Best of Greece: Self-Launched Edition

Arrive in Athens at any time. Take the X95 express bus from Athens International Airport to Syntagma Square (~£5, 60–75 min) or the Metro Line 3 (~£9). Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the Monastiraki or Psiri neighbourhood — both perfectly placed for exploring. Spend the evening wandering the lively Monastiraki Flea Market and grab a souvlaki wrap for dinner (~£4).

🚌X95 express bus from airport to Syntagma Square (~£5)

🛏Athens Backpackers or similar in Monastiraki (dorm ~£20/private ~£45)

• →Airport transfer via X95 bus or Metro Line 3
• →Explore Monastiraki neighbourhood
• →Street food dinner — souvlaki from a local kiosk

Start with the Acropolis and Parthenon — book a skip-the-line ticket online (~£18). Walk down through the Ancient Agora (~£8) and then visit the Acropolis Museum (~£10). In the evening, book an Athens street food or cooking class tour via GetYourGuide (~£45–55) for an authentic dinner experience with a local chef — very similar to what's included in the G Adventures tour.

🚌On foot — all major sites are walkable from Monastiraki

🛏Athens Backpackers or similar in Monastiraki (dorm ~£20/private ~£45)

• →Acropolis & Parthenon (pre-book skip-the-line, ~£18)
• →Ancient Agora (~£8)
• →New Acropolis Museum (~£10)
• →Athens cooking class via GetYourGuide (~£50)
• →Optional: Shedia Home cafe visit (social enterprise, free entry)

Take the morning Hellenic Train service from Athens Larisis Station to Kalambaka (~£15–20, ~4.5 hrs via Paleofarsalos). Trains run twice daily — book at least a day ahead on hellenic-train.gr. Kalambaka is a charming small town sitting directly beneath the towering Meteora rock pillars. Check in, explore the town on foot, and enjoy a relaxed taverna dinner with local wine.

🚌Hellenic Train, Athens Larisis → Kalambaka (~£15–20, book at hellenic-train.gr)

🛏Meteora Hostel or Alsos House guesthouse, Kalambaka (~£18–35/night)

• →Train journey from Athens to Kalambaka (~£15–20)
• →Evening stroll through Kalambaka town
• →Dinner at a local taverna (~£12–15)

A full free day to explore the extraordinary monasteries perched atop giant sandstone pillars. Either take the local bus loop (line 30 from Kalambaka, €1.80 each way) that stops at the main monasteries, or pre-book the Meteora Monasteries Hiking Tour via GetYourGuide (~£30–38) to hike between them with a local guide — the same option offered as an add-on by G Adventures. The six open monasteries charge ~£3 each entry. Don't miss the Great Meteoron (largest) and Varlaam. Sunset views from the rock are spectacular.

🚌Local bus line 30 from Kalambaka (€1.80 each way) or walking trails

🛏Meteora Hostel or Alsos House guesthouse, Kalambaka (~£18–35/night)

• →Visit Meteora monasteries by local bus or on foot
• →Optional: Meteora Hiking Tour via GetYourGuide (~£30–38)
• →Great Meteoron Monastery (~£3 entry)
• →Varlaam Monastery (~£3 entry)
• →Sunset viewpoint at Meteora

Take the KTEL bus from Kalambaka toward Lamia, stopping at the Thermopylae battlefield and monument (~£12 total for bus hops). Spend time at the Thermopylae Information Centre and the famous Leonidas statue — free entry. Continue by bus to Delphi (~£8 further). Arrive in time for an afternoon guided tour of Ancient Delphi via GetYourGuide or direct with a local guide (~£18–25). The archaeological site and museum combo ticket is ~£12. Spend the evening in the village of Delphi itself.

🚌KTEL intercity buses: Kalambaka → Lamia → Delphi (~£15–20 total)

🛏Sibylla Hotel or Tholos guesthouse, Delphi (~£30–45/night)

• →Thermopylae battlefield & Leonidas monument (free entry)
• →Bus journey Kalambaka → Thermopylae → Delphi
• →Ancient Delphi archaeological site & museum (~£12 combo ticket)
• →Optional: guided tour of Delphi via GetYourGuide (~£20)
• →Evening in Delphi village

Take the KTEL bus from Delphi to Corinth (~£12), where you can stop to walk over the Corinth Canal bridge — one of Greece's most impressive engineering sights (free). Then catch a connecting bus to Náfplio (~£5, 45 min). Náfplio is one of Greece's most beautiful towns — a Venetian old town of neoclassical mansions, cobblestone streets, and a harbour overlooked by a hilltop fortress. Check in and spend the evening exploring freely. Optionally climb the 999 steps to Palamidi Fortress (~£4 entry) for panoramic views.

🚌KTEL bus: Delphi → Corinth → Náfplio (~£15–18 total)

🛏Atrion Hotel or Pension Marianna, Náfplio (~£35–55/night)

• →Corinth Canal stop — walk the bridge (free)
• →Arrival & orientation walk in Náfplio old town
• →Optional: Palamidi Fortress climb (~£4)
• →Cobblestone street evening stroll
• →Dinner at a harbour-front taverna (~£12–18)

Use Náfplio as a base for the morning. Take a local bus or shared taxi to Epidavros (~£5 each way, 30 min) — its ancient theatre has extraordinary acoustics and is one of the best-preserved in the world (~£12 entry). Return to Náfplio then continue by bus or taxi to Mycenae (~£5), home of the Lion Gate and the legendary Bronze Age citadel (~£12 entry). In the late afternoon, take the KTEL bus back to Athens (~£12) and check into a central guesthouse for one night.

🚌Local buses/taxis Náfplio → Epidavros → Mycenae → Athens (~£25 total)

🛏Hotel Attalos or similar central Athens (~£40–60/night)

• →Ancient Theatre of Epidavros (~£12 entry)
• →Citadel of Mycenae & Lion Gate (~£12 entry)
• →Bus or taxi between sites
• →KTEL bus back to Athens (~£12)

Take an early budget flight from Athens International Airport to Chania's Ioannis Daskalogiannis Airport — Sky Express and Aegean Airlines both fly this route, often for £30–60 booked in advance (~45 min). Alternatively, take the overnight ANEK Lines ferry from Piraeus (~£25–35 in a seat, departs ~9pm, arrives 6am) and save a night's accommodation. On arrival, check in near Chaniá's gorgeous Venetian Harbour. Take an orientation walk around the harbour, old town, and the covered market.

🚌Budget flight Athens → Chaniá (~£35–60) or ANEK overnight ferry Piraeus → Chaniá (~£25–35)

🛏Meltemi Old Town House or Crete Hostel, Chaniá (~£20–45/night)

• →Flight Athens → Chaniá (~£35–60 booked in advance) or overnight ferry from Piraeus (~£25–35)
• →Orientation walk around Venetian Harbour
• →Explore Chaniá old town and covered market
• →Evening meze at a harbour taverna (~£12–18)

Spend a full day exploring Chaniá. The Venetian Harbour and lighthouse are iconic at any time of day. Visit the Byzantine & Post-Byzantine Collection (~£3) and the Archaeological Museum of Chaniá (~£4). Take a local bus to the nearby beach at Nea Hora or the famous Balos Lagoon (seasonal boat trips ~£20–25 return). Alternatively book a half-day cooking class or olive oil tasting experience via GetYourGuide (~£35–45).

🚌Local KTEL buses and on foot

🛏Meltemi Old Town House or Crete Hostel, Chaniá (~£20–45/night)

• →Venetian Harbour & lighthouse walk (free)
• →Archaeological Museum of Chaniá (~£4)
• →Optional: Balos Lagoon boat trip (~£20–25)
• →Optional: Cretan cooking or olive oil tasting class (~£35–45 via GetYourGuide)
• →Evening in the old town

One of Europe's longest gorges and a highlight of any Crete visit. Take the early KTEL bus from Chaniá to Xyloskalo (Omalos, ~£5) where the gorge begins. The hike is approximately 16km downhill through dramatic limestone scenery, ending at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. Take the ferry to Hora Sfakion (~£5) and then a bus back to Chaniá (~£5). Entrance to the gorge is ~£5. The full day out costs ~£20 total in transport and entry. The gorge is typically open May–October — check seasonally.

🚌KTEL bus + gorge walk + ferry + return bus (~£15–20 total)

🛏Meltemi Old Town House or Crete Hostel, Chaniá (~£20–45/night)

• →KTEL bus Chaniá → Xyloskalo/Omalos (~£5)
• →Samariá Gorge hike (16km, ~5–7 hours, ~£5 entry)
• →Ferry Agia Roumeli → Hora Sfakion (~£5)
• →Bus Hora Sfakion → Chaniá (~£5)

Take a day trip by KTEL bus east along the coast to Rethymno (~£4, 1 hr), a charming town with a well-preserved Venetian old town, a Venetian fortress (Fortezza, ~£4), and a gorgeous lighthouse. Alternatively, explore inland Cretan villages such as Vamos or Gavalochori — ask your accommodation about local village connections. Return to Chaniá in the evening, or if heading east the next day, continue to Heraklion.

🚌KTEL bus: Chaniá → Rethymno → Chaniá (~£8 return)

🛏Meltemi Old Town House or Crete Hostel, Chaniá OR budget hotel in Rethymno (~£25–45/night)

• →KTEL bus to Rethymno (~£4)
• →Rethymno Venetian old town & Fortezza (~£4 entry)
• →Lighthouse & harbour walk (free)
• →Optional: inland Cretan village visit
• →Return to Chaniá or continue to Heraklion

Travel from Heraklion Port (easily reached from Chaniá by KTEL bus, ~£10, 2.5 hrs) to Santorini by Minoan Lines or SeaJets high-speed ferry (~£30–55, 2–4 hrs depending on service). Book in advance at ferryhopper.com. Arrive in Santorini and take the cable car or walk up the zigzag path from the port to Fira (~£5 cable car). Check in and explore Fira in the evening — jaw-dropping caldera views at no cost.

🚌KTEL bus + Minoan/SeaJets ferry (~£40–65 total)

🛏Fira Backpackers or budget guesthouse, Fira (~£25–55/night)

• →KTEL bus Chaniá → Heraklion (~£10)
• →Ferry Heraklion → Santorini (~£30–55, book via ferryhopper.com)
• →Cable car Athinios Port → Fira (~£5)
• →Evening caldera walk in Fira (free)

Take the local bus from Fira to Oia (~£1.80, 20 min) — the island's most photographed village with its iconic blue-domed churches and whitewashed houses. Walk the caldera-edge path from Oia back toward Fira (~10km, 3–4 hrs) for extraordinary views. In the evening, either catch the famous Oia sunset from the castle ruins (get there early — it fills up fast) or book the Santorini Sunset Cruise via GetYourGuide or direct (~£50–85) — the same option flagged as an optional extra by G Adventures.

🚌Local KTEL bus Fira ↔ Oia (~£1.80 each way)

🛏Fira Backpackers or budget guesthouse, Fira (~£25–55/night)

• →Bus Fira → Oia (~£1.80)
• →Caldera path walk Oia → Fira (~10km, free)
• →Blue-domed churches of Oia (free to photograph)
• →Optional: Santorini Sunset Cruise (~£50–85 via GetYourGuide)
• →Oia sunset from castle ruins (free, arrive early)

Spend your final full day in Santorini at your own pace. Take a local bus to the Red Beach near Akrotiri (~£1.80) and visit the remarkable Akrotiri archaeological site — a Minoan Bronze Age city frozen in time by volcanic ash (~£12 entry). The black-sand beaches of Perissa or Kamari are also reachable by bus (~£1.80). Enjoy a final sunset dinner in Fira with caldera views — budget around £20–30 for a good sit-down meal.

🚌Local KTEL buses around Santorini (~£1.80 per journey)

🛏Fira Backpackers or budget guesthouse, Fira (~£25–55/night)

• →Akrotiri archaeological site (~£12 entry)
• →Red Beach visit (free)
• →Black-sand beaches at Perissa or Kamari (free, bus ~£1.80)
• →Final caldera-view dinner in Fira (~£20–30)

Check out and make your way to Santorini Airport (Thira) — a short taxi ride (~£12) or local bus from Fira (~£1.80). Aegean Airlines and Sky Express operate regular flights back to Athens (£35–65, ~45 min) for onward connections, or you can take a direct flight home from Santorini if available. Alternatively, take the ferry back to Athens' Piraeus port if your schedule allows (~£35–50, 5–8 hrs by high-speed). Kalimera, and farewell to an unforgettable Greece adventure.

🚌Local bus or taxi to airport (~£2–12), flight or ferry to Athens/home

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Check out and transfer to Santorini Airport or port
• →Flight Santorini → Athens (~£35–65) or ferry to Piraeus (~£35–50)
• →Onward international connection from Athens