3 Greek Islands & Athens — Self-Launched, 9 Days (Athens, Syros, Mykonos, Santorini)

Land at Athens Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). Skip the €40 taxi: take Metro Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki/Syntagma (~€9 one-way, 40–50 mins) and walk to your hostel in Plaka or Monastiraki. Afternoon wander through Plaka's lanes, the Roman Agora and Anafiotika, then climb Filopappou Hill for free sunset views of the Acropolis. Cheap dinner of souvlaki or a gyros plate (£7–10). Buy your ferry tickets for tomorrow online or from an agency near Syntagma if you haven't already.

🚌Airport Metro Line 3 to Monastiraki, ~£9

🛏Hostel dorm or private twin in a budget guesthouse, Plaka/Monastiraki (£20–28 pp)

• →Self-guided Plaka & Anafiotika walk (free)
• →Filopappou Hill sunset viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: Acropolis ticket £13–17 (book a timed slot on the official ticketing site)

Morning Blue Star Ferry from Piraeus to Syros (Ermoupoli), roughly 4 hours, ~£33–40 one-way in economy; take Metro Line 1 to Piraeus and allow 45 mins to reach the port. Check into a family-run guesthouse in Ermoupoli or a hostel near the port. Afternoon stroll the marble Miaouli Square, the Apollo Theatre (a mini La Scala) and the Vaporia old quarter — all free. Pick up a Greek salad, taramasalata and fresh bread from a bakery for a cheap waterfront dinner (£8–10).

🚌Metro to Piraeus (~£2) + Blue Star Ferry Piraeus–Syros ~£35

🛏Guesthouse/studio in Ermoupoli, £22–30 pp (shared twin)

• →Miaouli Square & Apollo Theatre (free)
• →Vaporia quarter walk (free)
• →Sunset at Ano Syros steps

Walk or take the local bus up to Ano Syros, the hilltop Catholic medieval village with 13th-century walls and superb views — free. Descend to see Agios Nikolaos church (Ermoupoli) and St George's Cathedral. In the afternoon take the local KTEL bus to Kini or Galissas beach (~£2 each way) for a swim and a taverna lunch; Vari and Foinikas are reachable by a slightly longer bus ride. Evening back in Ermoupoli for a £10–12 taverna dinner.

🚌Local KTEL buses ~£4 total

🛏Guesthouse/studio in Ermoupoli, £22–30 pp

• →Ano Syros hilltop village (free)
• →Agios Nikolaos & St George's Cathedral (free)
• →Beach afternoon at Kini or Galissas (free, sunbed optional ~£8)

Short 45–60 min SeaJets/Blue Star crossing from Syros to Mykonos, ~£20–28. Mykonos is the priciest island on the route — book a hostel or a studio in Mykonos Town/Paraga well ahead; camping at Paraga Beach is the budget backstop in summer. Drop bags and walk the backstreets, Matoyanni Street, the windmills at Kato Mili and Little Venice for sunset. Eat at a gyros spot or bakery rather than the harbourfront (£8–12).

🚌Ferry Syros–Mykonos ~£24

🛏Hostel dorm or studio, Mykonos Town/Paraga, £30–45 pp

• →Mykonos Town backstreets & Matoyanni Street (free)
• →Kato Mili windmills & Little Venice sunset (free)

Take the local bus to Platis Gialos, Paraga or Elia beach (£2–3 each way) and walk a coastal path between coves. If ruins appeal more than sand, the morning boat from the old port to Delos archaeological site is ~£28–35 return including entry — book on arrival at the small ticket kiosk. Evening back in town for a cheap souvlaki and a walk along the harbour.

🚌Local buses ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm or studio, Mykonos Town/Paraga, £30–45 pp

• →Beach-hopping by local bus (free)
• →Optional: Delos island boat + entry £28–35
• →Harbour sunset walk

High-speed ferry Mykonos–Santorini, roughly 2–3 hours, ~£45–60 (book early — this route sells out in peak season; a slower SeaJets/Blue Star via Naxos/Ios takes longer but is cheaper). Arrive at Athinios port and take the local KTEL bus up to Fira (~£2). Check into a guesthouse in Fira or Karterados — stay off the caldera rim if you want budget prices. Late afternoon do the clifftop walk from Fira toward Firostefani and Imerovigli for caldera views, then a £10–12 gyros/taverna dinner.

🚌Ferry Mykonos–Santorini ~£52 + port bus ~£2

🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados, £25–35 pp

• →Fira–Firostefani–Imerovigli caldera walk (free)
• →Fira old town wander

Recreate the tour's included cruise by booking directly with one of the many local operators (Sunset Oia, Caldera Yachting, Spiridakos, or the cheaper classic wooden-boat semi-private trip from Athinios/old port). Standard half-day volcano + hot springs + sunset sailing trip with on-board dinner and local wine runs ~£45–65 per person. You'll land on Nea Kameni to walk the volcanic ridge (entry ~£5, usually included), swim at Palea Kameni's warm sulphur springs, and sail past Oia for sunset — the classic shot. Book 3–7 days ahead in peak season; the crew will confirm pickup from Fira.

🚌Operator pickup or local bus to port ~£2

🛏Guesthouse in Fira/Karterados, £25–35 pp

• →Nea Kameni volcano walk (entry ~£5)
• →Palea Kameni hot springs swim
• →Sunset sail past Oia with dinner & local wine

Early bus to Oia (£2) before the cruise crowds arrive, walk the castle ruins and blue-domed churches, back to Fira by midday. Afternoon ferry or the faster option — a cheap Aegean/Sky Express flight from Santorini (JTR) to Athens (~£35–70 if booked ahead) — back to the capital. Two ferries are the budget route (~£45–55, 5–8 hrs); flights are worth the premium on a 9-day trip. Check back into an Athens hostel in Plaka and finish with a £10–14 taverna dinner in Psyrri.

🚌Bus to Oia ~£2 + ferry/flight Santorini–Athens £45–70 + airport metro ~£9

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Plaka/Monastiraki, £20–28 pp

• →Oia village early-morning walk (free)
• →Optional: Akrotiri archaeological site £10 if time allows
• →Psyrri evening stroll

Morning at the Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus (£8–10) or the Acropolis Museum (£10) if you didn't do the Acropolis on day 1. Grab a final bakery breakfast and take Metro Line 3 from Monastiraki/Syntagma direct to the airport (~£9, 45 mins) — no need for a private transfer. If your flight is late, the Benaki Museum and the Central Market are good free-to-cheap fillers.

🚌Metro Line 3 to Athens Airport ~£9

🛏—

• →Ancient Agora £10 or Acropolis Museum £10
• →Central Market & Monastiraki flea market (free)