A 7-Day Private Greece Itinerary: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini

A full day through the landmarks Athens is famous for, with a licensed guide who tells you why it was built that way, and what it cost the people who built it.

You begin at the Acropolis, which is where democracy began. Climb the sacred rock and the Parthenon is right there in front of you, with the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the small Temple of Athena Nike around it. Your guide takes you through what the Golden Age of Greek civilisation achieved on this hill. Centuries later, the city is still living on it.

Next is the Acropolis Museum, and it earns its reputation. Every floor is full: sculptures, artefacts, antiquities, much of it taken from the rock you have just walked down.

That is the walking done. The rest of the afternoon you see from a luxury vehicle: Monastiraki and its flea markets, then Syntagma Square and the Hellenic Parliament, where the Presidential Guards stand watch in traditional uniform. The Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch go by on the way.

Inclusions

• 5-hour private guided tour
• Hotel pick-up (walking) and drop-off (Vehicle)
• Private services of a state-licensed guide
• Acropolis visit & guided tour (Propylaea, Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athens Nike)
• Acropolis museum visit & guided tour
• Panoramic city tour (Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, Parliament, Presidential Guards, Syntagma Square, Athens classical Trilogy)
• Combination of walking & vehicle tour
• Entrance fees (Acropolis, Acropolis museum)

Important Note: During the panoramic vehicle tour guests cannot disembark the vehicle; they will view the landmarks from the comfort of their vehicle. It is not allowed to disembark from the vehicle to see from up close the Parliament and Panathenaic stadium and then hop on again.

Legend has it there is an island made from the petrified remains of giants Hercules killed, named after Apollo’s grandson. That island is Mykonos.

Cosmopolitan, and somehow still an island. It holds college students, families and celebrities at the same time, all of them there for the same Greek summer. There is the Mykonos of the beach clubs and the late nights. There is also the older one, of history and traditions. Take as much of either as you want.

Mykonos Sunset & Signature Greek Cocktails – Private

The only cocktail experience on Mykonos devoted entirely to Greek spirits, and a much better souvenir than a fridge magnet.

A mixologist shows you the technique first, and then it is your turn: you shake, stir and muddle your own, and by the second one you are doing it properly. You taste ouzo, tsipouro and mastiha along the way, and find out how differently each of them behaves once it is in a cocktail.

Then you take what you have made down to a quiet Mykonos beach and drink it there, sun on your shoulders, sea in front of you, the afternoon going nowhere.

Inclusions

• 2-hour private experience
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (vehicle)
• Private services of a local assistant
• Tasting of 3 alcoholic beverages per person

The anchor comes up and the yacht heads out into the Aegean: sea breeze, late-afternoon sun, nothing on the schedule but water.

First towards Delos, the most sacred island in the ancient Greek world and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Commentary on board brings its history and mythology to life as it comes into view. Myth has it that Apollo, god of daylight, and his twin sister Artemis, goddess of moonlight, were born there.

Then Rhenia, which nobody lives on, with beaches you may well have to yourselves and water clear enough to make the decision for you. Swim, take the snorkelling gear down, or stay on deck and do nothing at all.

Dinner is a Mediterranean buffet served on board, with wine, beer and soft drinks. The way home takes you along Little Venice while the sky turns from blue to orange to deep red behind it, which is the view people book this island for. Your shuttle transfer is waiting at the port.

*Please keep in mind that the itinerary may change last-minute, as this experience is highly dependent on weather conditions. Special Note: Please let us know of any dietary requirements or restrictions upon booking.

Inclusions

• 5-hour private experience
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (vehicle)
• Private services of an experienced captain and crew member
• Snorkeling gear and SUP
• Dinner on board

Santorini is better known for its sunsets than its factories. That is exactly why this day is worth having: the island’s industrial past, its craft workshops and its winemaking, in the places they happen.

Start at the Tomato Industrial Museum in Vlychada, housed in the old factory itself, where you learn how the island’s tomatoes were grown and processed the traditional way. Then you taste them, and understand why Santorini tomatoes have the reputation they do.

At a ceramic studio you make a piece by hand and take it with you. The volcanic earth, the sunsets and the blue of the sea are all in there somewhere, once someone points them out to you.

The day finishes at a woodcarving workshop, learning the ancient art of sculpture and carving a 3D piece of your own, shaped by Cycladic tradition. Two things made with your hands, on an island most people only photograph.

Inclusions

• 6-hour private experience
• Meet and greet at the lobby of the hotel by a local assistant
• Pick-up and drop-off at a meeting point in close proximity to your accommodation
• Private services of a local assistant
• Wine tasting
• Entrance fees

The caldera is the reason Santorini is on everyone’s list, and the best place to see it from is the water. This is your catamaran for the day, nobody else on board.

You are driven to Vlychada port, where the captain and crew are waiting. The first stop is off the Red Beach: dive straight in, and take the snorkelling equipment down to see what is under the boat. Then the White Beach for more swimming, and a BBQ of Greek dishes cooked and served on board while you are still in your swimsuit.

From there you sail to the hot springs for a warm, slow swim, with the Indian Face Rock, Akrotiri, the Lighthouse and Aspronisi going past on the way.

The last leg runs towards Ammoudi port and is timed for the sunset, the sun going down into the sea and taking the whole sky gold and orange with it. When you dock, your transfer is waiting.

*Please note that the above is a suggested itinerary, and since this is a private cruise, it can be fully customized to your preferences. Special Note: Please let us know of any dietary requirements or restrictions upon booking.

Inclusions

• 5-hour private experience
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off (vehicle)
• Private services of an English-speaking captain & crew
• BBQ meal and drinks on board (white wine, beers, soft drinks, water)
• Snorkeling equipment, floating devices (ask the crew)
• Towels & blankets (to be returned to the crew)
• Map with extensive info on the landmarks and destinations
• WC & facilities for washing seawater off (ask the crew)

The hard part. Your driver collects you from the hotel for the island airport and the domestic flight back to Athens, where you check in for your international flight home.

Somewhere over the Aegean you will start going back through the photographs, working out which story to tell first and which souvenir is for who. Greece has a way of getting people back.