How to Plan the Best 7 Day Greece Itinerary in the Cyclades Islands
This 7 days in Greece itinerary includes two of the best Greek islands you can visit in the Cyclades for crystal clear water and charming seaside towns.
Looking for a 7 day Greece itinerary full of whitewashed villages, stunning beaches, and a dose of adventure? This Cyclades island-hopping vacation ticks every box and then some.
With a week in Greece, I recommend splitting time between two spots so you can experience as much Greek culture and scenery as possible.
This Greece itinerary for 7 days includes Santorini and Naxos — the first uber-popular and seriously gorgeous, with high cliffs on a volcanic caldera, and the second the largest island in the chain, full of mountains, sandy beaches and rolling farmlands.
The pair of islands are just a couple hours apart by ferry, and flights from Athens go to both, so you can do this trip in any order.
If you have more than one week in Greece, be sure to check out this 10-day island-hopping itinerary that squeezes in Milos and Athens, too. For a shorter option, this is how we recommend spending 5 days in Greece.
7 Days in Greece Itinerary and Guide
The 7 days in Greece itinerary below includes the best things to do in Santorini and Naxos, plus info on how to get to each island and where to stay.
Naxos Itinerary
The largest of the Cyclades islands, Naxos has a mountainous interior and miles of sandy beachfront. Old villages with classic white cube buildings dot the hillsides and ruins of castles, churches, temples and towers from centuries ago can be spotted wherever you roam. The island is primed for everything from chilled beach getaways to adventurous hikes to fun road trips and is must-see while Cyclades island hopping. These are some of the top things to do in Naxos during a 7 day Greece itinerary.
Day 1 — Naxos Beaches and Hiking
There’s no better way to start a 7 day Greece itinerary than with a visit to some of the prettiest beaches in the Cyclades. If you want to mix some adventure in with beach hopping, start the day with a scenic hike up the tallest peak in the island chain. Those gorgeous Naxos beaches will be all the more inviting after a sweaty climb.
Naxos Trails
Perhaps the most epic trail on the island, the path on Mount Zas leads hikers to the peak of the highest point in the Cyclades. At some 3 miles up and down the 3,000-foot mountain, it’s not quite as intimidating as it sounds, but some level of fitness and proper footwear is essential. There are two paths up, but the one from Fontaine d’Aria (a historic spring fountain) passes by the cave where legend says that Zeus was born.
Naxos Beaches
The west side of Naxos is the place to go for gorgeous sandy beaches, some popular and packed with amenities and other quiet and secluded. There are tons to choose from, so pick a couple to see during your 7 days in Greece.
Close to Naxos town, try spots like Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios and Agios Anna for soft sand, chair and umbrella rentals, and breezy beach cafes.
For something a little less crowded, head about 30 miles down the coast toward the beaches of Pyrgaki, with its long stretch of sand to spread out on and Aliko, with little coves and dunes making private spots to swim and sun.
Day 2 — Naxos Villages and Sightseeing
Pretty white villages built into hillsides and rolling farmlands fill the mountainous inland of Naxos. You’ll want to rent a car or hop on an escorted tour to check out this region during your 7 day Greece itinerary. Not counting stops, it’s about a 3-hour drive starting from Naxos town through the middle of the island to seaside Apollonas and back around the coast.
Naxos Ruins
If you’re into ruins, pay a quick visit to the Temple of Demeter on the way. These marble remnants of a 6th-century BC temple have been partly stacked back up in their original form. Demeter was the goddess of the harvest, so this structure was erected in the midst of an agricultural region.
Naxos Villages
For village stops, you’ll want to consider neighboring Filoti and Chalkio — the latter was once the island capital and both have old Byzantine churches and Venetian-era towers.
Apiranthos sits at nearly 2,000 feet elevation in the mountains with alleys winding up and down the slopes and breezy patio cafes offering stunning views. Also among the highest island villages, Koronos once flourished with the prosperity of the surrounding emery mines and still feels rather authentic tucked away in the hills some 20 miles from Chora.
Apollonas is on the northern end of the island, with a secluded beach-resort vibe on a small bay. There’s a sandy beachfront, a little boat harbor and a row of covered, open-air restaurants lining the water. Just outside the town, you can see the Kouros of Apollonas, a giant marble statue left partly finished at an old quarry.
Naxos Town
Naxos town, or Chora, is home to the island’s ferry port and is a must-see during your 7 day Greece itinerary. Along the waterfront, restaurant dining rooms under covered patios dish up fresh-caught seafood and Greek favorites. Stone streets full of clothing boutiques, gift shops and galleries wind uphill toward an old fortress. The most notable attraction is the Apollo Temple ruins from the 500s BC that sit on a little islet connected to the city.
Day 3 — Naxos Boat Trip
Naxos is full of pretty beaches, so you could certainly fill another whole day lounging on one. But, there are also some stunning sites around the island best explored on boat tours of Naxos.
Small Cyclades
Catamaran rides typically head toward the Lesser Cyclades, a little complex of islets southeast of Naxos. Here you can snorkel in perfectly clear water, visit quiet coves and beaches, and spot local sealife like wild dolphins. Excursions can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day.
Paros
Island-hopping to nearby Paros to see its towns and beaches is another way to spend the day. It’s just a 30 to 45-minute ferry ride away, or you can book small boat tours to get there. Vessels dock at the harbor in Parikia, of Paros town, where you can check out castle ruins and snap photos of the whitewashed buildings. Hop over to the town of Naoussa for some of the best beaches on a wide bay.
Where to Stay in Naxos
Day 4 — Naxos to Santorini
Midway through your 7 days in Greece itinerary, it’s time to transfer to the next island. The travel time between Naxos and Santorini is just a couple of hours, so you can spend the rest of this day on whichever island you want to give a little extra time to. You can easily pass a couple of hours exploring the harbor town in Naxos, but the Santorini dock is pretty small and crowded, so plan to head out of there right away.
Naxos to Santorini Ferry
Naxos to Santorini ferry routes typically run anywhere from 1 to 3 hours, depending on which company you use. Larger boats carry cars while smaller vessels will be passengers only. You can check for times and prices on FerryHopper.com and either book ahead or visit one of the ticket offices by the port.
Ferries dock at the crowded Santorini port at the bottom of the cliffs about 5 miles south of Fira. Options for transit include car rentals and shuttle transfers, which should be booked ahead, the public bus to Fira, or taxis, which can be hard to come by. There are a few cafes by the port in case you need a place to grab a coffee and wait.
Santorini Itinerary
The sweetheart of the Cyclades, Santorini beckons honeymooners, cruisers and seasoned travelers alike. It’s one of the most popular Greek islands, so summers get a bit crowded on the beaches and in some towns, but you can always escape down into the caldera on boat rides or head off on four-wheelers in search of lesser-known villages. Here’s how to spend 3 days in Santorini during your 7 day itinerary in Greece.
Day 5 — Santorini Villages
Santorini’s most famous white villages sit on the northwestern side of the island, where the cliffs rise high above the caldera for epic views. Pop into all three of the towns below if you have the time during your 7 days in Greece, as each has its own flavor despite the similar architecture. Oia attracts the most sunset seekers, but the other two offer swoon-worthy displays of color, too.
Oia
Its blue domes and windmills grace many a postcard, so it’s no surprise that Oia draws crowds seeking the perfect skyline picture of white buildings and windmills built into the island cliffs. It’s located on the northern tip of Santorini, so the coastline views looking back toward Fira are pretty epic, too.
Painted storefronts with souvenirs and boutique jewelry line the stone streets here and cafes boast balconies open to the sea breezes.
You can walk down a long run of steps to Amoudi Bay to swim in the turquoise water and chow on fresh seafood, or pop over to the ruins of a Byzantine castle — one of the top spots to watch the sunset. Or, check out these other things to do in Oia for more inspiration.
Imerovigli
The quieter cousin to Oia — and honestly just as pretty — Imerovigli isn’t packed to the brim with tourist amenities. But, that makes it far less crowded and perfect for wandering around, getting lost along winding alleys and snapping photos of church bell towers.
As the highest village on this end of the island, Imerovigli boasts incredible views, especially from the white-painted hotels and villas built into the cliffs. You can also take in incredible panoramas by hiking out to Skaros Rock from here — a little piece of land poking out from the town has the scattered remains of a medieval fort and a flat-topped rock perfect for climbing.
Fira
Santorini’s capital, Fira bursts with tourist amenities and activities. There are plenty of shopping and dining options, of course, with souvenir stores, boutiques and Greek restaurants lining the city streets.
But, if you want to do something a little different, consider paying a visit to one of the town’s museums. History and culture buffs might enjoy the Archaeological Museum of Thera, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the Folklore Museum.
Day 6 — Santorini Sightseeing and Beaches
Sightseeing around the rest of Santorini doesn’t take long as it’s only about a 40-minute drive from end to end of the island. There’s still plenty to see here, though, so you can spend your day exploring ruins, lazing on black beaches or doing a little of both.
Rent a vehicle for the day to get around at your own pace, or consider a guided tour that hits the highlights. Buses also go to many of these spots, but you might have to trim down what you see a bit to fit it all into your 7 day Greece itinerary.
Santorini Beaches
Black beaches of rocks, pebbles and sand line the eastern side of Santorini, where the island flattens down to meet the sea. The most popular beaches here are Perivolos, Kamari and Perissa — all dark-hued spots with tourist amenities like cafes, water sports and lounge-chair rentals.
The south coast of the island has the striking Red Beach, where rust-colored sheer cliffs drop down to a sandy cove. The contrast of the red with the vibrant blue water makes for a picture-perfect setting and unique beach day.
Santorini Ruins
Mesa Vouno mountain juts up along the eastern coast between Kamari and Perissa and holds the ruins of Ancient Thera, a Hellenistic settlement dating to around the 8th century BC. Tourists can wander the site to see the remains of old baths, temples, theaters and markets. It’s even possible to hike up here from the beaches below for a little exercise and some epic coastline views.
Near Red Beach, excavations of the prehistoric Akrotiri village are open to visitors. A volcanic eruption in the Bronze Age both destroyed the settlement and froze it in time for the modern world to witness and study. You can see some of the artifacts uncovered here at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira.
If you make it to the far southwestern tip of Santorini — the opposite end from Oia — you’ll wind up at the Akrotiri Lighthouse. From the grounds of the 1800s beacon, you’ll catch stunning views of both coastlines of the island.
Day 7 — Santorini Sailing
A boat excursion in the Santorini caldera is the perfect end to a 7 days in Greece island vacation. You’ll soak up the sun, swim in clear water and catch a picture-perfect sunset.
Santorini Caldera Boat Rides
Full and half-day boat tours from the island sail around the Santorini caldera. From below, you can stare up at the pretty white villages on the cliffs and get up close to some of the other islands in the cone.
The catamaran will pause in different spots for snorkeling and swimming in the clear water. Other highlights typically include visits to colorful beaches, an excursion to the quiet island of Thirassia, and a chance to float around in warm volcanic springs.
If you book a trip that departs later in the day, you’ll also stay out on the water to watch the Santorini sunset streaking the sky in shades of pink and purple.
Where to Stay in Santorini
Tips for a Week in Greece Cyclades Island Hopping
How to Get to Greece and the Islands
It’s typically cheaper to book your international flight into Athens on the mainland instead of aiming for Santorini or one of the islands. From the bigger city, you can take either a short island flight (typically under an hour) or book a ferry out of Piraeus Port. If you have a long enough layover in the Greek capital, check out this guide for how to spend one day in Athens.
Is 7 Days in Greece Enough Time?
Between the historic mainland cities and literally hundreds of islands in Greece, you could spend weeks or months on end here and still not see it all. For your first trip to the country, I would recommend spending at least 7 days in Greece if you are coming from far away.
With a 7 day Greece itinerary, you can either see a couple of islands as we detail above or just visit Athens and one island. I would recommend spending closer to 10 days or two weeks in Greece if you can, but 7 days in Greece is enough to get a first look and have an enjoyable vacation.
Where to Go For 7 Days in Greece
I recommend island hopping during your week in Greece. It’s tempting to veg out on one island during a 7 day Greece itinerary, but unless you’re on a honeymoon and really want to chill, we recommend island hopping during your stay.
Try to make one a quieter destination than Santorini or Mykonos if you can help it. You’ll appreciate the slower pace and fewer crowds when you compare it to the busy ones.
When to Visit the Greek Islands
Summer is a sunny and perfect time to visit Greece, which is why many of the islands in the Cyclades will be packed, especially on small but popular islands like Santorini. If you have a flexible schedule, consider a shoulder season visit around May, September or October, when the weather is still typically balmy enough for beach days.
I visited from late September to early October as the tourist season was wrapping up on the islands. I was still able to catch tours and boat rides while they were open but the crowd levels were much lower than in summer.
What Should I Not Miss During a Greece Itinerary?
I would highly recommend taking a boat ride while you’re in Greece. Unreal turquoise water that’s clear as a pool surrounds the Greek islands, and the best way to enjoy it is on a boat ride that takes you away from crowded beaches to stunning swimming spots. You don’t have to book one on every island, but it’s also not a terrible idea.
What to Pack for the Greek Islands
I recommend packing light for your trip to Greece. Uneven stone streets, hillside villages, and ferry hopping can make it tricky to juggle a lot of luggage while visiting the islands on a Greece 1 week itinerary. Plus, the warm weather means you only need to bring along lighter clothes and beachwear, which fold up small. Consult our Greece packing checklist for what you should bring with you.
