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10-Day Greek Island-Hopping Itinerary

From Naxos to Mykonos, Greece’s many islands are temping to cover all in one trip, but the best way to enjoy them is by choosing 3 to 5 at a time to fully relax and enjoy what each island has to offer. Here’s your guide to the best Greek island-hopping trip:

View of the Acropolis with blue skies
View of the famous Acropolis. Photo © Pavlos Tsokounoglou.

Athens

Day 1

If you’ve arrived in Athens the night before, take a day to soak up some of the city’s most important sites, including the Acropolis and Parthenon, a quick walk through Anafiotika, and a glass of wine from one of the city’s many delicious wine bars.

Naxos

Day 2

Take the earliest possible ferry from Piraeus port (southwest of central Athens; easily accessed via metro from Athens, but arrive early to avoid missing your boat!). You’ll arrive a few hours later in fertile Naxos, the largest of the Cycladic islands. Visit the Temple of Apollo and go have lunch at Yema Agapis. Spend an hour or two walking around Hora and up in the Kastro. Eat dinner at Axiotissa Taverna, the best restaurant on an island full of amazing food.

Ariel View of Naxos Town with clear blue water
Naxos Town. Municipality of Naxos & Small Cyclades. Photo © Christos Drazos.

Naxos

Day 3

Get the blood pumping with an early morning hike through Mt. Zas’ loop from Arai Spring. The first half is well-marked; beyond the cave you’ll just follow the beaten foot path. Then, drive over to the cozy seaside village of Moutsouna for a grilled fish lunch, before heading down to Psili Ammos for a relaxing afternoon by the sea.

Naxos

Day 4

Devote a day to exploring the mountainous interior of the island, where charming traditional villages dot the landscape and the view. As you drive up increasingly winding road, the scenery becomes more and more breathtaking. A good trip is to go from Sangri to Halki (you must try the custard pie from To Spitiko Galaktobouriko) to Apiranthos, before stopping in Koronos for a very late lunch at Matina & Stavros’ Taverna. Consult the map beforehand; the most circuitous route is often the safest and best paved road to travel.

Naxos to Mykonos

Day 5

Spend the morning relaxing on Alyko Beach and exploring the many coves and abandoned hotel covered in artistic graffiti. In the late afternoon, take the fast boat to Mykonos, where you can catch the sunset at the aptly named 180 Degrees Sunset Bar in Hora. Hunker down in your hotel; Mykonos is going to get you good tomorrow.

View of the Mykonos Port with clear blue water
Mykonos Port. Photo © Alexander Shalamov/Dreamstime.com.

Day Trip to Delos Archaeological Site

Day 6

Take the 9am boat to Delos and spend your allotted four hours wandering around this amazing piece of living history. On your return, head directly for Super Paradise Beach and spend the afternoon sipping champagne and dancing with beautiful people. Cap off the evening with some debauchery at Jackie O.

Mykonos

Day 7

You’ve probably felt better, huh? Take a leisurely car drive through the island’s interior roads, and head to one of the more secluded beaches, such as Agios Sostis on the northern coast, where you can enjoy a delicious meal at the seaside taverna. Before sunset, head to Scorpios for a cocktail, and then let the night take you…

Roujounas Beach
Relax at Megalos Roukounas beach. Photo © Nikolaos Symeonidis.

Anafi

Day 8-9

Head out of Mykonos to Anafi (the easiest way is to take a boat through Santorini; the whole journey takes 5 hours). It would defeat the whole purpose of Anafi if I were to give you an itinerary. Instead, spend your days lounging around the beach, occasionally walking the trails. If you see only one beach, make it Megalos Roukounas. If you do nothing else, you’ve done it correctly.

Anafi to Athens

Day 10

Take the ferry back to Athens (8 hours) feeling relaxed and completely rejuvenated.

Sarah Souli

About the Author

Sarah Souli is an Athens-based journalist covering all things Greek for outlets like Vice, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Roads & Kingdoms, and more. She's been traveling to Greece for years, eventually settling in Athens several years ago with her Greek husband. Through her writing and travels, she's formed an intimate relationship with Greece's people, language, and customs, and loves seeking out the hidden gems of the Greek islands. She studied Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, speaks French, Spanish, Arabic, and Greek, and never tires of inspiring wanderlust and learning new things about her adopted home country.

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