Self-Launched Greek Islands: Athens, Mykonos, Naxos & Santorini

Fly into Athens and take the M3 metro line from the airport to Syntagma or Monastiraki (about €9/£7.70, 40 min) — cheaper than a taxi (~€40) and easy with a backpack. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Plaka/Monastiraki and spend the late afternoon wandering the old town, Anafiotika and the Filopappou Hill viewpoint for free sunset views over the Acropolis. If you have energy, an evening food tour of the Psyrri/Monastiraki tavernas is a great solo ice-breaker — bookable via GetYourGuide from around £50 instead of the operator's $80 add-on. Eat at a family taverna (moussaka, souvlaki, a glass of house wine, ~£15).

🚌Athens metro M3 from ATH airport to centre (~€9). Walking in the city.

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel private twin in Plaka/Monastiraki (~£25)

• →Ride the M3 metro into town
• →Self-guided wander of Plaka & Anafiotika
• →Filopappou Hill sunset viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: GetYourGuide Athens street food tour (~£50)

Morning Acropolis visit (pre-book the timed ticket online, ~€20/£17, allow 2 hours) or, if you want a cheaper start, the Acropolis Museum (~€15). Midday ferry from Piraeus to Mykonos on Blue Star Ferries or Golden Star (about 3.5–5 hrs, ~€45–65 in a reserved seat — book on Ferryhopper or direct on the operator site a few weeks ahead). On arrival, walk or take the local bus into Hora and check into a family-run pension or hostel a short walk above the port. Late afternoon, do your own version of the leader's orientation walk: the windmills on Kato Myloi hill, the Church of Panagia Paraportiani and Little Venice, followed by a swim at Agios Stefanos or a drink on the Little Venice waterfront (~£10).

🚌Blue Star / Golden Star ferry Piraeus → Mykonos (~€50, 3.5–5 hrs). Local bus or 15-min walk into Hora.

🛏Family-run pension or hostel private twin in Mykonos Hora (~£45)

• →Acropolis timed entry (~£17)
• →Windmills, Paraportiani church & Little Venice self-guided walk
• →Swim at Agios Stefanos

Free morning with breakfast by the harbour, then catch the 10am–12pm public boat from Mykonos old port to Delos (~€22 return, 30 min, operated by Delos Tours). Book a licensed archaeologist-led guided walk of the Sacred Harbour, the Sacred Way and the Terrace of the Lions via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£30–40) — legally, only licensed guides can narrate at the site, and this replaces the operator's included Delos highlight moment. Pay the site entrance (~€12) and see the museum with its mosaics and artifacts. Return boat mid-afternoon, then buses to Elia, Paraga or Paradise beach for a swim. Dinner in Hora or a cheap gyros on the harbour front (~£12).

🚌Public Delos boat from Mykonos old port (~€22 return). Local buses to the beaches (~€2 each way).

🛏Family-run pension or hostel private twin in Mykonos Hora (~£45)

• →Delos archaeological site + museum (~£10 entry)
• →Licensed archaeologist guided walk of Delos (~£35)
• →Afternoon beach swim at Elia or Paraga

Morning ferry from Mykonos to Naxos (one of the short hops, Blue Star or SeaJets, ~45 min–1.5 hrs, ~€25–35). Check into a guesthouse in Naxos Town or Agios Georgios beach, then do the operator's walking route independently: start at the Portara marble gateway (free), wind through the old town's alleys, see the 11th-century cathedral and — for the prehistoric Cycladic figurines — the Archaeological Museum of Naxos (~€6). In the afternoon, contact the Naxos Wildlife Protection Association (find them via social media or the town information kiosk) about a small donation-based visit or volunteer session on their sea-turtle rescue work; alternatively join a Naxos sea-turtle awareness session through a local activity provider (~£15–25). Sunset from the Portara, dinner of Naxian cheese, olives and kitro liqueur (~£15).

🚌Blue Star / SeaJets ferry Mykonos → Naxos (~€30, 45 min–1.5 hrs). Walking in town.

🛏Guesthouse or budget studio in Naxos Town / Agios Georgios (~£35)

• →Portara gateway (free)
• →Naxos old town & Archaeological Museum (~£5)
• →Naxos Wildlife Protection Association turtle session (~£20)

Recreate the operator's 'Village to Village' hike self-guided — the route from Chalki to Kaloxylos past Myloi is well marked and easily done on foot (a bit of way-finding needed; download offline maps). Take the morning KTEL bus from Naxos Town to Chalki (~€2, 25 min). Walk to the watermills of Myloi, the ancient Kouros statue of Flerio (free), then on to Kaloxylos for olives and olive oil; taste kitro liqueur at the Vallindras distillery in Chalki (~€3). Lunch at a traditional taverna in a village square (~£12). If you'd rather have a local expert interpret the culture, a half-day licensed local guide can be arranged through GetYourGuide or a Naxos guide association (~£40–60). Afternoon bus back, free time on Agios Georgios or Plaka beach.

🚌KTEL local bus Naxos Town ↔ Chalki (~€2 each way). Walking between villages (6–8 km).

🛏Guesthouse or budget studio in Naxos Town / Agios Georgios (~£35)

• →Chalki–Myloi–Kaloxylos village walk (self-guided)
• →Kouros statue of Flerio & Myloi watermills (free)
• →Vallindras kitro distillery tasting (~£3)
• →Optional: local licensed guide for the day (~£50)

Morning high-speed ferry Naxos → Santorini (about 1–1.5 hrs, ~€40–55 on SeaJets; the slower Blue Star is cheaper at ~€25–30 if you have time — book via Ferryhopper). Check into a guesthouse in Fira or Karterados (cheaper than the caldera rim), then take the local KTEL bus to Akrotiri (~€2) and visit the covered Bronze Age excavation and its frescoes (~€12, closed on Tuesdays). Alternatively, buy the combined ticket with the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira (~€20). In the late afternoon, walk a section of the caldera trail from Fira toward Firostefani and Imerovigli — the 'Three Bells of Santorini' are right on the path — and finish with sunset over the caldera for free.

🚌SeaJets ferry Naxos → Santorini (~€45, 1–1.5 hrs). KTEL local buses on Santorini (~€2 per ride).

🛏Guesthouse in Fira or Karterados (~£50)

• →Akrotiri Bronze Age site (~£10)
• →Caldera trail walk Fira–Firostefani–Imerovigli (free)
• →Three Bells of Santorini
• →Sunset on the caldera rim

Free day — use it like the operator's optional sailing excursion, but self-booked: the classic half-day caldera boat trip from Athinios or Fira's old port visits the volcano of Nea Kameni, the hot springs of Palea Kameni and Thirassia island, bookable on GetYourGuide or Klook from around £35–50 (the operator's optional is $143). For a cheaper option, just do the local bus to Red Beach, Perivolos or Perissa for a beach day (~£5 in transport). In the evening, take the KTEL bus to Oia (or walk the caldera trail from Imerovigli, ~1.5 hrs) to watch the famous sunset; a pre-sunset dinner of tomato fritters and fava at a taverna away from the caldera edge costs ~£18 rather than the group's farewell dinner on the rim.

🚌Local buses around Santorini (~€2 per ride); boat trip departs from Athinios or Fira old port.

🛏Guesthouse in Fira or Karterados (~£50)

• →Caldera volcano & hot springs boat trip (~£45)
• →Oia sunset (free)
• →Optional beach day at Red Beach or Perissa (~£5 transport)

Breakfast, then transfer to Santorini Airport (JTR) by KTEL bus from Fira (~€2) or a shared shuttle (~€15). If you're returning to Athens instead of flying out, the SeaJets or Blue Star ferry to Piraeus is ~€40–60 and takes 5–8 hrs, or fly direct. Last swim, coffee and a pastry on the way if your flight is later in the day.

🚌KTEL bus Fira → Santorini Airport (~€2) or shared shuttle (~€15); or ferry to Piraeus (~€50).

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Transfer to Santorini Airport or port