10 Day Greece Itinerary
Best of Athens, Mykonos & Santorini
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If I were doing Greece for the first time and planning it in a way that felt polished, beautiful and genuinely worth the effort, this is exactly how I would do it. I would open in Athens, where the trip starts with history, rooftops and city energy, then move into Mykonos for beach light, whitewashed lanes and that effortless island glamour, and then finish in Santorini, where everything slows down into caldera views, cave-style stays and the kind of evenings that stay with me long after the trip ends. That route works emotionally and practically. Athens gives me a grounded beginning, Mykonos gives me a glamorous middle, and Santorini gives me the cinematic finish. The ferry legs also make sense. Piraeus to Mykonos ferries run daily and usually take between about 2 hours 40 minutes and 5 hours 50 minutes, while Mykonos to Santorini usually takes around 2 to 3.5 hours in season.
For me, the right split is two days in Athens, three days in Mykonos and five days in Santorini. That gives Athens enough room to feel like more than a transit stop, lets Mykonos feel like a real island chapter rather than just one beach day, and gives Santorini the slower, more indulgent ending it deserves. Athens’ official short-stay planning still centres the city around the Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the historic core, while Greece’s official Mykonos page still presents the island as cosmopolitan and luxurious, and its official Santorini page still places the caldera and the villages at the centre of the experience. That is exactly why this route works so well.
Before you book, make sure you also check my Greece bucket list guide for your trip.
How This Itinerary is Structured
This itinerary follows a logical route that helps reduce travel time and keeps the experience balanced. You begin in Seminyak or Canggu to ease into Bali’s beach culture, then move south to Uluwatu for dramatic cliffs and sunset views. From there, you head inland to Ubud, where the pace slows and the focus shifts to nature and wellness. The final part of the trip takes you beyond Bali to Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands, where the landscapes become more rugged and the atmosphere more relaxed.
Route: Athens → Mykonos → Santorini
The Hotel Research that shaped the trip
For me, Greece is one of those trips where the hotels matter almost as much as the sightseeing, because the mood of each stop changes so dramatically depending on where I stay.
In Athens, I wanted something central, elegant and easy for a short stay, so I naturally focused on Syntagma and the historic centre. I stayed at Electra Metropolis, and that ended up being exactly right because it sits just off Syntagma, close to Ermou and the historic core, and the rooftop looks straight towards the Acropolis. Before settling on it, the hotels I kept comparing were Electra Palace Athens, Divani Palace Acropolis, Anthology of Athens and COCO-MAT Athens BC. Electra Palace had the classic rooftop-with-Acropolis-view appeal, Divani Palace felt grand and very close to the Acropolis side of the city, Anthology felt like the more boutique luxury option, and COCO-MAT Athens BC felt more contemporary and design-led. Electra Metropolis won for me because it gave me the location I wanted with the rooftop atmosphere that makes a short Athens stay feel elevated.
In Mykonos, the decision became much more about the kind of island mood I wanted. I stayed at Palladium Hotel, and that felt right because I wanted something polished and comfortable, but still close to the beach-club side of the island. Before settling on it, the comparison in my head was less about endless hotels and more about styles of stay. I kept coming back to the difference between staying in Platys Gialos, where I could have that glossy beach-led Mykonos feeling, and staying closer to Chora, where everything would feel more town-focused. Palladium stood out because it sits near Platys Gialos and Psarou and still feels very much like a luxury hotel rather than just a beach base. The fact that the breakfast and dining side was clearly part of the experience mattered too.
In Santorini, I knew I did not want to stay in only one place, because I wanted the island to feel layered rather than repetitive. I split my stay between Sophia Oia View and Tholos Resort, and that was exactly the right decision. Sophia gave me the classic Oia dream, with the caldera and the village atmosphere right outside the door. Tholos gave me the calmer, wider, more exhaled version of Santorini in Imerovigli. Before confirming those, the main comparison I was really making was not only between hotels, but between villages. Oia was always going to be the dreamlike beginning. Imerovigli was always going to be the softer, more luxurious second half. That split ended up shaping the whole island in the best possible way.
Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day 1: Arriving in Athens and letting the city feel elegant from the start
I started in Athens, and I am glad I did, because it made the whole trip feel grounded before it became more island-led. I stayed at Electra Metropolis, which worked beautifully for a short city stay because I could settle in and already feel close to Syntagma, Ermou and the historic centre. I booked it with Qantas points, which made the Athens opening feel even better. One of the things I liked most about this choice was that the hotel already carried some of the mood I wanted from the city. It did not just give me a bed in the right area. It gave me that rooftop, Acropolis-facing sense of place that makes Athens feel more glamorous than people sometimes expect.
I always think the first day in Athens should feel soft. I do not like turning arrival into a checklist. I prefer to check in, freshen up, walk through the centre a little, get my first proper look at the city and save my energy for the next day. For me, the right first Athens evening is about a beautiful dinner, one good rooftop moment and a sense that the city has opened properly rather than been rushed. Athens’ official short-stay guide still builds the city around exactly that kind of rhythm, where the centre, Plaka and Monastiraki create the feeling of the stay as much as the monuments themselves.
Day 2: Athens properly, not just quickly
This was the day to give Athens the attention it deserved. If I am in Athens for the first time, I am absolutely doing the Acropolis and pairing it with the Acropolis Museum, because that is what makes the city feel coherent rather than fragmented. But I never think Athens works best when I reduce it to monuments alone. For me, what makes Athens really click is the mix of those major cultural anchors with the neighbourhoods that make it feel lived in. Plaka gives me the softer, classic side. Monastiraki gives me movement and market energy. Koukaki gives me a more polished, current side of the city. That is still how Athens’ own visitor planning frames a short stay, and I think it is exactly right.
For food in Athens, I would keep the city split between polished rooftops and places that make my dietary needs easy. If I wanted one dinner that felt very Athens and very luxury-city-break, I would absolutely keep Metropolis Roof Garden in the plan because the Acropolis-facing setting is part of why Electra Metropolis works so well. If I wanted another strong option with a similarly elegant feel, I would include The Zillers Rooftop. For gluten-free and vegetarian eating, I would also keep Nudie Foodie in mind because it is openly gluten-free, and that kind of certainty makes a city feel much easier for me. If I wanted Indian food in Athens, Royal Indian Chef is one of the more useful names because listings note vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options there as well.
Day 3: The early ferry to Mykonos and the beginning of the island chapter
I booked my Athens to Mykonos ferry through Ferryhopper, and I booked it early. That mattered to me because I did not want the ferry to feel like a chaotic middle section. I wanted it to feel like part of the trip. I booked an early morning ferry around six months in advance and chose first or business-style seating, which made a huge difference. That open-air ferry feeling between Athens and the islands is one of those details I still remember, and doing it comfortably made it even better. The route from Piraeus to Mykonos runs daily and can be very quick on the faster boats, which is one of the reasons it works so well in a ten-day itinerary.
I stayed at Palladium Hotel, and that ended up being exactly right for the kind of Mykonos trip I wanted. I did not want the island to feel chaotic or overdone. I wanted it to feel polished, beachy and glamorous, but still easy. Palladium gave me that. It sits in the Platys Gialos area, very close to the southern beach side of the island, which made Mykonos feel smooth from the start. Because I travelled in late March and early April, before peak season properly started, the whole island also felt calmer and less frantic, which I loved. Mykonos in that shoulder-season window felt much more beautiful to me than I think it would have felt in the absolute middle of summer.
Day 4: Mykonos the way I wanted it to feel
For me, Mykonos is at its best when I let it be exactly what it is. I do not need to apologise for liking the polished side of it. I like the whitewashed lanes, the sea light, the beach-club mood, the dressed-up evenings and the way the whole place can feel glamorous without becoming heavy. Chora, Little Venice and the windmills are still the emotional centre of Mykonos, and they deserve to be treated as more than one quick photo stop. Greece’s official island page still frames Mykonos around that cosmopolitan, luxurious character, and I think that is the right way to understand it.
I also really loved the food side of Palladium. One of my favourite details from Mykonos was how good the gluten-free breakfast was there. That mattered to me, because when the morning starts easily, the whole day feels better. The hotel’s own breakfast and dining pages openly talk about gluten-free, vegan and healthy choices, and that matched what I wanted from the stay. If I wanted something outside the hotel and fully plant-based, I would absolutely include Rhino Vegan Beat because it is a fully vegan restaurant in Mykonos Town and one of the most useful names on the island if I want food to feel easy. If I wanted Indian food in Mykonos, Indian Palace is still worth including because it is clearly listed as vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly and gluten-free-friendly.
Day 5: Another Mykonos day, but softer
I always think Mykonos works much better when I let one day belong to the obvious beach-and-sunset glamour and the second day belong to the softer side of the island. This is where I would slow things down more. I would give Chora a little more time, let myself shop, stop for coffee, linger over lunch and make the evening feel stylish rather than rushed. For me, Mykonos becomes much more appealing when I let it feel elegant instead of reducing it to only nightlife.
This is also the kind of day where staying at the right hotel matters again. Palladium let Mykonos feel like the glamorous middle chapter of the trip, not the noisy one. That difference is exactly why I chose it.
Day 6: The ferry to Santorini and the beginning of the dream
The Mykonos to Santorini ferry is one of the most satisfying transitions in the whole route because the mood changes so completely. I booked this through Ferryhopper as well, and I liked that the route felt short enough to be easy but still gave me that proper island-hopping feeling. Ferries usually take around two to three and a half hours and arrive into Athinios, which makes Santorini feel dramatic before I have even reached the hotel.
For Santorini, I wanted the trip to feel layered, which is why I split the stay. I started in Oia at Sophia Oia View, and that was exactly how I wanted Santorini to begin. I had an indoor pool overlooking the dome, and the whole first Santorini chapter felt like the dream version of the island I had carried in my head before I ever got there. Sophia sits right in the heart of Oia on the cliffside, only steps from the main pedestrian street, and that is exactly what made the stay work so beautifully.
Day 7: Oia properly
I do not think Oia works when I rush it. For me, Oia needs a full day to feel like more than a series of viewpoints. This is the day for a slow breakfast, time in the room, and then actually wandering the village without trying to make it efficient. Oia is one of those places where the architecture, the caldera and the light do so much of the work for me that the day feels beautiful without needing a complicated plan. Santorini’s official island page still treats the caldera and villages like Oia as the centre of the experience, and I completely understand why.
For food in Oia, I would keep two names in the guide. If I wanted the most dramatic luxury dinner, I would absolutely mention Lycabettus Restaurant because it openly positions itself around one of the most beautiful balconies in Santorini and also has a gluten-free menu, which makes it much more useful for me than many other high-end restaurants. If I wanted something more intimate and easier for mixed dietary needs, I would include Karma, because it openly says it serves vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. Those are exactly the kinds of details I look for when I travel.
Day 8: Moving to Imerovigli and letting Santorini exhale
Moving from Oia to Imerovigli was one of the smartest decisions I made in Greece because it stopped Santorini from feeling repetitive. Oia gave me the dream. Imerovigli gave me the exhale. I stayed at Tholos Resort, and that changed the feel of the island immediately. It sits on the caldera in Imerovigli with wide views towards the volcano, and that shift from Oia’s village intensity to Imerovigli’s quieter luxury was exactly what I needed.
I did not want this day to be busy. I wanted the move itself to change the mood. I wanted a slower lunch, more room time, and a sense that Santorini had widened rather than simply continued.
Day 9: Santorini in full
This is the day where Santorini becomes much bigger than hotel terraces. For me, this was the day for the caldera itself. I hiked from Fira to Oia for sunset, which was one of the best decisions I made on the island. It is long and it can get warm, but it is completely worth it. I also did a volcano and hot springs catamaran cruise, winery tasting, museums and Akrotiri while I was there, and that is part of why I think Santorini is much richer when I give it more than the postcard treatment. The island’s official tourism page still centres the caldera, the villages and the volcano, and Santo Wines is one of the easiest places to include if I want to add a wine-and-view layer to the trip.
Day 10: One last slow Santorini day
I always think the final day in Santorini should be soft. I do not want to turn the last morning into a checklist. I want one more breakfast, one more caldera view, one more drink, and enough room to actually enjoy the fact that I am there. That, for me, is how Greece feels most luxurious. Not when every hour is packed, but when the right places are given enough space to matter.
Best things to do for first-time visitors
What made Istanbul so special for me was that it never felt like only one kind of trip. It was the grand, obvious moments like the mosques and domes, but it was also the details that stayed with me just as much — the Grand Bazaar, the Turkish tea, the trays of baklava, the spices, the tram gliding through the old city, the Bosphorus at night, and the way one day could feel deeply historic while the next felt stylish and modern. The old-city market belt and the Bosphorus are exactly the kinds of experiences that give Istanbul that layered feeling.
Athens
If it is my first time in Athens, I never want the city to feel like a quick stop before the islands. I want it to feel like a proper opening chapter. For me, that starts with the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, but I do not think Athens works best when I reduce it to ancient ruins alone. What makes the city click for me is the combination of the Acropolis, the museum, the historic centre, Plaka, Monastiraki and the rooftop atmosphere that makes the whole place feel much more glamorous than people expect. Athens’ official city guide still structures a short stay around exactly that mix, and I think that is the right way to do it.
For me, the Acropolis is not something I would rush through in the middle of the day. I would go early, book my timed-entry ticket in advance, and build the whole morning around it. That is exactly where I would add an affiliate link for Acropolis entry or a skip-the-line guided tour, because it is one of the very few places on this route where pre-booking genuinely changes the quality of the day. The Acropolis Museum is the natural pairing, and because the museum’s official ticketing is separate, it is another very easy place to add a linked booking option into the guide.
After that, I would let Athens become more neighbourhood-led. I would walk through Plaka slowly, because it gives me that classic old Athens feeling. I would go into Monastiraki because I love the movement and the shopping energy there. And I would make time for Koukaki if I wanted Athens to feel more polished and current rather than only historic. That blend is what makes the city feel alive to me. It stops it from becoming a museum piece and turns it into a place I actually want to stay in.
I would also make rooftop Athens part of the plan, not an optional extra. The city changes completely when I see the Acropolis lit up at night from a good roof. That is one of the reasons I liked Electra Metropolis so much. The roof garden is not just a nice feature. It is part of the whole Athens mood. And from an affiliate point of view, this is where I would naturally link hotel booking, rooftop dinner reservations, or even a private night walking tour through the centre if I wanted the city to feel particularly elegant.
Mykonos
For me, Mykonos works best when I stop trying to make it more complicated than it is. I do not need to force it into being deep. I need to let it be beautiful. That means Chora, Little Venice, the windmills, one proper beach day, one long lunch that turns into an afternoon, and at least one sunset that feels like an occasion. Greece’s official Mykonos page still frames the island around exactly that cosmopolitan, glamorous and beach-led identity, and I think that is the correct lens for a first trip.
I would absolutely give Chora real time. I would not treat it like somewhere I walk through once for photos. The windmills and Little Venice are obvious for a reason, and they really are worth doing properly. I would let myself wander the lanes without a plan, stop for coffee, shop a little, then come back later when the light changes. This is exactly where I would add an affiliate link for a private walking tour, a photo tour, or even a half-day island tour that includes the windmills, Little Venice and Ano Mera, because those are the kinds of things first-time visitors actually book.
I would also absolutely keep one full beach-led day in the itinerary. For me, Mykonos is not complete without that rhythm of beach, lunch, hotel reset and sunset. Because I stayed at Palladium near Platys Gialos, this part of the trip felt especially easy. That area works so well when I want Mykonos to feel polished and beachy rather than logistically annoying. If I wanted to make this section more affiliate-friendly, this is where I would add beach club reservations, daybed bookings, or a south-coast cruise.
If I wanted one more first-timer activity that gives Mykonos extra depth, I would add Delos. I do not think everyone has to do it, but I do think it is the smartest cultural add-on if I want Mykonos to feel fuller than beaches and town alone. Delos day trips are one of the most established excursion categories from Mykonos, and they are exactly the kind of thing readers are happy to click through and book.
Santorini
For me, Santorini works best when I let it feel layered instead of trying to do everything from one village. That is exactly why I split my stay between Oia and Imerovigli. Oia gives me the dream version of Santorini, the one everyone imagines before they go. Imerovigli gives me the calmer, more luxurious exhale afterwards. Greece’s official Santorini page still places the caldera villages at the centre of the experience, and that is exactly how I would build the island for a first trip.
I would absolutely give Oia its own day. I do not think it works as a half-day stop. I want time to enjoy the village, the hotel, the room, the caldera and the light. Then, once I move to Imerovigli, I want one day that belongs more to the scale of Santorini than just the pretty village atmosphere. For me, that means the caldera itself. The Fira-to-Oia walk is one of the best-known ways to do that, and it is the kind of experience I would naturally attach a guided-hike or private-driver affiliate link to if I wanted readers to book something from the post.
I would also make space for one water-based day and one wine-based layer. The catamaran cruise is one of the most obvious affiliate-friendly additions in Santorini because it is one of the island’s signature experiences and is sold constantly as a premium highlight. The same goes for Santo Wines, which is not just a winery stop but a full caldera-view wine-and-gastronomy experience. Santo Wines’ own site leans heavily into the volcano view, the wine tourism centre and the pairing of gastronomy with the landscape, which is exactly why it belongs in a luxury guide.
If I want to make Santorini feel deeper than just a honeymoon backdrop, I would also include Akrotiri and the museum layer. That is what stops the island from feeling one-note. And if I want the guide to have real booking value, this is exactly where I would place affiliate links for catamaran cruises, winery tastings, Akrotiri tours and private island transfers.
Best places to Eat
What made Istanbul so special for me was that it never felt like only one kind of trip. It was the grand, obvious moments like the mosques and domes, but it was also the details that stayed with me just as much — the Grand Bazaar, the Turkish tea, the trays of baklava, the spices, the tram gliding through the old city, the Bosphorus at night, and the way one day could feel deeply historic while the next felt stylish and modern. The old-city market belt and the Bosphorus are exactly the kinds of experiences that give Istanbul that layered feeling.
Athens
For Athens, I would keep the food split between one or two beautiful, elevated meals and a few places that make my gluten-free vegetarian needs feel genuinely easy instead of awkward. If I want the obvious luxury dinner, I would absolutely keep Metropolis Roof Garden in the guide because the Acropolis-facing setting is a huge part of what makes the stay at Electra Metropolis feel special. It is one of those classic “this is why I stayed here” choices. If I wanted another rooftop that feels a little more editorial and stylish, I would include The Zillers Rooftop, which is still one of the strongest names in central Athens for that kind of experience.
For gluten-free vegetarian eating, I would make Nudie Foodie one of the clearest recommendations in the whole Greece itinerary. It is not just “accommodating.” It is built around being gluten-free, and that changes everything for me as a traveller. It means I can actually relax. On top of that, the current Greece gluten-free guide also describes it as fully gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, which is exactly why it deserves a place in the guide.
If I wanted Indian food in Athens, I would include Royal Indian Chef because it is one of the easiest crossover names for me. It is openly noted for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, which makes it genuinely useful instead of just being “an Indian restaurant someone mentioned once.” For me, that matters, because when I am travelling, I want one familiar option in every city that still fits my dietary needs properly.
Mykonos
For me, Mykonos food works best when I use the hotel properly and then add one or two outside names that make my dietary needs easier. That is one of the reasons I liked Palladium Hotel so much. The breakfast there is not generic at all. The hotel openly talks about its huge breakfast spread, including gluten-free, vegan and healthy options, and that matters to me because starting the day easily changes the entire feel of an island stay. La Veranda also has a dedicated gluten-free menu, which makes it even more useful for someone like me.
If I want a fully plant-based option in Mykonos Town, I would absolutely include Rhino Vegan Beat. It is one of the clearest vegan restaurants on the island, and its own site makes that completely explicit. I like including names like that because they make the guide feel more useful for people travelling the way I do, not just more luxurious. And from an affiliate/content point of view, it also gives the itinerary more range than just sea-view hotel restaurants.
If I want Indian food in Mykonos, I would keep Indian Palace in the guide. It is one of the easiest names to recommend because listings specifically note vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options there. That makes it genuinely useful to me rather than just a filler restaurant mention.
Santorini
In Santorini, the most dramatic luxury dinner I would keep in the guide is still Lycabettus Restaurant in Oia. It is one of those places that works because the setting is as important as the food. Its own site leans completely into that “most beautiful balcony in Oia” positioning, and it also has a gluten-free menu, which makes it much more useful to me than many other high-end restaurants. Its degustation menu currently sits at €200 per person, so it is very clearly in the splurge category, but that also makes it one of the best places to reference if I want a proper luxury dining anchor in the guide.
If I want a more intimate restaurant in Oia that still works beautifully for mixed dietary needs, I would absolutely keep Karma in the guide. The reason I like it is that it does not force me to choose between atmosphere and practicality. Its own site clearly states that it offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes, which makes it one of the easiest restaurant names to recommend in Santorini.
If I want Indian food in Santorini, I would include Jaipur Palace. It is the clearest Indian option to keep in the guide because it openly caters to vegetarians, and traveller listings also specifically mention vegan and gluten-free options. For me, that makes it a genuinely useful name rather than just a filler mention.
And if I want one more Santorini experience that works as both a dining and activity recommendation, I would still include Santo Wines because it gives me the caldera view, the wine, the pairing experience and the sense of occasion all at once. It is exactly the kind of place I would hyperlink in a way that feels editorial and useful, not forced.
Budgeting the 10-day Greece trip
If I were budgeting this trip in a realistic but still slightly luxurious way, I would break it into hotels, ferries, major experiences, food, and one extra buffer for transfers, shopping and little splurges. Greece can absolutely be done for less, but this route works best for me when it feels comfortable, well paced and a little indulgent rather than overly tight. Ferry prices and key attraction costs are fairly easy to estimate, while hotel prices move a lot depending on month, room type and how early I book.
Hotels
If I were not using points in Athens, I would roughly budget about €190 to €260+ per night for Electra Metropolis for a standard-to-classic room, with higher rates for better room categories and Acropolis-view options.
For Palladium Hotel Mykonos, I would budget about AU$270 to AU$320+ per night as a realistic starting point, knowing that Mykonos can climb quickly once I move into stronger room categories or more in-demand dates.
For Sophia Oia View in Santorini, I would budget about AU$440 to AU$460+ per night at the lower end, but I would also expect it to move much higher depending on suite type, season and whether I want one of the more dramatic caldera-facing rooms. Tripadvisor’s listed range goes far beyond that entry point, which tells me very clearly that this is not a low-cost stay.
For Tholos Resort in Imerovigli, I would budget from about €150 on lighter direct rates, but more realistically around AU$230+ per night and up once I look at standard bookable dates, breakfast and stronger room types.
So, if I were paying cash for the hotel side of this exact route, I would treat around AU$3,000 to AU$5,500+ as a realistic overall range for ten days, depending on room category, season and whether I book early or closer in. That is the part of the trip that moves the most.
Ferries and transport between destinations
For the Athens to Mykonos ferry, I would budget from about €43 per person for a standard seat, with faster ferries and upgraded seating pushing that higher.
For the Mykonos to Santorini ferry, I would budget from about €58 per person on the lower end, and more if I want business or VIP seating. Ferryhopper lists Santorini–Mykonos economy from €82.50, and while direction and operator can vary, that still gives me a realistic sense that upgraded seating is where the price climbs.
So for the inter-island transport alone, I would personally budget around €100 to €180 per person total, depending on ferry type and seat class. If I want the trip to feel smoother and more premium, I would absolutely allow more rather than less here.
Major activities and first-time experiences
If I were doing Athens properly, I would budget about €30 for the Acropolis timed-entry ticket, because Greece increased the general admission price in 2025. I would also allow a separate budget for the Acropolis Museum, since the museum ticket is independent from the Acropolis site ticket.
In Santorini, if I were adding a catamaran cruise, I would treat it as one of the bigger but most worthwhile splurges. Guided catamaran and sunset cruise options are widely sold as half-day luxury experiences, and they usually sit in that premium-activity category rather than impulse-spend territory.
If I were doing an ATV sunset ride in a place like Cappadocia, I would budget roughly from about €13 to €50+ per person depending on tour style and operator, which is a useful benchmark even if I am not folding Turkey costs into this Greece route.
For Greece specifically, if I were adding the most natural paid extras to this itinerary, I would personally budget around €150 to €350+ per person for activities, depending on whether I keep it to core sightseeing and ferries or add premium experiences like sunset cruises, private tours or winery stops.
Food and dining
Food is the easiest part of this trip to stretch up or down depending on mood. If I were eating comfortably, mixing nice breakfasts, a few polished dinners, casual lunches and some splurge meals, I would budget about €50 to €100 per person per day. That would cover a route like this properly without feeling restricted. Mykonos and Santorini will naturally push higher if I lean into sea-view restaurants, rooftop dinners and wine.
If I wanted to keep the trip more luxury-leaning, with a few memorable restaurant nights in all three stops, I would personally allow around €700 to €1,200+ per person for food across the ten days. That gives enough room for rooftop Athens dinners, Mykonos lunches that turn into sunset drinks, and at least one proper Santorini splurge.
What I would expect this trip to cost overall
If I were paying cash for hotels and not using points in Athens, I would roughly expect this 10-day Greece itinerary to land somewhere around AU$4,500 to AU$7,500+ per person, depending on hotel category, ferry class, dining style and how many paid experiences I add. If I were using points for part of the hotel stay, travelling in shoulder season, or being selective about where I splurge, I could absolutely bring that down. But if I want this trip to feel polished, relaxed and truly luxurious, that is the bracket I would use as my honest planning range.
One thing I would not fake precision on is the international airfare into Greece, because that changes too much depending on where I am flying from, the month, cabin class and how early I book. I would always price that separately from the itinerary itself rather than pretend there is one trustworthy number.
If you want, I can now fold this cost section directly into the full Greece itinerary and smooth the whole piece so it reads as one seamless final blog post.
Final thoughts
For me, this 10 day Greece itinerary felt like the perfect balance of history, beauty and island glamour.
Athens gave me the energy of a city layered with stories, rooftop views and that unmistakable sense of stepping into the beginning of something special. Mykonos brought in the polished island mood, with beach days, long lunches, whitewashed streets and the kind of effortless luxury that makes the whole trip feel lighter. Santorini was the final exhale — slower, softer and impossibly beautiful, with caldera views, beautiful stays and sunsets that made everything feel a little more cinematic.
What I loved most about this route is that it never felt repetitive. Each stop had its own personality, its own rhythm and its own kind of beauty. Together, they created a Greece trip that felt rich and memorable from beginning to end.
If I were planning Greece again, I would still choose this exact combination. It is one of the most beautiful ways to see the country for the first time, especially if I want the trip to feel stylish, well-paced and genuinely unforgettable.
Travel Tips for Greece
Traveling through Greece is relatively easy once I understand how the country works on the ground. A little planning goes a long way, especially on a first trip when I am combining Athens with the islands.
For most travellers, entering Greece is straightforward, but Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so the rules are different from Bali. If I am travelling on a passport from a visa-exempt country such as Australia or the UK, I can usually visit Greece for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. If I am travelling on an Indian passport, I would usually need to apply for a Schengen visa before departure. It is also worth knowing that ETIAS is not live yet and is currently expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, so there is nothing extra to apply for right now
For a deeper breakdown, refer to your Travel Tips for Bali.
Still exploring options? Read our complete Greece guide.
