Tips for creating a 10 day Greek island hopping itinerary
There’s nothing quite like a Greek island hopping vacation in the midst of the Mediterranean summer. Crystal blue waters, whitewashed fishing towns and mouth-watering Greek cuisine will have you wanting to switch citizenship and make Greece your permanent residence.
The Greek islands are literally in our blood, since Lauren’s dad immigrated to America from the island of Symi. That said, we might be a bit biased, but if you’re considering booking an island hopping trip in Greece, don’t hesitate.
Read on to learn how to go Greek island hopping and don’t miss our full post on Greek travel tips.
Which Greek islands are best for island hopping?
With so many options to choose from, it can feel a bit overwhelming when trying to decide what islands to visit in Greece. The best tip we can offer is to pick islands that are near each other. With only 10 days, you’ll want to maximize the time on each island, versus spending it travelling between them.
Consider booking your trip to the Cyclades where some of the most beautiful islands in Greece are located.
Because of their proximity to one another, these are some popular islands for Greek island hopping: Santorini, Mykonos, Ios, Naxos, Paros and Milos.
How to travel around the Greek islands
GREEK FERRIES: In Greece, ferries are the primary mode of transport between islands. You’ll need to book your tickets ahead of time on sites like ferryscanner.com. Seats often fill up far in advance, so decide your travel days before you arrive in Greece.
Ferries tend to get behind schedule, but when they arrive at the port the process goes very fast, so be prepared to move quick. These things fly across the water and the ride is comfortable with snacks available for purchase on board.
Greek ferries can be a bit intimidating for first-time visitors, but it’s definitely the fastest and most convenient way to travel between islands. For help on navigating the Greek ferry process, check out our list of Greek travel tips.
FLIGHTS: Another option for travelling between islands is to fly. Islands like Santorini and Mykonos do have airports but you will miss out on seeing smaller islands. Getting in and out of the airport will also consume much of your travel time. For these reasons, we wouldn’t recommend this option for Greek island hopping.
What is the best season for Greek island hopping?
Summer is the best season to visit the Greek islands to enjoy the warm weather and because the islands virtually shut down during the fall and winter.
The Greek islands depend almost entirely on tourism, so it’s common for workers at hotels, shops and restaurants to head back to Athens to their alternate jobs when the tourist season ends. It doesn’t mean visiting the Greek islands during winter is off limits, but keep in mind that the weather will be colder and wetter, and you’ll have far less selection of places that are open for business.
A great time to book your trip is during “shoulder season” in late spring or early fall to avoid some of the crowds but still take advantage of the warm Mediterranean weather.
How many islands can you visit in Greece in 10 days?
The nice thing about the Greek islands is that they’re small enough to visit the main points of interest in just a few days. You can easily split your day between sightseeing, relaxing by the beach and dinner in town to really soak up all the goodness of Greek island life.
We feel that 3 islands is the perfect number for a 10-day greek island hopping vacation. You’ll see a variety of places without feeling too rushed.
International flights from the US will eat up 1-2 days of your travel time and ferry rides between islands range anywhere from 2-6 hours. Your best option is to pick islands that are near each other so you can maximize the time on each island versus wasting it traveling between them.
Is a cruise a good way to see the Greek islands?
Our only experience with cruises was watching the giant ships dock every day in Santorini and unleash thousands of passengers onto the little island. We watched them being shuffled around by tour guides in highly-trafficked, touristy spots and felt relieved that we weren’t locked in to that schedule.
A Greek island hopping cruise is best for those concerned more with convenience over an authentic experience. Sure, everything’s planned, but you’ll feel rushed having to return to the ship after only a few hours.
We think a better option is to stay a few days on each island and rent a car to get around. Navigating the islands is easy and it will give you some independence and more time to visit less touristy spots. Believe us, you’re going to want to soak in Greek island life for as long as you can.
Sample Greek island vacation itinerary
Incoming travel
Overnight flight from Los Angeles to London
Layover in London
Morning flight from London to Santorini
Santorini
Day 1
Settle in at hotel
Drinks and dinner at hotel
Day 2
Morning visit to Oia or Fira
Get a pic by the Blue Domed Churches
Afternoon by pool
Dinner at Ammoudi Bay
Day 3
Explore Imerovigli and the village of Megalochori
Stroll along the path from Fira to Oia
Dinner at Flyaway in Imerovigli
Ios
Day 4
Settle in at hotel
Lounge at the famous Mylapotas Beach
Dinner at The Mills
Day 5
Explore the ruins of Skarkos
Take in epic views at Paleokastro Monastery
Dinner in The Chora
Day 6
Hike out to Never Bay
Afternoon at Magganari Beach
Dinner in The Chora
Milos
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Morning drive to Tsigrado Beach
See abandoned Sulfer Mines at Thiorichia
Take a dip at Papafragas Beach
Dinner at Medusa in Mandrakia
Day 10
Sunrise and cliff-jumping at Sarakiniko
Relax at Firopotamos
Dinner at Glaronisia
Outgoing travel
Hope you find these tips for a 10 day Greek island hopping itinerary helpful. There’s so much to love about the Greek islands. Comment below with any questions and for all things Greece check out our other posts about the Greek islands.
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About Us
We’re Rob and Lauren — a designer & photographer duo passionate about travel. We hope you find some travel inspiration here and the courage to go book that dream vacation.
With so many beautiful places, we can’t help but feel that somewhere is always waiting to be discovered.
