🇬🇷 Greek Island-Hopping: Our 2-Week Adventure

There’s something magical about Greece. Whether it’s the history, the food, the scenery or just the atmosphere, it always manages to tick every box. This year, we decided to go all out and do a 2-week island-hopping trip – starting in Athens and then moving through Santorini, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos

And honestly? It was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had.

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Athens: History Meets City Buzz

We kicked things off with 2 nights in Athens, staying at Skylark by Aluma on Omonoia Square. With a metro stop right outside and a rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis, it was the perfect base.

The Acropolis is an absolute must (go early to beat the crowds), and we completely fell in love with Plaka – the cobbled streets, colourful houses and rooftop bars make it feel more like a Greek island than a city.

👉 Athens is brilliant as a stand-alone city break or as the starting point for a multi-centre holiday.

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Santorini: Caldera Views & Postcard Perfection

From Athens, we took the ferry (about 6 hours with stops) to Santorini. We stayed in Imerovigli at Stella Rocca A Mare, and it was everything you’d hope for – boutique luxury built into the cliffs with caldera views to die for.

Santorini is famous for Oia’s sunsets (go early if you don’t love crowds), but we actually preferred Imerovigli’s peaceful vibe. Highlights included walking the caldera path to Fira at sunrise, lobster pasta at Blue Note, and dreamy breakfasts overlooking the cliffs.

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Naxos & Paros: Authentic Greece

Next up was Naxos – just a 1-hour ferry ride away. Our base was Melidron Luxury Hotel near Agios Prokopios Beach. Naxos felt authentic and relaxed, with long sandy beaches, mountain villages, and traditional tavernas.

We also hopped over to Paros for the evening (30 minutes by ferry). It’s like a quieter Mykonos: whitewashed streets, iconic windmills, a beautiful harbour and lots of charm. We both said it’s somewhere we’d definitely return to.

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Mykonos: The glitz & glam.

Our final stop was Mykonos. We stayed at the Andronikos Hotel, a modern, Instagram-worthy property with Bali beds, a beautiful pool and a great shuttle into town.

Mykonos Town is everything you’d expect: winding lanes, Little Venice, the famous windmills, boutique shops and buzzing nightlife. Yes, it’s pricier than the other islands, but still worth experiencing.

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Why Island-Hopping is the Best Way to See Greece

Each island had its own personality – Athens for history, Santorini for romance, Naxos for authenticity, Paros for charm and Mykonos for buzz. Travelling between them by ferry made the whole thing feel like an adventure, not just a holiday.

For me, the real secret to feeling like you’ve been away for ages is doing a multi-centre holiday. Each new destination feels like a fresh chapter, so by the time you come home, it feels like you’ve had several trips in one.

This was the perfect mix of culture, scenery, relaxation and fun – and definitely a trip we’ll never forget.

For more detail on each island (hotels, tips & must-sees), check out my full blogs where I’ve covered Athens & Santorini, Naxos & Paros, and Mykonos in more depth.