The 7 Day Greece Travel Guide
A travel guide to Greece is not complete without some island hopping, a Mykonos beach party or eating at the best restaurants in Santorini, Greece. Figuring out exactly how you’ll spend your Greece vacation can be as difficult as deciding what to do when there, though.
After you’ve determined the islands you’ll be visiting, you’ll need to decide what part of the island to stay on. Mykonos and Santorini both offer neighborhoods for every type of vacationer with different attractions and nightlife. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what the “best” neighborhood is, but deciding where to stay will largely depend on the type of vacation you want. For a complete break down of the pros and cons I had for each neighborhood, check out my Greece tips. I researched each extensively and ultimately ended up staying in Mykonos Town and Fira.
On our beautiful vacation, we spent three days celebrating on the Greek beaches in Mykonos, three days relaxing and eating our way through Santorini’s Greek restaurants and one day exploring in Athens. The country is clearly gorgeous and a beautiful destination for honeymooners. Take a look at how we spent each of our days soaking up the sun.
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DAY 1
WINDMILLS (KATO MYLOI)
One of the more well-known parts of Mykonos outside of the Greece party beaches is their windmills. If staying in Mykonos Town, it’s about a 10 minute walk from the center of town. The windmills date back to the 16th century when the Venetians constructed them for milling wheat and they really are a sight to see. P.S. they are located on top of a hill right along the coast so come prepared for some strong winds.
LITTLE VENICE
I always like to use my first day to roam around the city center to get a better understanding of how the streets are laid out and get directionally sound so in this Greece travel guide, you should do the same! It typically involves a lot of walking and wandering. After the windmills, use this time to explore Little Venice — one of the cutest areas of Mykonos. This neighborhood is where you’ll find yourself shopping and it houses some of the best restaurants and bars.
While in Little Venice, walk along the shoreline surrounding the area. The shops and restaurants that line the shore are so picturesque. It feels like you’re in a postcard.
CHURCH OF PANAGIA PARAPORTIANI
Another iconic monument in Mykonos is the bell tower. Also located in Mykonos Town, this is a great spot for pictures at sunset.
KATERINA’S BAR
Since this was the first night of our honeymoon, we really wanted to slow down and experience the city. We used that time to take in the view and grab a few great drinks at Katerina’s Bar. I highly recommend it for a happy hour or pre-dinner drinks. It offers a gorgeous view of the water while the sun is setting. Try out the Mediterranean Trip. So delicious!
FATO A MANO
Our first dinner reservation came highly recommended from other Greece travelers. While it was such a cute and quaint restaurant, it wasn’t the best food of our Mykonos trip. However, it is still worth trying if you are looking for a fancy dinner before a night out in Mykonos Town.
DAY 2
LALALA
On the morning of your first full day in Mykonos, start it out right at the sweetest little cafe named Lalala. Right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Mykonos Town, they have one of the best greek yogurt bowls. Side note, I ate approximately 15 greek yogurt bowls so I’d say I’m pretty much an expert in the field. Plus, you MUST get at least one frappe while in Greece.
EXPLORE MYKONOS TOWN
Mykonos is well known for partying so most people are not up before 8 AM let alone 9 or 10 for that matter. While we were jet lagged from the previous day, we were able to wake up before the rest of Mykonos. It was an excellent way to explore the town without being elbow to elbow with people. I recommend doing this at least once while you’re there. Shops and restaurants will start opening around 8 AM.
PLATIS GIALOS BEACH
After exploring, head over to the best Greece beaches in Mykonos. No Greece travel guide is complete without beach hopping and the best Greece beach in Mykonos is Platis Gialos. It’s easy to grab a beach chair or sun bed at any of the bars lining the beach. As of 2022, DK Oyster, one of the more popular beach bars in this area, has been in the news for overcharging and overall poor service towards tourists so I would recommend staying away from this bar if you are looking to spend time on the beach. If you’re not sure how to reserve a chair in advance, check out my guide. FYI — the closer to the water, the more expensive the chair.
NIKOLAS TAVERN
After an afternoon spent out on Platis Gialos beach in Mykonos, walk down the beach and grab lunch at Nikolas Tavern. It’s directly on the beach and you’re sure to fall in love with some Greek cuisine there. I would’ve even gone back to this place for dinner it was so good. The location is grand and it offered my first introduction to a true Greek salad, which has all the feta and none of the lettuce of an American greek salad.
M-EATING
After soaking up the sun all day on the best Mykonos Greece beaches and filling up on lunch, we needed a quick siesta before dinner at m-eating. This eatery is in the middle of Mykonos Town with a lovely outdoor seating. The food was really good and the dessert was even better. It also scores high on service.
BAR HOP IN MYKONOS TOWN
After dinner, it’s time to experience what Mykonos is known for — the nightlife. We barhopped all along the coast and were amazed by the city at night. It’s so beautiful. Take a look at my recommendations below to dance the night away in Mykonos Town.
DAY 3
GET OUT BEFORE THE TOWN WAKES UP
Like I noted above, I loved waking up before the rest of the city which is my travel guide to Greece recommends dong this any chance you can. Each morning, cruise ships line the shore and bring in thousands of tourists for the day. If you wake up early enough, you get to see the empty streets and take in the beautiful town before the thousands swarm it. It’s probably the only calming time in Mykonos. However, I know that vacation is all about sleeping in and relaxing, too!
POPOLO
Before heading to the beach, stop at Popolo. We had passed this cute little coffee shop and I had been dying to try it out. They had outdoor seating in their alleyway that made for a comfy spot to sip on a cappuccino and frappe.
Mykonos, Greece Beaches
If you couldn’t tell, I’m in love with the beaches in Mykonos, Greece. Luckily, the hotel we stayed at had a sister resort on the beaches side of Mykonos, Greece which even had their own private beach and pool. It’s pretty common for hotels on the beach side to have some sort of beach for their visitors. This is something you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing a hotel as it was so convenient to have some privacy away from the swarms of people before heading to Super Paradise beach — one of the biggest and best beaches in Greece and Mykonos. If you don’t stay at a hotel with a pool or private beach, then head to Psaraou beach instead.
To book a stay at this Petasos Beach Resort & Spa, check out the availability on Booking.com.
SUPER PARADISE BEACH
While I loved Super Paradise Beach, one of the biggest party beaches in Mykonos, Greece, it is not easy to get to. On the way there, our hotel booked us a driver. One of the biggest inconvenience of the island is that cabs are just not widely used. They are very limited in the area and most are untrustworthy. And Uber? Forget it, never heard of her. Your best bet is asking your hotel to call a ride for you. You can also choose to take the bus. We did this on the way back from the beach!
For Super Paradise, we booked our beach chairs through Beach Dibs. This is something I highly recommend doing since the beach was packed! Just remember to bring towels from your hotel or you’ll need to rent one from the bar. During the day it’s pretty family friendly but as it gets later in the night, the families clear out and things turn into what you expect from those classic Greece party beaches in Mykonos.
JACKIE O’S (SUPER PARADISE BEACH)
One thing you can’t miss on your visit to Super Paradise is a drink from from Jackie O’s. It was one of my favorite bar in Greece on the beaches of Mykonos. There is another Jackie O’s bar in Mykonos Town that you should visit, too! They both offer a great atmosphere and you can’t beat the mojito’s there.
MYKONOS, Greece SUNSET
Every night before dinner, we headed to the shoreline for a stunning sunset and it was truly magical. In true Mykonos fashion, there will be a ton of people lining the shore. Don’t let that sway you, though. There are plenty of spots to get an unobstructed view or picture.
KASTRO’S TAVERN
If I’m going to recommend one dinner spot in Mykonos, it’s Kastro’s. Surprisingly it was our favorite meal in Mykonos but it was also a last minute reservation for us! We spent a little too much time at sunset and missed our reservation (oops!) so we popped in. I’m so glad we did! You can find Kastro’s in Mykonos Town.
LATE NIGHT SHOPPING
There are many reasons why I love Mykonos, but a big one was that shopping was open late! This meant we could take in some last minute shopping after dinner. There are so many shops to choose from, it’s hard to pick a favorite! The white pant jumper I wear in Santorini (not this one) was actually bought this night!
QUEEN
Right in the heart of Mykonos Town is Queen. We passed this bar so many times that I was dying to grab a drink here before we left. While there, we sat next to and connected with a couple from Boston. We both figured we would never see them again, but believe it or not, we bumped into them later on in Santorini AND Athens! Such a small world.
DAY 4
FERRY TO SANTORINI
There are a couple of ways to get from island to island. I highly recommend taking the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. There are two speeds to choose from when purchasing a ticket, high speed and regular. The high speed ferry allows you to get to your destination about two hours faster! For more information on the ins and outs of taking the ferry, check out my tips.
For reference, we stayed at El Greco Hotel and absolutely loved it. The rooms are huge, close to Fira and not to mention, there are sooo many pools here! Check the availability here.
AMMOUDI BAY
If I am going to recommend doing one thing in Santorini it would be visiting Ammoudi Bay. I could not leave this out of my Greece travel guide. Even if you aren’t adventurous or if you have no desire to jump off a cliff, you still need to check it out. This was the highlight of our whole trip. Once you get down there, you will find people gathered around the bay, swimming, soaking up the sun and of course, jumping off the cliff.
Getting there can be tricky, though. If you need help, I listed out a step by step guide to get there.
TRAVEL BY ATV
The easiest way to get around the island is by ATV. Want to know more about renting an ATV? I wrote about it here in my Greece travel guide tips.
ARGO
We absolutely loved all of the Greece restaurants in Santorini. Argo was no exception. I’d recommend getting a reservation with them as early as you can for an all-star seat and one amazing view. p.s. get the stuffed calamari as an appetizer!
PK COCKTAIL BAR
My FAVORITE bar! They had amazing drinks, great atmosphere, awesome service and not to mention — the popcorn! They have four levels and each has its own unique atmosphere. If you go there for sunset, the lower levels have couches and provide blankets while the sun starts setting. It’s truly magical!
DAY 5
CATCH THE SUNRISE
Most come to Santorini for the sunset, but don’t sleep on the sunRISE here, either! While Mykonos is more about being on the go, Santorini is for those who want to slow down. Take time from one of your mornings to move a little slower and enjoy the view.
CATAMARAN DAY CRUISE
To experience Santorini on the water, book a catamaran day cruise. This was another memorable part of our trip. We booked the small group day cruise. The cruise takes you around the hot spring, active volcano, red beach and black beach. Not to mention, they provide an open bar! This was one of the best guides we booked for our Greece travel!
We spent the day sailing the island, stopping for swim spots and soaking up the sun. It was the perfect way to see all of the island and I highly recommend.
OIA STREETS
After a day on the water, spend the evening and dinner in the quaint part of Santorini known as Oia. This is the area of Santorini you see in all the magazines and what you picture when people say Santorini. Although picturesque, it is packed with tourists. Finding photo opp’s without people in your background is hard but not impossible. I also found that there were far fewer restaurants in this part of Santorini than in Fira.
BLUE DOMES
The blue domes are an icon in Oia. If you are trying to get an up close picture by the domes like the one below, be prepped to wait in a bit of a line. Everyone wants a picture in front of these three beauties.
BELL TOWER
Although most choose to stay in Oia, I preferred staying in Fira. You can find my pros and cons of each area here.
ATHENIAN HOUSE
After bumping elbows in Oia, head back to Fira for the night and eat at Athenian House. For couples who want to eat exactly where the locals eat, this probably isn’t your go-to spot. However, if you are looking for one of the BEST restaurants for a Santorini sunset in Greece, this is your spot. You’ll splurge a bit and while the food was very good, you’ll pay more for the sunset view.
Don’t miss the chocolate dessert here! This was by far my favorite dessert out of all the restaurants we ate at in Santorini, Greece.
SALOON AND ENIGMA
If you’re like me, your travel guide in Greece will include some post-dinner drinks and dancing. The bears in Santorini are just as good as the Greece restaurants if you ask me. After dinner, head to the Saloon for an epic night! If you want to dance to early 90s music, head here. It was the best. Right across the street, you will find Enigma. Also, it’s a great place for good drinks and dancing.
DAY 6
PERISSA BEACH
Perissa beach is the black sand beach that everyone talks about so it’s no wonder it shows up on the Spend It Like Stanford Greece travel guide. One thing to note about Santorini is the beaches are nothing like Mykonos. Most aren’t the soft sand you picture so renting a beach chair is essential. We made a reservation with Beach Dibs at Noma’s. Their little tree huts were the cutest.
HIDDEN PEBBLE BEACH
After Perissa, venture around the island a bit more on the ATV. One of the locals let us know about a hidden beach on the island so we headed there. It was quite the trek but well worth it. If you’re heading to Santorini, shoot me a note and I’d be happy to help you stumble across this gem.
The water was so clear and blue and the cliffs surrounding it makes for some incredible views. When we went, there were approximately 10 other people so it really is secluded from the rest of the beaches and tourists. They even have one small restaurant right on the beach for those looking to recharge from the sun and water. The family owned eatery was lovely.
SUNSET
We took in every sunset while on the island, but we wanted to find a quiet place away from the crowds on our last night. We found it in Oia!
In Oia, everyone lines the edge of the city for these sunsets. Finding a spot is nearly impossible and people stake out spots early. That’s why I’m not lying when I say this may be the best hidden gem in Santorini. We were the ONLY ones here and you can’t beat this incredible view. Want to know how to find this spot? Let me know!
ELINIKON TAVERN
After sunset, we ate the very best dinner we had in Greece at Elinikon Tavern. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but for good reason. Stuck right behind the windmills in Oia sits Elinikon and I highly recommend it for authentic Greek food.
DAY 7
On our last day, we headed back into Athens early in the morning. We took the first flight out of Santorini and it’s a super quick one. You can also choose to take the ferry.
In Athens, we stayed at Plaka Hotel and I would 100% stay here again. It’s in the perfect location and the rooftop bar offers amazing view of the Acropolis. You can check the availability here.
ACROPOLIS
After getting in, our first stop was an Athens staple, the Acropolis. Getting there is straight up hill, but the walk isn’t the only thing that will take your breath away. The view is incredible. The Acropolis is full of history and you can choose to book a guided tour or do an audio tour like we did. The audio tour allows you to see it all at your own pace, but you’ll probably have a better experience booking a guided tour.
PANATHENIC STADIUM & MUSEUM
You cannot go to Athens and not take a tour of the first Olympic Stadium. Being a runner and former track athlete, this place gave me goosebumps. Be sure to do a lap around the track and grab a picture on the podium.
PLAKA
A tour of the city is not complete with visiting Plaka. This neighborhood is buzzing with shopping, bars and restaurants. We chose to stay in this area so we were right in the center of the city.
If you want to see everything we did in one day with a bit more structure, I recommend booking a tour. It’s an Athens full day highlight tour of the Acropolis, Panathenic Stadium and tour around Plaka!
COLOUER LOCALE
For pre-dinner drinks, head up to Coleur Locale for a drink and a view. You’ll need to take the elevator on up to their rooftop bar for a stunning view of the Acropolis.
EVGENIA
Evgenia is the epitome of Greek food. If you only have one night in Athens, head here! It’s a bit of a dive, but honestly so good. Order the souvlaki and you won’t regret it.
DA VINCI
And of course, one last gelato stop is needed at Da Vinci. So many different flavors to choose from!
Wow, this might be my longest blog post ever, but I couldn’t pass up filling you in on all the places that make Greece so wonderful. There is so much to do in there and I hope you found some helpful tips to make your own experience in Greece an epic adventure. Let me know if you used this Greece travel guide on your visit. I’d love to hear about your experience!
Maddie
Hi, loved the blog post and am about to head to Greece with my husband. I would love directions to the rock beach if you can remember them as I saw this post is from awhile ago 😊
Liz
Hi Maddie! I tried to send you an email for these locations but it looks like the email address you gave is inactive. Let me know a good email for you and I’d be happy to send you the locations of these spots. 🙂
Alyssa
Hi did you posts links for these outfits anywhere?