Athens, Mykonos & Santorini: 8-Day Self-Launched Greek Island Hop
8 days · Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini)
Mazi Travel charges £1,290
No-markup version: ~£815 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Mazi Travel's 8-day Athens–Mykonos–Santorini package, which in practice is mostly hotel bookings, port transfers and ferries plus a shared guided Athens city tour. Doing it yourself is straightforward and cheaper than you'd think: book a central Athens hostel or budget hotel, join a small-group Acropolis walking tour via GetYourGuide, then ride the high-speed ferries (Blue Star or Seajets) between Piraeus, Mykonos and Santorini. Island days are free-form — beaches, villages, sunset spots — with optional self-bookable day tours and a Santo Wines tasting direct. Costs below are approximate backpacker/mid-budget rates in GBP per person, assuming shared hostel/budget-hotel rooms in shoulder season (late Apr–Jun or Sep–Oct); July–August peak prices on Mykonos and Santorini can double.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens and get your bearings
Athens
Land at Athens Airport (ATH) and take the X95 express bus (€5.50, ~50 min) or the Metro Line 3 (€9) into the city centre — no need for a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget hotel around Monastiraki, Psiri or Koukaki, all walkable to the Acropolis. Spend the evening strolling Plaka's lanes and watching the illuminated Acropolis from Areopagus Hill (free). Eat at a taverna in Psiri — moussaka, grilled octopus and a jug of house wine for around £12-15. Book your Acropolis tour and ferries online tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Airport X95 bus €5.50 (~£5) or Metro Line 3 €9; walk everywhere in the centre
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Psiri/Koukaki (dorm £18-25 or private budget room £30-45 per person)
- →Evening walk through Plaka and Anafiotika
- →Sunset view of the Acropolis from Areopagus Hill
Acropolis, ancient Athens and the Acropolis Museum
Athens
Book a small-group guided Acropolis walking tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (roughly £30-40, 1.5-2 hrs, includes skip-the-line entry with the €20 Acropolis ticket). The guide covers the Parthenon, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and Erechtheion. Afterwards walk the free city-centre circuit yourself: Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch (combined ticket €12 or just view from outside), Syntagma Square for the changing of the guard on the hour, and the neoclassical Academy/University/National Library trio. In the afternoon head to the Acropolis Museum (€15, closed Mondays) — allow 2 hours. Optional: join an 'Athens by night' taverna-and-bouzouki evening tour via GetYourGuide (~£45-55) instead of dinner on your own.
🚌On foot; single Metro tickets €1.20 if tired
🛏Same hostel or budget hotel in central Athens
- →Guided Acropolis small-group tour (GetYourGuide, ~£35)
- →Acropolis Museum entry €15
- →Syntagma changing of the guard (free)
- →Optional evening taverna tour with live Greek music (~£50)
Ferry to Mykonos
Athens → Mykonos
Take the Metro to Piraeus and catch a high-speed ferry to Mykonos — Seajets takes ~2h45 (~£55-65) and Blue Star Ferries ~5h (~£40). Book on Ferryhopper or direct with the operator a few weeks ahead in high season. On arrival, a local KTEL bus runs from the new port to Mykonos Town (Chora) for €2. Check into a guesthouse or budget hotel in or near Chora (Mykonos is the priciest island — book early, expect £35-55 per person in a guesthouse). Spend the late afternoon wandering the windmills, Little Venice and Paraportiani church, and grab a gyros dinner for £6-8.
🚌Metro to Piraeus €1.20; Seajets fast ferry ~£60 (book on Ferryhopper); port bus €2
🛏Guesthouse or 3* budget hotel in/near Mykonos Town (£35-55 pp)
- →Sunset at the Mykonos windmills and Little Venice
- →Wander Chora's cobblestone lanes
Mykonos island day — beaches and Ano Mera
Mykonos
Skip the packaged island tour and use the local KTEL buses instead (€1.80-2.50 per ride). Morning: bus to Agios Ioannis beach for views across to Delos, then on to Ano Mera village to see the 16th-century Panagia Tourliani monastery (free, dress modestly). Continue to Kalafatis or Elia beach for a swim, then return to Chora. If you want the Delos ancient-site boat trip, book directly at the Mykonos port or via GetYourGuide (~£25-35 including boat and site entry). Alternatively rent a scooter/ATV for the day (~£25-30) for full flexibility around the south-coast beaches.
🚌Local KTEL buses €1.80-2.50 per ride, or scooter/ATV rental ~£28
🛏Same Mykonos guesthouse
- →Agios Ioannis beach and Delos viewpoint
- →Panagia Tourliani monastery, Ano Mera (free)
- →Kalafatis or Elia beach swim
- →Optional Delos boat trip (~£30)
Ferry to Santorini
Mykonos → Santorini
Take a high-speed ferry from Mykonos to Santorini (Seajets ~2h, ~£55-70; book on Ferryhopper). From Athinios port, local buses run up to Fira (€2.50, timed to ferries) — a far cheaper option than a taxi. Base yourself in Fira or Karterados for budget guesthouses (a fraction of the caldera-view prices) or in Kamari/Perissa for beach life. Late afternoon: walk the Fira-to-Firostefani caldera path for free sunset views, then dinner in Fira (£10-14 for a souvlaki platter and wine).
🚌High-speed ferry ~£62 (Ferryhopper); port bus to Fira €2.50
🛏Budget guesthouse in Fira, Karterados or Kamari/Perissa (£25-40 pp)
- →Fira–Firostefani caldera rim walk
- →Sunset over the caldera
Santorini highlights and wine tasting
Santorini
Self-book a half-day Santorini highlights tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£30-40) covering Akrotiri archaeological site, Red Beach, Perivolos black-sand beach and Megalochori village with a Profitis Ilias photo stop — the same circuit the operator sells as an optional extra. Or do it independently with the local bus network and Akrotiri entry (€12). In the afternoon book a Santo Wines tasting directly at the winery or via GetYourGuide (~£25-35 including 4-6 wines with caldera views) — the winery's own website is usually the best value. Alternatively, jump on a cheaper caldera catamaran sunset cruise (~£55-70) if budget allows.
🚌Local buses €1.80-2.50, or shared minivan on the tour
🛏Same Santorini guesthouse
- →Akrotiri archaeological site
- →Red Beach and Perivolos black-sand beach
- →Megalochori village walk
- →Santo Wines tasting with caldera views (~£30)
Santorini free morning, ferry or flight back to Athens
Santorini → Athens
Morning at leisure: swim at Kamari or Perissa beach, or explore Oia's blue domes early before the cruise crowds (local bus from Fira, €2). For the return leg compare prices on Ferryhopper and Skyscanner — a 40-minute Aegean/Ryanair flight often costs less than the 5-8 hour ferry (~£35-60 vs ~£40-55), so book whichever is cheaper. Overnight in Athens near Monastiraki, with a final souvlaki dinner and rooftop view of the lit-up Acropolis.
🚌Bus to Oia €2; flight Santorini–Athens ~£45 or ferry ~£45; airport/port transfers by bus/metro ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Athens (£18-30 pp)
- →Oia early-morning walk
- →Beach morning at Kamari or Perissa
- →Final evening in Athens
Depart Athens
Athens
Breakfast, then take the X95 bus or Metro Line 3 back to Athens Airport for your flight home. If your flight is late, squeeze in the Ancient Agora (€10) or a final coffee in Monastiraki Square before heading out.
🚌X95 bus €5.50 (~£5) or Metro €9 to ATH airport
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Optional Ancient Agora visit (€10)
Self-launched vs. Mazi Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Mazi Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£815 | £1,290 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £475 per person (37%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Mazi Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£815
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Athens, Mykonos & Santorini: 8-Day Self-Launched Greek Island Hop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £815 per person for 8 days in Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Mazi Travel?+
Yes — Mazi Travel charges around £1,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £815 — a saving of roughly £475 (37%) per person.
How long is the Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, beaches, island-hopping trip through Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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