals on flights, there are our must do’s!

Where to go for 2-3 Weeks in Greece?

While in Greece there are so many beatiful places to chose froma nd it can seem daunting when planning your Greece Trip. On our trip we went to:

Santorini (3-4 Days)

Mykonos (2-3 Days)

Naxos (2-3 Days)

Crete (4 Days)

Athens (3 Days)

Check out our Ultimate 2-3 Week Greece Guide, Ultimate Santorini Guide, Oia or Fira Guide, Naxos Guide, Why Crete is the Best Island, Crete Guide, and Halki Village- The Best Day Trip in Naxos.

Takeaways

Greece is as beautiful as all the pictures and Mamma Mia setting, it is incredible

Touristy areas are EXPENSIVE

Ferries tend to run behind if you are not one of the first stops. Book your ferries in advance.

Crete is the best place in all of Greece.

Athens is a artsy, gritty, historical wonderland that is just amazing.

Santorini and the blue dome buildings and epic hikes will leave you in awe.

Naxos has great food, Greek ruins, shopping, and adorable ally ways.

Mykonos is so EXPENSIVE. Although beautiful it caters to the rich.

Greece is a trip of a lifetime- soak in every moment. You will have a blast!

Santorini, Greece

3-4 days in Santorini

Santorini is the Greece you imagine — the blue domes, the teal waters, the volcanic wine, the white washed buildings, and the winding alleyways. It is everything you’ll want it to be and more.

Three to four days should be a good amount of time to soak in all the wonder that is Santorini, but you can easily make this leg of your trip longer too if you have the time!

While in Santorini be sure to do the hike from Oia to Fira, or Fira to Oia depending on where you are based, it is a gorgeous coastal hike with ocean views the entire way. This was my favorite thing to do in Santorini.

Be sure to watch the sunsets in Oia and enjoy some Santorini Wine.

The Black Sand Beach and the Red Sand Beach are great beaches to soak in all the beauty of this Greek Island.

Take time to stroll in and out of the alley ways, eating, drinking, and shopping to your heart’s content.

Check out our full Santorini Guide for more info!

Mykonos, Greece

2-3 Days in Mykonos

Mykonos is a very distinct and unique place with the painted on pebble streets, the iconic windmills, and the luxurious style that caters to the elite. That being said it is popular for a good reason….

To be honest I am glad we went because it is a beautiful place but I would not be rushing back either. It is a place that does not cater to budget travelers like ourselves, making it difficult to find affordable options. If you are on a strict budget I would recommend skipping Mykonos or shortening your stay.

While in Mykonos I would head to Little Venice to see the windmills and stroll around the beautiful alleyways, grab a crepe, or cocktail and hop in and out of shops. Mykonos Town is another great area to wander around and enjoy the Greek buildings, flowers climbing up the white washed buildings, live music, and the sound of waves crashing into the rocks on the boardwalk.

Naxos, Greece

2-3 Days in Naxos

Take a ferry from Mykonos- around a 40 min- 1 hour ride

Naxos

While in Naxos be sure to explore Chora, the main area of town and walk around the winding alleyways and hop in and out of shops, restaurants, bars, and the Venetian Castle. It is such a fun area to wander around.

The Portara, also known as the Temple of Apollo is a must do in Naxos. The temple is a massive marble doorway where you can see the ocean or the town of Naxos depending which side you are on. Go at sunset, the Temple will appear to be golden and is just the most incredible view.

Chalki and Filoti are great day trips from Naxos. They are lovely little Greek towns that have beautiful architecture and local shops and restaurants. The road to both Chalki and Filoti is an experience too, with great views of the Greek countryside.

Check out our Naxos Travel Guide for more info on what to do, see, and all you need to know before going to Naxos!

Crete, Greece

4 days in Crete

Crete can be a trip on it’s own- there is just so much to see and do! You can easily spend your entire Greece Trip just in Crete. If you want to see both Heraklion and Chania (the two main cities) you will need at least two days in each city but if you can have more time do it! We would have loved to have at least 3 days in each city.

In Heraklion go to the Kohles Fortress. The Fortress is the must do thing in Heraklion, there is a museum inside to read about the history of the Fortress- which is fascinating. Another great stop is to wander the lively Old Town area of town.

While in Chania go to the Venetian Harbor and Old Town. They are the perfect places to soak in Greek and Italian culture.

Check out our Crete Travel Guide and 6 Reasons Crete is the Best Island in Greece for more information!

Athens, Greece

3 Days in Athens

Athens is way more than just Ancient Ruins, it is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is a hub of culture, food, shopping, history, and so much more. It is gritty, colorful and full of life.

In Athens go to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum and the Parthenon. Visit the Syntagma Square for shopping and drinking. Monastiraki is a lively area of town and it has a great flea market. Athens Central Market is another market that is a great area for shopping.

When in Oia take the time to wander through the charming alleyways and make your own adventure. Some of the best memories you will make will be unplanned and that is what is so great about travel!

Traveling more in Greece? Check out our Ultimate 2-3 Week Greece Guide, Ultimate Santorini Guide, Oia or Fira Guide, Naxos Guide, Why Crete is the Best Island, Crete Guide, and Halki Village- The Best Day Trip in Naxos.

Have a wonderful trip in Greece and make all your Mamma Mia dreams a reality!

Happy Travels!

Want to have this guide on your phone to take with you while on the go? Check out the same Greece Guide via an app! It includes map locations, hours, important key information all created by me!

Our love list of Travel Resources:

Here are our favorite places to search and purchase all things travel from flights, rentals, accommodations, tours, and so much more!

Accommodations:

Booking– our favorite way to search for hotels, rentals, and hostels. When you book enough through booking you will earn a discount on all bookings which adds up quickly!

Hostelworld– our go to when searching for hostels

Vrbo– our favorite place to search for apartment and home rentals, it is usually cheaper than airbnb and has less hidden fees

Agoda– My new favorite for searching for accommodations, they have huge discounts making it a great place to search!

Tours and Activities:

Viator– book great tours and activities for your next trip, my favorite place for booking tours or travel activities. I love that they have such an easy app to keep all my tickets after booking.

Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours

Get Your Guide– another great resource for searching for a huge variety of tours and attractions for your next trip

Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours

We go Trip– Self guided tours you can access from your phone and explore on your own! A game changer. You can explore at your own pace but still have an informational learning experience of the places you visit, all at your fingertips.

Thatch– search for your own personalized and premade itineraries, with map locations, information for each activity, and your trip all planned for you that you can access through their app and take with you! Check out our thatch guides! There are tons of other great travel creators to explore too!

Rental Cars:

Discover Cars– Worldwide car rentals that allows you to compare different rental car companies to get the best price!

Flights:

WayAway– membership offering 10 % back on tickets, tours, and even hotels! Great way to find cheap flights.

Promo Code for 10% off membership costs: Seek Out Travel

CheapOair– great search engine for flights, hotels, and rental cars

Avisales– Cheap airfare through reliable agencies.

This blog includes some affiliate links that at no extra cost for you provide us with a small profit to help us continue to produce free travel content for you! We so appreciate your support!