7 days in Greece: Athens and Mykonos express

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival in Athens — first evening in Monastiraki

   Land at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, take the Metro Line 3 direct to Monastiraki (40 min, €9) or bus X95 to Syntagma (35-60 min depending on traffic, €6.20). Athens hits hard the moment you exit the metro: the Acropolis dominates the skyline, the smell of grilled souvlaki drifts across Monastiraki Square, and the sun still beats down at 6pm in season.

   This first evening calls for no monuments. Dinner at a Psyri taverna — Taverna tou Psyri or Oinopion — shared mezze (taramosalata, tzatziki, saganaki feta), carafe of Cretan white wine at €5-7. Psyri and Monastiraki merge into one atmosphere at night: packed terraces, music, and the Acropolis lit up above it all. A perfect soft launch.

   Tips

   • · The airport metro ticket (€9) is valid for 90 min on the entire network — no extra ticket needed if you transfer.
   • · Best Athens neighbourhoods to stay: Monastiraki or Koukaki (walking distance to the Acropolis, local atmosphere, prices 15-20% lower than Plaka).
2. 2

   Day 2

   Athens — Acropolis, Parthenon and Plaka

   The non-negotiable day. Online booking mandatory (acropolis-tickets.gr, €20 in high season, €10 in low) — ticket counter queues run 1h30-2h. Arrive at opening, 8am: golden light, almost no crowd until 10am. The restored Parthenon is still breathtaking even if you've seen it in photos your whole life; allow 2h on site.

   Descend via the south steps to the Acropolis Museum (€10): modern, air-conditioned, the Parthenon frieze displayed at eye level. Light lunch in Plaka — O Thanasis for a souvlaki-pita at €3.50 or Café Melina for a shaded break. Afternoon: wander Plaka's neoclassical lanes and the Monastiraki flea market (Sunday activity peaks here). Neighbourhood dinner nearby — no need to go far.

   Tips

   • · 8am slot recommended — crowds triple after 10:30am when cruise tour groups arrive.
   • · A single Acropolis ticket grants entry to 8 Athens archaeological sites for 5 days (Ancient Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus, etc.) — hold on to it.
3. 3

   Day 3

   Athens — National Archaeological Museum and Anafiotika

   The National Archaeological Museum (opens at 8am, €12) is one of the richest in the world for Greek art: the solid gold Mask of Agamemnon, archaic kouros statues, Minoan frescoes from Santorini — allow 2h30 for a focused visit. Online booking advised in July-August to skip a 30-min queue.

   Lunch in Exarcheia, the bohemian neighbourhood just behind the museum — Rozalia (neighbourhood taverna, €12-15) or Yiantes for contemporary Greek food. Afternoon: climb to Anafiotika, a tiny Cycladic enclave clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis — whitewashed walls, 60cm-wide lanes, improbably quiet 200m from Plaka's bustle. Close the Athens chapter with sunset from Lycabettus Hill (funicular €9, 360° view of the city and Acropolis). Farewell dinner in Monastiraki or Koukaki — tomorrow, Mykonos.

   Tips

   • · The museum is air-conditioned — the perfect refuge on Athens summer heatwave days (38-40°C in August).
   • · Lycabettus Hill: arrive 30 min before the official sunset time to secure a terrace seat at the summit café.
4. 4

   Day 4

   Ferry Athens → Mykonos — arrival in the Cyclades

   Depart from Piraeus port — Metro Line 1 from Monastiraki (25 min, €1.40) or taxi (€15-20, 30-40 min depending on traffic). Two options: Highspeed (Seajets / Goldstar) 2h15-2h45, €55-90 or slow ferry 5h, €35-50. The highspeed is the right call for this itinerary — every island hour counts.

   Book the ferry at least 2 weeks ahead in high season (June-August): highspeed seats sell out fast. Recommended sites: ferryscanner.com or openseas.gr. Arrive at Mykonos Old Port mid-afternoon: taxi to accommodation (€15-20) or KTEL bus (€2). First evening at the Old Port: aperitif watching the resident pelicans do their rounds, dinner at one of the waterfront tavernas. Mykonos needs no introduction — the scenery does all the talking.

   Tips

   • · Arrive at Piraeus 45 min before highspeed departure — boarding is fast but the quays are spread far apart.
   • · Greek ferries regularly run 15-30 min late — never plan a tight same-day connection.
   Mykonos →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Mykonos — Chora, Little Venice and windmills

   Mykonos Town (Chora) is best explored on foot, early morning (8-10am) before cruise ship arrivals triple the lane density. Immaculate Cycladic architecture, blue-and-red shuttered houses, alleys designed to confuse the wind — and the tourist. Little Venice is the perfect balance point: cantilevered balconies over the Aegean, bar terraces lively from 3pm.

   Kato Mili windmills just above: the iconic Mykonos shot, best light in late afternoon. Lunch at Nikos Taverna (Old Port, grilled fish €18-25, reservation advised) or takeaway gyros on Matogianni Square (€3.50). The afternoon naturally slows: art boutiques, terraces, gelato. Aperitif at Galleraki or Scarpa Bar facing the windmills at sunset — one of the finest available hours in Greece, no conditions attached.

   Tips

   • · Chora's lanes are deliberately maze-like — getting lost is normal and part of the experience; navigate by the sound of the sea.
   • · Shopping on Matogianni Street: budget accordingly if you're drawn to textiles and handmade jewellery — silver pieces start at €25-30.
   Mykonos →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Mykonos — Paradise, Super Paradise and Elia beaches

   Beach day — Mykonos at its most sun-drenched. Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach are the most celebrated: KTEL bus (€2) or water taxi from the Old Port (€5-8 one way). Paradise: beach clubs, sunbeds €15-20 per pair, house music from noon. Super Paradise: slightly calmer, dramatic cliffs, intensely blue water.

   Crowd-free alternative: Elia Beach (the island's longest, 45-min bus, simple bar, families and couples) or Agios Sostis (unspoilt, no facilities, scooter access only — unmissable for those seeking solitude). Lunch at Tropicana Beach Club (Paradise, mezze €12-18) or bring a picnic. Closing dinner in Chora — Kiki's Tavern at Agios Sostis if you have a scooter (cash only, inevitable queue, but unforgettable), otherwise Avli tou Thodori for solid Greek cooking in town.

   Tips

   • · Rent a 50cc scooter (€25-35/day) to hop between beaches: total freedom, easy parking, essential for Agios Sostis.
   • · Paradise Beach sunbeds: book online the day before via beach club apps to avoid arriving at a fully reserved stretch.
   Mykonos →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Flight Mykonos → Athens → departure — last morning in Chora

   Last morning in Mykonos. Depending on your flight time, take one final early stroll through Chora's lanes before 9am — near-deserted, oblique light on the whitewashed walls, cats on the steps, octopuses drying on the ropes outside closed tavernas. This is Mykonos without the staging.

   Flight Mykonos (JMK) → Athens (ATH): 45 min, €40-70 depending on carrier (Aegean Airlines, SKY Express) — connect at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport for your international flight. Allow 2h before the flight for check-in: Mykonos airport is small and queues build fast in season. Alternative: highspeed ferry back to Piraeus if you have a long connection (2h30, €55-90, more relaxed). Athens is not linked as a spot in this itinerary, but the city centre remains an easy option for an extra night before a long-haul departure.

   Tips

   • · Mykonos airport: KTEL bus from Chora (€2, 10 min) or taxi (€8-12) — no official shuttle from remote beaches.
   • · If connecting tight in Athens: choose Aegean Airlines (same terminal as most long-haul flights, no terminal change needed).
   Mykonos →

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