10-Day Timeless Greece Tour from Athens: Explore the Acropolis, Syros, Mykonos, and Santorini’s Iconic Sunsets and Landmarks

What you'll experience

Highlights

10 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Athens - Arrival

   Arrive at Athens International Airport and transfer to your hotel for check in. The remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy your first taste of Athens and rest after your flight. Discover Plaka, the oldest district of Athens, located under the Acropolis, the only district where you may see the Greek capital as it was 100 years ago or enjoy a spot of shopping at Ermou, Kolonaki and Voukourestiou streets.

   

   Acropolis

   

   Plaka

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Plaka Hotel, 4* - Astor Hotel, 5* - NJV Athens Plaza Hotel
2. 2

   Day 2 — Athens

   (INCLUDED) Athens City Tour & Acropolis Museum (S.I.C.) - 5H
   
   From the Acropolis to Omonia Square, with the half day sightseeing and Acropolis museum tour you'll see all the famous sites of ancient and modern Athens on this comprehensive morning tour. Hear insightful commentary from your guide, and pass top Athens attractions including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Greek Parliament building and Presidential Palace. Offering a perfect overview of the modern city, this guided half-day tour will help you get your bearings if this is your first visit to Athens.
   
   Begin your carbon neutral Athens half-day tour with a photo stop at Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. It is the only stadium built out of white marble. Proceed, passing by Zappeion and Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will then pass the Athens Trilogy which includes the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library. Continue passing by National Garden, Hadrian's Arc, St. Paul's Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schliemann's House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square ,Russian Orthodox Church, and finally ACROPOLIS (visit Propylae the gateway, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens).
   
   Stroll up to the UNESCO-listed site that served as the ancient citadel, and tour the buildings as you hear how they reflected Athens' prosperity in the 5th century BC. Continue the expert guided Athens sightseeing and museum tour with a pleasant short walk passing by Herodion and Dionysos Theater, in order to visit the ACROPOLIS museum. Avoid and skip the lines of the new museum. Main attractions such as votives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids, and of course the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze will impress you.
   
   INCLUDES:
   • Transport by luxury A/C bus
   • Acropolis & Acropolis museum entrance fees
   • Hotel Pick up and drop off service
   • Services of a Professional and licensed guide
   • Whispers
   • All taxes
   EXCLUDES:
   • Gratuities (optional)
   • Personal expenses

   

   Panathinaiko Stadium

   

   Acropolis Museum

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Plaka Hotel, 4* - Astor Hotel, 5* - NJV Athens Plaza Hotel
3. 3

   Day 3 — Athens - Syros

   After breakfast transfer from the hotel to the port of Piraeus for your ferry to the the capital of the Cyclades and the South Aegean region Syros where you are transferred to your hotel. Enjoy this famous island known for its' rich history as a commercial and industrial center in the Aegean.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Hermes Hotel Ermoupolis, 4* - Diogenis Hotel , 5* - Ploes Hotel
4. 4

   Day 4 — Syros

   (OPTIONAL) Semi-Private tour of Ermoupolis & Ano Syros (S.I.C.) - 4.0H
   
    The capital of the Cyclades, Syros is an island of many faces. Even its main town, built on two hills, has a dual identity. Ermoupoli (Hermes' town) is stately and grand, topped by an Orthodox church. And above it, Ano (Upper) Syros is a typically Cycladic village but crowned with Catholic monasteries and churches. Start your tour in the port of Ermoupoli in one of the converted 1830s warehouses, built so that cargo could be unloaded directly onto land. On an island that's alive all year round, it's only right that you head to the political, social and cultural heart of Syros. Miaouli Square (north of the port) is the beating heart of Ermoupoli – and not just because it's the island's administrative hub.
   
   As well as palm trees, cafes and shops, there is a music stage with a  depiction of Apollo and the muses. Dominating Miaouli Square is the Town Hall, hands down the grandest building on the island. Designed by German architect (and Greek national) Ernst Ziller in the late 19th century, it is an architectural blend that includes Ionic and Tuscan elements. It has different heights (3-storey facing the square and 2-storey around the back) and there's a 15m monumental staircase leading to the front door.
   
   No building demonstrates the cultural blossoming of Syros more than the Apollo Theatre, constructed in the 1860s by Italian architect Pietro Sampo. It was modelled, in part, on the Scala di Milano, with four layers of boxes and an elaborate ceiling fresco adding a sense of opulence to the intimate main hall. Artistic and cultural events are staged here, including the Aegean Festival. Heading northeast, you reach Ermoupouli's magnificent main church, known locally as Agios Nikolaos of the Rich. Built in the mid-19th century with donations from ship owners, merchants and benefactors living abroad, its frescoes and icons were the work of the finest hagiographers of the region. Its centerpiece icon of St Nicholas was silver-plated in Moscow in 1852. You'll marvel at the detail of the intricate pulpit and iconostasis.
   
   The most prestigious district of Ermoupoli, Vaporia is the residential legacy of Syros' glory years. It is characterized by high-ceiling captains' mansions, with woodcut doors, wooden floors and marble balconies overlooking the sea – giving an impression that the buildings are floating. Hence the name of the district, meaning boat. You'll soon find out why Ano Syros looks the way it does. Winding streets so narrow there's barely a straight line to be seen… whitewashed and colorful houses squeezed in so tightly they appear virtually interwoven… and from the top of the many stepped, amphitheatrically shaped settlement, views of the South Aegean that are simply extraordinary. It's because Ano Syros was once the ultimate fortress town, with gates that once sealed the town and allowed residents to ward off or flee from pirate raids. Taking pride of place at the top of Ano Syros, the Cathedral of Agios Georgios was built in 1834 but previous temples on this spot date to the 1200s. You'll tackle quite a few steps to get here but the views of the port and beyond are unsurpassed.
   
   The complex includes a temple, bell tower, baptistery and vestibule and the Historical Archive building. Founded in 1744, the Jesuit Monastery contains an icon of the Virgin Mary brought from Rome and a library of 6,000 books, along with historical documents, manuscripts and parchments. One of Greece's most beloved rebetiko folk singers, Markos Vamvakaris was born and bred within the walls of Ano Syros and now has a museum in his honor. His wistful lyrics captured a passion for his birthplace and introduced many Greeks to the island's charms. The museum features some of his personal belongings, photos, handwritten lyrics and clothing and features a half-hour documentary on his life. Don Stefanou Ioanni Street (better known as the Piatsa) is where you'll find most of the cafes, tavernas and shops. It's flat, so a perfect spot to enjoy lunch!
   
   INCLUDES:
   • Transport by luxury A/C vehicle
   • Hotel Pick up and drop off service
   • Services of an English speaking escort
   • All taxes
   EXCLUDES:
   • Gratuities (optional)
   • Personal expenses

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Hermes Hotel Ermoupolis, 4* - Diogenis Hotel , 5* - Ploes Hotel
5. 5

   Day 5 — Syros - Mykonos

   After breakfast transfer from the hotel to the port of Syros for your ferry to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos where you are transferred to your hotel. Enjoy this famous island known for its excellent nightlife, beautiful beaches, and Cycladic architecture. Walk through narrow alleyways in Mykonos town and visit the blue-domed churches and the famous windmills.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3 * - Mykonos Beach Hotel, 4* - Manoulas Beach Hotel, 5* - Amazon Mykonos Resort & Spa
6. 6

   Day 6 — Mykonos

   (OPTIONAL) Delos Tour from Mykonos (S.I.C.) - 4H
   
   Upon arrival at Delos (30 minutes), your guide will issue tickets to the archaeological site to the group and offer an introduction to the mythological, prehistorically and historical background of the island. Then, set out to explore the narrow streets of the Hellenistic City, built in the 4th century BC, and see highlights such as the impressive house of Dionysos, the statue of Cleopatra, and some exquisite mosaics. After a short stop at the House of the Trident, reach the Theatre of Delos and the public cistern of the city.
   Stroll down the main street to return to the market and the Sanctuary zone. The Stoa of Phillipe, the donations of ancient celebrities, the Propylaia, the Colossus of the Naxians and the Temples of Apollo are the monuments to be admired before the last stop in front of the Sacred Lake and the eternal Naxian Lions. You will have time to visit the archaeological museum and the museum shop before returning to your boat.
   
   Included
   • Round-trip boat ticket to Delos island
   • Certified Tour Guide
   • Wireless tour guide system
   • Taxes
   • All safety equipment
   • Skip the line at Delos site
   Excluded
   • Private or shared transfer to and from hotel or cruis port (available on request)
   • Drinks
   • Entrance fees to the Archaeological Site & the Museum (Payment in cash only, upon check in)
   • Gratuities

   

   Archaeological Site of Delos

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3 * - Mykonos Beach Hotel, 4* - Manoulas Beach Hotel, 5* - Amazon Mykonos Resort & Spa
7. 7

   Day 7 — Mykonos - Santorini

   After a tasty breakfast, appreciating life like a Greek, we will pick you up at the agreed time, in one of our private vehicles, to drive you to the port, where you will continue on to your next destination, the island that is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, Santorini. As the ferry approaches the port, you will admire the capital city of Fira, with its white houses perched on the Cliffside and facing the volcano.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Kamari Beach Hotel, 4* - Andromeda Villas, 5* - Lilium Santorini
8. 8

   Day 8 — Santorini

   (OPTIONAL) Santorini Day Tour with Sunset in Oia (S.I.C.) - 10.0H
   
   Learn about the history of the island while enjoying spectacular views, admire the architecture of its traditional villages, leisure at its volcanic beaches, taste Santorini's distinctive wines, and finish on a high note with sunset in Oia. Akrotiri Archaeological Site: Visit the prehistoric town of Akrotiri, the Pompeii of the Aegean Sea, where the myth of Atlantis still lives, and enjoy a guided tour with a licensed archaeologist Emporio Village: Continue with a walk through the maze-like settlement of Emporio, one of the oldest and most authentic traditional villages of Santorini. Admire its harmonious Cycladic architecture and venture in its medieval fortress (15thcentury) to capture timeless pictures.
   
   Perissa Beach: Free time for lunch at the island's most popular black sand beach. Profitis Ilias Mountain: Enjoy the ride toward Santorini´s highest peak, located 567 meters above sea level, and admire breathtaking views of the island, from agricultural plains to the hilltop village of Oia. Stop by the courtyard of the monastery, which is located on the mountain top, and enter a Greek orthodox chapel. Santorini Wine Tasting: Tour a traditional winery and taste Santorini's distinctive wines Sunset in Oia: Includes a transfer to the popular village of Oia, which is the most photographed place in Greece. Enjoy free time to experience its legendary sunset. After sunset take your bus back to your drop-off location.
   
   INCLUDES:
   • Admire prehistoric finds at Akrotiri's Archaeological Site, guided by an experienced archaeologist
   • Wine tasting of 3 local varieties.
   • Optional free time in Oia village or in Fira, the capital of Santorini, for sunset time.
   • Pickup and drop-off from selected meeting points all over the island
   EXCLUDES:
   • Gratuities
   • Entrance Fees to Archaeological Site
   • Free: under 18y.o., EU students
   • Reduced: EU seniors (65+), non EU students
   • Lunch or Dinner

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Kamari Beach Hotel, 4* - Andromeda Villas, 5* - Lilium Santorini
9. 9

   Day 9 — Santorini - Athens

   At the appointed time, we will transfer you to the new port of Santorini, Athinios. There, you will board the ferry bound for Athens and the Port of Piraeus. Our driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Athens. 

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: 3* - Plaka Hotel, 4* - Astor Hotel, 5* - NJV Athens Plaza Hotel
10. 10

    Day 10 — Athens - Departure

    At the agreed time, our representative will transfer you to the Athens International airport, where you will board your flight back home.
    Having spent a few fantastic days with us, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.
    Have a nice trip! or as Greeks say: "Kalo taksidi!"

    Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

Important info

Tour operator