Self-Launched Greek Islands: Athens, Santorini & Crete

Fly into Athens International Airport (ATH). Take the X95 express bus (~£5) or Metro Line 3 (~£9) directly to Syntagma Square — skip the expensive airport taxis. Check into your hotel in the Makriyianni or Koukaki neighbourhood, both walkable to the Acropolis and full of great tavernas. Grab a souvlaki for dinner and get your bearings in the Plaka district.

🚌X95 Express Bus from airport to Syntagma (~£5) or Metro Line 3 (~£9). Avoid taxis from the airport — flat rate is ~£38.

🛏Hotel in Makriyianni area (e.g. Athens Backpackers, Herodion Hotel, or similar 3–4 star guesthouse). Budget ~£40–60/night.

• →Arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH)
• →Take X95 express bus or Metro Line 3 to city centre (~£5–9)
• →Check in to hotel in Makriyianni/Koukaki area
• →Explore Plaka neighbourhood for dinner

Athens is best explored on foot. Start early at the Acropolis and Parthenon before the crowds and heat build up — book tickets online in advance via the official e-ticketing portal to skip queues (~£20). Then head to the Acropolis Museum (~£10), one of Europe's finest. In the afternoon, wander the Monastiraki flea market, grab lunch in Psiri, and catch sunset from Filopappou Hill for free panoramic views over the city. The neighbourhood of Exarchia is great for cheap, authentic Greek food in the evening.

🚌Athens is very walkable. Use the metro or trams for longer hops (~£1.20/journey).

🛏Same hotel as Day 1.

• →Visit the Acropolis and Parthenon — book tickets online in advance (~£20)
• →Acropolis Museum (~£10)
• →Monastiraki flea market and Psiri neighbourhood
• →Free sunset from Filopappou Hill
• →Dinner in Exarchia neighbourhood

Head to Piraeus Port (Metro Line 1 from central Athens, ~£1.50, 30 mins). Book a high-speed ferry to Santorini (Thira) with Seajets or Golden Star Ferries — the fast catamaran takes ~5 hours and costs around £40–55 booked via ferryscanner.com or directferries.co.uk. Book ahead in peak season. Arrive into Athinios Port and take the public bus up to Fira (~£1.80) — skip the overpriced cable car or donkeys. Check in to your accommodation in Fira or Imerovigli and enjoy the famous caldera sunset with a local Assyrtiko wine.

🚌Metro Line 1 to Piraeus (~£1.50). High-speed ferry to Santorini ~£40–55. Book via ferryscanner.com or directferries.co.uk. Public KTEL bus from port to Fira ~£1.80.

🛏Guesthouse or boutique hotel in Fira or Imerovigli (e.g. Fira Backpackers Place, Santorini Palace, or similar). Budget ~£50–80/night.

• →Metro from central Athens to Piraeus Port (~£1.50)
• →High-speed ferry Piraeus to Santorini with Seajets or Golden Star (~£40–55, ~5 hrs)
• →Public bus from Athinios Port to Fira (~£1.80)
• →Evening walk along the caldera in Fira or Imerovigli
• →Santorini sunset with local Assyrtiko wine

Book a shared catamaran tour around the Santorini caldera directly via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£55–70 per person) — this is the same experience included in the operator tour but booked independently at a lower price. Most tours include swimming and snorkelling stops at the iconic Red and White Beaches, a visit to the Palia and Nea Kameni volcanic hot springs, and lunch on board. In the evening, make the effort to walk or take the bus to Oia for the world-famous sunset — arrive early to grab a good spot.

🚌Most catamaran tours include pickup from Fira or Ammoudi Bay. KTEL public bus between villages ~£1.80.

🛏Same as Day 3.

• →Shared catamaran caldera tour with swimming and snorkelling stops (~£55–70 via GetYourGuide/Klook)
• →Visit to Palia and Nea Kameni volcanic hot springs (included in most catamaran tours)
• →Lunch on board the catamaran
• →Bus or walk to Oia for sunset (~£1.80 bus)

Take the public KTEL bus from Fira down to Athinios Port (~£1.80). Board the ferry to Heraklion, Crete — operated by Minoan Lines or Seajets, journey time roughly 2 hours on the fast ferry or up to 9 hours on the slower overnight option (~£25–45). The fast ferry is recommended. On arrival in Heraklion, take a local bus or taxi to your accommodation. Check in, then explore Heraklion's Venetian Harbour and lively market street (1866 Street) in the evening.

🚌KTEL bus to Athinios Port ~£1.80. Fast ferry to Heraklion ~£25–45, book via ferryscanner.com. Local bus from Heraklion port to centre ~£1.50.

🛏Hotel or guesthouse in Heraklion (e.g. Lato Boutique Hotel, Olympic Hotel, or similar). Budget ~£40–65/night.

• →Public bus from Fira to Athinios Port (~£1.80)
• →Ferry from Santorini to Heraklion, Crete (~£25–45 via Minoan Lines or Seajets)
• →Explore Heraklion's Venetian Harbour and Koules Fortress (free exterior)
• →Evening stroll and dinner on 1866 Market Street

Spend the morning at the Palace of Knossos, Europe's oldest city and the legendary home of the Minotaur — entrance ~£15, reachable by local bus from Heraklion (line 2, ~£1.50). Consider booking a guided tour of Knossos on GetYourGuide (~£20–30) for context, or explore with the free audio guide. In the afternoon, visit the excellent Heraklion Archaeological Museum (~£10), one of the best in Greece. The evening is yours — Heraklion has a great food scene around Lions Square (Plateia Venizelou).

🚌Heraklion city bus (line 2) to Knossos ~£1.50. City is walkable for central sights.

🛏Same as Day 5.

• →Palace of Knossos by local bus (line 2, ~£1.50 each way) — entrance ~£15
• →Optional: guided Knossos tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–30)
• →Heraklion Archaeological Museum (~£10)
• →Evening at Lions Square (Plateia Venizelou) — tavernas and local wine

Choose your own adventure today. Option A: Take a self-organised day trip to the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest and most spectacular gorges — take an KTEL bus from Heraklion bus station to Xyloskalo (the gorge entrance) and hike the 16km trail (~£3 bus each way, entrance ~£5). Option B: Head west along the coast to the famous pink-sand Elafonissi Beach or Balos Lagoon by local bus or rental car (~£30–40/day). Either way, pack water and sunscreen. The tour operator's original itinerary leaves these days open for independent exploration, so you're already doing exactly what was planned.

🚌KTEL buses depart from Heraklion bus station A (west) or B (east). Timetables at ktel-herakliou-lasithiou.gr. Hire car from ~£30/day if splitting cost with others.

🛏Same as Day 5, or consider moving to a guesthouse in Chania or Rethymno for a change of scenery (~£40–65/night).

• →Option A: Samaria Gorge hike — KTEL bus to Xyloskalo (~£3), entrance ~£5, 16km trail
• →Option B: Elafonissi Beach or Balos Lagoon by KTEL bus or hire car (~£30–40/day)
• →Evening back in Heraklion or base town — fresh seafood dinner at the harbour

Take a KTEL bus west to Chania (~£8, 1.5 hrs from Heraklion) — arguably Crete's most beautiful town, with a stunning Venetian harbour, lighthouse, and winding old town. Alternatively, stop off at Rethymno (~£5, 1 hr from Heraklion), another gorgeous Venetian-Ottoman harbour town. Spend the day wandering the old quarters, visiting the Chania Archaeological Museum (~£4), and eating the best boureki (Cretan cheese pastry) you'll ever have. Return to Heraklion in the evening or stay overnight in Chania.

🚌KTEL bus Heraklion to Chania ~£8 one way, ~1.5 hrs. Buses run hourly from Bus Station A.

🛏Return to Heraklion base hotel, or overnight in Chania (Casa Delfino, Amphora Hotel, or similar budget options ~£40–65/night).

• →KTEL bus from Heraklion to Chania (~£8, ~1.5 hrs)
• →Explore Chania Venetian Harbour and Old Town
• →Chania Archaeological Museum (~£4)
• →Try local Cretan cuisine — dakos, boureki, and fresh seafood
• →Return bus to Heraklion or overnight in Chania

Depending on your return flight, you have two options. Option A: Fly directly from Heraklion Airport (HER) to your home airport — check Ryanair, easyJet, or Sky Express for direct routes. Option B: If flying home via Athens, take an Olympic Air or Sky Express domestic flight from Heraklion to Athens (~£40–80 booked in advance, ~45 mins) or an overnight ferry the previous evening (~£30–45 with Minoan Lines). Allow plenty of time — Heraklion airport can be busy in peak season. Safe travels!

🚌Taxi or bus to Heraklion Airport (~£5–12). Domestic flight HER–ATH ~£40–80 (Olympic Air/Sky Express). Or overnight ferry to Piraeus ~£30–45 (Minoan Lines).

🛏N/A — departure day.

• →Check out of accommodation and transfer to Heraklion Airport (HER) or port
• →Option A: Direct flight home from Heraklion Airport
• →Option B: Domestic flight or overnight ferry to Athens for onward connection