Island-hopping the Cyclades to Crete

Who it is for

For anyone who wants ancient Greece and the islands in one trip, hopping between them by boat, with a full week on Crete.

Not for anyone travelling from November to April, when much of Mykonos’s boats, hotels and restaurants shut and many ferry lines stop running.

The strategy

Athens comes first; enter the Acropolis at 8 am through the south gate. For Mykonos, ferries leave from Piraeus, 3h30 to 5h15 depending on the boat, or from Rafina, the port closest to the airport; the flight takes about 45 minutes. In season there are ferries from Mykonos to Santorini, and from Santorini to Heraklion, on Crete, in about 2 hours. On Crete, spend two nights in Heraklion, two in Rethymno and three in Chania, travelling between them by KTEL bus. The flight home leaves from Chania airport, connecting in Athens or on a seasonal direct flight. Buy ferry tickets in advance in July and August and leave slack: the meltemi wind can cancel crossings in summer. September suits all four stops, and June suits the three islands.

What you will see

• Acropolis and Parthenon, Athens. The site brings together the Parthenon (447–432 BC), the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion with its porch of the Caryatids.
• Little Venice, Mykonos. The row of houses over the sea at the western tip of Chora began to be built in the mid-18th century by merchants and captains.
• Akrotiri prehistoric site, Santorini. A 17th-century-BC city buried by the eruption and excavated since 1967.
• Knossos, Crete. The Minoan palatial centre reveals courtyards, storerooms and the organisation of a Bronze Age complex.

Day by day

Athens

1. 1
   Day 1: The Acropolis, the museum and the hill

   1. 1Acropolis and ParthenonOne to two hoursEssential
   2. 2Acropolis MuseumEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: The Agora, the market, and the Archaeological Museum

   1. 4Ancient Agora and HephaisteionWorth a visit
   2. 5KerameikosUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 3National Archaeological MuseumOne to two hoursEssential
3. 3
   Day 3: The port, the sea and the view · if you have more time

   1. 7Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center (SNFCC)Worth a visit
   2. Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro)Up to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 6LycabettusUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   4. 1Acropolis and ParthenonOne to two hoursEssential

Mykonos

1. 4
   Day 4: Chora on foot: Kastro, Little Venice and the windmills

   1. 3Panagia ParaportianiUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 1Little VeniceUp to half an hourEssential
   3. 2Kato MiliUp to half an hourEssential
2. 5
   Day 5: Delos in the morning, a southern beach in the afternoon

   1. 6Platys GialosHalf a day or moreWorth a visit
3. 6
   Day 6: Ano Mera, the north coast and the Armenistis lighthouse · if you have more time

   1. 4Panagia Tourliani MonasteryUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. 7Agios SostisHalf a day or moreWorth a visit
   3. 5Armenistis LighthouseUp to half an hourWorth a visit

Santorini

1. 7
   Day 7: The caldera rim, from Fira to Oia

   
2. 8
   Day 8: Volcano, Thirasia, and vineyards

   
3. 9
   Day 9: Bronze Age and black sand · if you have more time

   

Crete

1. 10
   Day 10: Heraklion and the archaeological museum

   1. 1KnossosHalf a day or moreEssential
2. 11
   Day 11: Knossos and another afternoon in Heraklion

   1. 1KnossosHalf a day or moreEssential
3. 12
   Day 12: Moving to Rethymno

   1. Rimondi FountainUp to half an hourWorth a visit
4. 13
   Day 13: Arkadi and the Rethymno area

   
5. 14
   Day 14: Moving to Chania and the old harbour

   1. Kydonia in Kastelli (Agia Aikaterini excavations)Up to half an hourWorth a visit
6. 15
   Day 15: A western beach day

   
7. 16
   Day 16: Chania with time to choose