10 Day Greece Itinerary

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August 19, 2022

March 2, 2023

Planning a trip abroad can be tricky, especially when you’re not a super seasoned traveler. But if you’re a control freak like me, then you have no other choice than to do all the planning yourself. This was actually my second visit to Greece and I feel like I totally nailed this 10 day itinerary. It was one of my favorite trips ever and a big part of that was thanks to the scheduling and itinerary choices we made. My first time to Greece, I went to Athens and Santorini. It was pure chaos and extremely crowded, even in shoulder season back in 2017. So this time, I knew I didn’t want to go to one of the more popular tourist islands. I have to give credit to my friend Eleni, who is the one that picked Crete – we joined in on her trip for that portion of our itinerary. And it was absolutely amazing! Here’s how we set up our 10 day Greece itinerary:

10 day itinerary for Greece

Days 1-2: Athens

If you’re flying in from the US, then it’s almost guaranteed that you will be flying in and out of Athens for the major portion of your visit to Greece. Athens is an amazing city full of history and culture. But for some reason, it’s often overlooked on Greece itineraries. In fact, on my first visit, many people told me to skip it. I’m glad I didn’t listen. The Parthenon is an amazing site to visit, and the city itself is lively and full of friendly Greeks. Plus, it’s always nice to have a day to overcome jetlag before heading off on another plane or ferry!
I recommend staying in the city near the acropolis for the first part of your trip. It’s a great way to get immersed in the Greek culture immediately and start your trip off right!
Hotel recommendation: InnAthens
Days 2-6: Crete

Crete is the largest island in Greece, so they pretty much have everything you could possibly need. Unlike many of the other islands, it’s not just a tourist destination. Many people live there year-round and there is so much to do all across the island. You definitely need a good solid 4-5+ days in Crete – and a rental car! We didn’t even get to do half of what we wanted to do, yet our trip was packed full of unforgettable experiences.
Crete actually has two airports: one in Chania and one in Heraklion. We chose to stay on the Chania side of the island and I can’t recommend it enough! There’s also a port in Chania. We actually flew in on Sky Express and took the high-speed ferry when we left.
Hotel recommendation: Kamares Sanctuaries
Days 6-9: Milos

Milos is such a special island. Unlike Crete, it is very small. Luckily, it hasn’t become totally overrun by tourism like Santorini and Mykonos. But it’s just as beautiful. In Milos, you will find those white and blue scenes that Greece is famous for. There are also endless delicious restaurants and lots to explore. You definitely need a car in Milos as well since everything is spread out, but it’s very easy to drive here. And absolutely beautiful!
The landscape in Milos is like no other. I literally felt like I was in Star Wars on some other planet many times. The breathtaking beauty doesn’t even seem real!
Since we were coming from Crete, we took a ferry to Milos. We went with Minoan Lines and it was like a cruise ship! We were not expecting that. There was a pool on the top level and you can even get a cabin for a few extra bucks. Totally worth it if you want to take a quick nap! The ferry was about 3.5 hours. If you’re coming from Athens, then you could do a flight to Milos, but all the flights from Crete had a layover in Athens, so it would have taken longer to fly than to take the ferry.
Days 9-10: Athens

Finally, the last stop to end the trip is once again Athens. This time though, we took a ferry. Milos is right in between Crete and mainland Greece, so the ferry from Milos to Athens was about the same as the ferry from Crete to Milos: about 3.5 hours. Since we were arriving at the port pretty late at night, we decided to stay in that area for the night. It was amazing! We had such a gorgeous view and our hotel was awesome. It was the perfect way to end the trip of a lifetime.
Hotel recommendation: The Alex

Like I said, I couldn’t be happier with our 10 day Greece itinerary. I feel like it was perfectly laid out. In Crete, we experienced so much culture and had a truly authentically Greek experience. And then in Milos, we kind of had more of a typical vacation with beautiful sights and exploring towns on foot. Overall, it was the perfect balance. I hope this helps you plan your 10 day itinerary for Greece and don’t worry, I have travel guides coming soon for Athens, Crete, and Milos!