10-Day Cyclades Greece Tour Packages
Imagine island-hopping through the Cyclades, while also sending some historic time in Athens. Take a walk through Plaka, and check out local food markets showing real culture. Head to the islands, perhaps Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, and Naxos. Each one has a different personality completely and they’re wonderful to explore. You’ll see white buildings, blue-domed churches, and beaches that deliver every time.
Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Cyclades Greece tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaCyclades Greece travel expert at TourRadar
10 Day Greece Itinerary, incl. Athens and Santorini
The Cyclades showcase their heritage over 10 days, featuring Athens' Temple of Olympian Zeus, Mykonos' windmills and Little Venice, and Santorini's Prophet Elias Monastery. Three half-day guided tours, ferry transfers, and choice of 3- or 4-star accommodations included.
- Day 1
Athens Arrival
Arrive at Athens International Airport and take a private transfer to your hotel in central Athens. "The hotel near Monastiraki Square gave us a perfect view of the Acropolis." Spend your first afternoon walking around and enjoy your first Greek dinner in the charming Plaka neighborhood.
- Day 2
Athens Exploration
Take a morning guided tour of Athens' main attractions including the Panathenaic Stadium and Temple of Zeus. Visit the Acropolis and its museum around 8:30 AM before the crowds arrive. Make sure to wear shoes with good grip since the marble steps can be slippery from morning dew.
- Day 3
Athens to Mykonos
Head to Piraeus port at 6:00 AM for your ferry to Mykonos, which takes about 5 hours. After checking into your hotel, explore the famous windmills and Little Venice area. "Walking Little Venice at sunset, sipping cocktails while watching the sea, is quintessential Mykonos."
- Days 4-5
Mykonos
Take a guided tour of Mykonos Town in the evening and visit Ano Mera village and the 16th-century Panagia Tourliani monastery. Spend the next day at the beach. Skip crowded Paradise Beach and opt for the quieter Agios Ioannis. You can easily move between beaches using the regular water taxis.
- Day 6
Mykonos to Santorini
Take a morning ferry to Santorini (2.5 hours). After check-in, spend time exploring Fira, the main town. Book your stay in Fira or Oia for the best caldera views. If you're watching your budget, look at the Kamari Beach area for better deals.
- Days 7-8
Santorini
Join a small group tour of the island to see Prophet Elias Monastery, ancient Akrotiri ruins and local wineries. "The wine tasting overlooking the caldera was incredible - try the unique Assyrtiko grape variety." Use day 8 to walk the Fira to Oia trail (3 hours). Start early to avoid the hot afternoon sun.
- Day 9
Santorini to Athens
Take the afternoon ferry back to Athens (7-8 hours). "Consider upgrading to a cabin class for this longer journey - well worth the €45 extra." A private transfer will meet you in Athens and take you to your hotel.
- Day 10
Departure
Take a private transfer to Athens airport. Schedule this about 4 hours before your flight to account for morning traffic.
10 Day Greek Islands Sailing Itinerary, incl. Mykonos and Santorini
A 10-day sailing adventure reveals the Cyclades' finest spots, from Mykonos' Little Venice to Santorini's caldera. Highlights include Naxos' Temple of Dimitra, Homer's tomb on Ios, and Folegandros' clifftop villages. Travel aboard a 57-ft yacht with twin cabins.
- Day 1
Mykonos
Come early to see Mykonos before the 11 AM welcome meeting. Get comfortable on the yacht and buy supplies. You'll need about €80 per person for the shared food kitty. Important: Bring soft-sided luggage under 15kg since cabin storage is very limited.
- Days 2-4
Syros, Paros & Folegandros
Visit three unique Cycladic islands. Shop at local markets in Syros, check out Venetian ruins in Paros and walk the steep cliffs of Folegandros. A previous sailor noted: "The hiking trail to Folegandros' clifftop church offers incredible caldera views - go early morning to beat the heat and bring plenty of water."
- Day 5
Santorini
Sail through one of the world's biggest volcanic calderas to reach Santorini. You'll get amazing views of white villages sitting high on the cliffs as you approach by sea. Take time to explore Oia and Fira but expect crowds if you're traveling in peak season.
- Days 6-8
Ios, Small Cyclades & Naxos
See Homer's reported burial site on Ios and relax at Manganari Beach. The Small Cyclades have quiet bays perfect for swimming and snorkeling. When you reach Naxos visit the Temple of Dimitra and take a local microbrewery tour. One reviewer said: "The hands-on sailing experience was incredible. Our skipper taught us about navigation and trimming the sails."
- Day 9
Return to Mykonos
Head back to Mykonos for your last night. See the iconic windmills and have drinks at sunset near Little Venice. Since fresh water is limited on the boat save your proper shower for the marina.
- Day 10
Departure
Leave the boat after breakfast. You might want to book an extra night on Mykonos since morning ferries can be hard to catch.
10 Day Greece Itinerary, incl. Athens and Greek Islands
The Cyclades reveal their magic over 10 days, from Athens' Acropolis to Santorini's caldera and Mykonos' Little Venice. Three days each at Kamari Beach and near Kalafatis Beach. Optional tours include Delos archaeological site and Santorini volcano excursions. All breakfasts and transfers included.
- Days 1-2
Athens
Start your Greek adventure in the capital city. Visit the Acropolis first thing in the morning before 8:30 AM to avoid crowds and heat. One traveler shared: "The morning tour of the Acropolis let us really appreciate the history without rushing - by afternoon it was packed and scorching hot." Plan about 2-3 hours for the archaeological site and museum. Later, explore the Plaka neighborhood with its traditional tavernas and beautiful marble-paved streets.
- Days 3-5
Santorini
Take a morning high-speed ferry from Piraeus port to Santorini. The journey takes about 5 hours. Morning ferries are more reliable since afternoon trips often face delays from strong winds. Stay in Fira or Imerovigli where you'll get great views and convenient access to amenities. Visit Oia for sunset viewing but get there early. You'll need to arrive 90 minutes before sunset to find a good spot since the viewing areas get packed.
- Days 6-8
Mykonos
The ferry to Mykonos takes about 3 hours. Bring motion sickness medicine since afternoon waters can get rough. Visit Little Venice in the early morning for the best photos of the windmills. One traveler noted: "The narrow streets of Mykonos Town are like a maze - I recommend dropping a pin on your phone map at your hotel location to avoid getting lost."
- Days 9-10
Athens
Return to Athens by ferry, which takes about 4 hours. Use your last full day to visit the Ancient Agora and any spots you missed at the start. Shop and enjoy your final dinner in the Plaka area. Many travelers recommend getting authentic souvlaki near Monastiraki Square where locals eat.
Cyclades Greece 21 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Athens, Santorini & Mykonos with 3 Guided Tours | SemiPrivate | 10 Days
Sailing Greece - Mykonos to Mykonos
Greek Island Explorer
Cycladic Explorer: Athens – Mykonos – Santorini | 10 Days
Greek Island Hopper (Classic)
MEDUSA | Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (with sightseeing in Athens + ferries)
Mykonos, Santorini & Naxos: 10-Day Greek Islands Discovery
Geluxe: Greece: Athens and Walking in the Greek Islands
Rome, Athens & the Aegean Escape (Mykonos & Santorini)
Greek Islands: Sunsets & Sea Breezes
What people love about 10-day Cyclades Greece tours
- Athens, Santorini & Mykonos with 3 Guided Tours | SemiPrivate | 10 Days
All in all, this was a good experience! We enjoyed the people and places we visited. There were no major issues, and it will be a trip that we will remember forever. As good of a trip as it was, I do believe there is room for improvement. There were three concerns that I would like to share. The first concern, had to do with the tour in Santorini. As beautiful, exciting, and enjoyable it was to visit Athens and Mykonos, Santorini was the primary place my wife wanted to see. It was the pictures of Eiya listed in the brochure of this tour that really made my wife excited about this trip. When we arrived in Santorini and spoke with the local point of contact, we were very disappointed to learn that Eiya was not included in the tour of Santorini. We were able to visit this town but we had to manage to find our own way. Displaying the pictures of Eiya in the brochure and not including this town as a destination within the tour seems to be misleading and gave us a sense of 'false advertising.' The second concern is related to the hotels that we had stayed at. We stayed at the Pan Hotel in Athens, Pelican Bay in Mykonos, and the 'upgrade' Aegean Hotel in Santorini. The Pan hotel was fine. It was small but everything worked, the staff were friendly, and the location was great. Pelican Bay was very nice as well. The only issue we had was related to the shower backing up into the water closet. This was annoying but bearable since it was such a beautiful hotel, great staff who were very helpful, and a good location. The Aegean Hotel was very beautiful. We did not swim at the hotel, but the four pools were very nice, the hotel was very, very clean. We did, unfortunately, find the front desk staff to be somewhat rood and short with us (very different from the other hotels). In addition, the bathroom was very in need of updating. The faucets were old, the mirror marked up, and the shower in our room was so small we ended up using the showers in the gym area which was somewhat inconvenient. The location was okay, but right across the street was an eye sore with what we assumed to be some sort of slowwww construction project. We truly struggled to see the 'upgrade' here. Or was the initial hotel that we were initially supposed to stay at even worse??? The third concern is probably something I would say is more of a lack of understanding on our part. When we signed up for this tour, we saw the 'semi-private' reference in the title but did not fully understand what this meant. It was through some inquiries prior to our departure that it became clear that we were not traveling with a group of people for the duration of the tour. This actually worked out better for us since we were traveling with another couple. We fully enjoyed the semi-private nature of the tour. The only reason I bring this topic up is to provide a suggestion. I believe we are not the only ones to not understand what the semi-private term may mean when it comes to a tour. I would suggest this be fully explained in the brochure (and if it is and I missed it...my apologies). As I had mentioned, this worked out very well for us...we enjoyed it. As we discussed this topic though, we would've been very disappointed if we had selected this tour with the expectation of joining a group of other people. Hope this makes sense. That is my review of our tour. I hope you find it useful. If there are any follow up questions, please feel free to reach out. Bob Basile
- Sailing Greece - Mykonos to Mykonos
We had a wonderful time sailing through the Greek Isles! We were able to visit several islands, including some that larger ships can't get to. Our captain, Kristina, was terrific, and she even led us to some spots where we could jump off the boat and swim to a cave, snorkel over a wreck of a World War 1 German plane, and just a random swim in the Mediterranean. G Adventures was excellent and had our back when a couple of unforeseen issues occurred. It wasn't a luxurious trip because we lived on a sailboat instead of a cruise ship, but it was a great adventure!
I loooved this trip! I was worried about traveling alone, but those feelings were quelled as soon as I met our guide Simone. He put me at ease and really took care of our group. And I met some wonderful people in addition! Best time ever!
Greek Island Explorer
