5-Day Itinerary in Greece for First-timers

Greece with its years of history, gorgeous islands, and ancient ruins is sure to overwhelm you as a holidaymaker, especially if one is here for the first time. The varied landscape of Greece and its delicious food caters to all types of tourists and travelers. People are friendly, and you can easily rent a house in Greece to get a taste of the local culture. Still, if you are here for just a week or even five days, it can be challenging to make the most out of your trip. After all, how much of Greece can you cover in just five days?

Well, the approach would be to focus on a few places and spend a few days in each. Remember it will take time to get from one location or city to another. Thus, keep the travel time in mind when planning an itinerary for five days. 

For those who have never visited Greece before, here is a perfect itinerary to make the most out of your trip.

Day 1: Your First Day in Athens 

After a relaxed night in your room, get up early to explore Athens, which is one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens is not to be missed, and it is filled with impressive ruins that are soaked with the history of the ancient Greeks. Take a tour of the city and start with the National Garden. There are trees, ponds and plenty of flowers, so the garden makes for a lovely walk.

 Keep walking south, and you will come across the Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will surely love the magnificence of the temple, and just nearby you will find the Arch of Hadrian and Roman triumphal arch.

Once you have explored the area, head for the most iconic site in Greece, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis. Parthenon, on top of the hill, is an ancient temple was dedicated to Athena, the goddess of war. The area is worthy of a trek.

As you walk out of Acropolis, you will find it a lot easier to tread downhill. On the way, you will come across a popular historical neighborhood in Athens, Plaka. Wander through the streets and enjoy a cup of coffee at a cafe or shop.

After lunch, you can visit the National Archeological Museum that boasts of the best collection of ancient Greek artifacts.

Day 2: Day trip to Delphi

Take a trip to Delphi, but you need to start early as it is about three hours away. You can take a bus and try to arrive here by 9 am so that you have the whole day to explore the archeological sites of Delphi. Do not forget to bring water

Head for the Delphi Archeological Museum first, as, during the early hours, it would be less crowded. Enjoy looking at the s spectacular exhibits like Charioteer of Delphi and the Sphinx of Naxos.

Later, visit the Delphi archeological site and see unbelievable monuments from Ancient Greece like the Temple of Apollo

Take the bus back so that you are able to reach Athens in time. On the way back, do stop at the picturesque mountain villages of Arachova and Levadia. You can shop for carpets, wine, and cheese.

Day 3: Fly to Santorini

The best way to reach Santorini by air and it takes around 45mins by plane. There are ferries, but they would take about 10 hours. Hence, one can spend the whole day in Santorini and fly back to Athens the same day. Santorini is a perfect spot with its stellar beaches and whitewashed towns. The quintessntial Greek island is famous for its sculpted topography.

Spend the whole day exploring the sugar-cube villages and relaxing on the Santorini beaches such as Perissa or Perivolos. Visit the picturesque village of Oia and the old port of Ormos.

You can stay in Santorini for the night.

Day 4: Ferry to Mykonos

Take a ferry to Mykonos the next day, one of the well-known Cyclades islands and famous for its amazing beauty. This is the best way to get to Mykonos from Santorini, and the journey will take about 2.5 hrs.  Must see in Mykonos includes the windmills,  great nightlife and those pristine beaches. The island is also renowned for its gourmet food and is a great destination for solo travelers and families.

Discover the Windmills in Chora, and enjoy a drink in little Venice. Stroll around Mykonos town with the white houses, blue doors, and colorful bougainvillea. Walk around the old port and shop in the alleys of the island.

In the evening, take the flight back to Athens which would be about five hours.

Day 5: Your last day in Athens  

Relax and get up late. After all, this is your last day in Greece and what better than to spend the day shopping and eating.  Discover Greek pastries, cheese, salamis, and wine. Start the day with a real Greek breakfast. Walking through the Plaka and enjoy a relaxed lunch under an umbrella beside an arbor.

Thanassou restaurant is a good suggestion for dinner and is packed with both locals and tourists, who enjoy their souvlaki and gyros. You will love the chicken souvlaki, served on pita.

For shopping, head for the Ermou Street, which is the longest shopping street in Athens. You can shop for souvenirs and mid-range fashion brands here. If you have time and energy, explore the Monastiraki, Flea Market. Kolonaki neighborhood is meant for expensive designer stores.

Have you been to or are you planning to visit Greece? What are your must-visits?

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