Day 2: Athens to Naxos
Ferry · Roughly 3½–6 hours, depending on the sailing
Search the date and Athens port for a Naxos sailing. The ferry arrives by Naxos Town; allow for your walk or onward island transfer.
Compare this journey7 days in the Cyclades: Athens, Naxos and Santorini
Start with an Athens arrival night, then spend time on Naxos and Santorini before returning to the mainland. This is a compact island outline, with fewer crossings than a new island every day. The room amounts are adjustable examples rather than promises of a cheap booking.
Greece & Aegean · Published planning example
- Duration
- 7 days
- Travel style
- Mid Range
Day-by-day itinerary
Open a day to read the plan and its spending notes.
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Day 1Athens arrival and an easy evening
AthensUse the airport metro or express bus that fits your Athens address. Walk nearby after check-in and organise tomorrow’s ferry port and boarding time. Keep a major paid sight optional if arrival is late. Sleep in Athens.
€85.00 for one whole private room, €33.00 for meals, €5.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €130.00
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Day 2Sail to Naxos and settle in town
Naxos
Naxos, Greece Travel to the port named on your ticket and sail to Naxos. After reaching your room, explore the harbour side of Naxos Town. Portara is a useful nearby outdoor stop if conditions allow. Keep this as an arrival day rather than booking a timed excursion. Sleep on Naxos.
€80.00 for one whole private room, €33.00 for meals, €8.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €128.00
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Day 3Choose one Naxos beach day
NaxosPick a beach with a bus or walk that works from your accommodation. Read the return service before leaving town, and ask about loungers before settling onto a paid setup. Bring what you need for a quieter stretch if using your own towel is allowed there. Sleep on Naxos.
€80.00 for one whole private room, €33.00 for meals, €8.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €128.00
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Day 4A village outing or another slow island day
NaxosChoose one inland outing from the current bus timetable, such as a village visit that leaves time to return without rushing. Buy the correct tickets at the operator’s sales point. If services are sparse, keep the day around town and the coast instead. Sleep on Naxos.
€80.00 for one whole private room, €33.00 for meals, €8.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €128.00
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Day 5Ferry to Santorini and the climb from Athinios
Santorini
Santorini, Greece Use the booked Naxos–Santorini sailing. From Athinios, arrange the bus to Fira or a confirmed transfer; the ordinary port–Fira bus fare is €2.70, with other island rides separate. Save the evening for the area near your room. Sleep on Santorini.
€110.00 for one whole private room, €38.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €164.00
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Day 6Akrotiri or a caldera walk
SantoriniChoose Akrotiri (€20 standard admission) for a visit to the ancient settlement, or a caldera walk suited to the weather and your energy. A Fira–Oia walk is a proper outing on exposed, uneven ground, so a shorter section can be a better choice. Plan the return bus before sunset. Sleep on Santorini.
€110.00 for one whole private room, €38.00 for meals, €9.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €164.00
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Day 7Return to Athens
AthensTravel down to Athinios early enough for the ferry’s boarding requirement. Spend the rest of the day on the crossing and arrival in Athens. Book an additional mainland night before a separately ticketed international flight if possible; that night and the following day are outside this seven-day plan.
No overnight stay; €33.00 for meals, €5.00 for local travel and €7.00 for extras. Add the paid visits, excursions, intercity tickets and airport journeys you choose. These are allowances; replace them with your bookings.
Estimated day spending: €45.00
Book three crossings before fixing every room
This plan uses one night in Athens, three on Naxos and two on Santorini. Day seven is the return to Athens and contains no extra hotel night. Search Athens–Naxos, Naxos–Santorini and Santorini–Athens for the exact dates before booking the stays.
Compare Blue Star and SEAJETS where they serve your dates. The cheapest ticket depends on the sailing and seat type. A line on the network map does not promise a daily departure.
Put the ports on the plan
Athens ferries may use different ports. Check that each booking says Piraeus or Rafina before arranging a transfer. Naxos ferries arrive beside Naxos Town; Santorini ferries use Athinios, with a separate uphill journey to Fira and onward accommodation areas.
Use the Athens airport guide and Greek ferry guide for those first and final connections. Port transfers are separate from the ferry ticket.
Keep the flight home separate from the last ferry
A morning sailing is not a guarantee of making an evening international flight. Weather or operational changes can disrupt an otherwise sensible timetable. The safer shape is to sleep in Athens after returning, then fly the following day. That extra night and next-day travel fall outside this seven-day subtotal and need adding to your booking plan.
Build the budget from nights and days
The day figures add up to €887.00 for one traveller before paid visits and extra journeys. A private-room line buys the whole room; divide only that part when sharing. These are chosen spending allowances, not available room offers or measured averages. Replace the stay amount with the full booking cost, including taxes and cleaning.
Add paid visits, excursions, intercity or inter-island tickets and airport journeys. The day notes separate accommodation, meals, local travel and small extras. The final day has no extra overnight allowance. The city budget cards are an alternative plan, so do not add them on top of this subtotal.
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Journeys between stops
How to get from one stop to the next. Journey times are approximate; use the ticket and timetable links to choose a departure for your travel date.
Day 5: Naxos to Santorini
Ferry · Roughly 1–3 hours, depending on the sailing
Take a dated Naxos–Santorini sailing to Athinios. From there, continue uphill to Fira or your accommodation area. Do not plan an immediate timed visit after the ferry.
Day 7: Santorini to Athens
Ferry · Roughly 5–9 hours, depending on the sailing
Travel from Athinios to the Athens port printed on your ticket. The crossing can take much of the day, followed by the journey into Athens.
If you have fewer days
If you have fewer days, choose one island and keep the mainland buffer. For more time, add nights to Naxos or Santorini instead of another crossing. Recalculate the accommodation and ferry tickets for that choice.
Make this trip cheaper
Compare your room and daily spending choices in the cost calculator. Check each journey fare, including local transfers, and count tickets covered by a pass only once.
Make the itinerary fit your trip
Change the days in each city, leave out stops, and update the estimate without changing the published itinerary.