Greece—just the thought of it brings to mind sunshine, warmth, crystal-clear waters, ancient ruins, friendly locals, family gatherings, delicious food, music, and dancing. These are the vivid images etched in my memory from my many visits to this beautiful country. Greek culture, food and music are deeply ingrained in my soul. So, when my friends decided to visit the Greek islands and asked me to plan the trip, I was thrilled but also faced with the challenge of choosing the right islands.

Since it was their first time in Greece, I opted for the most popular islands: Mykonos, Naxos, and Santorini. Here’s why I chose these destinations:

1. Ease of Travel: These islands are well-connected with frequent ferries and flights from Athens, making travel between them convenient.

2. Mykonos: Everyone should experience Mykonos at least once. Even though we’re not into the party scene, the iconic imagery of Mykonos—whitewashed houses, windmills, beaches, and the close proximity to the small archeological island of Delos is something everyone should see.

3. Naxos: As the largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos offers so much to see and do. It boasts beautiful beaches, charming villages, and a more relaxed atmosphere, perfect for unwinding and enjoying the surroundings.

4. Santorini: Similar to Mykonos, Santorini is a must-visit. It’s one of the most popular destinations in the world, and for good reason. The island’s geology is fascinating, with towns perched on the cliffs of a volcano that erupted millions of years ago. The famous blue-domed churches and stunning sunsets are sights everyone should witness at least once in their lifetime.

5. Athens: You can’t experience the Greek islands without visiting Athens.

This was our 16 day itinerary:

Itinerary Details:

Day 1 - Travelled to Athens on Air Canada direct flight.

Day 2 - Travel Athens to Mykonos on Aegean Airlines. Rented cars at Mykonos Airport with Budget Rent-A-Car. Check into our villa at White Rock Villas & Suites, our villa is Panorama Blue Villa, Split Level. Wow, what an amazing place! Huge terrace facing west to enjoy the iconic Mykonos sunsets. Enjoyed the pool, kitchen, living & dining room and covered outdoor eating area is perfect for the famous Mykonos winds. Unpack, rest and head into town for dinner seaside.

Day 3 - After getting a good night’s rest, it’s time to explore. If the weather is good, head to the Armenistis Lighthouse for some fantastic views of the Aegean Sea. Then drive to Mykonos town and get lost in the tiny white washed alley ways. Start at the Old Port and end at the Windmills of Kato Mili. Enjoy lunch in town before getting ready to explore some of Mykonos beaches smaller beaches. Pick one or attempt all. Agios Sostis, Fokos Beach and Taverna, Lia Beach; Agia Anna Beach 2. Return to the villa, and watch the sunset. Head into town for dinner at Nice & Easy.

Day 4 - Head to the Old Port and purchases tickets for Delos. Take the ferry to Delos. Expect to spend 1/2 day on Delos and don’t miss the return ferry. Delos a tiny island that is at the centre of the Cyclades archipelago. A sacred island that is dotted with fantastic ancient Greek ruins. Upon returning to Mykonos it’s time to cool off and explore some of Mykonos famous beaches. What better way to do beach hopping than with water taxi, https://mykonosseatransfer.com/ . For a nominal fee (at current time, 20 euros) enjoy unlimited access with the water taxis.

Day 5 - Leave the hotel early and have breakfast at the Old Port. Return the cars at Mykonos Old Port (make sure when booking these cars you specified pickup at airport (if flying in), but return at the port because the next transportation is a ferry). Advisable to map out the day before where the car rental return is because the roads and driveways are very narrow and you can easily miss it. Returning the cars is at the Old Port, but the ferries leaves from the New Port. So need to be able to get to the New Port after returning the car. You can hire a taxi to travel between the 2 ports, but in Mykonos all taxi rides, no matter how short, cost approximately 25 euros. The cheaper option is to travel between the 2 ports by Seabus. It costs only 2 euros per person, per ride and has frequent departures, plus it’s more fun. Check the schedule.

Take the Seajet ferry to Naxos from the new port. The ferry ride is about 40 minutes.

Arrive in Naxos and rent cars from Naxos Rent-A-Car located at the bottom of the ferry peer. Have lunch at one of the many restaurants in town by the car rental location. Cars can be parked in a huge parking lot close to the ferry dock. After lunch drive to the villa located near Kastraki beach. Our villa is Villa Tranquility. A beautiful 4 bedroom villa with private pool, in walking distance to the beach, but a car is necessary for anything else. Enjoy the beach, the pool, and relax watching the fabulous Naxos sunset from the patio before heading out for dinner nearby at Paradise restaurant.

Day 6 - Leave the villa to explore Naxos’s main town, Chora. It’s about a 30 minute drive. Park the cars at the public parking lot by the beach. Checkout Bossa Cafe for breakfast or have breakfast at the many restaurants around. After breakfast walk to the Portara, Naxos’s Temple of Apollo. Walk through the tiny alley ways as you explore the town. Head back to the car and enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants on Agios Georgios beach or take in a swim to cool off. Return to the Villa. Relax or walk to the local beach that could very likely be the best beach on Naxos - Kastraki Beach or the other nearby beach that is short drive away - Alyko Beach and walk through the Naxos’s Cedar Forest. This evening again enjoy the sunset from the villa and then head to the nearby Faros Restaurant and enjoy the rest of the evening. Note, we experienced amazing Greek hospitality at this restaurant.

Day 7 - This day is about exploring ruins, having an authentic Greek lunch in a small town and touring Naxos’s oldest olive oil press. First stop is the Temple of Demeter, an impressive temple ruin dedicated to the Goddess of Agriculture located in the countryside of Naxos. After exploring the temple and the museum, drive to Faragi Kouros, giant stone figures from the 6th century B.C. This could be quite a walk and you will have to drive to the 2 locations to see the stone figures. The countryside scenery is spectacular. Next stop is the olive press, but at this point you should be ready for lunch. Before walking into the olive press museum have a delicious lunch at the restaurant that’s across the street from the olive press, called Stella Tavern Cafe. After lunch walk across the street to the Eggares Olive Press Museum, here you will get a short tour and demo about the history of olive oil making on the island, enjoy olive oil tastings paired with various other foods, browse through the shop and enjoy some delicious ice cream topped with olive oil. It’s very good! We are close to the north part of the island of Naxos and we need drive back to our villa. Relax, have a swim and get ready for dinner. Tonight’s dinner reservation is literally on the beach at Nikos and Maria in the town of Plaka (take care with the drive, we drove along the oceanside, and there are no barriers, and this drive would be a bit scary if you are driving on it after dark. Returning from the restaurant to the villa we took the inter highway rather than the oceanside drive).

Day 8: Spend most of the day relaxing at the villa or at Kastraki Beach. After lunch, we’ll head inland to explore two charming mountain towns in Naxos, culminating in a memorable final dinner.

• Filoti: Enjoy the stunning landscape and stroll through this picturesque town. Visit the impressive main cathedral and the small museum showcasing island life in the olden days. Relax and cool off at one of the many tavernas along the staircases. More info on Filoti: Filoti village, Naxos

• Halki: Wander through the town, browse the shops, and tour the Vallindra Kitron distillery, where the unique Kitron liqueur is made. More info on Halki: Halki village, Naxos, guide to Chalki

Dinner at Rotonda Restaurant: Enjoy our last dinner in Naxos at this impressive restaurant in the hills. The views, food, and hospitality are spectacular. Make sure to reserve your spot well in advance. For more information on the Rotonda Restaurant: Fine Dining with Amazing View - Rotonda Naxos - Cafe Bar Restaurant Events.

Day 9: Time to pack up and leave Naxos and catch the ferry to Santorini. The ferry company is Seajets. Seajets | The fastest ferries in Cyclades | Tickets - Routes. It’s an hour and15 minute ferry ride. Our cars will waiting for at the port, renting through Car Hub. Check in at Villa Thiranthemis, Fira, where we have 4 hotel rooms rented. The property has a pool, includes breakfast and breathtaking views of the Santorini volcano and the famous Santorini sunset. For dinner, drive to Fira. A couple of good options that are reasonably priced are Aris and Noussa.

Day10: Start your day with breakfast on the hotel’s wonderful terrace or on your own villa’s terrace, enjoying views of the ships in the caldera and the volcano. After breakfast, embark on a breathtaking 10km hike between the towns of Fira and Oia. This hike will take approximately 3 hours (or more) if you go the full distance. Take your time to appreciate the history and geology around you. The views along the way are spectacular and will be a memorable part of your Santorini experience. It’s one of the best activities on the island! Be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks.

Upon arriving in Oia, stop for lunch at Melitini. After lunch, explore Oia and its famous blue-domed churches. If you still have energy, walk down the steep staircase to the idyllic port of Ammoudi Bay, or take a taxi if you’ve had enough walking for the day.

Day 11: Today is dedicated to the beach! Drive to Perissa Beach and rent loungers from one of the many restaurants that offer discounts if you have lunch there. Renting a lounger is a must, as the beach is made up of small, very hot pebbles.

If the beach isn’t your thing, spend the morning at the archaeological site of Akrotiri, an important site for both Santorini and Greece.

For dinner, head to a beautiful inland restaurant of Metaxi Mas. Enjoy the scenic beauty of Santorini as you dine. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Day 12: Your last day on Santorini will be a busy one. After breakfast, head to Fira and take the cable car down to the old port. From there, embark on a boat tour to the active Santorini volcano, Nea Kameni. After exploring the volcano, the tour will continue to the hot springs for a swim.

Upon returning to Santorini, grab a quick yet delicious lunch at Yogi Gyro before heading back to the hotel to enjoy the pool and the spectacular view. Spend the evening wine tasting at the upscale Santo winery.

Day 13: It’s time to leave Santorini and head to Athens. Drive to the airport to drop off the rental cars, but remember to fill up on gas beforehand and keep your receipt. Ensure the gas tank is full by having the gas station attendant confirm it. The flight from Santorini to Athens is about 45 minutes.

In Athens, we won’t be renting cars, so we’ll use Welcome Pickups for a private ride to the city center. This needs to be prearranged. Check into The Astor Hotel, a newly refurbished hotel with balconies, some offering views of the Acropolis. The hotel has a terrace restaurant where breakfast is included in our booking.

After checking in, stroll down the main shopping street, just a block from the hotel. Walk towards Monastiraki Square and enjoy cocktails and dinner at the Attic Urban rooftop bar.

Day 14: After breakfast walk to the Acropolis. Prebook your tickets directly on the official site for the Acropolis. Once there you can hire a private guide if you wish. In addition to the Acropolis you can explore the Acropolis Museum or wander through the many ruins of ancient Athens.

Day 15: Free day to wander through Athens and discover the many sites it has to offer; Temple of Zeus, Filopappou Hill, Mars Hill, Thissio, Anafiotika, Lyabettus, Panathenaic Stadium, Monastiraki Flea Market, Museum of Ancient Technology, Ermou Street, Syntagma Square, Change of the Guard, National Gardens.

Day 16: Checkout of hotel, Welcome Pickups pickup to drive us to the airport. Must be prearrange in advance.

Have a fantastic time!