Highlights of Mainland Greece: Self-Launched

Arrive in Athens at any time. Athens is well connected by metro from the airport to the city centre (Syntagma or Monastiraki stations) — a straightforward 40-minute journey costing around £8 each way. Get settled into your accommodation in the Monastiraki or Psirri neighbourhood, which puts you right in the heart of the old city. Grab your first souvlaki or gyros from a local street stall and take an evening stroll around Monastiraki Square to soak up the atmosphere. No need to plan much for day one — just arrive, recharge, and get excited.

🚌Athens Metro from airport: Line 3 direct to Monastiraki or Syntagma, ~£8, 40 minutes

🛏Athens Backpackers, Hotel Attalos, or similar budget hotel/hostel in Monastiraki (~£30–£40/night)

• →Arrive and check in to your hostel or budget hotel in Monastiraki/Psirri
• →Take the metro from Athens Airport to city centre (~£8)
• →Evening stroll around Monastiraki Square and the Plaka neighbourhood
• →Grab dinner at a local taverna or street food stall

Spend the morning exploring Athens at your own pace. Visit the iconic Acropolis and the Parthenon — buy your combined ticket (which covers the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and several other sites) for around £25. The new Acropolis Museum just below is well worth the extra £5 entry. In the afternoon, wander through the Ancient Agora, then head to Monastiraki flea market. In the evening, book a guided walking tour to the Acropolis and Parthenon by night via GetYourGuide (from ~£15), then join a Greek cooking class with a local chef — bookable via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences from around £45–£55 per person, typically including your dinner.

🚌Walking and Athens Metro/bus as needed (~£3)

🛏Athens Backpackers or similar (~£30–£40/night)

• →Visit the Acropolis and Parthenon (combined archaeological ticket ~£25)
• →Explore the new Acropolis Museum (~£5 entry)
• →Wander the Ancient Agora and Monastiraki flea market (free)
• →Evening guided walking tour to the Acropolis via GetYourGuide (~£15)
• →Greek cooking class with dinner included, bookable via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£45–£55)

Today you head north to Kalambaka, the small town at the foot of the extraordinary Meteora rock formations. The easiest and most scenic route is by train from Athens Larisis Station. Take the InterCity or regional train to Kalambaka — journeys typically involve one change at Paleofarsalos and take around 4–5 hours in total. Tickets cost approximately £15–£20 booked in advance via the Hellenic Train website. Arrive in Kalambaka in the early-to-mid afternoon, check in, and take an easy stroll around the town. The views of the monasteries perched atop their towering pillars of rock are jaw-dropping even from ground level.

🚌Hellenic Train: Athens Larisis to Kalambaka (~£15–£20). Book in advance at hellenictrain.gr

🛏Guesthouse Sotiriou, Meteora Thrones Hotel, or similar (~£30–£40/night)

• →Train from Athens Larisis Station to Kalambaka via Paleofarsalos (~£15–£20, 4–5 hours)
• →Check in and settle into guesthouse in Kalambaka
• →Evening walk around Kalambaka with views of Meteora rock formations
• →Dinner at a local taverna in town (~£10–£15)

Dedicate today entirely to exploring the UNESCO-listed Meteora monasteries. You have two great options: take the local bus (line 1 from Kalambaka, around £1.50 each way) up to the monasteries and visit independently — entry to each monastery costs around £3 and you can visit 4–6 of the active monasteries. Alternatively, pre-book the Meteora Monasteries Hiking Tour via GetYourGuide (from ~£32), which takes you on foot along scenic trails with a local guide who explains the extraordinary history of the Byzantine monks who first settled here. Either way, go early to beat the crowds. Note: modest dress is required (shoulders and knees covered).

🚌Local bus from Kalambaka to Meteora (~£1.50 each way), or on foot as part of guided hike

🛏Guesthouse Sotiriou or similar in Kalambaka (~£30–£40/night)

• →Option A: Self-explore monasteries via local bus (~£1.50 each way) and pay entry per monastery (~£3 each)
• →Option B: Guided Meteora Monasteries Hiking Tour via GetYourGuide (~£32)
• →Visit up to 6 active monasteries including Great Meteoron and Varlaam
• →Sunset views from the Holy Trinity Monastery viewpoint (free)

Today is a big travel day but packed with history. Make your way south by bus (KTEL buses run from Kalambaka toward Lamia and on toward Delphi — expect to change once). En route, stop at Thermopylae to see the battlefield and monument where 300 Spartans made their legendary stand in 480 BC. The site is free to visit and includes an information centre and the famous Leonidas statue. Then continue by bus to Delphi (journey times vary — allow a full day of travel with stops). In Delphi, take an orientation walk through the village in the evening. The ancient site itself is closed by this time, but the views across the olive-covered valley to the Gulf of Corinth are stunning.

🚌KTEL buses: Kalambaka → Lamia → Amfissa → Delphi (with changes, ~£15–£20 total). Check schedules at ktelftiotidas.gr

🛏Hotel Hermes Delphi, Sibylla Hotel, or similar (~£35–£45/night)

• →KTEL bus from Kalambaka south toward Lamia/Delphi (allow full day with stop, ~£15–£20 total)
• →Stop at Thermopylae battlefield and Leonidas monument (free entry)
• →Arrive Delphi — evening orientation walk through the village
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in Delphi with views of the valley (~£12–£15)

Start the morning with a visit to the unmissable Archaeological Site of Delphi — the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Temple of Athena Pronaia, the ancient theatre, and the stadium. Entry is around £10. Hire an audio guide or book a guided tour of Ancient Delphi via GetYourGuide (~£20) for the full context. Then make your way east by KTEL bus to Nafplio, stopping at the spectacular Corinth Canal en route if your schedule allows (taxis from Corinth town can take you to the canal viewpoint for around £5). Nafplio is one of Greece's most beautiful towns — a Venetian-era jewel with pastel neoclassical buildings tumbling down to the sea. Spend the evening wandering its cobblestone streets.

🚌KTEL bus Delphi → Corinth → Nafplio (~£12–£18 total). Local taxi to Corinth Canal (~£5 return)

🛏Pension Acronafplia, Hotel Byron Nafplio, or similar (~£40–£50/night)

• →Morning visit to Ancient Delphi archaeological site (~£10 entry)
• →Optional guided tour of Ancient Delphi via GetYourGuide (~£20)
• →KTEL bus from Delphi toward Corinth/Nafplio (~£12–£18)
• →Stop at the Corinth Canal viewpoint (free, short taxi from Corinth ~£5)
• →Evening stroll through Nafplio's old town and Syntagma Square

Make the most of the morning with day trips from Nafplio to two extraordinary ancient sites. Mycenae (the legendary Bronze Age citadel of Agamemnon) and Epidavros (home to a perfectly preserved 4th-century BC theatre with near-perfect acoustics) are both within 30–45 minutes by taxi or local bus. Many travellers combine both in a single morning. Local buses run to both sites; a shared taxi for the loop costs around £25–£35 split between travellers. Entry to each site is around £10. In the late afternoon, take the KTEL bus from Nafplio back to Athens (~2 hours, ~£12). Check back into your Athens accommodation for a final night.

🚌Shared taxi loop Nafplio–Mycenae–Epidavros (~£25–35 split). KTEL bus Nafplio → Athens (~£12, 2 hrs)

🛏Athens Backpackers or same hotel as Days 1–2 (~£30–£40/night)

• →Morning visit to ancient Mycenae — citadel, Lion Gate, and Treasury of Atreus (~£10 entry)
• →Visit the ancient theatre at Epidavros (~£10 entry)
• →Local bus or shared taxi loop: Nafplio → Mycenae → Epidavros → Nafplio (~£25–£35 taxi split, or ~£5 bus)
• →KTEL bus: Nafplio to Athens (~£12, ~2 hours)
• →Final evening in Athens — dinner in Monastiraki or Psirri

Depart at any time. If you have time before your flight or onward journey, grab a final Greek coffee and bougatsa (custard pastry) at a local kafeneio, pick up some last-minute souvenirs in Monastiraki, or visit any sites you missed earlier in the trip — the National Archaeological Museum (£10) is one of the finest in the world and well worth a morning visit. Take the metro from Monastiraki or Syntagma back to the airport (~£8, 40 minutes). Safe travels!

🚌Athens Metro Line 3 to airport (~£8, 40 minutes)

• →Final Greek breakfast — coffee and bougatsa at a local kafeneio
• →Optional: National Archaeological Museum (~£10)
• →Last-minute shopping in Monastiraki flea market
• →Metro to Athens Airport (~£8, 40 minutes)