8 Days in Greece Itinerary and Expenses: Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos

Let's cap off our Big Fat Greek Holiday series with a blog post I know a lot have been waiting for! 

Whenever Ed and I travel, we often receive inquiries on our travel itinerary and expenses. Although I personally think that all these would depend on your travel style, and our choice of accommodation and activities may not be for everyone, we are always happy to share what we experienced.

As I often say, you can consider this blog post as a guide. Take whatever you think is helpful for you and include it in your self-made itinerary! So, without further ado, here's how we spent our days in Athens, Santorini, Naxos, and Mykonos!

Expenses Overview

• Preflight expenses: 2730 AED/person
• This includes visa fees, travel insurance, air tickets and ferry tickets.
• READ: How to apply for Greece Schengen Visa in Dubai

• Hotel bookings: 588 EUR for 2
• We stayed in boutique hotels (small yet stylish hotels), except during our last day wherein we have to stay at Holiday Inn Athens Attica as it is the most convenient for our morning flight.

• Transportation: 114 EUR/person
• This includes train, bus, and taxi rides

• Food:160 EUR/person
• Ed and I love to eat. Our 8-day food budget of less than 400 EUR was already sufficient for 1 full meal, 1 light meal, snack, and coffee break per day. 

• Extras: 166 EUR/person
• Extras are the activities like Zulu Bungy, Acropolis tickets, souvenirs, and whatnots.

• Total Travel Expenses per person: 6000 AED 

Start your Greek Holiday in one of the oldest cities in the world - Athens!

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Hello, Athens!
Time	Activity	Expenses
01:40 DXB time	Flight to Athens via Middle Eastern Airlines          With 4-hour layover in Beirut	Return ticket: 1,600 AED/person
10:15	Arrival at Athens International Airport
11:00	Train (Athens Metro) from Airport to Syntagma	9 EUR/person
12:00	Check-in at Adam’s Hotel	Rate as of October 2017: 85 EUR/night
12:30	Lunch in Taverna Ta Giouvetsakia in Plaka What we had: Souvalaki, Tzatziki, Moussaka, Wine and water	30 EUR for 2
15:00	DIY Walking Tour  Route: Plaka -- Anafiotika – Acropolis – Areopagus -- Monastiraki	Acropolis regular ticket: 20 EUR/person
18:00	Coffee break at A for Athens rooftop bar	4 EUR/frappe
19:00	Walk from Monastiraki to Plaka
20:00	Light dinner in Plaka  What we had: gyros and water	6 EUR/person

view of Acropolis from Adam's Hotel in Plaka

We devoted a lot of time aimlessly wandering in villages at the foot of the Acropolis.

And of course, we visited the Acropolis on Day #1.

Day 2: Jam-packed adventure day!
Time	Activity	Expenses
08:00	Breakfast in Adam’s Hotel ·    Checkout and store bags in the luggage room	complimentary
09:30	Taxi to KTEL Kifisou bus station in Athens When taking a taxi, it is best to ask the hotel receptionist to book it for you to avoid mishaps, especially with the fare!	15 EUR
10:30	Bus to Corinth	16 EUR/return ticket
11:30	Arrival in Corinth Canal
12:00	Zulu Bungy Do a weather check before you go! The facility is closed during bad weather condition.	80 EUR/package includes bungy jump, video, shirt
13:00	Lunch near Corinth bus station What we had: Souvlaki, Gyros, and drinks	15 EUR for 2
13:30	Bus to Athens
15:00	Syntagma Square: Watch changing of the guards' ceremony
15:30	Coffee break at Ermou Street	3 EUR/cup
16:15	Metro from Syntagma to Evangelismos	1.40 EUR/person
16:30	Walk from Evangelismos station to Telerifik station Note: This is an uphill walk!
17:00	Telerific Cable Car to Lycabettus Hill	7 EUR/return ticket
17:30	Lycabettus Hill: the highest spot in Athens
18:30	Back to Adam’s hotel to take bags           Metro from Evangelismos to Syntagma	1.40 EUR/person
20:00	Metro from Syntagma to Athens Airport	9 EUR/person
20:30	Light dinner in the airport What we had: sandwich, Greek yogurt, water	8 EUR for 2
23:15	Flight to Santorini via Ryanair        One-way with 15 kg luggage        Booked a month before travel date	40 EUR/person

For thrill-seekers like Ed, why don't you bungy jump in Corinth Canal! 

Not to be missed: Changing of the Guards ceremony in Syntagma

view of Athens from Lycabettus Hill

Want to know more about Athens? 
READ: Our Top 10 Recommendations for Athens

Day 3: Hiking and Sunset Watching in Santorini
Time	Activity	Expenses
00:05	Arrival in Santorini
00:30	Airport pickup (pre-booked)	25 EUR
01:00	Check in at Villa Maria Damigou in Firostefani	Rate as of October 2017: 300 EUR for 3 nights
09:00	Breakfast in Villa Maria Damigou	Complimentary
11:00	Hike to Oia       passed by Imerovigli, Skaros Rock, less popular villages and churches along the way
15:00	Arrival in Oia
15:30	Light snack at Skiza Cafe       What we had: Sundried tomato pie and water	6 EUR
16:00	Walk to Amoudi Bay via the donkey trail
16:30	Late lunch in Dimitri’s What we had: Greek Fava, Grilled octopus, Shrimp Saganaki, White Wine	55 EUR
18:00	Sunset watching in Oia Castle
19:30	Bus from Oia to Firostefani	1.80 EUR/person
20:30	Light dinner in Why Not Souvlaki               What we had: Pita Souvalaki and water	4 EUR

We endured a 4-hour hike to Oia! Tiring yet the most memorable activity we had in Santorini!

Amoudi Bay: Where we had a delicious seafood lunch after the hike.

Santorini is picturesque even from the donkey trail!

And here's the popular Santorini sunset!

Day 4: Exploring Fira and Oia
Time	Activity	Expenses
08:00	Breakfast in Villa Maria Damigou	Complimentary
10:00	Walk to Fira
10:30	Cable Car to Fira Old Port	6 EUR/person
11:00	Coffee break in Syrtaki Café in Old Port       What we had:  Cheese saganaki and frappe	14 EUR
12:00	Cable Car to Fira	6 EUR/person
12:30	Wander around Fira market
13:30	Bus to Oia           We were supposed to visit the Red Beach in Akrotiri but it was too cold for a swim. So, we decided to go back to Oia!	1.80 EUR
14:00	Lunch in Lotza What we had:  Santorinian Salad, Pork cooked in beer and honey, drinks	32 EUR for 2
15:00	Sightseeing in Oia         The goal: To search for popular photo op spots! J
16:30	Bus to Fira	1.80/person
17:00	Ice cream in Fira Market	2 EUR/scoop
18:00	Sunset watching on a random deck in Fira
20:00	Back in Why Not Souvlaki for dinner What we had: Souvlaki, Salad, Dolmades, Drinks	13 EUR for 2

Breakfast with a view in Santorini

Fira: the capital and commercial center of the island.

Oia: Hands down, the prettiest village in Santorini 

Want to know more about Santorini?
READ: Santorini on a budget: Is it possible?

Day 5: Escape to Naxos!
Time	Activity	Expenses
08:00	Breakfast in Villa Maria Damigou	Complimentary
09:00	Drop off at Santorini ferry port	25 EUR
10:45	Seajets Ferry to Naxos          Booked 2 weeks before travel date         Note: online tickets should be presented in Seajets office in the port for validation	43 EUR/person
12:10	Arrival in Naxos
12:30	Check in at Taki’s Place Guesthouse	Rate as of October 2017: 22 EUR/night
14:00	Lunch in Maro’s Taverna What we had: Cheese Saganaki, Pastitsio, Wine, Free dessert	15 EUR for 2
15:00	Naxos DIY walking tour        Places visited: St. George Beach, Naxos Harbor, Chora, Kastro, Portara
16:00	Coffee break at Gregory’s café What we had:  Frappe, Frozen Greek Yogurt, Kataifi	6 EUR for 2
18:00	Sunset watching in Portara
20:00	Dinner at Lotta What we had: Mixed grill, wine, water	16 EUR for 2

Somewhere in Naxos Chora

The Portara: remains of the unfinished Temple of Apollo in Naxos

We loved our time in this less popular island! 

Want to know more about Naxos?
READ: Reasons why Naxos should be on you Greek Isle itinerary

Day 6: Off to Mykonos!
Time	Activity	Expenses
09:00	Breakfast in Taki’s Place Guesthouse	Complimentary
11:30	Check out and walk to Naxos ferry port
12:25	Seajets Ferry to Mykonos       Booked 2 weeks before travel date       Note: online tickets should be presented in Seajets office opposite Naxos harbor for validation	39 EUR/person
13:05	Arrival in Mykonos
13:30	Pick up in ferry port	Complimentary
14:00	Check in at Pension Kalogera	Rate as of October 2017: 45 EUR/night
14:30	Wander around Mykonos Chora
15:00	Late lunch in Masdoupas What we had: Mykonian platter, water	20 EUR for 2
16:30	Chill by the old port       Alternatively, this free time can be spent at a popular party beach such as Paradise and Super Paradise.
18:00	Sunset watching by the windmills
20:00	Dinner at Saki’s What we had: Gyros and drinks	9 EUR for 2

Mykonos is known to be a party island, but it also has a quiet side.

Mykonos Chora is a labyrinth! Find your way out to Little Venice to take a breather!

Another magical sunset in the Greek islands. This time in Mykonos!

Day 7: Last day in the Greek islands
Time	Activity	Expenses
07:00	DIY walking tour before the crowd wave in   Places visited: Chora, Little Venice, Kato Mili Windmills, Kastro's, Panagia Paraportiani
09:00	Breakfast in Alegro’s  What we had:  Greek yogurt, Omelet, Coffee	20 EUR for 2
10:00	Free time spend looking for Petros the pelican
12:00	Check out and drop off at Mykonos airport Light lunch in the airport	Complimentary 6 EUR
15:15	Flight to Athens via Ryanair        One-way with 15 kg luggage        Booked a month before travel date	33 EUR/person
16:05	Arrival at Athens Airport
17:00	Take the Holiday Inn shuttle
17:30	Check in at Holiday Inn Athens Attica      We chose this hotel because it is near the airport; convenient for our morning flight the next day!	Rate as of October 2017: 136 EUR/night
18:00	Take Bus X95 to Syntagma Square	6 EUR/person
19:00	Arrival in Syntagma Walk to Plaka for dinner and souvenir shopping
19:30	Dinner in Karyatis	36 EUR for 2
20:30	Souvenir Shopping         Fridge Magnet         Greek Baklava	1 to 3 EUR each 5 to 10 EUR per box
22:00	Take Bus X95 to Airport alight in Holiday Inn Athens Attica Bus X95 is available 24 hours!	6 EUR per person

Wake up early to have Mykonos Chora to yourself!

Mornings in Greece should start with a cup of Greek coffee!

Meet Petros III: Mykonos' resident pelican

Want to know more about Mykonos?
READ: Mykonos for Non-Partygoers

Day 8: Bye, Greece! Efharisto!
Time	Activity	Expenses
06:00	Check out
06:30	Take Holiday Inn shuttle to the airport	Complimentary
11:15	Flight to Dubai via Middle East Airlines       With 3-hour layover in Beirut

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