Athens to Mykonos & Santorini — Self-Launched Island Hopper (7 Days)
7 days · Greece (Athens, Mykonos & Santorini)
On The Go Tours charges £1,145
No-markup version: ~£482 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 7-day Athens–Mykonos–Santorini loop: two nights in Athens with a self-booked Acropolis + museum ticket, then island hopping on public ferries (Piraeus–Mykonos, Mykonos–Santorini) with hostel or budget guesthouse stays and DIY beach, sunset and caldera days. No coach, no group, no guide required — you book each leg yourself via FerryHopper/Blue Star/SeaJets and GetYourGuide, and keep the flexibility to swap islands or extend nights. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP for one person, assuming a shared dorm in Athens and Mykonos and a basic twin/guesthouse room in Santorini in shoulder season (Apr–May, Oct); July–August prices roughly double.
Day-by-day
Arrive Athens — Plaka & Monastiraki on foot
Athens
Land at Athens Airport and take Metro Line 3 (airport ticket ~£8, 40 mins) straight to Monastiraki or Syntagma — far cheaper than a taxi (~£35-40). Check into a hostel dorm around Monastiraki/Psirri and spend the afternoon getting oriented: the free-to-wander Plaka lanes, Anafiotika's whitewashed alleys under the Acropolis, and Monastiraki flea market. Evening: cheap souvlaki or a gyros (~£4-6) on Ermou Street, then a rooftop drink with an Acropolis view. Buy your Acropolis ticket online the night before to skip the queue.
🚌Metro Line 3 from Athens Airport to Monastiraki ~£8; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel dorm, Monastiraki/Psirri (e.g. City Circus, Athens Backpackers, ~£18-25/night)
- →Self-guided Plaka & Anafiotika wander
- →Monastiraki flea market and Ermou Street
- →Rooftop Acropolis view at sunset
Athens — Acropolis, Acropolis Museum & the big monuments
Athens
Do the commercial tour's panoramic day independently and in the same order, but on your own timing. Start early (8am) at the Acropolis: single entry ticket ~£12 (April-Oct) covering the Parthenon, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and Erechtheion — or ~£26 for the combined ticket covering the Ancient Agora, Kerameikos, Roman Agora and Temple of Olympian Zeus. Walk the free panoramic circuit afterwards: Panathinaiko (Kallimarmaro) Stadium, Zappeion, Hadrian's Arch, Syntagma Square and the Parliament/Evzones changing of the guard, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the 'Neoclassical Trilogy' (Academy, University, National Library) and the Old Parliament. Afternoon at the Acropolis Museum (~£10, closed Mondays). Optional: a GetYourGuide guided Acropolis walk from ~£25 if you want the history explained. Have dinner in Psirri.
🚌On foot / Metro single ticket ~£1.10 per ride
🛏Hostel dorm, Monastiraki/Psirri (~£18-25/night)
- →Acropolis archaeological site (self-booked ticket)
- →Acropolis Museum entry
- →Panathinaiko Stadium, Zappeion, Hadrian's Arch, Syntagma & Neoclassical Trilogy walk
- →Optional GetYourGuide Acropolis guided walk (~£25)
Piraeus to Mykonos by public ferry
Athens → Mykonos
Take Metro Line 1 from Monastiraki to Piraeus (~£1.10, 20 mins) and board a Blue Star or SeaJets ferry to Mykonos. Conventional ferry is 5-5.5 hrs from ~£35-45; high-speed is ~2.5-3.5 hrs from ~£55-75 — book on FerryHopper or directly with the operator a few days ahead (in shoulder season a day or two is fine, in July-August book weeks ahead). Arrive at Mykonos New Port, take the local KTEL bus to Mykonos Town (~£2) or the free/paid shuttle depending on your guesthouse. Check into a guesthouse in Mykonos Town or a hostel dorm; Mykonos is the priciest island so book early. Sunset at the Little Venice windmills, then a gyros dinner to keep costs down.
🚌Metro to Piraeus ~£1.10; ferry Piraeus–Mykonos from ~£35 (conventional) / ~£55 (high-speed); port bus ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Mykonos Town (~£25-35/night)
- →Public ferry crossing to Mykonos
- →Little Venice and the Kato Mili windmills at sunset
- →Mykonos Town lanes after dark
Mykonos — Paraportiani, beaches & town
Mykonos
Free day, self-organised. Morning in Chora: the Church of Paraportiani, the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos (~£4), and the backstreets of Little Venice. Grab the KTEL bus or the local 'Sea Bus' to the south-coast beaches — Paradise and Super Paradise are reachable by bus (~£2-3 each way) or a short boat hop; Ornos and Platis Gialos have cheaper sunbed options than the branded beach clubs. Swim, then return for a taverna dinner in Ano Mera or a cheap gyros in town. If nightlife is your thing, the Paradise/Super Paradise clubs are a short taxi-boat ride away (budget ~£20-30 for drinks).
🚌KTEL bus to Paradise/Super Paradise ~£2-3 each way; boat transfers ~£3-5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Mykonos Town (~£25-35/night)
- →Church of Paraportiani
- →Archaeological Museum of Mykonos (~£4)
- →Paradise & Super Paradise beaches
- →Optional beach club night out
Mykonos to Santorini by high-speed ferry
Mykonos → Santorini
Morning ferry to Santorini on SeaJets or Golden Star (2-3 hrs, from ~£40-60; book on FerryHopper). Arrive at Athinios Port and take the KTEL bus up to Fira (~£2) — buses run to meet ferries. Check into a guesthouse or hostel in Fira or Karterados (much cheaper than caldera-view rooms, which triple in price). Afternoon: walk the cliff path from Fira toward Firostefani and Imerovigli for free caldera views, and catch the famous Oia sunset by bus (~£2, allow 40 mins and go early — it's crowded).
🚌High-speed ferry Mykonos–Santorini from ~£40-60; port bus to Fira ~£2; Fira–Oia bus ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Fira/Karterados (~£25-35/night in shoulder season)
- →High-speed ferry crossing
- →Fira–Firostefani–Imerovigli caldera walk
- →Oia sunset (self-organised by bus)
Santorini — caldera boat trip & black-sand beaches
Santorini
Book a half-day caldera catamaran or wooden-boat cruise via GetYourGuide, Viator or directly with the operator at the Old Port — shared group sailings from ~£40-60 (sunset sailings ~£70-100, including lunch or BBQ). Alternatives on a tight budget: the public boat to Nea Kameni volcano (~£12-15 return) and Thirasia, or simply the KTEL buses to the black-sand beaches — Kamari and Perissa on the east/south coast, Red Beach near Akrotiri. Evening back in Fira for dinner along the caldera rim; supermarkets and gyros shops keep food costs low.
🚌KTEL buses to Kamari/Perissa/Red Beach ~£2 each way; boat from Old Port ~£12-15
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Fira/Karterados (~£25-35/night)
- →Shared caldera catamaran cruise (GetYourGuide/Viator, ~£40-60)
- →Nea Kameni volcano boat (~£12-15)
- →Kamari & Perissa black-sand beaches
- →Red Beach near Akrotiri
Santorini — last morning & onward travel
Santorini
Slow morning: a final swim, a bakery breakfast (bougatsa and coffee ~£4), and last-minute shopping in Fira. Depending on your onward plan, either fly out of Santorini (JTR) to Athens (~£30-70 with Volotea/Ryanair if booked ahead), take the slow Blue Star ferry back to Piraeus (5-8 hrs, from ~£30) or continue to Naxos/Paros/Ios by ferry for a longer island hop. Airport bus from Fira is ~£2; note the airport bus is far cheaper than the ~£25-30 taxi. If you're flying home from Athens, allow a night there or a very early flight.
🚌Airport bus ~£2; flight Santorini–Athens ~£30-70; or ferry to Piraeus from ~£30
🛏None included (onward travel day) — add a night in Fira (~£25-35) if your flight is early
- →Fira morning wander and bakery breakfast
- →Final swim / souvenir shopping
- →Onward flight or ferry
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£482 | £1,145 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £663 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£482
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Athens to Mykonos & Santorini — Self-Launched Island Hopper (7 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £482 per person for 7 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,145 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £482 — a saving of roughly £663 (58%) per person.
How long is the Greece (Athens, Mykonos & Santorini) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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 adventure, culture, beaches 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.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.