3 weeks in Greece: The Ultimate 20-21 Days Itinerary + My Best Tips

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3-Week Greece Itinerary: The Best Things to do + Where to Stay

You’re planning to spend 3 weeks in Greece and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

That’s perfect!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared for you this 3 weeks itinerary in Greece.

During your 20-21 days trip, you will discover some of the country’s best places to visit such as Athens, the Peloponnese region, Delphi, the Meteora as well as 4 islands of the Cyclades archipelago: Santorini, Amorgos, Naxos and Paros.

In addition to the must-see attractions for each stage of the itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, how to spend three weeks in Greece?

Let’s find out!

1) Athens (2 days)

If you want to visit Greece in 3 weeks, the best is to land in Athens Airport.

Getting around Athens on foot is really easy, however, you will have to rent a car for the next stages of your trip to Greece.

You’ve got 2 options:

  1. You can rent a car directly at your arrival in Athens
  2. Or you can go back to the airport on your 3rd day to get it, when you will leave Athens for Peloponnese.

In any case, if you plan to rent a car in Greece, you should use Rentalcars.com website. It’s the one i am using every time I travel!

Here is why:

  • It’s a price comparator: In just 1 click, you can compare prices of all rental cars companies in Athens airport for example.
  • You will be able to see clients reviews for each company and choose accordingly.
  • They offer a great “full protection insurance”: If you take it, you will be 100% refunded in case of accident or theft. Tested and approved, they refunded me more than 1200 euros in total!
  • And last but not least, Rentalcars.com offers the “best price guarantee”. If you find the same car cheaper elsewhere, they will refund you the difference!

One last tip: if you already know your travel dates, you should check the car rentals prices now in order to get the best price. Booking early is the best way to save money! Click the button below to check rental cars prices in Greece:

It’s now time to go to your hotel in Athens. If you haven’t rented your car yet, you will have 4 options to reach the city centre:

  • By taxi: 40€
  • By bus: the line X95 goes directly to Syntagma Square, Athens’ main square. But beware of traffic jams!
  • By metro: the line 3 (the blue one) is the fastest option to go to the city centre.
  • Your hotel airport shuttle service, if they have one.

For your first day in Athens, you should visit, in order:

  • The Acropolis Museum to discover the history of Athens’ most famous ancient site. Directly get a skip-the-line ticket here!
  • Athens Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a must-see attraction during your 3-weeks stay in Greece!
  • The picturesque Plaka district
  • The Ancient Agora and its museum
  • Monastiraki district, often nicknamed “the souks”, as you will find many small shops there!
  • Philopappos Hill to admire the sunset
  • And if you like to party, you should go to Gazi district.

Spend the night in Athens.

Athens
Athens Acropolis

The next morning, you should take a stroll in Athens to visit some other monuments.

Here are the best things to do during this 2nd day:

  • The Panathenaic Stadium: it hosted sporting events way before our Modern Olympic Games
  • The Arch of Hadrian
  • The Temple of Olympian Zeus
  • Zappeion Park and the National Garden
  • Syntagma Square, where the Changing of the Presidential Guard takes place every hour
  • Ermou street, if you like shopping
  • Athens National Archaeological Museum
  • Mount Lycabettus, the perfect place to admire the sunset over the Acropolis.

Spend another night in Athens.

You will find more details about the best places to visit in Athens in my article: The 20 best things to do in Athens.

Voyage Tips - Advice

You can buy a 30€ combined ticket to visit the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and 4 other sites: Hadrian’s Library, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Roman Agora and the Lyceum (Lykeion).

It’s valid for 5 days.

To get this combined ticket, it’s very simple, you just have to book it by clicking on the button below:

 

To make them most of your visit to Athens, you should opt for the Athens City Pass. It includes all the must-see attractions, such as:

  • The combined Acropolis ticket mentioned above
  • The Acropolis Museum entrance ticket
  • An audio guide for your visit to Athens
  • A 10% discount on all other attractions in Athens

To book it, simply click here:

 

And if you want to learn everything about the Acropolis History, the best is to opt for a guided visit (it’s also a skip the line ticket).

The best guided tour in English is the one from GetyourGuide Originals. It’s so great that they will give you a full refund if you don’t enjoy your time!

To book it, you just have to click on the button below:

Where to stay in Athens

  • Bedbox Hostel: A Youth Hostel located 300m from Monastiraki Square, and 700m from the Acropolis. Dormitory room starting from 18€ per night. Strong points: the location, the really kind staff and the cleanliness!
  • Evripides Hotel: Located 400m from Ermou Street and 500m from Monastiraki. The rooms are simple but comfortable, starting from 70€ per night, with breakfast included. What I loved: the breathtaking view of the Acropolis from the rooftop, the location (perfect to visit Athens on foot) and the friendly and helpful staff! A great choice in Athens for its exceptional value for money!
  • Amalia Hotel: Located on Syntagma Square, just in front of the National Gardens. The double rooms are modern and spacious. Some of them even have a balcony with a nice view of the gardens. The price starts at 155€ per night with breakfast included. Strong points: The comfort, the generous breakfast, and the location in the centre of Athens.
  • Wyndham Grand Athens: 5-star Hotel located 1km from Ermou Street and 1.5km from the Acropolis. You’ll love the elegant and design double rooms here, starting from 200€ per night. Breakfast will cost you 16€. Strong points: the outdoor pool on the roof, the view of the Acropolis, the spa center, and the location right next to a metro station!
  • Electra Metropolis: This 5-star hotel is located only 200m from Syntagma Square and 600m from the Acropolis. The price for a spacious and comfortable double room starts at 270€ per night, breakfast included. What I loved: the ideal location, the view of The Acropolis from the rooftop, the amazing restaurant, the pool. The best choice for a luxury stay in Athens
Electra Metropolis - 5-star hotel in Athens
Electra Metropolis – 5-star hotel in Athens

2) Mycenae / Epidaurus / Nafplio (1 day)

Let’s continue your 3-weeks in Greece itinerary and visit the Peloponnese region.

For your 1st day in the peninsula, you should visit the 3 following places:

  • Corinth Canal, located 1 hour from Athens. You have to stop and take a picture of this canal, carved into stone to avoid the boats a 400km detour. If you’re lucky to see a boat crossing, you will notice the narrowness of the canal. The biggest boats just have a few centimetres of free space on each side. It’s really impressive to see!
  • Mycenae, located 40 minutes from the Canal. The former home of king Agamemnon is also one of the most ancient site in Greece. Today, the Royal Palace and Tholos Tombs are mostly in ruins. If you’re not an history lover, the next visit will be more interesting for you.
  • Epidaurus, located a 45-minute drive from Mycenae. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its well preserved ancient theatre with its exceptional acoustic. It’s one of the best places to visit in Peloponnese.

At the end of the day, drive to your last stop: the lovely seaside town of Nafplio. It will take you 30 minutes to get there from Epidaurus.

Enjoy a walk in the old town, and go to Acronafplia Castle to admire the view. You can even go take a dip at Arvanitia beach to end the day in style!

Spend the night in Nafplio.

You will find more informations about the Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio in my article: Visit Peloponnese: the definitive guide.

And for an exceptional experience during your 3 weeks itinerary in Greece, you can also do a 70m bungee jump over the Corinth Canal!

Where to stay in Nafplio

  • Agamemnon Hotel: Located in Nafplio’s old town, just in front of the Bourtzi Castle. The double rooms, with a balcony and sea view for some of them, are starting from 55€, with breakfast included. Strong points: the location, the view, the kind staff.
  • Amymone and Adiandi Hotel: Located 5 minutes away from the beach, in the old town. You will love the elegant double rooms, starting from 75€ including breakfast. What I loved: the delicious breakfast, the location on a pedestrian alley, the rooms’ original and nice design. It offers the best value for money in Nafplio!
  • Amalia Nafplio Hotel: Located about 2km away from the city centre. The luxurious and comfortable double rooms are starting from 110€ per night, with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the free private parking, the quietness, the varied breakfast.
  • Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas: This 5-star hotel is only 5 minutes away from the beach and 15 minutes away from the city centre. The rooms are large and modern, with balconies and the offer a great views of the sea and the castle. Price starts from 260€ per night. If you want an even more luxurious stay, you can sleep in a villa with its private pool, starting from 570€ per night. It’s my favorite hotel in Nafplio, perfect for a luxury stay!
Epidaurus Theatre
Epidaurus Theatre

3) Palamidi Fortress / Monemvasia (1 day)

New day, new visits!

In the morning, you will start by Palamidi Fortress, only about 10 minutes drive from Nafplio.

The fortress is quite huge, and you will enjoy great views of the city and the sea. Plan 1h30 – 2 hours to visit the site!

Then, get back in your car and drive for 3 hours to reach Monemvasia. It may sound a bit long but don’t worry, the landscape is really amazing on the road and time will fly by.

Surrounded by fortification walls, the lovely village of Monemvasia was built on an island under an high cliff and is completely hidden from the mainland. Inside Monemvasia, you will enjoy a stroll in its nice paved alleys with small shops and restaurants. On the main square, you will discover a church and a cathedral.

You can also take the path that leads you to the fortress, at the top of the hill. The panorama is really worth the small effort!

After Monemvasia, go to Mystras (around 1h30). You will drive quite a bit during this day, but it will be a lot more convenient for the next one.

Voyage Tips - Advice
 When you visit Monemvasia, park your car in the parking lot right after the dike, and go to the village on foot (15 minutes maximum, depending where you will park). If you don’t feel like walking, you can also take the 1€ shuttle to reach the village.

Where to stay in Mystras

  • Byzantion Hotel: Located just across Mystras’ main square. The simple but comfortable rooms offer a view on the Archaeological site. Price starts from 55€, breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the view, the private parking lot.
  • Mazaraki Guesthouse: Located close to Mystras’ Archaeological Site and surrounded by nature, this place offers large and warm suites with balcony, starting from 115€ including breakfast. What I loved: the pool, the environment, the decoration, and the breakfast served in your room.
  • Arxontiko Taygeti: This Guesthouse is located only 5km away from Mystras’ city centre. The duplex suites, with a kitchen, a living room and a balcony with a beautiful mountain view are starting from 160€, with breakfast included. Strong points: the calm, the kind staff, the environment. You will also find everything you need for breakfast in your fridge!
  • Mystras Grand Palace Resort: This 5-star hotel is located only a 5-minute drive from Mystras. This brand new hotel offers rooms with stone walls, exposed beams and terrace, starting from 180€ per night including breakfast. What I loved: the pool, the hot tub, the sauna, the comfortable rooms, the calm. It’s the best choice for a luxury stay in Mystras.
Monemvasia
Monemvasia

4) Mystras / Olympia (1 day)

The 4th step of your 20 or 21 days trip to Greece starts with the visit of the Archaeological Site of Mystras

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the former capital of the Byzantine Empire. On the site, you will admire many churches, monasteries, covent and a fortress.

Mystras is divided in 2 parts: an upper town and a lower town. As you will find a parking lot at each entrance, the easiest way to visit Mystras is to start with the upper city, visit the fortress, and then drive back to the lower city to visit it.

Remember to keep your entrance ticket!

Mystras was one of my favorite places to visit during my 3-weeks road trip in Greece. You will need at least 3 hours to enjoy the site.

Once you will be done with the visit, drive for 2 hours to go to another must-see archaeological site: Olympia.

If you visit Mystras early in the morning, you can arrive in Olympia at around 3 or 4 p.m. This means you will have time to visit the museum and the ancient site.

Start with the Museum, to discover many statues and objects found on the site. Then, visit the archaeological site located nearby.

From 776 B.C to 393 A.D, Olympia was hosting the Olympic Games. There, you will see the remains of the temples, the sports installations and the gymnasium.

If it’s not too late, after your visit of the site, go have a look at the Museum of the Olympic Games. There, you will learn everything about the sporting events and the history of the Ancient Olympic Games. It would be a shame to miss it, as the entrance is included in your 12€ entrance ticket to the Olympia.

Spend a night in Olympia.

For more detailed information about Mystras and Olympia, you can read my article: The 15 best things to do in Peloponnese.

Where to stay in Olympia

  • Leonidaion Guesthouse: Located only 10-minute walk from the Archaeological site of Olympia. The large and comfortable double rooms are starting from 55€ per night, including breakfast. What I loved: the free private parking lot, the location close to the site, the quietness. It’s the best value for money in Olympia!
  • Amalia Hotel Olympia: Located at the city’s entrance. The large and bright rooms, with balcony or terrace are starting from 80€, with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the very tasty breakfast, the kind staff, the free fruit basket and water in your room.
  • Arty Grand Hotel: Located on a hill overlooking the city, this 5-star hotel offers modern double rooms, with a small living room and a balcony, starting from 95€ per night including breakfast. Strong points: the huge outdoor pool, the indoor pool, the environment. It’s the best hotel for a luxury stay in Olympia!
Olympia
Olympia

5) Delphi (1 day)

After 3 days in Peloponnese, it’s time to go to Delphi to continue this 3-weeks in Greece itinerary.

Delphi is located a 3h15 drive from Olympia, but don’t worry: during your journey, you will have time to enjoy amazing landscapes and a few stops in beautiful towns!

The best places to see during this road trip are:

  • Kalogria Sandhill: a large sand beach, surrounded by dunes and pine trees. Ideal if you want to rest or walk a bit!
  • Gianiskari beach, a nice sand beach only accessible by a trail. It’s a very quiet place, far from tourists.
  • Nafpaktos: a nice seaside town with 2 large beaches, several bars and a small port. Ideal for your lunch break. You can also visit the castle above the city, and enjoy the view of the bay up to Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge (the entrance fee is 2€)
  • Galaxidi is another seaside village, where you can have a nice walk along the port and in the pine forest. You will find many bars and restaurants.
  • Between Nafpaktos and Galaxidi, the seaside road is really beautiful, and there are some great beaches to take a dip!

Delphi is well-known for its prophecies. Here, the Pythia (the oracle of Delphi) transmitted Appolo’s directives from the gods to humans. In Ancient Greece, Delphi was considered to be the center of the world.

You can visit the archaeological site and the museum for 12€. You will discover the Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, the Stadium and enjoy the magnificent view of the mountains and valley!

Delphi is definitely a must-see place for your 3 weeks holiday in Greece. It was simply my favorite site of Ancient Greece.

Voyage Tips - Advice

Visit the archaeological site of Delphi at the end of the day, when the lighting is really beautiful. It will also give you more time to stop on the road and enjoy the beaches and small town!

For dinner, you can try the Taverna Vakhos. The menus are quite different and more upscale than in the other restaurants of the area, for an identical price. Don’t forget to book it in advance.

Where to stay in Delphi

  • Fedriades Delphi Hotel: Located a 10-minute walk from the ancient site of Delphi. The modern double rooms with balcony are starting from 55€, and you have to add 8€ for breakfast. Strong points: the panoramic view, the high quality beds, the kind staff.
  • Kastalia Boutique Hotel: Located only 5 minutes from Delphi. You’ll enjoy large and modern double rooms, starting from 62€ including breakfast. What I loved: the terrace, where you can have your breakfast, the warm welcome, the location. It’s the best value for money in Delphi!
  • Nidimos Hotel: Located only 1km from the archaeological site. The bright and comfortable double rooms with balcony are starting from 65€ per night, with a 10€ breakfast. Strong points: the various and copious breakfast, the free parking lot, the beautiful view.
  • Amalia Hotel Delphi: Located 800 meters from the archaeological site. Modern and bright double room offering a nice view up to the sea starting at 90€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the large swimming pool, the view. The most high-end hotel in Delphi!
Delphi
Delphi

6) The Meteora (1 day)

Let’s continue this 3 weeks trip to Greece with my favorite place in the country: the Meteora.

Located in Central Grece, the Meteora are quite far from Athens (5 hours) and from Thessaloniki (2h40), but you won’t regret going that far!

From Delphi, going to Meteora will take around 3h30. So don’t leave too late and try to arrive there around 12. You can have your lunch break in Kalambaka (the main city nearby), and ask for your map of the Meteora Monasteries at the tourist office.

The Meteora is a unique geological site, with huge rocks formations and monasteries built on the top of some of them! The scenery is truly amazing, it’s the perfect place to take beautiful pictures.

Back in time, the monks living here had to travel in nets or baskets pulled by a cable hundreds of feet over the ground. Nowadays, don’t worry, you can take the stairs to visit the 6 monasteries.

The most impressive is for sure to see them from the outside, but you can also visit the inside of the monasteries (3€ entrance fee for each). If you only have the time to visit one, you should visit the Monastery of Great Meteoron, which is the biggest and most impressive.

Spend the night in one of the hotels below.

Where to stay in Meteora

  • Pyrgos Adrachti: Located in the village of Kastraki, only a 5-minute drive from the monasteries. The double rooms, with a beautiful view of the Meteora are starting from 60€, with a 7.50€ breakfast. Strong points: the magnificent view, the quietness, the amazing big breakfast.
  • Meteora Hotel at Kastraki: Located in Kastraki. The modern and bright double rooms are starting from 80€ per night, with breakfast included. What I loved: the pool, the location in the countryside, the spectacular view. It’s the best value for money in Meteora!
  • Hotel Meteoritis: Also located in Kastraki. You will love the spacious and comfortable double rooms, with a balcony and a view of the Meteora, starting from 125€ including breakfast. Strong points: the kind staff, the location, the private parking, the varied breakfast.
The Meteora Greece
The Meteora, Greece

7) Thessaloniki (1 day)

Now, it’s time to go to Thessaloniki. It’s the best place to take your plane to Santorini without having to go back to Athens.

You will have to drive around 2h40 from the Meteora.

Depending on your flight departure time, maybe you will have some time to visit Thessaloniki?

If you do, you can read my article about Greece’s 2nd largest city. You will find all my best tips to get around Thessaloniki on foot and visit the best points of interest: How to visit Thessaloniki in 1 day?

It’s now time to fly to the 2nd part of your 3 weeks trip to Greece: The Cyclades islands. Let’s do some Greek island hopping!

Voyage Tips - Advice

You will save some time if you fly to Santorini from Thessaloniki. The flight aren’t more expensive than from Athens or than the ferry. And it’s a lot faster!

When you rent your car, notice that you will take it in Athens and drop it off in Thessaloniki. Choose a company that won’t charge extra fees if you drop your car off in another airport. Rentalcars.com website will help you to find the best car rental agency easily.

Thessaloniki
The white tower, in Thessaloniki

8) Santorini (3 days)

For the next stages of your 3 weeks itinerary in Greece, you will visit 4 islands of the Cyclades archipelago.

So let’s start your Cyclades itinerary! The first Greek island you will visit is the world-famous Santorini island.

When you arrive in Santorini from Thessaloniki, rent a car for 3 days, then go to your hotel (you will arrive quite late).

Here is the best itinerary to visit the Island in 3 days:

On your 1st day, visit Fira and Oia, the 2 most famous villages of Santorni.

You should do it in this order:

  1. In the morning, visit Fira as well as Firostefani and Imerovigli, the 2 adjacent towns.
  2. Then, you can enjoy a very beautiful hike from Fira to Oia in the early afternoon. It takes between 1h30 and 2h. If you don’t want to walk, you can also drive to Oia.
  3. Visit Oia at the end of the day, and enjoy the sunset there.
Santorini
Santorini – The Cyclades

For your 2nd day, The best is to go on a 1-day boat trip and:

  • Discover the still active volcano of Nea Kameni
  • Swim in Palea Kameni hot springs
  • Visit Therasia, the island located right in front of Santorini.

It’s a top attraction of Santorini, so you imagine that most tourists want to do this fantastic cruise! As the seats are limited, you have to book it in advance by clicking on the button below.

And if you want a romantic and luxury trip on a catamaran, it’s right there:

Spend your 3rd and last day in Santorini doing a road trip to discover the rest of the island.

  • Discover the villages of Pyrgos, Megalochori and Emporio.
  • Visit the 2 ancient sites of the island: Akrotiri (often compared to Pompeii, in Italy), and the Ancient Thera.
  • Wine enthusiasts can also book an oenology tour with a small group, to discover Santorini’s vineyards, with 12 wines tasting included. Book it right here!
  • End your day and relax at the beach. The Red Beach and the Black Beach are the most famous. Monolithos Beach is ideal if you’re with children.

For more info to organise your trip, you should read my detailed article: How to visit Santorini in 3 days?

Where to stay in Santorini

You must know that staying in Santorini, especially in the villages of the caldera like Oia and Fira, is quite expensive.

If you want a less expensive accommodation, it’s better to choose a hotel outside these 2 cities.

And of course, even more in Santorini than in any other place, book your hotels as early as possible!

To help you choose, I have made a selection of the best hotels in Santorini, depending on where you want to stay and your budget.

Best hotels in Oia

  • Aethrio Hotel: Located in Oia, only a few steps away from the main square. You can rent double rooms, studio flats or apartments with balcony for most of them. The price starts from 160€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the swimming pool, the large rooms, the rooftop to admire the sunset. It’s one of the cheapest places in Oia, and it offers a great value for money!
  • Caldera Premium Villas: Located in the centre of Oia. You will love the troglodyte suites with a breathtaking view of the sea and the caldera, starting from 290€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the design of the rooms, and the location.
  • Theodora Suites Apartment: Located in the heart of the city. Studio flats with small kitchen, fridge, private terrace and hot tub, starting from 350€, breakfast included. What I loved: the hot tubs, the breathtaking view, the kind staff.
  • Andronis Boutique Hotel: 5-star hotel located in Oia. You’ll enjoy large suites with a view of the caldera, private balcony and private hot tub or pool, starting from 800€ with breakfast included. Strong points: the idyllic scenery and the calm. It’s my recommendation for a one-week romantic stay in Greece!
  • Katikies Hotel – The Leading Hotels of the World: This luxurious hotel offers rooms and suites with a great view, bathtub and spa. The price starts from 1000€ with breakfast included. What I loved: the pools, the spas, the splendid views and the food! It’s my recommendation for a luxury stay in Santorini!
Katikies Hotel The Leading Hotels of the World
Katikies Hotel – The Leading Hotels of the World

Best hotels in Fira

  • Galatia Villas: Located 10 minutes away from Fira’s city centre. The double rooms are quite basic but nice, and the price starts from only 80€ per night. Strong points: the hot tub on the roof, the kind staff, the great value for money for Santorini.
  • Lilium Santorini Villa: Located on the edge of the caldera. These elegant and modern double rooms with sea view are available starting from 315€, breakfast included. What I loved: the pool, the exceptionnal location, the warm and welcoming staff.
  • Cosmopolitan Suites – Small Luxury Hotels of the World: Located in the heart of Fira. You will enjoy lovely rooms with private balcony, decorated in the purest Cycladian style, starting from 550€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the infinity pool over the cliff, and the luxury hotel services. This is the perfect place to stay with your lover in Santorini!
  • Aria Suites: Located in Fira, this high standard hotel offers only 6 suites and luxury villas, fully equipped (you even get a laptop), starting from 700€ per night. What I loved: the magnificent place, the pool and the staff availability. This is a great choice for a luxurious and romantic stay in Fira!
Arias Suites
Arias Suites

Other best places to stay in Santorini Island (Cheaper)

  • Memories Beach Hotel: Located just accross Monolithos beach. These comfortable modern rooms starts from 65€ per night, with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the calm and the adorable staff.
  • Rose Suites: Located in Vourvoulos, only 4 kilometers away from Fira. Those studio flats and apartments are well equiped and decorated, with a small kitchen and a private terrace. The prices are starting from 75€ per night. What I loved: the pool, the calm, the decoration. The fridge is also full with everything you need for breakfast. This is the best choice in Santorini for its exceptional value for money!
  • Hippocampus Hotel: Located in Kamari, only 50 meters away from the beach. The rooms, with a view on the swimming pool or the garden, are starting from 85€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the ideal location close to the beach, and the really kind staff.
  • Meltemi Village Hotel: Located in Perissa, only 5 minutes away from the Black beach. The rooms and suites with hot tubs are starting from 100€ per night, with the breakfast included. What I loved: the pools, the spa, and the great breakfast. A great choice for a stay on Santorini’s shore!
Meltemi Village Hotel
Meltemi Village Hotel

9) Amorgos (3 days)

It’s now time to visit other islands in the Cyclades.

The 2nd island you will visit is Amorgos, located only 1h from Santorini by ferry boat.

If you want to book your ferry ticket and check the schedules, you have to use Ferries in Greece website.

Be careful, Amorgos has 2 ports, Katapola and Aegiali. Don’t forget to check your port of arrival and departure!

You can’t take the ferry from Santorini with your rental car (as it’s forbidden). You will have to rent a new car on each island. As Amorgos is a small island, you can’t book your car in advance, and you will have to rent it directly when arriving. Don’t worry, there are several car rentals companies just in front of the ferry pier.

For your 1st day, take your car and start discovering the island:

  • Katapola, the principal port.
  • Hora, the capital, and its many old mills
  • Have a lunch break in one of the typical taverns of the village
  • The Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa
  • Agia Ana cove, close to the monastery.
  • Kalotaritissa, a great beach to relax and swim a bit. You can also see the ship wreck of “The Big Blue” movie.

For the 2 other days, you can go hiking on the many walking trails of the island. You will find every information you need on Amorgos’ official website.

Amorgos is a real paradise for hiking lovers. And the best is that most hikes will also allow you to discover great beaches and coves to swim and rest! I really loved visiting Amorgos during my Greek island itinerary.

If you want to everything about Amorgos island, you should read my article:  Visit Amorgos: the definitive guide. 

Amorgos-Big Blue
The film set of “The Big Blue”, in Amorgos

Where to stay in Amorgos

When you visit Amorgos, you can stay in one of the 2 main cities: Katapola and Aegiali. Choose between the 2 according to your port of departure!

Here is a selection of the best places to stay in Amorgos:

Best hotels in Katapola

  • Amorgion Hotel: Located 1km from the port of Katapola, and at only 8-minute walk from the beach. The double rooms with private balcony, and a view of the Aegean Sea for some of them, are starting from 50€ per night, with an 8€ breakfast. Strong points: the pool, the private free parking, the warm welcome. It’s the only hotel with a swimming pool in Katapola!
  • Barbara Pension: Located 5 minutes away from the beach, right next to the port of Katapola. The studio flats are equipped with a sink, a fridge and also have a balcony. The prices are starting from 55€per night. Strong points: the cleanliness, the quietness, the very kind owner!
  • Diasino Studios: Located close to the port. The studio flats and apartments are modern, with terrace or balcony. The prices are starting from 60€ with a 5€ breakfast. What I loved: the calm, the location close to all the restaurants. It’s the best value for money in Katapola!
  • Landeris Hotel: Located 3 minutes away from the beach, and close to the port. The rooms, studio flats and apartments are decorated in a rustic style, with wooden furniture. The prices are starting from 60€ per night with breakfast included. Strong points: the kindness of the owners, the delicious breakfast, the great advice!
  • Minoa Hotel: Located 100m from the beach, close to the port. The bright and large double rooms, with balcony are starting from 80€ per night including breakfast. Strong points: the kind staff, the great breakfast.

Best hotels in Aegiali

  • Pelagos: Located only 3 minutes from the beach and 100m from the port of Aegiali. The double rooms with balcony and sea view are starting from 35€ per night, with a 5€ breakfast. Strong points: the view, the welcome directly at your boat, the copious breakfast.
  • Aelia Studios: Located on the sea side. The modern and cosy studio flats, equipped with a small kitchen with an oven and hotplates are starting from 60€ per night. What I loved: the design and the charm of the apartments, the location. It’s the best value for money in Aegiali!
  • Vigla Hotel: Located 10 minutes away from the beach, in Tholaria, above Aegiali. The modern and bright large rooms are starting from 110€per night, with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the copious breakfast, the comfort, the quietness, the great restaurant. If you are looking for a nice hotel with a swimming pool in Amorgos, you should definitely try the Vigla!
  • Aegialis Hotel & Spa: Located above Aegiali, this 5-star hotel (the only one in Amorgos) offers comfortable rooms with balcony starting from 140€ per night. Strong points: the big pool, the magnificient view of Aegiali and the sea, the spa, the quietness. It’s simply the best hotel in Amorgos!
Monastery Panagia Hozoviotissa
The Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa in Amorgos

10) Naxos (3 days)

Your 3 weeks itinerary now takes you to Naxos, located 1h15 away from Amorgos by ferry boat.

As Naxos is a quite big island, you should really rent your car in advance. You can check the best prices by clicking the button below:

For your 1st day, you will arrive in Hora, the capital. There, you can discover the Portara and Kastro district. After lunch, enjoy one of the West Coast beaches to relax.

On your 2nd day, take your car and visit the picturesque mountain villages: Halki, Filoti and Apiranthos.

If you like hiking, you have to go to the Aria Spring, close to Filoti. From there, a trail goes to the summit of Mount Zeus, the highest point of the Cyclades!

Then, drive to Moutsouna to enjoy one of the East Coast beaches.

For your 3rd and last day in Naxos, you can go on a 1-day boat trip with visits and swimming. Snorkeling equipment is also included. Click the button below for more details about your excursion:

If you want to visit Naxos during your trip to Greece, you should read my article: The 10 best things to do in Naxos.

Where to stay in Naxos

If you wish to visit Naxos, the best is to stay in Hora (the capital city) or its surroundings.

  • Anatoli Hotel: Located a 10-minute walk from Naxos centre and the beach. The modern rooms with balcony and a view of the pool or the garden are starting from 45€ with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the sauna, the hot tub, and the free transfer from the port and the airport.
  • The Saint Vlassis: Located only 700m from the city centre and 500m from the Agios Georgios beach. This hotel offers comfortable and large double rooms, with an outdoor hot tub for some of them! The prices are starting from 60€ per night including breakfast. Strong points: the warm welcome, the good breakfast, the free parking. It’s simply the best value for money in Naxos!
  • Xenia Hotel: Located in the centre of Naxos. The modern and well equipped double rooms are starting from 70€ with an 8€ breakfast. Strong points: the location in the city centre (really convenient to take the ferry), the kind staff, the comfortable beds.
  • Hotel Grotta: Located only 700m from the Portara and 15 minutes from the beach. Those nice and bright double rooms with balcony are starting from 90€ with breakfast included. A great place for a romantic gateway in Naxos!
  • Nissaki Beach Hotel: Located on Agios Georgios beach, the closest to Naxos. The double rooms are very well decorated, and with a balcony. The prices are starting from 220€ per night, with breakfast included. What I loved: The pool, the location next to the beach, the amazing breakfast, the staff. It’s the best hotel for a luxury stay in Naxos!
Portara Naxos
The Portara, in Naxos

11) Paros (3 days)

The last island you will visit during your trip to Greece is Paros, only 40 minutes away from Naxos by boat.

For your 1st day, focus on the Northern part of the island and visit:

  • Parikia, the capital. You will love its old town and the Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani.
  • Paros Park, to have a really nice stroll on the 3 marked trails (it takes around 2 hours)
  • After your walk, enjoy the beach nearby.
  • Naoussa, Paros’ trendy seaside resort, with its luxury boutiques and nice restaurants
  • End your day at the beach: you can choose between Siparos Beach, Stefano Beach, Lageri Beach, Santa Maria  Beach or Kolymbithres.

The next day, enjoy the Southern part of Paros.

First, you can drive to the 3 most picturesque and authentic villages of the island: Lefkes, Prodromos and Marpissa. If you prefer walking, you can drive to Lefkes, then take the Byzantine trail that connects the 3 villages.

Have your lunch at the port of Piso Livadi. The restaurants there are famous for their fresh grilled fish dishes.

In the afternoon, you can try one of the beaches nearby, like the Golden Beach, Logaras Beach or Faragas.

For your last day in Paros, book a boat trip around the island and Antiparos.

You can choose between a half-day and a full-day trip. It costs between 40 and 100€.

If you want to know more about the best things to do in Paros, you should read my detailed article: Visit Paros: the definitive guide.

Where to stay in Paros

In Paros, most of the accommodations are located around Parikia (that’s convenient, because its where the ferries arrive), or in Naoussa, the island’s main seaside resort.

You will find here a selection of the best places to stay in Parikia and Naoussa.

Best hotels in Parikia

  • Margarita: Located only 300m from the church of Parikia, and 400m from the beach. The double rooms with balcony are starting from 37€ per night. Strong points: the kindness and the advice of the owners, the warm welcome.
  • Nostos Studios: Located only a minute walk from the beach and 1km from the port. The studios for 2 to 4 people, with a beautiful sea view, are starting from 70€ per night. Strong points: the terrace to admire the sunset, the warm welcome.
  • Sunset View Hotel: Located only 10 minutes away from the port. The confortable rooms with balcony are starting from 80€ including breakfast. What I loved: the pool, the free shuttle from the port, the private parking. It’s the best value for money in Paros!
  • Akrotiri Hotel: Located 2km from the port of Parikia. The clean and comfortable double rooms with sea view are starting from 100€ per night, with breakfast included. Strong points: the pool, the view, the great breakfast, the kind staff.

Best hotels in Naoussa

  • Surfing Beach Village Paros: Located directly on Santa Maria’s beach, a 5-minute drive from Naoussa. The nice bungalows, decorated in Cycladian style are starting from 30€ per night including breakfast. Strong points: the pool, the free transfer to the port, the location, the free deckchairs on the beach.
  • Hotel Senia: Located 200m away from the centre of Naoussa, on the seaside. The rooms and suites with private balconies and amazing view are starting from 105€, with breakfast included. What I loved: the 2 pools, the free parking, the great breakfast. It’s the best value for money in Naoussa!
  • Paliomylos Spa Hotel: Located 800m away from Naoussa. The bright and large double rooms are starting from 110€ per night, including breakfast. Strong points: the pool, the spa with massages, the decoration, the complete and varied breakfast.
  • Villa Bellonia: Located 12 minutes away from the beach and 1km from Naoussa. The lovely rooms with balcony or private terrace are starting from 120€ per night, with breakfast included. What I loved: The pool, the comfort, the amazing breakfast. It’s the best choice for a romantic gateway in Paros!
  • Saint Andrea Resort Hotel: Located 1.5km away from Naoussa, this hotel offers luxurious accomodation with private terrace and view of the garden and the sea, starting from 200€ per night. Strong points: the location in front of the sea, the kind staff, the big pool. It’s my recommendation for a luxury stay in Paros!
Naoussa
Naoussa

12) Return to Santorini or Athens (1 day)

This 3 weeks itinerary in Greece is already over! It’s now time to fly back home.

From Paros, the fastest way is to return to Santorini, then directly fly back home. The ferry trip takes 2 hours.

You can also go back to Athens. In that case, it will take you 3 hours by ferry boat.

Depending on your flight’s departure time, you can also leave Paros at the end of the day before.

Voyage Tips - Advice

For a 20 days itinerary in Greece, you just have to remove a day on one of the islands.

For a 22 days trip to Greece, you can add a day in Athens and book a 1-day cruise to the Saronic islands. You can also add a day in Santorini or in another Greek island.

Now you know how to spend 3 weeks in Greece! If you have any questions about planning your 20, 21 or 22 days itinerary in Greece, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section.

Greece Tours

On Voyagetips.com, I give you all my best tips and itineraries to plan your trip to Greece by yourself. (Click here to read all my articles about Greece)

However, if you prefer to book a Greece tour with a travel agency, I recommend you to check the 10 best Greece tours by clicking the button below:

Renting a boat in Greece

If you want to rent a boat for a nice day at sea during your trip to Greece, you should book it with Samboat.

Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental.

So, what are you waiting for to book your boat trip in Greece? 😊

Book your trip now and save money!

Greece travel guides

You’re traveling to Greece ? These articles will help you !

Discover all my articles about Greece: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Greece are listed there.

Cyclades (Greek islands)

Dodecanese

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3-week Greece itinerary
3-week Greece itinerary: the best things to do in 20-21 days
Anonymous

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

Discussion6 Comments

  1. David Hamilton

    Would the last 3 weeks in March be OK for a 21 day visit to Greece?
    Using inexpensive car rentals ., meals andhotels what would your suggested holiday cost for two people? Approximately?

    • Vincent
      Vincent

      Hello David,

      For your trip, the part in continental Greece will be ok at the end of March. For the islands however, the ferries service is reduced from October to April (low season), so you will need to check on FerriesinGreece.com if the schedules are ok for you.

      About the budget, you should check according to your dates, it’s the easiest. I don’t give a budget in the article as it depends on too many factors: the dates of the trip, the number of people, the type accommodation needed (for some people, “cheap” is a 10 euros dormitory, for others a 50 euros hotel room), the price of the car rentals at that time of the year, the price of the ferries tickets, the exact number of activities you will do, if you eat sandwiches, skip lunch etc…

      About food price, you can usually eat a Gyros sandwich for about 3-4 euros, and at the restaurant get a main course for around 10 euros.

      Fore the rest, I prefer to give you links to check by yourself, so you can see how much it would cost exactly for your trip!

      – You can have a look at the hotels prices at your dates by clicking on the links in the article for every destination, in the “Where to stay in….” sections it’s very simple! Of course, you can then book another accommodation on the website if the ones I talk about don’t suit your needs.
      – You can see the car rentals prices on Rentalcars.com
      – And the ferries tickets on FerriesinGreece.com, as mentioned above.

      Enjoy your trip to Greece, and if you have other questions, don’t hesitate!

  2. Christian Dewailly
    Christian Dewailly

    Good morning, afternoon or evening, I do not know where you live!
    Your presentation is excellent!

    I am very interested in your 3 weeks tour in Greece!
    Is there a way you could send me that itinerary
    With the suggestions of hotel! To print is a dreadful 30 +/- with half blank pages, adds, etc.
    I think we would probably spend less time on the islands, which one would you consider avoiding!
    We are great fans of history and for example spend 2 or 3 nights in places like meteora. My wife worked for many years for the IOC and would off course spend more time near Olympia if needed!

    • Vincent
      Vincent

      Hello Christian,

      Thank you very much! I’m glad that my 3-week itinerary in Greece is helping you to prepare your trip.

      Regarding the itinerary, I’m sorry but it’s not possible to send it to you in another format, as I simply don’t have it. It’s only available online.
      And yes I know about the printing problem, but with this type of blog it’s not really possible. It’s really not meant to be printed but to be viewed in a browser.

      If you print it, you won’t be able to access the links for hotel, tour, activity and car bookings.
      For hotels, just click on the name of the hotel (in orange in the article) you are interested in and you can see the rates for your travel dates and book it.

      And what you can do it you want to access this page without internet on your phone, you can save it for offline use.

      On Android for example, click on the 3 vertical dots on the top right of your browser window to access the menu. Then click on the little arrow pointing down icon to save an offline version of the page.
      You will thus be able to access it even if you don’t have internet!

      If you want to spend more time in mainland Greece and less on the islands, you can remove either Amorgos or Paros (depending on interests).

      Enjoy you 3-week trip to Greece and don’t hesitate if you have any other questions.

  3. Ryan Hopkin

    Hi I really like this suggested 21 day trip to Greece. Is it possible to do this without renting a car meaning bus or trains? I really don’t like the idea of driving. Would like to enjoy the scenery and sights on a bus or train. We are looking to go end of June 2024 for 3 weeks. Many thanks.

    • Vincent
      Vincent

      Hello,

      Thank you! I’m glad that my 3-week itinerary in Greece helped you plan your trip.

      Car hire is essential for visiting the whole of mainland Greece (from Mycenae to Thessaloniki).
      If you want to do it by bus (the train is even more complicated) you won’t be able to see everything and you’ll have to cut out a lot of visits.

      On the other hand, you don’t need a car to visit Athens, and you can do without one on the Cycladic islands. However, you should bear in mind that the buses do not reach all the beaches for example, and that there is usually only one bus per hour.

      Enjoy your (future) stay in Greece!

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