The ULTIMATE One Week Greece Island Hopping Itinerary

Are you planning an island-hopping itinerary around Greece?

Visiting Greece has always been on my bucket list! And after seeing Mamma Mia, I always dreamed of exploring the Greek Islands on a sailboat, swimming in the sea by day and eating fresh seafood by night. I finally made it to the Greek Islands in June of 2022, and now I am sharing my perfect one week Greece Island Hopping itinerary with you!

In this post, I provide a day-by-day breakdown of how to spend one perfect week island hopping in the Greek Islands. This itinerary includes visiting 2 islands (Milos and Santorini) plus a day in Athens. I’ll also go over how to get between islands, what to pack for your trip, and more!

So if this is your first time visiting the Greek Islands, keep reading!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you! 

The ULTIMATE One Week Greece Island Hopping Itinerary: 7 days in Athens, Milos, and Santorini

Greece Island Hopping Options

This Greece Island Hopping itinerary specifically takes you to the gorgeous islands of Santorini and Milos, but it’s important to know there are many islands in Greece! So, your options for Greek island hopping are truly endless!

Each island is unique and has its own pros and cons, which will vary by the type of traveler. Plus, there are many different island hopping routes you can take, depending on which islands you want to visit.

Here are some other recommended Greece Island hopping itineraries:
7 days: Santorini + Mykonos
7 days: Paros + Santorini
10 Days: Mykonos, Naxos, Paros
14 Days: Crete, Santorini, Ios, Athens

Getting to Greece & Transportation Options

Flying to Greece

Before we get into this Greece island hopping itinerary, let’s talk about your different options for arriving in Greece! Most people flying from the United States will fly into Athens International Airport (ATH) on the mainland. If you’re traveling from Europe, you might have the option of flying directly to an island airport, like Santorini.

For example, I flew from Paris to Santorini on Air France, a quick 3-hour flight, as I was already in Europe. However, to fly home, I had to fly to Athens and took a flight to New York City from there. Either way, most people will have a connection in Athens and then make their way to the islands via smaller planes.

If you’re flying into Athens and then heading to the islands, I highly recommend flying instead of taking the ferry from Athens, because there are tons of direct flights. But let’s talk about ferries real quick, as we will use them later in this itinerary.

Ferries in Greece

The ferry system around the Greek Islands is a very popular option for island hopping, but it is not without its flaws. Ferries throughout the Cyclades (think Santorini, Mykonos, etc.) are known for being late or cancelled often, with very short notice.

In addition to delayed schedules, in July and August, high winds are very common in the Greek islands, which makes traveling on the sea, let’s just say.. rough. If you have the ability to fly between islands, I highly recommend it.

However, this isn’t always possible, or if it is, it might not be worth the time or cost. For example, we were able to fly from Athens to Santorini, and fly from Milos to Athens. However, to get between Santorini and Milos, we took the ferry because it was faster and cheaper than flying. If we were to fly, we would’ve had to fly from Santorini back to Athens, then Athens to Milos, which just seemed silly.

Our ferry was scheduled to take 1 hour and 45 minutes and cost $70 USD, so we went with the ferry option! Most islands do not have direct flights to other islands, so if you are bouncing around the Greek Islands, you will likely have to take at least one ferry.. so make sure to bring your Dramamine and patience!

What to Pack for Greece Island Hopping

I won’t list out my whole packing list for you, because that would be excessive right?! Instead, I’ll give you my must-haves for your Greece Island Hopping trip!

1. Beach Cover Up / Kimono
Something you can throw on after a long day in the sun! The sun in Greece is soo strong. I used my kimono a ton on our trip. It can double as a dress, a shirt, a towel, or a pillow!

2. Sunscreen
I will scream this from the mountain tops until I am blue in the face! If you are going to be outside, you need to wear sunscreen. Even if it’s cloudy!! If you hate the feeling of sunscreen, I highly recommend Supergoop! It’s my favorite brand ever (not sponsored) but I will recommend them forever. Their matte screen and unseen sunscreen are next level – you will forget you even have it on! So no excuses, wear your SPF and protect yourself from those harmful rays!

3. Floppy Hat
Again, having something to protect yourself from the sun is crucial! Bonus points if it can get wet like this one! 

4. Dramamine
You’re bound to be on at least one boat during your time in the island hopping in Greece. Make sure to bring seasickness medicine, just in case!

5. Europe plug converter
If you’re traveling from the USA, you will need a converter like this one to use your electronics!

6. Comfy sandals with straps
I purchased these Reef sandals before my own island-hopping trip to Greece, and they were the bomb! They’re so comfortable plus they can get wet! They were perfect for the rocky beaches and the cliff jumping!

Day 0: Travel to Athens + Santorini

I call this day 0 of your Greece Island Hopping itinerary because it is mostly a travel day and shouldn’t count towards the fun! Like I mentioned earlier, if you are traveling from the USA, you will likely be flying into Athens International Airport.

From there, I recommend flying directly to Santorini. There are a few different airlines that fly non-stop from Athens to Santorini, including Sky Express, Aegean, and Volotea. The flight is typically around 45 minutes and should cost less than $100, one way. So easy!

Once you arrive in Santorini, you’ll need to make your way to your hotel from the airport. I highly recommend pre-booking your transportation, as taxis are the most expensive option in Santorini. There are a few different main areas on the island of Santorini, but this itinerary has Oia as your base!

If you’re not sure where to stay, I highly recommend Kaleidoscope Cave Houses. This is where we stayed while in Oia and it was the perfect accommodation for a mid-range traveler. At Kaleidoscope, you will find comfortable rooms, gorgeous views, and a prime location in Oia!

For more information on the different areas in Santorini, where you should stay, transportation options, and more, make sure to check out my Santorini Travel Guide!

 

Depending on what time you arrive at your hotel, you might have a whole afternoon left! If this is the case, I recommend just wandering around Oia to get a feel for the area. Oia is very easy to navigate as there is one main pedestrian walkway through the whole town, with tons of restaurants, shops, and hotels dotted along it.

Spend your first evening wandering around the area, grab dinner at Thalami, and recover from your jet lag! Bonus points if your hotel has a jacuzzi like ours did.

Day 1: Explore Oia & Ammoudi Bay

In case you didn’t arrive until late yesterday, the morning of Day 1 is dedicated to sleeping in and wandering around Oia! When you wake up, head to Melenio cafe for some delicious spinach pies (Spanakopita) and some strong coffee!

After breakfast, spend the rest of the morning exploring Oia! This is a great time to snap some photos before the crowds roll into town!!

In the afternoon, put your swimsuit on and pack a change of clothes in your bag. It’s time to head down to Ammoudi Bay and swim in the sea! Head towards Oia Castle and follow the stairs down towards the ocean.

When you reach the bottom, you’ll see a picturesque fishing village – this is Ammoudi Bay, home to some gorgeous Santorini sunsets. This is where you are having dinner tonight, but first, it’s time to cliff jump!

Walk to your left through the Sunset Ammoudi restaurant and you’ll see a path along the cliff (make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes!) After about a 5-minute walk, you’ll reach a small church and a gorgeous place to swim! Spend your afternoon soaking up the sun, swimming in the sea, and if you are feeling adventurous, a jump off the rock across the way!!

After you’ve had your fill of the sea, head back to the town and have a sunset dinner at Sunset Ammoudi. If you are visiting in the summer, I highly recommend making a reservation here, especially if you want to eat while the sun is setting! The food here is wonderful, and the view is even better.

Day 2: Beaches + Wine Tasting

Today you will be leaving Oia to explore some other areas of the island! Santorini is actually a fairly large island, and Oia is just the very tip! I recommend visiting one of the black or red sand beaches  – there are a few to choose from!

Kamari and Perissa are the two black sand beaches on the island are pretty close to each other on the southeast side of the island. The Red Sand beach is located in Akrotiri village, on the south side of the island. All of these beaches can be reached by bus, or by car/ATV! I’ve created the map below to help understand the layout of the island better.

 Note on the Santorini bus system: The bus system in Santorini is the cheapest transportation option but also the slowest. I go into more detail in my Santorini Travel Guide, but here are the basics! All buses start and end in the main town of Fira. If you are staying in Oia, you will need to take the bus from Oia to Fira, and then take another bus from Fira to your final destination!

After the beach, spend your afternoon at one of the many local wineries on Santorini. The most famous is probably Santo Wines, which is located near the Athinios Ferry Port.

However, there are tons of other ones around the island, like Avantis in Fira and Domaine Sigalas in Oia. I recommend choosing one with an epic view of the sunset to end your night!  

Day 3: Fira to Oia Hike + Sunset Catamaran

On your third full day in Santorini, it’s time to get some exercise and see some gorgeous views by conquering the Fira to Oia hike! If exercise and/or hiking isn’t your thing, you can totally skip this activity and spend your time relaxing at a resort pool, seeing some historical sites, or whatever tickles your fancy! I

f you choose to do the hike, I recommend waking up as early as possible and catching the first bus from Oia to Fira in the morning (for us this was at 7am). Starting this hike early makes it MUCH more enjoyable – I promise!

I won’t go into the details of this hike because Santorini Dave does such a good job here (save this PDF to reference during the hike!). But to summarize, you’ll start the hike in Fira and it’s about 6 miles from the start to the end in Oia. I recommend grabbing a quick breakfast at Galini Café, which is about 30 minutes into the hike.

This hike is mostly paved, with some small portions on loose gravel. You’ll get to walk past all of the amazing cliffside resorts in Fira, Firostefani, and Imerovigli. Past the resorts, the rest of the hike is pretty exposed to the elements, so make sure to pack sunscreen, water, and snacks! And be prepared for some epic views.

The hike typically takes between 3-5 hours, depending on your pace! If you start first thing in the morning, you should end up in Oia around lunchtime and be ready for some lunch!

Head directly to Pito Gyros, one of the most amazing and authentic restaurants in Oia. I recommend trying to arrive just before noon, as it gets busy!! You can thank me later for the amazing and cheap meal you have here!

Make your way back to your hotel after lunch, take a much-needed shower, and get ready for part 2 of your last day in Santorini! This afternoon you will be embarking on a sunset catamaran cruise – one of the most popular things to do on the island.

Most of the sunset tours depart around 3pm from Ammoudi Bay and include dinner and drinks! This is one of the best ways to watch the sunset while on Santorini – just make sure to bring seasickness pills!

Day 4: Travel to Milos + Explore the Island

While on Milos, I highly recommend renting a car or ATV to get around the island! When you arrive at the port via ferry, most of the rental car locations are within walking distance, so you can go straight there after getting off the ferry. 

Depending on what time you arrive on Milos, you might have a whole afternoon and evening. If this is the case, I recommend driving around the island to get a feel for where you are staying and how you will get around! 

Pssst: Don’t forget to check out my detailed Milos Travel Guide if you’re planning a trip to the Greek Islands! 

Day 5: Boat Tour around the Island

Your first full day on the island will be centered around exploring the ocean and coastline of Milos! While the island of Milos is beautiful, you have to see it from the ocean to truly appreciate it. There are tons of different boat tour options available on GetYourGuide, so you can find one that fits your style and budget!

Most of the options will include a boat trip to Kleftiko Caves, which you absolutely much visit. Pirates and thieves used to frequent this location and hide in the caves, which is how the caves got their name (Klefti means “theif” in Greek!). Look for a tour that will take you around and through the caves, which was the highlight of our day!

If you didn’t book a full-day tour, spend your afternoon lounging at the pool or on the beach. In the evening, head back to the port town of Adamantas to grab dinner. There are tons of good restaurants in this area, some right on the water. I recommend sticking around to watch the sunset here. It’s gorgeous with the boats in the harbor! 

Day 6: Beaches and Fishing Villages

While the island of Milos isn’t huge, the main areas are pretty spread out, so it’s important to have a car or ATV on the island, especially for today! Below is a map of Milos so you can get a feel for the layout, and all of the main spots are marked!

Plaka

First up, to the town of Plaka to grab breakfast and do some shopping. Plaka is on the northwest tip of the island and is perched up on a hill, overlooking the sea. The town streets are so narrow that cars aren’t allowed in the main area. It’s a charming little town with tons of windy streets and lots of blue doors!

Firopotamos

Next up, head to the sleepy fishermen village of Firopotamos! There’s not much here, but you absolutely have to see it when visiting Milos. Spend time walking around the area, hanging on the beach and maybe jump off this mini cliff if you are feeling adventurous!

Mandrakia + Sarakiniko

After Firopotomas, head to the town of Mandrakia for lunch at the famous Medusa Café. Make sure to get the grilled octopus, it’s their specialty!

Once you’re done with lunch, head to the epic Sarakiniko Beach, which is pretty much the moon!! The landscape at Sarakiniko is totally epic and unlike anywhere I’ve ever been in the world. I recommend spending your afternoon here, relaxing in the protected cove, or if the sea is calm, cliff jumping into the water!! It’s definitely one of the best beaches in Milos.

If you still have time after Sarakiniko, you can keep heading east along the north side of the island. There are tons of beautiful beaches along this side like Alogomandra, Kapros, and the Papafragas caves! Eventually you will hit Pollonia, one of the main towns on the island, which is a great place to grab dinner or a drink!

If you have an extra day in Greece, I highly recommend staying in Milos an extra day and continuing to explore the island by ATV – there really is so much to see!

Day 7: Athens + Fly Home

Today is the last day of this Greece Island Hopping itinerary, but not the last day of adventure! Because you are ending in Milos, I highly recommend flying back to Athens in the morning and staying the night in Athens.. Yes, this will add an extra day to your trip, but let me explain!

Milos is a very small airport, and there are only a few flights a day. The planes that fly in and out of Milos are small prop planes that cannot handle high winds. If it gets too windy in Milos, they will cancel all of the flights and you will be stuck in Milos! SO you don’t want to fly out of Milos the same day you are flying back home out of Athens.

Give yourself an extra day of fluff and catch an early flight out of Milos to Athens (earlier flights are less likely to be cancelled).

Once you arrive in Athens, drop your bags off at the hotel, and go see the Acropolis! Have a nice dinner overlooking the capital of Greece and reminiscence on your amazing trip. Then, wake up the next morning and catch your flight home out of Athens. I promise you will thank me later! 

Final Thoughts 

That wraps up my One Week Greece Islands Hopping itinerary! I hope this helped you prepare for your next adventure. Greece really is a magical and unique country, with the nicest people! It should absolutely be on your bucket list.

If you have less than 7 days for your trip to Greece, I would recommend picking one island to visit, and exploring more of Athens so you don’t have to run around to see it all.

If you have 10 days, extend your time on Milos and in Athens if you want to relax a bit more, or add in another island if you are feeling adventurous. Remember there are some other Greece Island Hopping itineraries at the beginning of this post!

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning! 

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