The Greece Island Hopper - 10 Days in Greece
Greece was such a magical trip for my partner and I. Having been to Greece before, I really wanted to explore more of the islands, experience the amazing culture and food again, and relax on the beach. My goal of this trip was to spend the least amount of time transferring between islands and more time exploring the islands I chose. In saying this, my island choices were very much influenced by the islands with shorter ferry rides, direct flights, etc.
This trip is perfect for a couple, a group of friends, or even a family! If you are looking to explore what Greece has to offer in a relaxing, budget friendly way - this may be the perfect trip for you.
We went to Greece at the beginning of October, and loved the quieter nature of the islands. If I were to return, I might choose to travel a few weeks earlier in September- beginning of October as the islands are quieter, cheaper, and still warm (for us Canadian folk at least)!
If you are looking to rent a car, check out Discover Cars for the best deals. Discover Cars is what we used for our day of exploring Paros!
Hotels
Sea House Paros
Paros Nights 1-3: We decided to stay in Naousa based on a recommendation from a friend who had visited recently. We absolutely loved it and would highly recommend staying in this town! We stayed at the Sea House, which was in the PERFECT location (seriously, SO stunning). The hotel is small, but it is family owned and run which we loved. Our hotel room was a little outdated but we spent so much time outdoors that we really didn’t mind.
If you are looking for a more resort feel hotel with a pool (and close to the beach!), check out Cove Paros. It was an absolutely stunning hotel as well.
For all hotel options in Naousa, click here.
Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Naxos Nights 4-6: We really enjoyed our stay at Liana Beach Hotel & Spa. Our room was newly renovated and modern. There was a buffet breakfast included with the room and a spa facility that we enjoyed. The hotel is also located right at the beach (to note, there is a road between the hotel and beach) and next to the famous Butt Rock!
If you are not interested in Liana Beach Hotel & Spa, click here for more hotel options in Naxos!
Casa Sigala Cave
Santorini Nights 7-8: We ended up choosing to stay at an Airbnb based on what was available and price. The Airbnb had a stunning view, however I did wish I had stayed somewhere with a pool. If I return, I may opt to pay a little more and stay at a place with a pool instead. Check out some options here.
Syntagma Luxury Living One “LL1” Apartments
Athens Night 9: We chose this apartment based on price and location. It was located near the Metro, which meant we wouldn’t have to walk too far with our luggage. It was also located walking distance to the main streets of Athens and the Acropolis.
The place was perfect for us! Clean, modern, and was stocked with everything we needed. Great value!
If this place does not interest you, check here for more options!
Day 1
- 1
Land in Athens
We landed in Athens after an overnight flight from Canada. We then quickly caught our connecting flight to Paros.
- 2
Land in Paros
1:00PM
The Paros airport is one of the smallest airports I have ever been to, so it didn’t take us long to get through and catch a taxi to Naousa!
Taxi to Hotel
2:00PM
The Sea House is a little tricky to find if you are driving yourself, make sure to have Google Maps downloaded to your phone and don’t be shocked if it brings you down some narrow roads.
- 3
Check into Sea House Paros
- 4
Explore Naousa
2hr·4:00PM - 6:00PM
After our long night/day of travel, we wanted to take some time to relax at our hotel before going and exploring town.
After a quick power nap, we walked from our hotel into town. Our hotel was in a great location - a quick walk along Piperi Beach into town.
We then got lost among all the cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings. We even got to watch a wedding (a very Mamma Mia moment)!
- 5
Dinner at Souvlakia KARGAS
We grabbed a quick dinner at Souvlakia KARGAS and were so happy to finally enjoy some Greek food. We would definitely recommend checking this place out if you want a quick (and cheap) gyro!
- 6
Watch Sunset at Hotel
We were exhausted after a long travel day, so we headed back to our hotel. We enjoyed watching the sunset from our hotel patio.
- 7
Swim at Piperi Beach
1hr·8:00PM - 9:00PM
Our first day in Greece wouldn’t be complete without a dip in the ocean! As our hotel was just a few steps from Piperi beach, we had no excuse to not go for a night swim.
- 8
Stay at Sea House
Day 2
- 1
Sunrise at Venetian Castle
1hr·7:30AM - 8:30AM
This was one of my favourite activities in Paros. Choosing to explore the Venetian castle and its magnificent views of Paros at sunrise meant that we had the place to ourselves. I also loved walking through town before everyone was up (a great time for taking photos).
- 2
Breakfast at Ragoussis
We ended up going to Ragoussis a few mornings because the patio was perfectly situated for the morning sun to hit. We loved sitting outside with our breakfast and checking through our emails. This cafe would be a perfect spot to do work as there was lots of seating, free wifi, and a kids section!
- 3
Enjoy Agioi Anargyroi Beach
1hr 30min·10:30AM - 12:00PM
We enjoyed the beautiful sandy beach and warm waters.
A great beach to relax, swim, and soak up the sunshine.
- 4
Lunch at Rada
Located right at the beach and inside Cove Hotel, we enjoyed a lunch at Rada. Although their food is a little more pricey, we enjoyed the beautiful setting.
- 5
Wine tasting at Moraitis
Moraitis winery is a quick walk from Cove Hotel. We enjoyed learning more about Moraitis wine and enjoyed a wine tasting. I would highly recommend this activity for any wine lover!
Tip: buy a bottle or two to enjoy later :)
Pizza from Piccolo
1hr·6:00PM - 7:00PM
We loved our room patio so much that we decided to get takeout pizza and eat it on our patio as we watched the sun go down (with a bottle from Moraitis Winery of course!)
Another great option would have been to go to Safran Restaurant, nestled in one of the pedestrian only streets. It had great vibes and was tucked away from the wind.
- 6
Walk the old town
1hr·7:00PM - 8:00PM
Naousa gets quite lively at night. It is a wonderful time to get lost in the streets, enjoy some dessert, and do some shopping.
- 7
Gelato from Solo Gelato
The day wouldn’t be complete without some delicious Gelato! We wanted to try Nonna Gelato as we heard good things, however they were closed. I still very much enjoyed my gelato from Solo Gelato.
- 8
Stay at Sea House
Day 3
Car Rental
To complete this day, we needed rented a car! The best place to look is on Discover Cars.
You could also rent an ATV or motorcycle, however having never driven in Greece we felt more comfortable having a car. It was also nice because we were able to bring everything we needed for the day including our towels and bathing suits.
We picked up the car right after breakfast in Naousa. Easy pickup/drop-off and overall we found the roads in Greece very manageable to drive on.
You may also opt to do a Sailing Cruise around Paros on this day instead. I’ve heard great things about cruising around the beautiful blue waters of Paros, check out a sailing tour HERE.
- 1
Breakfast at Ragoussis
You can probably tell by now that we are both early risers! We started off our day again at Ragoussis because we enjoyed their breakfast so much. We got all caught up on our emails and social medias before hitting the road for the day.
- 2
Monastery of St. John's of Deti
30min·9:00AM - 9:30AM
Our first stop was to check out the Monastery of St. John’s of Deti. It was neat to check out if you are planning to stop at a beach nearby, but I personally wouldn’t go out of my way to visit.
We also went and visited Monastiri Beach. It was a beautiful beach and would be a great option if you are looking for a different beach to enjoy!
- 3
Kolympethres Beach
1hr 30min·9:30AM - 11:00AM
We enjoyed relaxing at Kolympethres Beach - one of the most famous beaches in Paros. It was surprisingly quiet for us, but that was likely due to the time of year that we visited.
- 4
Lunch at Cosa
We then drove to Parikia and parked in a free parking lot located here. It was a short walk into town and we found it easier than finding street parking.
We walked along the water until we found a restaurant that interested us. I would recommend doing the same as there are many options and something for everyone. I got a smoothie bowl and enjoyed it.
- 5
Explore Parikia
2hr·1:00PM - 3:00PM
We then walked around the streets of Parikia (the capital and main port of Paros). We loved roaming the narrow streets while enjoying the architecture and taking many beautiful pictures. You could definitely spend more time here, especially if you are wanting to do some shopping.
- 6
Explore Lefkes
2hr·3:00PM - 5:00PM
We then drove to Lefkes, and parked in a free lot that can be found here.
Although Lefkes is a small town, we loved getting to explore it. With a few small coffee shops, it is a good option for a place to stop if you are looking for an afternoon cappuccino. It also has some beautiful picture worthy streets.
- 7
Cooking Class with Maria
We then drove to Dryos to participate in easily one of our favourite activities of the trip! We LOVED getting to cook authentic greek food while dancing around the kitchen with a glass of wine. We met some wonderful people and learned a few new cooking tricks!
Return Rental Car
9:30PM
We drove back to Naousa, returned the car, and headed back to our place for the night.
With many bars and restaurants around, you could easily keep the party going and find a fun place to go out for the night.
- 8
Stay at Sea House
Day 4
- 1
Breakfast at Almond in Paros
We slept in and then enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at Almond Paros before heading to the ferry port. Amazing smoothie bowl, would highly recommend!
- 2
Ferry to Naxos
50min·11:55AM - 12:45PM
After breakfast, we grabbed a taxi to take us from our hotel in Naousa to the Port of Paros.
One of the reasons I chose to visit the island of Naxos next was because it was only a 50 minute ferry ride from Paros, so we wouldn't be travelling for the whole day.
- 3
Check into Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Once off the ferry, we took a quick 15 minute taxi drive to our hotel. It is also a fairly easy bus ride, but with all our luggage we felt taking a taxi would be better.
If you are wanting to have even more convenience, you can pre book a transfer from the port to the hotel here.
Once at our hotel, it was a very quick check-in process where a staff member showed us around the hotel and our room. All staff were super friendly!
- 4
Lunch at Kavourakia Grill House
1hr·1:00PM - 2:00PM
This restaurant was the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat being only a 5 minute walk from our hotel.
To note, many restaurants around our hotel were closed because of the time of year so our selection was limited!
- 5
Relax at Agios Prokopios beach
4hr·2:00PM - 6:00PM
We enjoyed an afternoon of swimming and relaxing on the beach. I stayed out to watch the sunset as my partner went in and started on a workout at our hotel gym.
- 6
Dinner at Colosseo Restaurant Naxos
We got a workout in at the hotel gym before getting ready for dinner.
With lots of food options and great service, we enjoyed our dinner at Colosseo. We even considered returning the next day!
- 7
Hotel Jacuzzi
We then enjoyed the jacuzzi spa located at the hotel.
If you are looking for something to do at night, you can checkout Prokopios Arts Festival and Art Cafe for some live music or outdoor movies. They are both located only a few minute walk from our hotel!
Stay at Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Day 5
- 1
Breakfast at Hotel
A great breakfast buffet with a lot of outdoor seating. We enjoyed eating breakfast while soaking in the ocean views nearby.
- 2
Walk along Agia Anna Beach
1hr·8:00AM - 9:00AM
We decided to explore our neighboring beach. Only a short walk away (although you do have to walk on the road) we loved checking out what was around our hotel.
- 3
Visit Goat in a Boat Bakery
Goat in a Boat was closed when we went by, but I was recommended this bakery and it looks like a great place to stop for a coffee and breakfast!
- 4
Relaxed at Agios Prokopios beach
10:00AM
With beach loungers available specifically for guests of Liana Hotel, we soaked in as much beach time as possible.
- 5
Lunch at Kavourakia Grill House
1hr·12:00PM - 1:00PM
We decided to return for a quick lunch because it was right beside the bus stop.
Bus to Chora
30min·1:30PM - 2:00PM
The bus pickup stop is only a few minutes walk from our hotel, which was very convenient! You can buy bus tickets from the Market Agios Prokopios, which is located across from the bus stop.
For more information on how to bus around Naxos, checkout their website here.
- 6
Explore the Old Town of Chora
3hr 30min·1:30PM - 5:00PM
We spent the afternoon exploring Chora and getting lost in the narrow streets.
I would definitely make sure you take some time to explore the town, even if you only have a few hours.
- 7
Drinks at Avaton
We actually stumbled upon this rooftop patio, and are so glad that we did! It’s the perfect place for an afternoon cocktail and has the best views of Chora and the ocean.
- 8
Sunset at Temple of Apollo - Portara
1hr·6:30PM - 7:30PM
One of the most popular activities in Naxos, our trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Temple of Apollo - Portara. Although you can visit anytime during the day, watching the sunset from the gate is popular among tourists. It is also a great place to take pictures of Naxos.
If you are wanting to do a tour of Portara Gate, check out this tour here.
- 9
Dinner at Taverna Naxos
I cannot recommend eating here enough! The food was delicious, the service was amazing, and the free orange cake for dessert was the cherry on top! One of our favourite meals of the trip.
Bus back to Hotel
30min·9:30PM - 10:00PM
We grabbed the bus from the bus station in Chora and it took us back to the bus stop at Agios Prokopios.
Stay at Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Day 6
Bus Tour of Naxos
We had originally planned to do a boat tour, however it got canceled due to projected windy weather. We instead did a Day Bus Tour and really enjoyed it. The weather ended up being totally fine, and the bus tour gave us a good sense of the island. Both tours are great options if you are not planning to rent a car on Naxos! Check them out here:
If you would rather check out another island instead of exploring more of Naxos, you could opt to do a Day Tour to Mykonos Island instead.
- 1
Breakfast at Hotel
8:00AM
We both really enjoyed our buffet breakfast, with unlimited fresh squeezed orange juice, I most definitely drank my fair share!
- 2
Bus Tour Pick Up
9:00AM
We were picked up at the bus stop just a few minutes walk from our hotel. We then met up with the larger group closer to Chora.
- 3
Bus Tour Stop 1: Demeter temple
Our first stop was at a 530 BCE temple that was then converted to a church in the 6th century. Although this stop felt a little rushed to me, it was neat to be able to see this landmark.
- 4
Bus Tour Stop 2: Damalas
At this stop we visited an ancient olive press and learned how olive oil is made. We also visited a potter workshop where we had the opportunity to buy handmade pottery.
- 5
Bus Tour Stop 3: Chalki village
We opted to spend the time walking around the town and doing some shopping, however you can also choose to visit a distillery.
- 6
Bus Tour Stop 4: Apiranthos
We then visited Apiranthos town located on the slopes of Mount Fanari. We enjoyed walking the marbled alleys and grabbing an afternoon drink.
- 7
Bus Tour Stop 5: Apollonas
We then visited the small fishing village of Apollonas where we had time to sit down for a late lunch. There was also enough time for a quick dip in the ocean!
- 8
Bus Tour Stop 6: Kouros Statue
On our way out of Apollonas, we stopped at the unfinished markle Fouros Statue that is over 2500 years old! This was really neat to see.
Bus Tour Drop Off
6:30PM
We then got dropped off at the bus stop near our hotel.
- 9
Dinner at Symposium
We were tired after a busy day, so we opted to have dinner at our hotel. It was a great meal and we enjoyed sitting near the ocean.
Stay at Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Day 7
- 1
Breakfast at Hotel
We again enjoyed breakfast at our hotel. The hotel provided breakfast buffet was perfect for us and one of the reasons we loved this hotel so much!
- 2
Morning at Agios Prokopios beach
3hr·9:00AM - 12:00PM
We headed down to the beach for one last beach morning before we left Naxos. This hotel is perfect for someone looking to mix in some time at the beach.
- 3
Ferry to Santorini
2hr·1:00PM - 3:00PM
We then took a quick 15 minute taxi ride to the Port of Naxos and hopped on the ferry.
The ferry ride was about 2 hours, I was able to watch Mamma Mia!
- 4
Drive from Santorini Port to hotel
We had pre-arranged a transfer form the port to the hotel and I would highly recommend doing this for convenience! Click here to arrange a transfer.
- 5
Dinner at Pitogyros
This was our go-to place to eat while we were in Santorini because the food is good and fairly priced (which can be difficult to find while you’re in Oia). There are often lines so be prepared to wait - however I promise it’s worth it!
- 6
Enjoy Sunset from Hotel Patio
Our hotel room patio was in the perfect location to enjoy the famous Oia Sunset. People gathered all around our patio to watch the sunset, but our view was never obstructed.
- 7
Explore Oia
2hr·7:00PM - 9:00PM
Once the sun went down, we decided to explore the streets of Oia and enjoyed seeing all the different towns lit up along the caldera cliff.
- 8
Stay at Casa Sigala Cave
Day 8
Santorini Cruise
We were scheduled to do a boat cruise around Santorini, but sadly this cruise was cancelled because of the winds. If you are wanting to do a cruise around Santorini this would be the perfect day. Click here for some boat cruise options.
To note, if you are staying at Casa Sigala Cave the patio has a PERFECT sunset view, so I didn’t feel the need to book a sunset cruise.
- 1
Sunrise Pictures
We woke up early and explored Oia before the crowds flooded in. I would highly recommend doing this if you are wanting to get pictures without people around. One great location for pictures is at the Castle of Oia - just steps from our hotel!
If you are wanting to get professional pictures taken, this would be the place to do it! Click here for more details.
- 2
Oia to Fira Hike
4hr·8:00AM - 12:00PM
This hike takes you along the caldera cliff from Oia to Fira passing the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli. I would highly recommend this hike if you are looking for something active to do in Santorini. The hike will take you around 3-5 hours depending on how fast you walk and how often you stop.
We started from Oia. Once you get to PERIVOLAS MARKET, you will want to stay to your right and start walking along the pedestrian path. For more details on the hike, check out this post here.
- 3
Lunch at Pitogyros
As I mentioned earlier, this was our go-to lunch place. I would highly recommend it!
- 4
Stroll through Oia
2hr·1:00PM - 3:00PM
With many different shops and great views along the streets of Oia, taking a stroll is a must. Be prepared for slow walking and dodging the many tourists who take to the streets of Oia. As this was a dream destination for myself and many others, I took the time to soak it all in.
Make sure to check out the Windmill and the Castle of Oia if you haven't already.
- 5
Explore Amoudi Bay with Cliff Jumping
2hr·3:00PM - 5:00PM
This was one of our favorite activities in Santorini. Amoudi Bay is located below Oia and has many seafood restaurant options if you are looking for a fishy experience!
We went down to Amoudi Bay specifically to go cliff jumping. Once you are down in Ammoudi Bay and you’ve reached the last taverna on your left, continue along the dirt path for about 10 minutes and you will meet a popular swimming and cliff jumping spot!
Be prepared to hike down/up many sets of steps! There are donkeys available to help you hike up if needed (for a cost, of course).
- 6
Pizza Dinner and Sunset
We enjoyed the sunset views from our hotel so much that we decided to grab some wine, some takeout pizza, and have dinner on our patio while watching the sunset.
If you are wanting to do a sunset activity, you can opt to do a Sunset Wine Tour or a Horseback at Sunset experience!
- 7
Dessert at Melenio Cafe
We walked back into town and grabbed dessert at Melenio Cafe after we heard people raving about their cheesecake. We took the dessert to go, so did not experience much of their customer service besides the fact that the man serving us was a little rude. Overall, they had many desserts to pick from and it was a good find.
- 8
Stay at Casa Sigala Caves
Day 9
Drive to Santorini Airport
1hr·8:00AM - 9:00AM
We had pre-arranged a drive to the airport. It was much more convenient than trying to take the bus! Book a transfer here.
- 1
Flight from Santorini to Athens
1hr·11:00AM - 12:00PM
A quick flight to Athens from Santorini. We felt it was more convenient to take a flight than the ferry, as the ferry ride is about 5 hours.
- 2
Check into Hotel Apartment
We took the Metro from the Athens airport to the Syntagma Metro stop and then walked about 10 minutes.
The check in process was seamless as we were provided the door codes in advance.
- 3
Lunch at Meat the Greek
With high ratings, we had to check this place out! Great option for a quick gyros meal. Delicious, I would highly recommend it!
- 4
Stroll the streets of Athens
3hr·4:00PM - 7:00PM
We spent a few hours getting lost among the streets of Athens. We did a bit of shopping, checked out Monastiraki Square, and walked by many amazing looking restaurants!
- 5
Dinner at Bartesera
We ended up having dinner and drinks at Bartesera. It was located close to the apartment and had a great atmosphere, not to mention a good (but tad pricey) cocktail selection.
- 6
Gelato at Oggi
We couldn’t end our night without some Gelato! An adorable gelato shop serving up some delicious scoops.
- 7
Stay at Syntagma Luxury Living One “LL1” Apartments
Day 10
- 1
Breakfast at Amber Athens
1hr·9:00AM - 10:00AM
Being a 1 minute walk from the apartment, we decided to grab breakfast at Amber Athens. Great interior decor and good quality for the price, we would have returned if we were staying longer.
- 2
Visit Acropolis of Athens
This is a must do when you are visiting Athens! There are many different tours available, click here for an option.
Due to timing, we ended up not doing a tour. However, during our visit we wished we had as we felt that we would have learned and appreciated the historical sites even more.
You can buy your tickets at the entrance, but purchasing ahead of time is definitely recommended to avoid extra lineups. The acropolis has two entrances, one main entrance and one side entrance. In hopes to avoid lineups, I would recommend entering from the side. This is what we did, and so the marker on the map is that of the side entrance.
- 3
Lunch at Smak
We wanted to find a quick lunch before we headed to the airport. Smak was conveniently located near our hotel and had Peynirli (individual sized “boat” pizzas) that were delicious.
- 4
Head to Airport
1hr·3:00PM - 4:00PM
We took the metro back to the airport. We found that it was an easy, convenient, and cheap option for us!
- 5
Flight Departs Athens
We waved goodbye to Greece! With full tummies and sun kissed skin we reminisced on the amazing memories and adventures that we had embarked on over the last 10 days!
