Self-Launched Athens, Mykonos & Santorini: Little Venice, Fira & Oia Sunset
3 days · Greece (Athens, Mykonos & Santorini)
Private Tours Greece charges £680
No-markup version: ~£326 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Private Tours Greece's 3-day "Mykonos & Santorini for Couples" package — same islands, same ferries, same sunsets, but booked by you. You'll catch the early fast ferry from Piraeus to Mykonos, wander Little Venice and Matogianni Street, sail across to Santorini for Fira and the famous Oia caldera sunset, then ferry back to Athens. Expect a fast-paced taste of the Cyclades with budget guesthouses, self-booked ferries and optional add-ons like a sunset cruise or Delos day trip. Costs are rough backpacker-level estimates for one person sharing a twin/double in shoulder season — peak July/August will push prices up significantly.
Day-by-day
Athens to Mykonos — Little Venice & Matogianni Street
Mykonos
Start early: make your own way to Piraeus port (Metro Line 1 to Piraeus, ~€1.40, or a 15-min taxi from central Athens ~€15-20). Catch the morning fast ferry/catamaran to Mykonos (about 2.5-4.5 hrs depending on vessel — book via Ferryhopper, Blue Star Ferries or Seajets; roughly £35-55 passenger fare). From Mykonos New Port, hop the local KTEL bus or sea bus into Mykonos Town (a few euros) and check into a guesthouse in or just outside the old town. Afternoon: wander the whitewashed lanes to Little Venice, where cafés hang over the water, then browse the boutiques of Matogianni Street. Sunset drinks on the Little Venice waterfront or the windmills viewpoint. Optional: book a vineyard/olive grove tasting or food-tasting experience through GetYourGuide or a local Mykonos operator.
🚌Metro/taxi to Piraeus; high-speed ferry Athens (Piraeus) → Mykonos (~£35-55); local KTEL bus or sea bus into Mykonos Town (€2-4)
🛏Budget guesthouse or 2-3* hotel in Mykonos Town / near Fabrika (twin/double, ~£35-55/night in shoulder season)
- →Fast ferry from Piraeus to Mykonos
- →Wander Little Venice
- →Shop and snack along Matogianni Street
- →Sunset at the Mykonos windmills
- →Optional: wine, olive oil & local food tasting (~£40-55)
Mykonos to Santorini — Fira & the Oia Sunset
Santorini
Grab breakfast and take the local bus (or a short taxi) to Mykonos port for the fast ferry to Santorini (Thira), roughly 2-3 hrs with Seajets or Golden Star — book ahead on Ferryhopper, ~£45-65. On arrival at Athinios port, take the KTEL bus up to Fira (~€2-3) and drop bags at your guesthouse. Spend the afternoon exploring Fira's cliffside lanes, caldera viewpoints, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera if you fancy. Mid-afternoon, take the public KTEL bus from Fira to Oia (~€1.80-2.50, 20-25 min) to claim a spot for the sunset, or walk part of the Fira-to-Oia caldera path if you're feeling energetic. Return to Fira by bus after sunset. Optional upgrade: a caldera sunset catamaran cruise booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£60-90) — the splash-out version of this day.
🚌Local bus Mykonos Town → port; fast ferry Mykonos → Santorini (~£45-65); KTEL bus Athinios port → Fira; public bus Fira ↔ Oia (~€2)
🛏Budget guesthouse or 2-3* hotel in Fira (twin/double, ~£45-70/night in shoulder season)
- →Fast ferry from Mykonos to Santorini
- →Explore Fira and its caldera viewpoints
- →Public bus to Oia for the world-famous sunset
- →Optional: caldera sunset catamaran cruise (~£60-90)
- →Optional: walk the Fira–Oia caldera trail
Santorini back to Athens
Athens
After breakfast, take the KTEL bus back down to Athinios port (~€2-3) and board the fast ferry to Piraeus (roughly 5-5.5 hrs on the fast catamaran, or a slower/cheaper Blue Star option) — budget ~£50-70 booked in advance. Arrive Piraeus mid-to-late afternoon, then Metro Line 1 or a taxi back to your Athens accommodation. If you have time before your onward travel, a cheap sunset stroll around Plaka or a gyros dinner (~£6-8) is a fine way to close the trip. Tip: if you're not flying home straight away, it's worth adding an extra night on each island — nearly every reviewer said one day per island felt rushed.
🚌KTEL bus Fira → Athinios port; fast ferry Santorini → Piraeus (~£50-70); Metro Line 1 or taxi Piraeus → central Athens (~€1.40 / ~£15-20)
🛏Not included — onward travel or add a budget hostel/hotel night in Athens from ~£30-45
- →Fast ferry back to Athens
- →Evening stroll through Plaka
- →Cheap gyros dinner in central Athens
Self-launched vs. Private Tours Greece
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Private Tours Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£326 | £680 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £354 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Private Tours Greece-style trips? Check them out here.~£326
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 Self-Launched Athens, Mykonos & Santorini: Little Venice, Fira & Oia Sunset cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £326 per person for 3 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 Private Tours Greece?+
Yes — Private Tours Greece charges around £680 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £326 — a saving of roughly £354 (52%) per person.
How long is the Greece (Athens, Mykonos & Santorini) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 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 island-hopping, beaches, culture 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.