Ancient Greece, Acropolis & Saronic Islands — Self-Launched

Land at Athens Airport and take Metro Line 3 straight to Monastiraki or Syntagma (€9 single, ~40 min) — far cheaper than the €40+ taxi the tour includes. Check into a Monastiraki/Plaka hostel or budget guesthouse (private rooms around £30–40, dorms £14–20). Spend the afternoon free-wheeling: wander Plaka's lanes, catch the changing of the Evzone guards at Syntagma, and climb Philopappos Hill for a free golden-hour view over the Acropolis. Grab dinner at a Monastiraki souvlaki joint (£7–9).

🚌Athens Airport → Monastiraki via Metro Line 3, ~€9 (~£8)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Monastiraki/Plaka (private double ~£35 or dorm ~£16)

• →Metro transfer from airport
• →Plaka & Monastiraki wander
• →Syntagma Square guard change
• →Philopappos Hill sunset viewpoint

The coach tour squeezes all of this into one long day on the way to Olympia — as an independent traveller it's much better done as a base in Nafplio. Take the KTEL Argolidas bus from Athens (Kifissos terminal) to Nafplio (~2.5 hrs, €16–18). En route or with a local bus, stop at the Corinth Canal viewpoint (free, 15 min from the Isthmos stop). Base in Nafplio's old town (guesthouses £28–38). In the afternoon take the local bus or a short taxi (~€12) to Epidaurus for the Sanctuary of Asklepios and the breathtaking Ancient Theatre (€12 entry), then on to Mycenae's citadel, Lion Gate and Tomb of Agamemnon (€12). Evening back in Nafplio for ouzo and seafood by the harbour (£12–15).

🚌KTEL bus Athens–Nafplio ~€17; local bus/taxi to Epidaurus & Mycenae ~€12 shared

🛏Old-town guesthouse in Nafplio (~£32)

• →Corinth Canal photo stop
• →Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (€12)
• →Sanctuary of Asklepios
• →Nafplio Old Town
• →Mycenae citadel & Tomb of Agamemnon (€12)

Take the KTEL bus Nafplio → Tripoli → Pyrgos/Olympia (roughly 4–5 hrs, ~€20, one or two changes). Check into a family-run guesthouse in the village of Ancient Olympia (£25–35). Spend the late afternoon at the archaeological site: the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium where you can sprint the original track, the Temple of Hera and the Archaeological Museum with the Hermes of Praxiteles (combined ticket €12). The coach tour covers the same ground with three dinners included; you'll eat at a village taverna instead (£10–13).

🚌KTEL bus Nafplio–Tripoli–Olympia ~€20

🛏Family guesthouse in Ancient Olympia village (~£30)

• →Ancient Olympia archaeological site & stadium (€12)
• →Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus
• →Archaeological Museum of Olympia
• →Village taverna dinner

Bus Olympia → Patras (€8), then local bus or the suburban rail across the Rio–Antirrio Bridge to Antirrio, and onward to Nafpaktos and Delphi (total ~4–5 hrs, ~€22). The bridge crossing with the Gulf of Corinth below is a highlight in itself. Stay in the modern village of Delphi (guesthouses £25–35) with views down the valley to Itea. Late afternoon: walk the Sacred Way, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the stadium, with the Museum of Delphi's Charioteer (combined €12). Sunset from the village terrace, dinner £11–14.

🚌Buses Olympia–Patras–Antirrio–Delphi ~€22

🛏Guesthouse in modern Delphi village (~£30)

• →Rio–Antirrio Bridge crossing
• →Delphi archaeological site: Temple of Apollo, stadium (€12)
• →Museum of Delphi & the Charioteer
• →Valley viewpoint at sunset

Long travel day: bus Delphi → Lamia → Trikala → Kalambaka (~5 hrs, ~€22). Dump your bag at a hostel or guesthouse in Kalambaka (£22–32), then walk or take the local bus up to Meteora (€2). Entry to each monastery is €5 (typically two open per afternoon; women need a skirt, men trousers — wraps provided). The tour visits two monasteries; independently you can pick whichever are open and quieter. Stay up on the rocks for sunset, then descend for dinner in Kalambaka (£10–13). Optional: the early morning hike between monasteries on the old kalderimi paths (free).

🚌Buses Delphi–Lamia–Trikala–Kalambaka ~€22; local bus to Meteora €2

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Kalambaka (~£27)

• →Byzantine monasteries of Meteora (€5 each, 2 visited)
• →Sunset from the rocks
• →Optional morning kalderimi walking trail

Morning bus Kalambaka → Trikala/Lamia → Athens (Liosion terminal), ~5 hrs, €25–28. Optional 20-minute stop at Thermopylae for the Leonidas statue and battlefield if you take a bus that stops in Lamia. Back in Athens, check into your Monastiraki hostel. Use the late afternoon to see the Panathenaic Stadium (€10) and the Temple of Zeus / Hadrian's Arch from outside, then eat in Psirri (£10–14). Buy your Acropolis skip-the-line ticket online tonight for tomorrow.

🚌KTEL bus Kalambaka–Athens ~€26

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Monastiraki (~£32)

• →Optional Thermopylae / Leonidas statue stop
• →Panathenaic Stadium (€10)
• →Temple of Zeus & Hadrian's Arch exterior
• →Psirri neighbourhood dinner

Book the earliest Acropolis slot online (€20 summer / €10 winter, plus a small booking fee) and be at the Propylaea gate for opening — the Parthenon, Erechtheion and the Areopagus rock with almost nobody around. Then the Acropolis Museum (€15) with its top-floor Parthenon gallery. Independently you can skip the coach's drive-by of parliament and the university: instead walk the route — Syntagma, the Old University and National Library on Panepistimiou, and the Presidential Guard on Herodou Attikou. Afternoon: Anafiotika lanes and a gyros lunch (£6–8). Evening options: a GetYourGuide/Klook small-group sunset walking tour of Plaka (~£25) if you want storytelling without a 55-person group.

🚌All on foot / metro single €1.20

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Monastiraki (~£32)

• →Acropolis & Parthenon timed entry (€20)
• →Acropolis Museum (€15)
• →Areopagus Hill viewpoint
• →Syntagma, National Library & changing of the guard
• →Optional Plaka sunset walking tour (~£25)

Skip the packed one-day cruise boat and do the islands properly on public ferries. Take the morning ferry from Piraeus to Aegina (fast ferry ~40 min, €15–17), hire a bike or take the local bus to the Temple of Aphaia (€6) and swim at Agia Marina. Then hop across to Poros by local ferry and wander to the clock tower and waterfront. Finish on car-free Hydra — hydrofoil/ferry, ~€20–25 — for the stone mansions, forts and harbour swim before the evening boat back to Piraeus (~€25). If you'd rather not rush, sleep on Aegina or Hydra tonight (£28–38) and ferry back in the morning. Note the tour's included buffet lunch becomes harbour-side tavernas (£10–14).

🚌Piraeus–Aegina ferry €16, island hops €15–25, Hydra–Piraeus €25

🛏Return to Athens hostel (~£32) or stay on Hydra/Aegina guesthouse (~£35)

• →Temple of Aphaia, Aegina (€6)
• →Agia Marina beach swim
• →Poros clock tower & waterfront
• →Hydra Old Town, mansions & harbour swim

The operator's 8-day version runs 8 days including arrival and departure. If your flight leaves early, take the Metro Line 3 back to the airport (€9). With time to spare, add a half-day: the National Archaeological Museum (€12), the Benaki Museum (€12) or a swim at Vouliagmeni's lake. Budget a final £25–35 for food and local transport before departure.

🚌Metro to Athens Airport ~€9

🛏—

• →National Archaeological Museum (€12) or Benaki Museum
• →Monastiraki flea market
• →Metro transfer to airport