A 10-day Greece itinerary lets you do a proper mainland circuit (Athens + Delphi + Meteora + an Argolida day) plus a 4-5 day island leg without rushing. The split below does 5 mainland and 5 islands; for travellers who want more sea time, swap one mainland day for an extra island day (drop the Argolida day-trip, keep Delphi and Meteora).
Day by day
- D1
Arrival in Athens
Base: Athens
Land, settle in Plaka. Evening orientation walk. Dinner in Psyrri.
- D2
Acropolis and ancient Agora
Base: Athens
Morning small-group Acropolis walk; afternoon at the Acropolis Museum. Sunset at Filopappou Hill.
- D3
Argolida day trip
Base: Athens
Full-day to Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nafplio for lunch. The most well-rounded archaeology day from Athens.
- D4
Delphi
Base: Athens or Delphi
Full-day guided trip to Delphi. Returns to Athens late, or stay overnight in Arachova for a quieter mountain evening.
- D5
Meteora
Base: Meteora
Train Athens → Kalambaka, hotel check-in, sunset photography from Psaropetra viewpoint. Dinner in Kalambaka.
- D6
Meteora monasteries and onwards
Base: Santorini
Half-day monastery walking tour. Late train back to Athens, evening flight to Santorini.
- D7
Santorini caldera walk
Base: Santorini
Fira to Oia walk; lunch in Oia; afternoon at Ammoudi Bay. Sunset booked in advance.
- D8
Santorini catamaran day
Base: Santorini
Catamaran around the volcano: hot springs, Thirassia lunch, Red and White beaches. Evening at leisure in Pyrgos.
- D9
Santorini → Naxos
Base: Naxos
Morning fast-ferry to Naxos (90 min). Afternoon at Plaka Beach; dinner in Naxos Old Town.
- D10
Naxos and departure
Base: Naxos
Morning at the Portara temple gate and Old Town markets. Afternoon ferry to Athens or direct flight Naxos → home.
Cost (land-only)
€1700–3400 per person
Excludes international flights. Premium fully-guided versions add 50–80% to the upper bound.
Best months
May, June, September, early October
Avoid peak August unless beach-only; book peak weeks 8–12 weeks ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days the right length for Greece?
10 days is the sweet spot for a comprehensive Greece trip — enough for a proper mainland circuit (Athens + Delphi + Meteora + Argolida) plus 4-5 days on the islands without rushing or padding.
Should I do one or two islands in 10 days?
Two islands works if they're close (Santorini + Naxos via 90-minute fast ferry; Santorini + Crete via 2-hour ferry). Avoid 3+ islands in 10 days — ferry transfer time becomes the trip.
How much does 10 days in Greece cost?
Land-only cost runs €1,700-3,400 per person for 10 days depending on hotel and tour category. Premium fully-guided 10-day Greece tours run €3,500-5,500 per person all-in.
Can I do this 10-day Greece itinerary in winter?
Mainland and Athens stay open year-round and offer excellent value November-March. Most island operators close from late October — Crete and Rhodes are the longest-running. For winter, replace the island leg with the Peloponnese.