The Best Ever 5 Days in Greece Itinerary
Are you looking to spend 5 days in Greece? Then, I’ve got the perfect itinerary for you! While 5 days may not be the longest time to visit Greece, it will allow you to get a taste for Greece’s amazing history and do some island hopping too. Greece is such a beautiful country to visit especially if you’re into delicious food, water activities, and strolling through pretty white-washed streets. Whether it’s your first time visiting Greece or you’ve been before, you will get inspiration on how to spend 5 days in Greece with this comprehensive post.
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Quick Facts before visiting Greece:
💱Currency: Euros €
💶 Budget for a trip to Greece: The average daily cost for a trip to Greece is $183 a night for both food and accommodation. If you want to save money skip the touristy places like Santorini and Mykonos, and go to cheaper lesser-known Greek islands like Kimolos, Tinos, or Paros.
💜 Is tipping required in Greece? Tipping in customary in Greece and you should plan to tip between 10-15%.
☀️ Best time to Visit: The season for Islands in Greece typically starts after Easter at the end of April and closes in October. The most ideal time to visit is right before or after the peak season of summer. June or September would be great!
🏥 Travel Insurance in Greece: I recommend SafetyWing which will cover you in case of trip cancellations or any accidents during your travels.
Is 5 Days Enough to Visit Greece?
While five days in Greece may feel short considering how many beautiful islands there are, it’s certainly possible to do so, especially if you focus on specific regions or islands. In 5 days, I’d pick 1 to 2 bases to stay in and do a day trip to a nearby island. My favorite itinerary is starting in Athens then heading to Milos and doing. a day trip to Kimolos, a lesser known island. I also loved Paros and that would be my second choice for a 5 day Greece Itinerary. However, it’s ultimately up to you and your preferences which route you choose!
10 Best 5 day Greece Itinerary Ideas
This will cover the best places to visit in Greece. These itineraries will help give you ideas of how to spend 5 days in Greece.
1. Athens, Milos, and Kimolos
- 1 days in Athens
- 2 days in Milos
- 1 day trip to Kimolos
2. Athens & Santorini
- 2 days in Athens
- 3 days in Santorini
3. Athens, Mykonos, & Delos
- 2 days in Athens
- 2 days in Mykonos (here’s how to spend 1 day in Mykonos!)
- 1 day trip to Delos
4. Athens, Crete, & Knossos
- 2 days in Athens
- 2 days in Crete
- 1 day exploring Knossos Palace
5. Athens, Rhodes, & Lindos
- 2 days in Athens
- 2 days in Rhodes
- 1 day trip to Lindos
6. Athens, Meteora, & Thessaloniki
- 2 days in Athens
- 2 days visiting Meteora monasteries
- 1 day in Thessaloniki
7. Santorini & Naxos
- 2 days in Santorini
- 3 days in Naxos
8. Athens, Corfu & Paxos
- 2 days in Athens
- 2 days in Corfu (Read my free Corfu itinerary)
- 1 day trip to Paxos
9. Athens, Antiparos, & Paros
- 1 day in Athens
- 3 days in Paros
- 1 day trip to Antiparos
10. Athens, Hydra & Spetses
- 2 days in Athens
- 3 days of Hydra
- 1 day trip to Spetses
Athens, Milos, Kimolos 5 Days in Greece Itinerary
My favorite 5 day Greece Itinerary would be a trip to Athens, Milos, and Kimolos! This itinerary is also perfect if you want to visit Greece on a budget. I also traveled to Greece solo using this exact itinerary! So, we’ll go into the details of what you’d do here in 5 days.
Day 1: Athens
On your first day in Greece, you’ll likely arrive into Athens which is part of mainland Greece and it’s one of the largest cities in Greece! There are so many must-see attractions in Athens. Being the capital city of Greece, it is a no-brainer to visit. Athens is a city full of ancient history and a popular destination for those visiting Greece.
✈️ How to get there: You can get to Athens by flying into Athens International Airport or arriving by ferry at one of the city’s ports. Most major cities will have a direct flight into Athens.
⏳How Long to Spend There? I spent 2 nights but got in very late the first night. I think you could definitely see many of the highlights including the archaeological sites in just one day. Of course, if you have more time you can spend a great 2 full days here.
🏨 Where to Stay in Athens:
La Divina Hotel seriously has the best location in Athens. It’s situated in the charming neighborhood of Thiseio. Right out of the hotel, you could find so many cute cafes. I was a short walk to Monastiraki, Hadrian’s Library, the Agora of Athens, and more! The rooms were elegant and had huge windows!
🏛️ What to do in Athens:
MAIN ANCIENT SITES:
- Acropolis, a UNESCO Heritage Site
- Acropolis Museum
- Ancient Agora
- Panathenaic Stadium
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus
NEIGHBORHOODS:
- Plaka
- Monastiraki
- Anafiotika
- Psyri
🍽️ FOOD/BARS
- Liondi
- Klepsydra
- artFix Athens
- A for Athens (rooftop bar)
- Niche Hotel Athens (rooftop bar)
Day 2-5: Milos with Day Trip to Kimolos
Milos
On your second day, you may opt to transfer to an island and explore it. I’d recommend Milos, which is a gorgeous island along the Aegean Sea. Although it is now being more and more discovered, it’s definitely less busy than Mykonos or Santorini. There are so many beautiful beaches in Milos to relax at! Milos is known for its distinctive coastline, featuring rugged cliffs, colorful rock formations, and beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters. It’s also famous for its volcanic landscapes and historical sites, such as the ancient theater of Milos and the Catacombs of Milos.
🚢 How to get there: You can take the ferry from Athens which takes approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. Book tickets ahead via Omio.
⏳How Long to Spend There? I personally spent 2 nights in Milos. While it was hardly enough time I was able to see all the highlights as they were all within 10 mins from each other (30 mins max). I’d ideally recommend 3 or 4 nights unless you have limited time. You definitely need a car. I’d recommend a rental car via Discover Cars for the best prices.
🏨 Where to stay in Milos:
I stayed in a cute windmill! It was located near Plaka which has a lot going on and you could see the whole town from the hotel.
Aera Milos was the hotel name.
🌊 What to do in Milos:
🏖️ BEACHES/CAVES
- Sarakiniko
- Papafragas Cave
- Tsigrado Beach
- Fyriplaka Beach
- Paliochori beach
🏡 VILLAGES & TOWNS:
- Mandrakia
- Klima
- Firopotamos
- Pollonia
- Plaka
- Adamas
🍽️ FOOD:
- Avli
- O! Hamos! Tavern
- Astakas Cafe Restaurant
- Medusa
- Enalion Restaurant
- Nostos
- Yialos
- Gyros of Milos
- Traditional Desserts (Dessert)
- Angellica (ice cream)
- Backers Kivotos Ton Gefseon (Bakery)
Kimolos Island
Kimolos is a tiny volcanic island with so much charm and authenticity. There is no airport on the island. This island is a hidden gem and you’ll find very few tourists here. It’s an easy day trip from Milos as it takes only 20 minutes by boat to get here.
⏳How Long to Spend There? A day is more than enough as the island is quite small!
🚢 How to get there: The best way to get there is by taking the ferry from Milos. It takes anywhere from 25 minutes to one hour. Book tickets ahead via Omio.
🏨 Where to Stay:
I suggested you take a day trip to Kimolos from Milos. However, if you have more time to spare, you should definitely stay overnight especially if you love a peaceful escape. I stayed at the most gorgeous hotel, The Windmill by Aria Hotels. From here, you could walk to the only village on the island. You had views of the small town and views of the sea from this perfect stay.
🌊 What to do in Kimolos:
Read my full blog post on the best things to do on Kimolos Island.
🏡 TOWN
Explore the only village with its picturesque streets:
- Chorio Village (the old town)
🏖️ BEACHES
- Agios Georgios Beach
- Kalamisti Beach
- Rema Beach
- Prassa Beach
- Bonatsa Beach
🍽️ FOOD/BARS
- Kali Kardia
- Agora Cocktail Bar
Hopefully, this post helps you plan the most ideal 5 day itinerary to Greece! Leave a comment below to tell me how your trip ended up!
You may also like these posts:
🏝️ Cheap Islands in Greece to Visit
♡ Corfu Itinerary
💙 Greece Solo Travel Guide
🤫 Quiet Greek Islands to Visit
🌊 Things to Do on Antiparos Island
🏝️ The Hidden Island of Kimolos, Greece
🌊 Mykonos 1 Day Itinerary
🏛️ Athens 1 Day Itinerary
♡ Instagrammable Spots in Mykonos
💎 Best Hidden Gems in Europe
📸 Most Beautiful Cities in Europe
🤫Travel secrets & tips
