Athens, Mykonos, Santorini & Crete — Self-Launched Island Hopper
10 days · Greece
Eskapas charges £2,020
No-markup version: ~£795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Eskapas' 10-day Athens–Mykonos–Santorini–Crete loop, swapping 4-star hotels, meet-and-greet transfers and a rental car for hostels/guesthouses, public buses and metro, and standard Blue Star / SeaJets ferries. You keep the same big-hitters — the Acropolis, Mykonos' old town, the caldera at sunset, Knossos, Chania's harbour and the beaches of western Crete — but book everything yourself through GetYourGuide, the ferry operators and local bus companies. Costs are backpacker-to-mid-range estimates for one traveller in shoulder season (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct); peak July–August on Mykonos and Santorini can easily add 40–60% to accommodation.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Athens & settle into Plaka/Monastiraki
Athens
Land at Athens Airport (ATH) and take the Metro Line 3 straight into the city centre (Monastiraki or Syntagma, ~€10 / £8.50, 40 mins) — far cheaper than a taxi (~€40). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in Plaka, Monastiraki or Koukaki, all walkable to the main sights. Spend the late afternoon wandering Plaka's lanes and Anafiotika, grab a gyros dinner (€4–5) and watch the Acropolis light up from Areopagus Hill. Buy your Acropolis timed-entry ticket online tonight for tomorrow's first slot.
🚌Airport Metro Line 3 to Monastiraki (~€10)
🛏Private room or 4–6 bed dorm in a Plaka/Monastiraki guesthouse or hostel (e.g. Athens Style, City Circus area options)
- →Metro into Athens centre
- →Evening walk through Plaka and Anafiotika
- →Sunset from Areopagus Hill
Acropolis, Athenian Trilogy & ancient Athens on foot
Athens
Beat the heat and crowds with an 08:00 Acropolis entry (€20–30 depending on season, book at etickets.tickets.gr) to see the Parthenon, Erechtheion and Temple of Athena Nike, then the Acropolis Museum (€15, or free on some dates). Walk the free 'Athenian Trilogy' — the National Library, University of Athens and Academy — plus the Presidential Mansion (Evzones change on the hour), Zappeion, Panathenaic Stadium (€10 to enter the stadium) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus with Hadrian's Arch. Skip the pricey guided walking tour: use a free Rick Steves or VoiceMap audio walk for Monastiraki and Plaka in the evening. Alternatively a GetYourGuide Acropolis + city walking tour runs ~£45 if you want a guide.
🚌All on foot; metro hop if legs give out (~£1.20/ride)
🛏Same Athens guesthouse/hostel
- →Acropolis & Parthenon entry (self-booked)
- →Acropolis Museum
- →Athenian Trilogy & Evzones at Syntagma
- →Panathenaic Stadium
- →Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch
- →Self-guided Plaka/Monastiraki audio walk
Ferry to Mykonos & first taste of the Cyclades
Mykonos
Take the Metro or bus to Piraeus port (Line 1 to Piraeus, ~€1.20) and board the Blue Star ferry to Mykonos — roughly 5h15 on the slow boat (€40–48 economy) or ~2h45 on a SeaJets fast ferry (€65–80). Book direct on bluestarferries.com or seajets.com a few weeks ahead; deck seating is fine and scenic. Arrive in Mykonos Town, walk or take the local bus to your guesthouse (many hostels sit just outside the hubbub in Ano Mera or on the town edge — Mykonos is expensive, so book early). Evening: Little Venice, the windmills at sunset and a cheap souvlaki dinner away from the harbour front.
🚌Metro to Piraeus + Blue Star/SeaJets ferry Piraeus–Mykonos (€40–80)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel outside Mykonos Town centre (e.g. studios in Ano Mera or Platis Gialos area)
- →Ferry across the Aegean
- →Little Venice
- →Kato Myloi windmills at sunset
Delos archaeological site & Mykonos beaches
Mykonos
Catch the morning boat to Delos, the UNESCO-listed sacred island and birthplace of Apollo (return boat + site entry ~€32–38; book at the Delos kiosk on the old port or via GetYourGuide). Give it 3–4 hours to walk the Terrace of the Lions, the theatre and the mosaics — bring water and sun protection, there's little shade. Back in town by early afternoon, take the local bus (€2–3) to Elia, Agrari or Paradise beach for a swim. Note Paradise and Super Paradise beach clubs get pricey — Elia and Agrari are cheaper. Self-cater dinner from a bakery and mini-market to keep costs down.
🚌Delos boat from Mykonos old port; local KTEL bus to beaches (~£2.50)
🛏Same Mykonos guesthouse/hostel
- →Boat to Delos & archaeological site
- →Swim at Elia/Agrari beach
- →Mykonos Town backstreets
Fast ferry Mykonos → Santorini, Fira & Oia sunset
Santorini
Morning SeaJets or Golden Star ferry from Mykonos to Santorini (~2h20–3h, €55–75; the slow Blue Star route is longer and only runs on some days). From Athinios port, take the local KTEL bus up to Fira (€2.20) — don't take the port taxis unless you've pre-booked. Check in, then walk the caldera rim path from Fira to Firostefani and on toward Imerovigli for the classic views. For sunset, take the local bus to Oia (€1.80, 25 mins) rather than a €60 taxi — arrive by 18:00 in shoulder season for a spot at the castle ruins. Return on a late bus or the Fira cliff path. Fira and Karterados have the cheapest beds; Oia and Imerovigli are far pricier.
🚌Ferry Mykonos–Santorini (€55–75) + port bus to Fira + bus to Oia
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Fira or Karterados
- →Caldera rim walk Fira–Imerovigli
- →Sunset in Oia
- →Fira old town
Santorini volcano boat trip & Red Beach
Santorini
Book a half-day caldera boat trip to Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni — the standard wooden 'traditional boat' tour from the old Fira port costs around €25–35 including hot springs swim and volcano entry, and leaves from the steps below Fira (the donkeys are optional and controversial; the cable car is €6). For a fuller experience with lunch and hotel pickup, GetYourGuide's catamaran caldera cruises run £75–120. Afternoon: local bus to Akrotiri to see the Red Beach (free to walk to the viewpoint) and optionally the Akrotiri Bronze Age excavation (€12). Dinner in Fira with a caldera view — book ahead and expect €15–25 for a main.
🚌Local KTEL buses to Akrotiri/Red Beach (~£2)
🛏Same Santorini guesthouse/hostel
- →Volcano & hot springs boat trip (self-booked)
- →Red Beach & Akrotiri
- →Cable car up from old port (€6)
Ferry Santorini → Heraklion & Knossos
Heraklion
Take the morning SeaJets or Minoan Lines ferry from Santorini (Athinios) to Heraklion, Crete — roughly 2–2.5 hours fast ferry, €40–60. From Heraklion port it's a 15-minute walk or a €6 taxi to the centre. Drop bags at your hostel and take local bus no. 2 (€1.70) or a €10 taxi out to the Palace of Knossos, 20 minutes away; entry is €15–20 (book a timed ticket online to skip the queue, or a GetYourGuide guided entry ~£35). Spend the evening in Heraklion: the Venetian Loggia, Morosini Fountain, the old harbour fortress and a cheap Cretan dinner (dakos, kalitsounia) in the lanes off 1866 Street.
🚌Fast ferry Santorini–Heraklion (€40–60) + local bus no. 2 to Knossos
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Heraklion centre
- →Palace of Knossos (self-booked entry)
- →Heraklion old town & Venetian harbour
- →Cretan meze dinner
Local bus to Rethymno & on to Chania
Chania
Skip the rental car: Crete's KTEL buses cover this route easily. Take the morning bus Heraklion → Rethymno (~1h30, €8.50), stash your bag at the station or a café, and explore Rethymno's Venetian old town, Fortezza (€4) and long sandy beach for a few hours. Then continue Rethymno → Chania (~1h15, €7). Check into a guesthouse in the beautiful old Venetian harbour quarter — the Chania old town hostels and pensions around Splantzia and Topanas are excellent value. Evening: harbour stroll, lighthouse, and dinner in the backstreets where mains are €9–14.
🚌KTEL bus Heraklion–Rethymno–Chania (~€15.50 total)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Chania old town (Splantzia/Topanas)
- →Rethymno Venetian old town & Fortezza
- →Chania Venetian harbour at dusk
- →Splantzia backstreets
Western Crete: Balos lagoon or Samaria Gorge
Chania
Pick your big day out. Option A — Balos: book a KTEL/private bus-and-boat day trip from Chania (~€30–35 including boat, book direct with the operator in Chania or via GetYourGuide ~£35). Option B — Elafonisi: KTEL bus from Chania (~€12 each way, 2h) to the pink-sand lagoon, free to enter; go early to beat the crowds. Option C — Samaria Gorge: early KTEL bus to Xyloskalo (€7), €10 entry, walk the 16km gorge down to Agia Roumeli and take the afternoon ferry to Sfakia then bus back to Chania (~€25 total). All are doable independently without a car. Eat dinner back in Chania — try a Cretan taverna away from the harbour for better value.
🚌KTEL bus or bus + boat excursion (~£15–30)
🛏Same Chania old town guesthouse
- →Balos lagoon bus-and-boat trip OR
- →Elafonisi beach by KTEL bus OR
- →Samaria Gorge hike with ferry return
Morning in Chania, fly back to Athens
Athens
Spend the morning at Chania's Municipal Market, the Byzantine/Archaeological Museum (€4–6) and a final coffee by the Egyptian lighthouse. Take the airport bus or a taxi from Chania centre to Chania Airport (CHQ) — the local bus is around €3, a taxi €25–30. Fly CHQ → ATH with Aegean, Sky Express or Ryanair (book 4–8 weeks out; £35–70 one-way), landing at Athens in about an hour. If you're catching a long-haul flight the same day, leave a 3-hour buffer; otherwise a final night near Syntagma makes an easy connection. Trip ends.
🚌Chania airport bus (~£3) + domestic flight CHQ–ATH (£35–70)
🛏None included (add a final night in Athens if needed)
- →Chania Municipal Market
- →Archaeological Museum of Chania
- →Domestic flight to Athens
Self-launched vs. Eskapas
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Eskapas | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£795 | £2,020 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,225 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Eskapas-style trips? Check them out here.~£795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Athens, Mykonos, Santorini & Crete — Self-Launched Island Hopper cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £795 per person for 10 days in Greece. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Eskapas?+
Yes — Eskapas charges around £2,020 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £795 — a saving of roughly £1,225 (61%) per person.
How long is the Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Greece.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, beaches, backpacker trip through Greece, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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