Seven days, three islands, one impossibly blue sea. Greece island hopping sounds complicated until you break it down — and once you do, it's one of the most rewarding trips in Europe. This itinerary covers Santorini, Paros, and Mykonos in a logical order that minimizes backtracking and maximizes your time actually enjoying the Aegean.
Why This Island Combination Works
Most travelers default to just Santorini and Mykonos — and they end up spending half their trip on ferries or paying ridiculous peak-season prices for adjacent islands. Adding Paros in the middle solves both problems. It's the transport hub of the Cyclades, far less crowded than its famous neighbors, and stunningly beautiful in its own right.
The route: Athens → Santorini → Paros → Mykonos → Athens
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Day 1: Athens → Santorini (Arrival Day)
Fly or ferry into Santorini. Direct flights from Athens (ATH) to Santorini (JTR) take 45 minutes and cost €50–€120 depending on season. The high-speed ferry from Piraeus (Athens's port) takes about 4.5–5 hours and runs €45–€70 for a standard seat on Seajets or Golden Star Ferries.
Land in Fira (the capital), check in, and immediately head to Imerovigli for sunset views — it's 20 minutes on foot from Fira and far less crowded than Oia. Dinner at a taverna: budget €20–€35 per person for a full meal with wine.
Where to stay:
| Budget | Option | Price/night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Camping Santorini (Fira) | €30–€45 |
| Mid-range | Aressana Spa Hotel (Fira) | €120–€180 |
| Splurge | Canaves Oia Suites | €400–€700 |
Day 2: Santorini Deep Dive — Akrotiri and the Caldera
Wake up early and beat the cruise ship crowds to Akrotiri, the Bronze Age city buried by the same volcano that created Santorini's iconic caldera. Entry is €12. It's genuinely one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Europe and almost always overshadowed by Oia selfies.
Afternoon: rent an ATV (€25–€35/day from multiple spots in Fira) and ride south to Perissa and Perivolos — black sand beaches with beach bars and crystal clear water. Far better swimming than anything near Oia.
Evening: finally do Oia for the famous sunset. Get there by 6 PM in summer to grab a good spot. The 10 km walk along the caldera rim from Fira to Oia takes about 2.5 hours and is one of the great walks in Greece.
Day 3: Santorini → Paros (Ferry Day)
Take the morning ferry from Athinios Port (Santorini's main port, not Fira) to Paros. The crossing takes 1.5–2.5 hours depending on which ferry you catch. Tickets: €18–€35 on Seajets or Blue Star Ferries. Book in advance in July–August — these sell out.
Arrive in Parikia, Paros's main town, and settle in. Spend the afternoon at Kolymbithres — bizarre granite rock formations and a shallow, calm bay perfect for snorkeling. It's 15 minutes by bus (€1.80) from Parikia.
Dinner in Parikia's old town: better food at lower prices than either Santorini or Mykonos. Try Ephesus for grilled octopus (€14) and fresh sea bass (€22).
Day 4: Paros — Naoussa and the North
Naoussa is Paros's second town and competes for title of most charming fishing village in the Cyclades. It's 12 km from Parikia (bus: €1.80, taxi: €15).
Morning: walk the harbor, get coffee at one of the waterfront cafes, browse the boutiques. Afternoon: head to Santa Maria Beach — 10 minutes east of Naoussa — for the best kite surfing in Greece and a lively beach club scene.
Paros is also excellent for cycling. The main loop around the island is about 80 km, but shorter routes to the Byzantine Road (a marble path connecting Parikia and Naoussa) or to the Valley of the Butterflies (free, June–September) are easily done.
Paros budget reality check: Accommodation runs €60–€120/night mid-range, meals €15–€25/person. Noticeably more affordable than Santorini or Mykonos.
Day 5: Paros → Mykonos (Short Crossing)
The Paros–Mykonos ferry is the shortest leg of the trip: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, €15–€25. Multiple departures daily.
Check into Mykonos Town (Chora) and immediately do what everyone does: get lost. The winding whitewashed alleys are genuinely disorienting, intentionally so — originally designed to confuse pirates. Little Venice is the iconic waterfront neighborhood; best with a drink in hand at sunset.
Mykonos is expensive. Budget accordingly.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cocktail at a bar | €14–€18 |
| Beach club entry (Paradise/Super Paradise) | €20–€50 (often redeemable for drinks) |
| Dinner in Chora | €30–€50/person |
| Hostel bed | €40–€70 |
| Mid-range hotel | €200–€400 |
Day 6: Mykonos — Beaches and the Good Life
Mykonos's beaches are the main event. Platis Gialos is the family-friendly base with water taxis to other beaches. From there, water taxis run every 30 minutes to Paraga (€2), Paradise (€5), and Super Paradise (€7).
Paradise Beach is the party beach — beach clubs pump music from morning, and it peaks in the afternoon. Elia Beach is longer, quieter, and has some of the clearest water on the island.
For something completely different: take a 25-minute ferry from Mykonos Old Port to Delos (€20 round trip + €12 entrance). This uninhabited island was one of the most sacred places in ancient Greece and is now an open-air museum with extraordinary ruins and views back to Mykonos.
Day 7: Mykonos → Athens (Departure Day)
Depending on your flight, either catch a morning ferry back to Athens (4–5 hours to Piraeus, from €35) or fly direct from Mykonos Airport (JMK) — 45 minutes, €60–€130.
If your flight is evening, you have time for a final walk through Chora, a last Greek coffee (€2 at a local cafe, not a tourist trap), and obligatory loukoumades (honey doughnuts, €4 a portion).
Logistics: Ferries, Timing, and Booking
When to Go
| Season | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| May–June | Warm, fewer crowds, 20–30% cheaper | Some beach clubs not open yet |
| July–August | Everything open, peak vibes | Expensive, crowded, hot |
| September–October | Best weather, shoulder prices | Ferries reduce mid-October |
Ferry Booking
Book at ferryhopper.com or ferryscanner.com — both aggregate all Greek ferry operators. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for July/August, 1–2 weeks is fine for May/June or September.
Getting Around Each Island
- Santorini: ATV rental (€25–€35/day) or bus from Fira hub (€1.80 per trip)
- Paros: Bus (€1.80) or scooter rental (€20–€30/day)
- Mykonos: Bus from Fabrika Square (€1.80) or water taxi to beaches
Total Budget Estimates (7 Days)
| Budget Level | Estimated Total |
|---|---|
| Budget | €800–€1,200 |
| Mid-range | €1,500–€2,500 |
| Luxury | €4,000+ |
Excludes flights from your home country.
What to Pack
- Reef-safe sunscreen — seriously, buy it before you go (€4 at home vs €15 on the islands)
- A light scarf or wrap for visiting churches (required)
- Good walking sandals — Birkenstocks or Chacos, not flip flops (cobblestones are brutal)
- Cash — many smaller tavernas, beach bars, and ferry kiosks don't take cards
Planning Smarter With Faroway
Juggling ferry times, hotel bookings across three islands, and making sure you're not doubling back on yourself is genuinely complex. Faroway builds this kind of multi-destination itinerary for you instantly — plug in your dates, budget, and interests, and it produces a day-by-day plan with real booking links.
It's especially useful for Greece island hopping because the ferry schedules change seasonally, prices vary wildly, and small changes to your arrival time can cascade into completely different routing options. Faroway handles that optimization automatically.
The Bottom Line
Seven days is enough to feel the distinct personality of three different Cycladic islands without rushing. Santorini for the drama, Paros for the authenticity, Mykonos for the energy. Follow the ferry route south to north, book your crossings early, and spend less time in Oia than Instagram tells you to.
Ready to build your exact itinerary with custom activities, restaurant picks, and a daily schedule? Plan your Greece island hopping trip on Faroway →
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Faroway Team
The Faroway team is passionate about making travel planning effortless with AI. We combine travel expertise with cutting-edge technology to help you explore the world.
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