London to Athens with Greek Island Hopping — Self-Launched

Book a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (book 2–3 months ahead for £40–70 one way). Drop bags at your hostel in the 11th or 20th arrondissement, then walk the Seine at sunset and see the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour after dark — free, and better than any organised evening. Eat dinner at a boulangerie/bistro in Belleville rather than a set tour dinner.

🚌Eurostar London–Paris, £40–70 one way (book early); Metro day ticket €8.65

🛏Hostel dorm (e.g. St Christopher's Gare du Nord or Generator Paris), £30–45

• →Sunset walk along the Seine
• →Eiffel Tower light show from Trocadéro (free)
• →Dinner in Belleville or Le Marais

Do a free self-guided walk: Notre-Dame exterior, Île de la Cité, Latin Quarter, Panthéon, then the Louvre courtyard and Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe. Book Louvre timed entry online (~£20) if you want to go inside; otherwise the Musée d'Orsay or free Petit Palais are cheaper. Skip the cabaret — a wine bar in the 11th costs a tenth as much.

🚌Metro/RER single tickets €2.50 each, or a Navigo Easy card

🛏Hostel dorm, £30–45

• →Self-guided Île de la Cité and Latin Quarter walk
• →Louvre or Musée d'Orsay (pre-booked)
• →Montmartre sunset wander

Take an early TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Beaune (~1h45, £25–45 if booked ahead). Store bags at the station, visit the Hospices de Beaune (~£10) and grab lunch and a wine tasting in a cellar in town. In the afternoon take a TER train to Mâcon or Villefranche-sur-Saône and stay in a rural gîte or cheap hotel near the Beaujolais villages.

🚌TGV Paris–Beaune £25–45; TER Beaune–Mâcon £10–15; local bus/taxi to village £8

🛏Guesthouse/gîte near Villié-Morgon or Fleurie, £40–55

• →Hospices de Beaune visit
• →Beaune cellar wine tasting (£12–20)
• →Village wander in the Beaujolais crus

Rent a bike from the gîte or a local rental shop (~£15/day) and cycle the Route des Vins through Fleurie, Morgon and Chiroubles. Buy bread, cheese and a bottle from a domain and have lunch on a vineyard bank. Many small domaines offer free or €5 tastings if you buy a bottle. Evenings are quiet — eat at the gîte or a village bistro.

🚌Bike rental £15; occasional local bus

🛏Guesthouse/gîte, £40–55

• →Route des Vins cycle
• →Independent domaine tasting
• →Countryside picnic

This is a long travel day. Best value: TER/bus to Lyon Part-Dieu, then a direct OUIGO or TGV Lyon–Barcelona (~4h45; OUIGO from €19, TGV £40–70). Alternatively a Flixbus from Lyon overnight. Arrive, check into a hostel in El Raval or Gràcia, and get a late dinner of pintxos and cava.

🚌Local bus to Lyon £6; OUIGO/TGV Lyon–Barcelona £25–60 (book 4–8 weeks ahead)

🛏Hostel dorm in El Raval/Gràcia (e.g. Casa Gracia area), £25–40

• →Evening tapas crawl in Gràcia
• →Bunkers del Carmel viewpoint (if daylight allows)

Self-guided Gaudí and Gothic Quarter morning: Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça Reial, the Roman walls. Afternoon Metro to Montjuïc for the castle and gardens (free on Sundays after 3pm), or head to Barceloneta for a swim. Book a flamenco show direct at a small tablao like Palau Dalmases (~£20) rather than a dinner package.

🚌T-casual 10-ride Metro ticket €12.55

🛏Hostel dorm, £25–40

• →Gothic Quarter and Gaudí self-guided walk
• →Montjuïc castle and gardens
• →Barceloneta swim
• →Small tablao flamenco show (£18–25)

Take a regional train Barcelona–Portbou/Cerbère and connect through Perpignan and Narbonne to Arles, or a direct Flixbus/ALSA (~7h, £25–35) if you prefer one seat. Stop a couple of hours in Arles to see the Roman amphitheatre and arena (€9, or free from outside). Continue by TER to Marseille and TGV/Intercités to Nice, arriving late evening.

🚌Bus/train Barcelona–Arles £25–35; TER Arles–Marseille £14; TGV Marseille–Nice £25–40

🛏Hostel in Nice old town/port (e.g. Villa Saint Exupéry or Les Camélias), £28–45

• →Roman Arena of Arles
• →Old town of Arles wander
• →Arrival stroll on the Promenade des Anglais

Grab a €1.50 Lignes d'Azur bus to Villefranche or a 20-min TER train to Monaco (~£4) for the palace changing of the guard (11:55, free) and a walk around the port and Formula 1 circuit. Return to Nice for a swim at Castel Plage and a socca and pissaladière dinner in the old town. Fragonard perfumery in Èze is free to visit — take bus 82 or 112 and walk the coastal path.

🚌TER Nice–Monaco £4; bus 100/82 to Èze £1.50

🛏Hostel in Nice, £28–45

• →Monaco palace guard change (free)
• →Fragonard perfumery visit in Èze (free)
• →Old Nice food crawl
• →Swim at Castel Plage

Cheapest reliable route: TER Nice–Ventimiglia (~50 min, €6), Italian regionale to Genoa, then Frecciarossa/Italo or a Flixbus to Verona (~£30–50 total if booked ahead). Stop 2–3 hours in Verona: Juliet's balcony courtyard (free), the Roman Arena exterior, and a spritz in Piazza delle Erbe. Evening regionale to Venice Mestre (~£8) and check into a hostel there rather than on the islands.

🚌Nice–Ventimiglia £6; Ventimiglia–Verona £30–45; Verona–Venezia Mestre £8

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mestre (e.g. Anda Venice or a Mestre B&B), £25–40

• →Verona Arena and Juliet's House courtyard
• →Piazza delle Erbe spritz
• →Evening vaporetto into Venice (£8)

Buy a 24h ACTV vaporetto pass (~£22) and use line 1 down the Grand Canal, line 4/12 to Murano and Burano for glass and coloured houses. Walk the Rialto and San Marco without paying for a gondola — the traghetto crossings cost €2 and give you the same experience. Cicchetti bar crawl in Cannaregio for dinner is the local budget move.

🚌24h vaporetto pass £22

🛏Mestre hostel/guesthouse, £25–40

• →Grand Canal by vaporetto
• →Murano and Burano islands
• →Cannaregio cicchetti crawl
• →Traghetto crossing (£2)

Regionale Venezia Mestre–Bologna–Pisa (~4h, £20–28 with advance fares), leave bags at Pisa Centrale, and walk 25 minutes to Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower from outside (climbing is €20 and best pre-booked). Then a 1h regionale to Florence Santa Maria Novella (~£8). Check into a hostel near Santa Croce or the Duomo.

🚌Regionale Venezia–Pisa £20–28; Pisa–Firenze £8

🛏Hostel dorm in Florence (e.g. YHA Florence or Plus Florence), £25–40

• →Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower exterior
• →Arno riverside walk
• →Duomo self-guided exterior and Baptistery doors

Self-guided Renaissance loop: Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, the Oltrarno leather and craft workshops, and up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic city view at sunset. Pre-book the Uffizi (~£22) or Accademia (~£18) online if you want one museum; skip both and the Santo Spirito market and San Lorenzo leather school are free. Gelato at a proper gelateria like Perché No!

🚌Everything walkable; one ATAF bus if needed (£1.50)

🛏Hostel dorm, £25–40

• →Self-guided Renaissance walking loop
• →Oltrarno leather workshops
• →Piazzale Michelangelo sunset
• →San Lorenzo market

Take a regionale to Chiusi or Arezzo (~£8–12) and detour to an agriturismo for lunch and a farm visit — book directly by phone or email, £20–28 including lunch and wine. Alternatively stay on the train and spend the afternoon walking Rome's centre: Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori, all free. Arrive into Roma Termini and check into a hostel near Termini or Trastevere.

🚌Regionale Firenze–Chiusi/Arezzo £8–12; Chiusi–Roma £10–15

🛏Hostel dorm near Termini or Trastevere (e.g. The RomeHello), £28–42

• →Agriturismo farm lunch and tour (£20–28)
• →Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona
• →Campo de' Fiori market

Book a Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine ticket direct on the official coopculture site (~£16–20, cheaper than guided) and go early to beat the heat. Afternoon: Capitoline Hill, the Pantheon interior (free), and Trastevere for dinner across the river. The Vatican Museums cost ~£18 if you pre-book; St Peter's Basilica itself is free.

🚌Metro/bus single €1.50; 24h Roma pass €7

🛏Hostel dorm, £28–42

• →Colosseum and Roman Forum (direct ticket)
• →Pantheon (free)
• →Trastevere evening
• →Gelato stop

Take an early regionale Roma Termini–Napoli Centrale (~2h, £12–18), Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi (£3), and spend 3–4 hours in the ruins with an audio guide (£6) or a small-group GetYourGuide tour of Pompeii (~£25–35, includes skip-the-line). Then back to Naples and an overnight ferry or train/ferry combination toward Greece — the cheapest option is a Naples/Ancona–Igoumenitsa ferry with a deck ticket (£40–60) or a Flixbus to Bari with the Bari–Igoumenitsa ferry.

🚌Regionale Roma–Napoli £12–18; Circumvesuviana £3; Adriatic crossing deck ticket £40–60

🛏Ferry deck/cabin or budget hotel in Bari/Igoumenitsa, £35–50

• →Pompeii archaeological site (audio guide or small tour)
• →Naples old town espresso stop
• →Overnight Adriatic crossing

Dock at Igoumenitsa or Patras and take the KTEL intercity bus to Athens (~£22–30, 5–7h). If coming via Patras, the route crosses the Corinth Canal on the Patras–Athens express where a brief stop photo is possible. Check into a hostel in Monastiraki or Psirri, and eat a gyros and grilled octopus dinner in Psirri for a fraction of the tour's optional dinner.

🚌KTEL bus Patras/Igoumenitsa–Athens £22–30

🛏Hostel dorm in Monastiraki/Psirri (e.g. Safestay Athens or Athens Backpackers), £18–30

• →Corinth Canal viewpoint / photo stop
• →Psirri food streets
• →Rooftop view of the Acropolis at night

Buy the combined Acropolis ticket (~£25, includes Ancient Agora, Kerameikos, Roman Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus) directly from the official e-ticketing site and enter at 8am to beat the crowds and heat. Walk down through Plaka, then the Panathenaic Stadium (inside €10, exterior free) and the National Garden. Evening: a 2-hour Athens street food and nightlife walk on GetYourGuide is ~£30–40.

🚌Metro to Akropoli €1.20; rest walkable

🛏Hostel dorm, £18–30

• →Acropolis and Parthenon (combined ticket)
• →Panathenaic Stadium
• →Plaka and Anafiotika wander
• →Optional evening food walk (£30–40)

Book a Blue Star or SeaJets ferry from Piraeus to Mykonos online ahead of time (~£35–55, 3–5h depending on vessel). Take the bus from Piraeus port from central Athens (€1.60). On arrival, a KTEL bus to Paradise Beach or Platis Gialos is ~£2. Book a campsite hut, hostel or budget room at Paradise Beach for a fraction of Mykonos Town prices. Sunset at the windmills in Chora is free.

🚌Bus to Piraeus £1.50; ferry Athens–Mykonos £35–55; local bus £2

🛏Paradise Beach campsite hut/hostel or budget studio, £30–50

• →Ferry island crossing
• →Little Venice and windmills at sunset
• →Paradise Beach swim

Free day on the famous south-coast beaches — Paradise, Super Paradise (bus or short water taxi), Elia and Agrari — using the KTEL beach buses (€2–3 each). Rent a sunbed only if you want one; most beaches have free sandy patches. Evening self-guided walk of Mykonos Town's lanes, or a GetYourGuide Mykonos by Night walk (~£30).

🚌Beach buses £2–3 each way

🛏Paradise Beach campsite hut/hostel, £30–50

• →Super Paradise and Elia beaches
• →Mykonos Town lanes walk
• →Optional night walking tour (£30)

SeaJets/Blue Star ferry Mykonos–Paros takes 45–60 min (~£20–30). Base yourself in Parikia or Naoussa in a family-run rooms/studio (~£30–45). Afternoon: walk the Parikia old town, the Panagia Ekatontapyliani church (free) and sunset at the Kastro. Optional organic farm and Naoussa visit bookable direct by phone or via Airbnb Experiences/GetYourGuide (£25–35).

🚌Ferry Mykonos–Paros £20–30; local bus £2

🛏Siroco's-style family rooms in Parikia/Naoussa, £30–45

• →Parikia old town and Ekatontapyliani
• →Naoussa harbour sunset
• →Optional organic farm tour (£25–35)

Rent a scooter (~£18/day, bring an IDP) or use the loop bus to Kolymbithres beach, Lefkes village and Marpissa. Lunch at a village taverna — moussaka and a half-litre of local wine ~£12. Evening: a half-day Paros sailing trip bookable direct with a local operator like Captain Yiannis or through GetYourGuide (~£60–80) if your budget allows, or a sunset dinner on the Naoussa waterfront.

🚌Scooter rental £18 or bus day ticket £4

🛏Family rooms in Paros, £30–45

• →Kolymbithres beach
• →Lefkes and Marpissa villages
• →Optional Paros sailing (£60–80)
• →Taverna dinner

Take the SeaJets/Blue Star ferry Paros–Santorini (~2h, £30–50). From Athinios port the KTEL bus runs to Fira (~£2.50). Stay in Perissa or Kamari (black-sand beaches, budget rooms £30–55) rather than cliffside Oia. Evening: walk the Fira-to-Firostefani caldera path for free sunset views.

🚌Ferry Paros–Santorini £30–50; port bus £2.50

🛏Budget rooms/studio in Perissa or Kamari, £35–55

• →Ferry crossing
• →Fira to Firostefani caldera walk
• →Fira sunset

Spend the morning swimming at Perissa or Vlychada black-sand beach. Take the bus to Oia in the late afternoon for the famous sunset (free, arrive early), then eat domatokeftedes and fava in a Perissa taverna. A caldera catamaran cruise is the one splurge worth it — book direct or via GetYourGuide (£80–110 including meal and drinks) — otherwise a winery tasting at Santo Wines (~£20) is the budget alternative.

🚌KTEL buses £2–3 per trip

🛏Budget rooms in Perissa, £35–55

• →Perissa or Vlychada black-sand beach
• →Oia sunset
• →Domatokeftedes and fava dinner
• →Optional caldera catamaran (£80–110) or Santo Wines tasting (£20)

Short ferry Santorini–Ios (~1h, £15–25). Check into a beachfront campsite or budget rooms at Mylopotas Beach (~£25–40) — Far Out-style beach resorts are affordable if you book direct. Afternoon swim at Mylopotas and a walk up to Chora for the sunset from the windmills and Panagia Gremiotissa church.

🚌Ferry Santorini–Ios £15–25; local bus £2

🛏Beach resort hut/rooms at Mylopotas (Far Out equivalent), £25–40

• →Mylopotas Beach swim
• →Chora village climb and sunset
• →Beach bar evening

A free day of beaches and hidden coves: Manganari on the south coast by bus or a water taxi (~£15 return), or hire a scooter (~£18) to reach Agia Theodoti and Psathi. Evening final island dinner in Chora at a family taverna (~£15–20), followed by Ios's legendary bar street if you want it.

🚌Water taxi £15 return or scooter £18

🛏Beach resort hut/rooms, £25–40

• →Manganari or Agia Theodoti beach
• →Chora final dinner
• →Ios bar street

Morning ferry Ios–Piraeus (~5–6h, £35–50) or a faster SeaJets if available. Back to a central hostel in Monastiraki. Last evening: a farewell rooftop dinner in Psirri or a cheap souvlaki crawl, and a final look at the lit-up Acropolis from Areopagus Hill (free).

🚌Ferry Ios–Athens £35–50; bus/metro from Piraeus £1.50

🛏Hostel dorm in Monastiraki/Psirri, £18–30

• →Ferry back to Athens
• →Areopagus Hill night view
• →Farewell souvlaki crawl

Breakfast at a koulouri stand (£1) or a bakery, then a last wander through Plaka or the Acropolis Museum (€10, or free on certain dates) before heading to Athens Airport on metro line 3 (€9) or the X95 bus (€5.50). Flights home are not included in the estimates.

🚌Metro line 3 to Athens Airport €9 or X95 bus €5.50

🛏None (departure day)

• →Koulouri breakfast
• →Acropolis Museum (optional, €10)
• →Plaka souvenir wander