Travel Diaries

Most people I discussed my holiday plans with were justifiably horrified that I would plan to visit Greece for just 6 days. And I do understand their reaction… I do. But I decided I would choose 6 days of Greece vs. 0 days of Greece this year, and that was that. If you’re in the same boat — 18-21 days of annual leave, not 3 months of soul-searching — here’s how to make every second of a short(ish) trip count.

The 6-Day Math

Greece has way too much to offer for 6 days, so the rule is simple: pick a maximum of 2 places. I love nature — sun and sea — so an island was non-negotiable. My husband loves history, so we landed on 1 island (Santorini) and 1 city (Athens) instead of 2 islands. Decide what you actually care about before you decide where you’re going, not after.

Also: don’t feel bad about doing the touristy things. Popular spots are popular for a reason, and when you’re short on time, the tried-and-tested is a safer bet than gambling a day on something off the beaten path that might be a dud.

City or Island? The Honest Trade-Off

Here’s the thing nobody tells you about doing Athens and an island in one trip: they’re two completely different holidays. One is a city break — walking shoes, museums, early starts before the heat. The other is a beach holiday — swimsuits, sunsets, doing absolutely nothing. We ended up packing for both in one week, which was a genuine headache.

The weather makes it trickier. We went in May, and the mainland was perfect — lovely temperatures, not crowded. But the islands were still windy and rainy, and we barely got in the water. June and July would have been ideal for Santorini, but far too hot for traipsing around the Acropolis. There’s no month that’s perfect for both.

If I did it again, I’d pick one: mainland or islands, and time the trip for whichever I chose. That said, it’s a tiny regret, not a big one. Mixing the two kept my history-buff husband and water-baby me both happy, and since Greece is far and not cheap for a lot of the world, I completely understand wanting to see both in one go. Just go in knowing the compromise you’re making.

The Actual Breakdown

1. Day 1 — Land in Athens and keep it easy: wander Plaka, then catch the changing of the guard outside the Parliament on Syntagma Square. It happens every hour, so no need to plan around it.
2. Day 2 — Day trip to Delphi. This is the one I’d swap out if I did it again — more on that under What I’d Skip below.
3. Day 3 — Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis in the morning, before the heat and the crowds. In the afternoon, a small group tour out to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, timed for sunset. Beautiful drive, and worth getting out of the city for.
4. Day 4 — Fly to Santorini and pick up the car. It rained the day we landed, chilly and windy, so we spent it driving around the whole island, then walked around Fira. The local shops are lovely and the vendors are some of the friendliest people we met. We watched the sunset on the Fira side with some excellent sangria and very good food — a painting-worthy sunset, rain or not — then went back to Pyrgos for dinner nearby and a proper night sky.
5. Day 5 — Morning drive to Oia to go chasing blue domes, blue doors, and anything else in that standard-issue Santorini blue against white. In the evening, a catamaran cruise around the island and the volcano, stopping mid-sea for the sunset.
6. Day 6 — Half a day, mostly for saying goodbye. A bit of souvenir shopping, a last slow morning enjoying the suite, then the flight home. Santorini isn’t really a place with a long list of things to do — it’s more a place to experience — so don’t feel you have to fill this morning.

My honest advice: make it 8 days if you can. Once you take out the travel time — airport transfers, the flight between Athens and Santorini, checking in and out twice — 6 days gets tight. Two extra days leave you room to actually enjoy it rather than just get through it.

Getting from Athens to Santorini

We flew, and I didn’t seriously consider the ferry. The flight is under an hour; the ferry takes considerably longer, and on a trip this short that’s time you don’t have.

There’s a second reason if you’re going in spring. May weather on the islands can be unsettled, and the day we arrived in Santorini was rainy and windy. I was very glad not to be spending it on a boat. If you’re visiting outside peak summer, the flight is the safer bet.

Where to Stay

We did the opposite thing in each place, and both turned out to be the right call.

Athens: stay central, right by Syntagma Square

We stayed in a one-bedroom Airbnb bang on Syntagma Square, and it was one of the best decisions of the trip. The biggest advantage is logistics. Most of what we wanted to see was walking distance, there are metro stations close by if you want them, and — this is the one people don’t think about — almost every day tour, including our Cape Sounion trip, uses Syntagma as its pick-up point. We just walked downstairs.

The apartment itself was full of personality: nicely done, a cosy bed, and a small kitchen with everything you’d need to cook simple meals. The host was incredible. We struggled to get in the first time (mild panic, foreign country, the usual), and they sorted it out quickly. They also arranged an airport pick-up for us, paid separately, which made arrival day painless.

One heads-up if you’re not from Europe: a lot of the central buildings are old, and lifts often don’t work. We hauled our luggage up two floors. Worth checking before you book if that’s a problem for you — or just pack lighter than we did.

Santorini: stay out of the main towns, and hire a car

Oia and Fira get very, very crowded in peak season. Those famous cave hotels on the caldera look amazing, and I’m sure the views are something else — but if you want calm evenings, stay a little further out.

We stayed at Nova Luxury Suites in Pyrgos: independent little villas dotted across the property, each with its own pool or jacuzzi. It felt like having a small cottage to ourselves, and it was lovely to come back to after a day out.

Staying out of town does mean you need wheels, but renting a car on Santorini is easy. Your hotel can usually arrange one, or you can pick one up at the airport. The island is small and there are only a few roads, so it’s genuinely hard to get lost.

What I’d Skip

Short trips mean every day has to earn its place. These are the heavily promoted things I’d leave off.

The Delphi day trip from Athens

It’s pushed everywhere, it isn’t cheap, and it takes the whole day — around 12 hours including the travel. We did it as a group tour with audio guides, and I honestly didn’t get the hype. Maybe it’s one for the real, real history buffs. For sheer wow factor, the Acropolis and the area around it are impressive enough for anyone, history fan or not. If Delphi isn’t specifically your thing, give that day to something else.

The flying-dress photoshoot (unless it’s your thing)

Watch out for the photography crews in Oia. Doing a photoshoot here is a big business: a crew of two — a photographer, and a second person whose job is to throw your gown in the air — plus a rented dress in a plain colour with an extra-long tail, photographed flying against the iconic blue and white domes. Partner optional; I saw plenty of women doing it solo. No, I’m not kidding. Search “Santorini flying dress photoshoot” and you’ll see exactly what I mean. It costs a small fortune and it was a big thing back in 2022, so I can only imagine it now. If that’s your thing, go for it. I can barely stand looking at photos of myself on my phone, so I happily skipped.

The donkey rides

Santorini has the cutest donkeys. Unfortunately, some businesses and tourists think it’s fun to ride them up the steep steps from the old port. These poor creatures end up hauling full-grown adults up a mountain, and it’s cruel. Don’t. Please don’t. In Fira there’s a cable car, or you can walk. And if you’re planning to take the steps or the path down to the water, use your brain — assuming you have more of it than the donkey — and think about the effort it’ll take to walk back up before you commit. Be nice to the local creatures. If you want to spend money on a donkey, buy one a treat instead.

What to Actually Do There

For the specific sights, food, and sunset spots worth your limited hours, I’ve got the full curated list in Athens & Santorini: The Highlight Reel. No point repeating it here.

Was It Worth It?

Yes, unreservedly. 6 days did not do Greece justice — nothing short of weeks would — but it did far more justice than 0 days, which was the actual alternative on the table. And one thing I didn’t expect: we never had a bad meal. Not once, anywhere, and we never got tired of the local food. That almost never happens on a trip.

If you’re waiting for the mythical month off to visit, you’ll be waiting a long time. Book the 6 days. Or, better, the 8.