Greece Island Hopping: 10+ Day Trip Itinerary
Greece Island Hopping: 10+ Day Trip Itinerary
Have you ever wondered how to island hop Greece properly, rather than squeezing it into a long weekend? A trip to Greece is all the more magical once you have 10 or more days to play with. With over 6,000 islands connected by one of the most reliable ferry networks in Europe, a 10+ day itinerary gives you plenty of time to pair Athens' ancient sites with two or three islands, rather than rushing between just one or two destinations.
This guide takes you through building a complete Greece island hopping itinerary in 10+ days – from Athens and the Cyclades islands to practical tips on car hire, accommodation and ferry tickets.
Island hopping in Greece rewards a little extra time, and 10+ days is the sweet spot for seeing more than one side of the country without feeling rushed.
Greece has one of the most impressive ferry networks in all of Europe, and with 10+ days on the ground, you'll likely use a mix of high speed ferries and conventional crossings to plot your way around between islands. Most routes start from Piraeus Port, a short bus ride from central Athens, with regular sailings across the Aegean Sea and Ionian Sea.
Ferry schedules operate far more frequently during the high season, roughly matching the busy summer months between June and September, when demand for ferry services is at its peak. If you're traveling in the shoulder season, either side of summer, services are usually reduced, so it's worth double-checking timings before you commit to a longer island hopping itinerary.
Broadly speaking, there are two main types of ferry:
Most 10+ day itineraries begin in Athens, which has excellent connections to the Greek islands. Athens is served by one of Greece's busiest international airports, with regular international flights arriving from across Europe and beyond, making it an easy jumping-off point whether you're arriving for the first time or catching a connecting flight home at the end of your trip. Many of the fastest island crossings depart early in the morning, so it's worth staying close to Piraeus the night before an early sailing.
Athens has three ports of its own: Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Other useful mainland ports include Thessaloniki, Igoumenitsa and Patras.
If you'd prefer to explore an island at your own pace once you arrive, it's worth deciding whether to rent a car. Car hire is widely available on the larger islands. Alternatively, you can use public transport and local buses to get between beaches, villages and archaeological sites. Both options are realistic over 10+ days, depending on how many stops you wish to make.
You can also bring your own car or caravan on the ferry where available to make the journey even easier. Bicycles are also allowed on most ferry routes throughout Greece.
The islands of Greece are divided into several island groups, and with 10+ days, you can afford to combine two of them. Options include the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, with islands to visit like Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Naxos, the Dodecanese, the Ionian Islands in the Ionian Sea, with destinations like Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, and the Saronic Islands, just a short boat trip from Athens. There's also Crete, the largest Greek island, which doesn't belong to a specific group but is well connected by ferry.
Planning a trip of this length benefits from a little structure, even if you leave room to improvise once you arrive. Here's the best way to assemble a 10+ day itinerary that actually works.
During the high season, ferry tickets for popular routes can sell out, so it's worth booking ahead if your dates are fixed, especially for busier crossings like the ferry from Athens to Mykonos and the ferry from Athens to Santorini. Traveling in the shoulder season means fewer crowds and more flexibility, but ferry schedules aren't usually as frequent, so check timings before you decide on your itinerary. If you have any further questions about booking or amending ferry tickets, please consult our travel FAQs.
With 10 or more days at your disposal, three or four stops are realistic – for example, Athens, followed by two or three islands. As a rough guide, spend two to three nights on each island, and remember that even a quick 20-minute or 30-minute ferry hop between neighboring islands still requires an extra check-in and a bus ride to and from the port at each end.
Our price finder and app allows you to compare ferry options, ferry schedules and prices across operators in one place, so you can plan your whole 10+ day itinerary without jumping between multiple websites.
Spend your first two days in Athens. Head to the Acropolis early in the morning to beat both the heat and the crowds, then continue to the Acropolis Museum, just within walking distance downhill from the main entrance – a fitting introduction to ancient Greek history before you even reach the islands. In the afternoon, cool off with a stroll through the National Garden, and finish the evening at a rooftop bar with a view of the Acropolis illuminated over the city.
On day three, take a short bus ride to Piraeus Port and board a high-speed ferry bound for Mykonos with SeaJets, arriving in under three hours. Alternatively, you can board a conventional ferry from Athens to Mykonos with Blue Star Ferries but it takes approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes.
Spend your first afternoon wandering Mykonos Town's whitewashed lanes, leaving time to explore the island beyond the harbor, then set aside a morning for one of the day trips to Delos, the UNESCO-listed archaeological site just a short boat ride away.
With extra days to spare, take the ferry from Mykonos to Paros and Naxos for a couple of quieter nights among sandy beaches and traditional villages, before eventually making your way to Santorini for the final stretch.
Plan to stay at least three nights in Santorini as it's easily one of Greece's most photographed islands, and with 10+ days you'll have plenty of time to enjoy it properly rather than squeezing in just one day in Santorini.
Base yourself in Fira or Oia and set aside a morning for the classic hike from Fira to Oia along the caldera edge, with sweeping caldera views the whole way. Many travelers also book a boat tour out to Nea Kameni, Santorini's active volcano, followed by a swim in the hot springs. Save your last evening for watching the sunset in Oia – arguably the most beautiful sunsets in the Aegean Sea.
When it's time to head home, Santorini's airport has regular connections back to Athens in time for your flight home, or you can fly out directly if international routes are running that week. Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Santorini to Athens and fly home from Athens International Airport instead.
Fly into Rhodes and spend your first two nights exploring the island's Old Town, a UNESCO-listed medieval archaeological site with cobbled lanes, the Palace of the Grand Master, and the harbor where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. Head out early in the morning before the cruise ship crowds arrive, then spend the afternoon cooling off at Elli Beach, a short distance from the Old Town walls.
On day three, take a short high-speed ferry from Rhodes to Symi with Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, Sebeco Lines or SAOS Ferries, arriving in around 1 hour and 5 minutes. Spend the day wandering Symi Town's neoclassical, pastel-colored harbor, leaving time to explore the island beyond the port before continuing. The monastery of Panormitis, tucked into a quiet bay on the island's south side, makes for a good half-day detour by local boat.
Continue north to Kos, where the island's flatter landscape makes it easy to get around by bike or car for the day. Set aside a morning for the archaeological site of the Asklepieion, an ancient healing sanctuary with sweeping views back over Kos Town, then spend the afternoon on one of the island's sandy beaches around Kefalos or Paradise Beach.
Plan to stay at least two nights in Patmos, the quietest stop on this route and one of Greece's most spiritually significant islands. Visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, both perched above Chora, then watch the sunset from the monastery walls – arguably one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Dodecanese, with none of the crowds you would find in Santorini.
Finish in Leros, an underappreciated island with a tranquil pace, Italianate architecture in Lakki, and a scattering of quiet coves best reached by a short boat trip. When it's time to head home, take the ferry back to Rhodes or Kos for your flight home, both of which offer regular international connections during the summer months.
Fly into Corfu and spend your first two days exploring the island's Old Town, a UNESCO-listed archaeological site layered with Venetian, French and British influences, from the Liston arcades to the Old Fortress overlooking the harbor. Set off early in the morning to beat the cruise ship crowds, then spend the afternoon on Paleokastritsa's beaches, a short bus ride from town.
On day three, take a short foot-passenger ferry with Kamelia Lines from Lefkimmi over to Paxi, arriving in around 45 minutes. Spend the day wandering Gaios' Venetian-style harbor and quiet backstreets, leaving enough time to explore the island beyond the port. Perhaps take a short boat trip out to the Blue Caves and neighboring Antipaxos if you have enough spare time.
Travel back to Corfu and pick up a hire car – it's worth choosing to rent a car for this next stretch to drive south to Lefkada, which, unlike the other islands on this route, is connected to the mainland by a causeway, so no ferry is required for this leg. Stay a night or two around Nydri or Vasiliki, using the car to reach some of Lefkada's sandy beaches, including Porto Katsiki and Egremni.
Plan to stay at least two nights on Kefalonia – it's the largest of the Ionian Islands, and there's plenty of time needed to properly see Myrtos Beach, the Melissani Cave, and Assos village without rushing. You can reach Kefalonia by taking the Lefkada to Sami ferry with Lefkada Palace in 3 hours and 30 minutes. Once you’re done, take the ferry from Poros to Kyllini.
Finish the trip on Zakynthos, reached via the ferry from Kyllini to Zakynthos on the island's east coast, a crossing of around 1 hour and 15 minutes. Ideally, base yourself near Agios Nikolaos for easy access to the Blue Caves and a boat trip out to Navagio, the famous shipwreck cove, then save your last evening for watching the sunset from one of the cliffside tavernas nearby.
When it's time to head home, Zakynthos has its own international airport, with direct summer flights to several European cities, or a short hop back to Athens in time for your flight home.
Fly into Rhodes, but skip the cruise-ship-thronged Old Town and spend your first night instead near the island's Ancient Kamiros, a little-visited archaeological site on the quiet west coast with views out over the sea toward Chalki. Head out early in the morning before the tour buses arrive, then cool off with a swim near the ruins before catching the small local ferry from Skala Kamirou across to Chalki.
On day two, take the short local ferry from Rhodes to Chalki with Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries or SAOS Ferries, arriving in around 1 hour and 50 minutes. Spend the day wandering the horseshoe-shaped harbor of Nimborio, leaving time to explore inland to the abandoned hilltop village of Chorio and its medieval castle. The tiny beach of Areta, cut off by cliffs and reachable only by boat, makes for a good half-day detour.
Continue on to Tilos by taking the Chalki to Tilos ferry, a designated bird sanctuary where hiking trails link scattered villages rather than beach resorts. Set aside a morning for the modest archaeological site of the ancient acropolis above Megalo Chorio, then spend the afternoon on one of the island's quiet beaches around Eristos or Plaka.
Plan to stay at least two nights on Nisyros, the quietest stop on this route and one of the most geologically remarkable islands in Greece. Walk down into the still-steaming Stefanos crater and visit the fortress-like Moni Panagias Spilianis, carved into the cliffs above Mandraki, then watch the sunset from the monastery terrace – arguably one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Dodecanese, with none of the crowds you'd find on Santorini.
Finish on Astypalea, an underappreciated island with a slower pace, Cycladic-white architecture beneath a Venetian castle in Chora, and a scattering of quiet coves like Kaminakia best reached by a short boat trip. When it's time to head home, take the ferry from Astypalea to Kos for your flight home, which offers regular international connections during the summer months.
Extra days also mean extra room for a spontaneous detour. Greece's ferry network offers frequent connections to nearby islands – and even neighboring countries – with many journeys taking under an hour, making it easy to add an extra day trip into a 10+ day itinerary.
From Corfu, it's just a 30 minute crossing over to Saranda in Albania – an easy addition if you want to say you've visited two countries on the same trip.
The Dodecanese are located very close to the Turkish coast, and routes like Kos to Bodrum make for a popular half-day trip, while Rhodes connects to Fethiye and Marmaris in Turkey.
Island hopping in Greece is straightforward once you know the basics: pick one or two island groups, like the Cyclades Islands or the Ionian Islands, then book ferry tickets between each stop using a mix of high speed ferries and conventional crossings. Most routes run from Piraeus Port near Athens, and with 10+ days on your side, you'll have enough time to island hop without rushing between destinations.
In practice, island hopping usually comes down to four steps:
A 10-day Greece itinerary family trip works best with fewer, longer stops rather than a new island every night. Athens, Mykonos and Santorini are a popular combination due to their convenient locations, with plenty of time built in for beach days, shorter sightseeing stints, and an occasional rest day between ferries.
A few adjustments make island hopping noticeably easier with children in tow. Favor high speed ferries under two hours over longer conventional crossings, since younger children tend to cope better with a short journey than a scenic but slow five-hour sailing.
Naxos and Paros are worth adding to the itinerary too. Both have gently sloping, sandy beaches and flatter town centers than Santorini's cliffside steps and cobblestones, which can be hard going with a stroller or tired legs. Most Greek ferry operators also let children aged four and under travel free, with discounted fares for older kids, so it's worth checking family rates before booking.
For a Greece island hopping 10 day itinerary for couples, prioritize Santorini and Mykonos for the scenery and sunsets, and consider adding a quieter island like Naxos or Paros in between for a change of pace. Booking a caldera-view hotel room in Oia for at least one night is a popular splurge for exactly this kind of trip.
For a more relaxed and romantic pace, consider traveling in the shoulder season (May, June or September) rather than peak summer as Oia's sunset viewpoints and Santorini's best restaurants get noticeably less crowded, and rates at adults-only hotels tend to drop as well. A private catamaran cruise around the Santorini caldera, usually including a swim stop and a barbecue dinner on board, is one of the most popular splurges for couples and typically needs booking a few days ahead in peak season.
If dinner with a view is the priority, reserve a table at one of Oia's clifftop restaurants at least a few weeks in advance for July and August, since the best sunset-facing tables sell out quickly. Finishing the trip with a night or two on a quieter island like Naxos, away from the crowds, is a good way to balance out the busier stops.
Ask around on travel forums and you'll find plenty of Greece travelers sharing their own Greece island hopping 10 day itinerary reddit threads, and the advice tends to be fairly consistent: don't try to cram in too much. Most experienced travelers recommend two or three islands, plus a couple of nights in Athens, rather than adding a fourth or fifth island just because the ferry schedule allows it.
A few pieces of advice come up again and again in these threads. Travelers frequently warn against booking a flight home on the same day as a ferry arrival, since summer crossings can be delayed or cancelled by strong winds with little notice. Many also suggest packing lighter than usual, as high-speed ferries typically have smaller luggage storage areas than conventional ships, and steep, cobbled streets on islands like Santorini and Mykonos aren't kind to large suitcases.
Another common tip is to book the first ferry of the day rather than a midday or afternoon departure, since morning sailings are generally more reliable and less likely to be affected by winds picking up later on. Finally, most threads agree that Athens deserves at least one full day rather than being treated purely as a transit stop on the way to the islands.
Yes, 10 days is comfortably enough time for Athens plus two islands. It's tighter if you attempt to add a third or fourth stop, but for the classic combination of Santorini and Mykonos with a couple of nights in Athens beforehand, you'll have ample time to see the highlights without feeling rushed.
A realistic split over 10 days looks something like two nights in Athens, four nights in Santorini, and three nights in Mykonos, with a travel day built in around each ferry leg. Since Athens to Santorini and Athens to Mykonos are both roughly a 3-to-5-hour ferry journey, it's entirely feasible to arrive on an island in the morning and still have a full afternoon to explore.
Where itineraries tend to fail when it comes to island hopping is trying to add a fourth stop, such as Naxos or Paros, without dropping a night from Santorini or Mykonos first – with only 10 days, adding a new island usually means shortening time somewhere else rather than adding it on top.
Ten or more days is more than enough time to fall in love with Greece, whichever combination of islands you choose. Use our price finder to compare ferry routes and ferry tickets, then get ready to explore the islands your own way.
If you're pressed for time, our 5–7 day itinerary also has you covered.
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