Athens, Santorini and Hydra make a great trio for an 8 day trip to Greece.
Santorini, with its dramatic caldera views and world-famous sunsets, offers the quintessential island experience, while Hydra, an under-the-radar gem, provides a peaceful island retreat with its car-free streets, idyllic swimming coves and bohemian charm.
Athens adds an exciting city dimension, blending ancient history with a lively, creative energy.
Our 8 Day Greece itinerary is for you if you're seeking a mix of remarkable sights, culture and relaxation.
Overview: 8 Days in Greece
Days 1-3: Santorini - Step into a postcard with the island's dramatic caldera views, world-famous sunsets and historic white-washed villages. Day 4: Athens - Taste authentic Greek cuisine, enjoy the city's creative energy and hang out on rooftop bars with Acropolis views. Days 5-7: Hydra - Relax on the car-free island known for its bohemian allure, thriving art scene and picturesque swimming coves. Day 8: Athens - Tour the Acropolis and Parthenon and discover Athens' diverse culinary scene. |
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8 Day Greece Itinerary
Days 1-3: Santorini
The first destination on your 8 day trip to Greece is Santorini. With its international airport, it's easy to get to.
Santorini is an extraordinary island created by a volcanic eruption around 2000 BC. Today, it overlooks a submerged ancient caldera, with traditional villages perched on its rim, offering spectacular sea views and unforgettable sunsets.
Since Santorini is known as one of Greece's most beautiful islands, its popularity can lead to large crowds. To enjoy a more tranquil experience and avoid inflated hotel prices, we recommend not travelling there during the summer months.
Where to stay in Santorini
To see magnificent caldera views and the iconic white-washed buildings with blue domes, Oia is the place to go. However, if you don't mind forgoing caldera views from your hotel, we have an excellent budget savings tip:
Consider staying in Finikia, a quaint village of traditional cave houses just a 15-20 minute walk from Oia. While you won’t get caldera views here, Finikia offers lovely sea views and is surrounded by vineyards.
This worked out perfectly for us - we spent our money dining at restaurants with caldera views in Oia instead. In Finikia, our budget got us a luxurious cave house with a private hot tub, rather than a mediocre hotel room in Oia.
A bonus of staying in Finikia is escaping the crowds in Oia for a quieter local setting.
🛁 Browse more cave house stays in FinikiaWhat to do in Santorini
Exploring Oia and Finikia
🌹 Treat yourself to a romantic dinner with caldera views in Oia. We dined at 1800-Floga, which had the perfect sunset setting. Be sure to reserve your table in advance.
🌅 Catch a sunset view without crowds. As sunset approaches, Oia gets packed with people vying for the perfect shot. To escape the crowds, we ventured along the path toward Amoudi Bay and stumbled upon a rough, unpaved trail off the main sidewalk.
🌯 Enjoy an affordable, authentic lunch at Pitogyros. This cozy gyro shop served one of our favourite meals in Santorini for just €6.40. If you’re new to gyros, it’s a pita packed with seasoned meat (usually pork or chicken), fresh veggies, fries and a tangy tzatziki sauce. See our other budget-friendly tips.
⛵ See Santorini from a different perspective on a catamaran cruise. For a unique view of the island, book a highly-rated catamaran cruise through GetYourGuide.🍷 Have a wine tasting at Domaine Sigalas Winery. Rather than drinking over-priced drinks along Oia's main strip, enjoy a wine tasting at Domaine Sigalas, and bring your favourite bottle back to enjoy in your hot tub
🥙 Dine at one of Finikia's local hot spots. The charming village has some of the best tavernas serving Greek cuisine with a modern twist. Here are three highly-rated spots to check out: Lefkes (so good we went twice!), Krinaki and Meze Meze.
Day 4: Athens
Athens is a lively city where ancient history blends with a modern, creative perspective. Recently, an influx of artists has revitalized neighbourhoods into cultural hubs, especially during the economic downturn when lower rents attracted creatives. This mix of old and new has infused the city with fresh energy.
Getting to Athens from Santorini
See our guide on how to get to the city centre from Athens airport and why we don't recommend taking the train.
Where to stay in Athens
What to do your first day in Athens
Clockwise from top left: Bios rooftop, unique architecture in Athens, Couleur Locale rooftop, gyro from Prodorpion
After settling into your hotel, relax and take in Athens' iconic Acropolis and Parthenon from the rooftops.
🎨 For a mix of ancient views and the city's creative energy, head to Bios, a rooftop bar at an arts centre where you can lounge in beach chairs and sip cocktails.
🌯 For dinner, devour a gyro at Prodorpion, a local favourite for its authentic and affordable Greek cuisine. At just 3.20 euros, it’s a steal.
🌃 As the night falls, take a walk to Couleur Locale, a lively rooftop bar with a view of the Acropolis lit up against the night sky. With daily DJ sets and a buzzing atmosphere, it’s a great spot to cap off your night.
Days 5-7: Hydra
Hydra Island is a calm, car-free escape with tranquil swimming coves, stylish boutiques, fresh cuisine and a fun nightlife. Its mix of bohemian charm and refined atmosphere, along with its proximity to Athens, make it a best-kept secret among European vacationers.
Getting to Hydra
To get from Athens to Hydra you just need to take a 1.25 hour passenger ferry from Piraeus Port.
See our tips on how to get from Athens to Hydra and which ferry company we prefer.
Where to stay on Hydra
While Hydra lacks a wide range of hotels, its charming apartments and guesthouses are a great alternative. Since Hydra is a hilly island, staying about a five-minute walk from Hydra Port strikes the ideal balance - far enough to escape the noise, yet close enough to avoid a big climb.
Our stay in the Sunset Studio at Hydra Dream Houses was excellent. Its quiet surroundings, private terrace with a view, and easy access to the main port were perfect for us. 🛌 Browse more stays on Hydra IslandWhat to do in Hydra
Clockwise from top left: DESTE Projectspace Slaughterhouse, Hydronetta Bar, Isalos Cafe, swimming cove on Hydra
See our comprehensive 3 Day Hydra Itinerary packed with idyllic swimming spots, charming places to eat, and must-try experiences.
Here are the highlights:
- 🧜♀️ Beach hop along coastal paths and enjoy sunset drinks at cliffside bars
- 🍴 Eat fresh Greek cuisine at tucked-away restaurants
- 👡 Browse chic boutiques featuring Greek designers
- 🏖 Take a day trip to a secluded beach paradise
- 🎨 Visit a cutting-edge gallery in a former slaughterhouse
- ⭐ Enjoy a film under the stars
- 🍹Experience Hydra's buzzing nightlife scene
Read the full Hydra itinerary here.
Also, don’t miss our list of 18 fun activities to do on the island.
Day 8: Athens
Explore more of the ancient city for your last day in Greece - this sets you up nicely to depart from the international airport the next day.
Catch a morning ferry from Hydra to Athens, so you have the whole day to explore the dynamic city. We recommend staying at Monsieur Didot again.What to do your last day in Athens
Clockwise from top left: brunch at Me Kolonaki, Ancient Greek Sandals flagship, Line Bar courtyard, dinner at Birdman
🥗 After dropping your bags off at your hotel, take a stroll to Me Kolonaki, a chic bistro known for its healthy lunch options like power bowls, open-faced toasts, fresh juices and smoothies.
🏛️ After lunch, learn more about Athen's ancient history with a walking tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon through Viator. The views are breathtaking, and you’ll have a licensed archaeologist as your guide with skip-the-line access.🩴 Visit the flagship store of Ancient Greek Sandals, where local artisans craft stylish sandals using traditional techniques. This iconic brand is a nod to Greek heritage and has even caught the eye of celebrities.
♨️ Discover Athen's diverse food scene with dinner at Birdman. The Tokyo-inspired pub features yakitori (grilled skewers) cooked on an open fire and melt-in-your-mouth wagyu nigiri. Pair your meal with sake and listen to music on their Hi-Fi sound system. It's listed as one of the best restaurants in Athens by Conde Nast and we can see why.
🍸 Cap off your night with cocktails at one of the world's best bars. Line Bar, ranked #12 on the World's 50 Best Bars list, is a former art gallery turned industrial bar. Try their innovative cocktails and book a table in the buzzing outdoor courtyard.
Enjoy your 8 days in Greece!
Get started on planning your trip to Greece
- 🛌 Book your accommodation: in Santorini, Athens and Hydra
- 🚕 Book your airport transfer: to Athens city centre with Welcome Pickups
- ⛴️ Reserve your ferry to Hydra: Direct Ferries
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Don't miss our other Greece itineraries:
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