updated 12.11.2024
With so many beautiful beaches and ancient attractions — not to mention all those glorious islands — planning a trip to Greece sure ain’t easy, especially if you’re hoping to soak up a range of its landscapes and experiences. So, with that in mind we’ve put together what might just be the best Greece itinerary for 10 days. Taking you from Athens’ ancient wonders, to enchanting islands and magical mountaintop monasteries, here’s how to make your 10 days in Greece utterly unforgettable.
Created by local experts
Before we go into day-by-day detail, here's a summary of our suggested 10 day Greece itinerary.
It’s worth noting that we decided not to make this a 10 day Greek island itinerary. While a couple of islands are included, this trip plan also covers some remarkable mainland destinations that are often overlooked in favor of said islands.
Editor’s tip: to make the most of your 10 days in Greece, consider hiring a local travel professional to plan a Greece itinerary that’s perfect for you.
Athens is the start point of this Greece itinerary 10 days © Shutterstock
We kick off our suggested 10 days in Greece itinerary in Athens — capital of Greece, where a mix of ancient wonders, village-y charm and cosmopolitan energy awaits.
When it comes to deciding where to stay in Athens, it’s a case of choosing someplace that aligns with your tastes, interests, and budget.
For first-timers, staying in Plaka is hard to beat. It’s loaded with local charm and located at foot of the Acropolis.
Meanwhile, accommodation in Monastiraki is ideal if you’re looking for a mix of historic sites, markets, and plenty of places to eat and drink.
Staying in Psyri will be livelier still — this area is renowned for its vibrant nightlife.
On a budget? Check out places to stay in Exarcheia — this bohemian district has a bigger range of affordable accommodation.
After checking in, enjoy your first taste of the city by going for a stroll (we’ll save the city’s iconic ancient sites for your second day).
A great way to get a sense of the city is to walk — or take the funicular railway — up Lycabettus Hill. From the summit, you’ll see the city sprawling towards the sea, with the Acropolis and other landmarks in the distance.
Another option is to head to Syntagma Square to see the Changing of the Guard at the Hellenic Parliament building. If you time it wrong, don’t worry — the square is right in the heart of the city, and a pretty place to people watch.
Come the evening, if you fancy a taste of Athens’ nightlife, head to trendy Psiri — it’s stacked with street art and quirky bars.
Changing of the Guard in Syntagma Square, Athens © Shutterstock
Covering some of the best things to do in Athens, here’s a great way to spend day two of your 10 day Greece itinerary.
From ancient marvels, to modern-day thrills, here are a few of the top spots to explore in Athens.
Kicking off with the obvious, rise early to explore the Acropolis — Athens’ most iconic landmark before the heat kicks in and crowds ramp up.
Offering breath-taking views over Athens, and fascinating insights into Greek history, we spent a few hours walking the site before heading up to the summit, where another icon was waiting…
With its towering Doric columns and intricate carvings, the Parthenon — a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, the city’s namesake and protector — is a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture.
As is often the way with such icons, seeing it in real life didn’t actually feel real!
Parthenon aside, the site also includes the Erechtheion. Famous for its Porch of the Caryatids, which has six female statues serving as columns, this landmark was built with a dedication to both Athena and Poseidon.
Then there’s the Propylaea. Serving as the entrance to the Acropolis, this gateway showcases the grandeur of ancient Greek architecture, with the elegant Temple of Athena Nike just to the right of it.
Next, we headed down to picturesque Plaka — AKA the “Neighborhood of the Gods”.
It’s hard not to fall madly in love with Plaka’s winding streets and bright neoclassical buildings. Bougainvillea is in bloom pretty much wherever you look, and you’ll have no problem finding an outside table to soak up all this charm while enjoying a coffee or lunch.
Plaka is also loaded with local boutiques and artisan shops selling handmade jewelry and crafts.
After lunch, visit Monastiraki. Best known for its lively flea market, it also offers an intriguing mix of Ottoman, Byzantine and modern architecture.
Being a sucker for vintage treasures (and bargains), the couple of hours I spent in the flea market flew by.
After that, with bulging shopping bags, we headed to Monastiraki Square for a pre-dinner drink, and got to see a wonderful view of the Acropolis lit up against the darkening sky.
Plaka — a highlight of this Greece itinerary 10 days © Shutterstock
Next up on this 10 days in Greece itinerary is a shift in scenery and pace, when you’ll transfer from the city to Skiathos.
One of Greece’s Sporades Islands, this is one of the best Greek islands to visit for beaches, relaxing in nature and nightlife. As a result, pretty much every type of traveler will be happy here.
Travel time: 45-minute flight from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Skiathos Airport (JSI).
Given that the island attracts the range of traveler types outlined above, you’ll want to choose where to stay in Skiathos wisely.
For example, staying in Skiathos Town will satisfy visitors who are coming for the island’s livelier vibe. Its cobblestone streets are lined with boutiques, cafes, tavernas and bars that ramp up in the evenings.
With accommodation for all budgets, staying here also offers easy access to the island’s port — handy for taking day trips to other islands.
If you’re looking for a great beachside base, browse places to stay in Koukounaries. Located on the southwest coast, this is Skiathos’ most famous beach, with plenty of beachfront hotels, mid-range resorts, and family-friendly accommodation on offer.
Skiathos, Greece © Shutterstock
Not only is taking a day trip from Skiathos to Skopelos (AKA “Mamma Mia!” island) easy, but it also adds extra charm to your 10 days in Greece.
Ferries depart from Skiathos Port, with the journey to Skopelos Town taking about 30-60 minutes, depending on the type of ferry you choose i.e. catamarans take around 30 minutes, while larger ferries tend to take closer to an hour.
Once you arrive in Skopelos Town, you’ll have several hours to explore before catching an afternoon or evening ferry back to Skiathos. In our case, we went for the latest ferry in order to max out our time on a different island.
For example, after exploring Skopelos Town, with its whitewashed houses and narrow alleys, we headed up to the hilltop church of Panagitsa of Pyrgos.
A 30-minute drive from Skopelos Town, you could also visit Agios Ioannis Chapel — the tiny chapel that became famous as the wedding church “Mamma Mia!”.
If beaches are more your bag, spend a few hours on Stafilos Beach. One of Skopelos’ most beautiful beaches, it’s just 10 minutes by taxi from Skopelos Town.
Agia Eleni on Skiathos, Greece © Shutterstock
Day five of this Greece in 10 days itinerary is devoted to exploring Skiathos.
If you want to take in a few of the island’s top attractions, start out early, but don’t try to pack too much in. You’d be wise to focus on a few places that might just capture your heart, as opposed to rushing around too much.
We settled on spending the morning exploring Skiathos Town. After grabbing breakfast, we walked its pretty streets and picked up a few souvenirs before making our way up to the Evangelistria Monastery, which is located in the hills right above town.
Come the afternoon, we took a boat trip, joining a small-group tour that took us up close to secret coves before we stopped off at Lalaria Beach, the Blue Caves and Tsougrias Island.
Given that many of the best beaches in Greece are on Skiathos, you’ll want to allow time to visit at least one of them during your stay.
Given that there are 60+ to choose from, here we highlight just a few of the best.
First up, it’s clear why Koukounaries Beach is one most of the island’s most popular beaches. Think golden sand and crystal-clear waters surrounded pine forest.
For something quieter, Agia Eleni Beach comes recommended and, having loved spending time here as part of our boat trip, Lalaria Beach is another top choice.
Meteora, Greece © Shutterstock
Another marked change in scenery comes on day 6 of this 10 day Greece itinerary, courtesy of a transfer from Skiathos to Meteora.
Melding natural beauty with spiritual significance and architectural awesomeness, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is, for sure, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Greece.
Average travel time: 4-5 hours
The transfer kicks off with taking a ferry from Skiathos to Volos, which has a journey time of 1.5 to 2 hours.
From Volos, you have two main options to reach Kalambaka — the town at the base of Meteora.
First, you could simply board a bus and be there in 3-4 hours. Just be aware you may have to change in Trikala.
Alternatively, you could rent a car in Volos and drive yourself in around 2.5 hours, perhaps opting to drop off the rental car in Athens, which you'll have to travel through a little later in this trip.
Good news – much of the accommodation in and around Kalambaka serves splendid views of the Meteora rocks
Just steps away from the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas, Hotel Doupiani House makes an elegant and cozy base.
For a taste of village life, the family-run Spartacus House is located in Kastraki. All rooms have a balcony and rock views.
We also rate Hotel Kaikis. Another family-run gem, this time in Kalabaka, rooms here have balconies offering views of Meteora rocks and Pindos Mountains.
Meteora, Greece © Shutterstock
Perched on massive rock pillars above the town of Kalambaka, the Meteora monasteries are hands-down magical, and live up to their name — Meteora means “suspended in the air”.
Dating back to the 14th century, the monasteries were designed to be accessible only by rope ladders and pulleys, offering monks solitude and protection.
These days, the combination of natural rock pillars with logic-defying monasteries present an otherworldly mix of nature and architecture, along with wonderful views of the Thessalian plains and mountains.
With six monasteries open to the public, you might want to focus on a few in order to do a deeper dive into them.
The Great Meteoron Monastery is the largest and oldest, notable for its frescoes and museums.
Meanwhile, Varlaam — the second largest monastery — is known for its beautiful frescoes and peaceful vibe.
Then there’s the Holy Monastery of Roussanou. Though first established in the 14th century, it took most of its three-tiered shape in the 16th century. With a lower elevation than other monasteries, it’s more accessible.
At the other end of the accessibility scale — it’s a little more challenging to reach — Holy Trinity Monastery is famous for appearing in the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only”.
From Kalambaka, you can reach the Meteora monasteries by car, taxi, or even on foot if you’re up for a steep hike — it takes around an hour.
Alternatively, regular buses and organized tours from Kalambaka can take you direct to the monasteries.
A plus of joining a tour is that they often include convenient transportation to multiple sites.
Holy Trinity monastery, Meteora, Greece © Shutterstock
The next leg of this 10 day Greece trip brings a day of travel as you transfer from Meteora to the island of Zakynthos.
Travel time: 5-6 hours
Start with an early drive from Kalambaka to Athens. With a journey time of about 4 hours, the drive is straightforward as you follow the E65 and A1 highways through central Greece.
Alternatively, you can take a direct bus from Kalambaka to Athens, which takes around 5 hours.
Once you reach Athens, head to Athens International Airport (ATH) for a one-hour flight to Zakynthos.
From budget-friendly stays, to luxurious resorts, there’s accommodation in Zakynthos to suit everyone.
Zakynthos Town provides the biggest mix of mid-range hotels and local guesthouses, and also offers easy access to cultural sites, restaurants, and ferry connections.
If you’re looking for liveliness, consider accommodation in Laganas — the island’s party hub.
Or, for family-friendly resorts with sandy beaches and stacks of water sports, try places to stay in Tsilivi.
Fresh Greek salad © Shutterstock
Come day 9, rise early to meander Zakynthos Town in the morning, starting off in Solomos Square, named after Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet.
Surrounded by Venetian-style buildings, this pretty square also hosts the island’s the Byzantine Museum.
If you want to shop, head to Alexandrou Roma for boutiques and stacks of souvenir shops before strolling along the harborfront promenade.
In the afternoon, it’s time to hit, Zakynthos’ top beaches.
As Zakynthos’ largest beach, Banana Beach is great for families, with plenty of sunbeds, water sports options, and places to eat.
Meanwhile, the rocky cove of Porto Limnionas boasts crystal-clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling, and sunbathing areas carved into the cliffs.
Love nature and more secluded beaches? Located on the Vasilikos Peninsula, peaceful Gerakas beach is a nesting site for loggerhead turtles,
Last, but certainly not least, there’s Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach, which we suggest visiting early on your last day…
Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach,Zakynthos, Greece © Shutterstock
Known for its iconic shipwreck, dazzling sands and shimmering turquoise waters, Navagio Beach is only accessible by boat.
That said, thanks to its stop-you-in-your-tracks beauty, it’s very popular, so it's best to book an early-morning trip to visit before the crowds descend.
It’s definitely worth it, and the earlier you arrive, the longer you’ll have to bathe in its sublime waters before you have to head back to Athens.
What a way to end your 10 days in Greece.
Editor’s tip: if this itinerary feels a little too rushed, we suggest skipping Skiathos. Instead, travel straight to Meteora from Athens on day three.
While you’ll get to enjoy a taste of Greek island life in Zakynthos at the end of your 10 day Greece itinerary, visiting Meteora is more of a once-in-a-lifetime type experience.
If being pushed for time is on your mind, check out our Greece itinerary for 7 days.
You might also want to arm yourself with information on how to plan a trip to Greece
Or, if you'd prefer to bypass the hassle of planning, browse our customizable Greece itineraries, and have our local travel experts handle every last detail.
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written by
Joanne Owen
updated 12.11.2024
