10-Day Greek Islands Itinerary from Australia
Updated July 2026
Ten days is the itinerary length most Australians book. It’s what fits between two long weekends of annual leave with the flights bracketed on either end. It’s also short enough to make Aussies panic about seeing “everything,” which is the wrong instinct entirely.
This is the 10-day itinerary from Australia to the Greek islands. Not the version that has you island-hopping through five destinations. The version that assumes you’re jet-lagged, you’ve flown 24 hours, you want to feel your holiday, and you’d rather remember one meal than half-remember six. For the wider trip planning frame (flights, ETIAS, insurance, dress codes), start with our Travel to Greece from Australia planning guide.
The design principle
Three places, not five. Two islands, not four. Enough sitting-still time to notice you’re in Greece. And one buffer day at the start (Athens) and one at the end (also Athens) so your international flight home isn’t dependent on a Greek ferry.
The template: 3 nights Athens, 3 nights Cycladic island one, 3 nights Cycladic island two, 1 night Athens. That’s your 10 nights. 11 days on the ground including arrival.
The two islands in this itinerary are Paros and Milos. This is our default recommendation for Australians doing their first proper Greek island trip. Substitute Naxos for Paros if you want a bigger island. Substitute Sifnos for Milos if you want a smaller, quieter one. See our Best Places to Visit in Greece for Australians for the reasoning behind each pick.
Days 1 to 3: Athens
You’ve flown 22 to 30 hours. You’re wrecked. Do not skip Athens for the islands on day one, no matter how tempting the ferry is.
Day 1 (arrival):
Land Athens (ATH) in the morning
Metro or taxi to your Koukaki hotel (skip Plaka in July, it’s a sauna)
Nap for 2 hours maximum, more and you’ll never sleep tonight
Walk to a nearby taverna for an early meze dinner (Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani, Diporto, or anything on Falirou street)
Bed by 10pm local time
Day 2 (Acropolis and Athens Museums):
Acropolis first thing, 8am open (skip the queues and the heat)
Acropolis Museum straight after, 10 minutes walk down
Lunch in Koukaki (Mani Mani or Athenian Duck)
Nap or pool time in the afternoon (yes, really. Jet lag is real)
Dinner at a rooftop bar with Parthenon view (A for Athens, 360 Cocktail Bar, or your hotel roof if it has one)
Day 3 (neighbourhoods and food):
Morning market stroll at Athens Central Market (the meat and fish halls are worth it, even for looking)
Lunch in Pangrati (a proper Athens neighbourhood, no tourists, all Greeks)
Afternoon in Anafiotika (the Cycladic village inside Athens, on the north slope of the Acropolis)
Sunset walk up Lycabettus Hill (the funicular is €10 return, or walk in 30 minutes)
Dinner somewhere you booked in advance (Nolan, Balcony, or CTC if you like tasting menus, Klimataria or Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani for classic Greek)
Pack for tomorrow’s ferry
If you’re still deciding where to base yourself in the city, our Where Not to Stay in Athens guide covers the areas to avoid and why.
Day 4: Ferry to Paros
Blue Star Ferries from Piraeus at 07:35 arrives Paros around 11:45. Or Seajets at 07:00 arrives at 09:30. Both fine. The full operator run-down lives in our Greek ferry companies guide.
The day:
Metro to Piraeus, gate 6 or 8 usually for Cyclades ferries (check your ticket)
Buy a bottle of water and a spanakopita for the ferry
Sit on the top deck if the weather’s good (bring a hat)
Land Paros, taxi or bus to your hotel
Afternoon at a nearby beach (Livadia or Krios if you’re staying in Parikia, Kolymbithres if you’re in Naousa)
Dinner in Naousa old town (Barbarossa on the harbour if you want fish, Sigi Ichthyos for the atmosphere, or a small taverna in a back alley)
Days 5 to 6: Paros
Day 5 (beaches and Paros day):
Hire a car for two days (a small hatchback runs €40 to €60 per day in summer)
Morning at Santa Maria beach (northeast of the island, quieter than Kolymbithres)
Lunch at a beach taverna (Tsitsanis at Santa Maria is our pick)
Afternoon drive up to Lefkes, the old capital, in the hills (30 minutes from Naousa)
Walk part of the Byzantine trail from Lefkes down to Prodromos, if you’re feeling energetic
Dinner in Lefkes at a village taverna (Klarinos or Iliovassilema)
Day 6 (Antiparos day trip):
Morning ferry from Pounta to Antiparos (10 minutes, runs every half hour, €2)
Walk around Antiparos village (small, charming, less commercialised than Paros)
Lunch on the waterfront
Afternoon at one of Antiparos’s beaches (Faneromeni, Livadia)
Ferry back to Paros before sunset
Farewell dinner in Naousa (Mario, Levantis, or Il Grigio for something slightly fancier)
Day 7: Ferry to Milos
Paros to Milos takes about 2.5 hours on Blue Star, 1.5 hours on high-speed. Multiple sailings a day in summer.
The day:
Morning coffee at a Naousa cafe, pack up
Ferry to Milos, arrive Adamas port
Pick up hire car at the port (cheaper than in Adamas town, book ahead)
Drive to your Milos accommodation (probably in Pollonia, Adamas, or Plaka)
Afternoon beach at Firopotamos or Papafragas (both close to Pollonia)
Sunset in Plaka village (walk to the castle at the top for the panorama)
Dinner at any Plaka taverna, they’re all good
Days 8 to 9: Milos
Day 8 (Sarakiniko and the north coast):
Sarakiniko beach EARLY (8am, before the tour boats). Bring water and sunscreen because there is no shade
Coffee back in Pollonia
Lunch at Enalion or Kivotos ton Gefseon
Afternoon at Papafragas swimming beach
Sunset at Sarakiniko again (much less crowded than midday, otherworldly moonscape light)
Dinner in Adamas or Pollonia
Day 9 (Kleftiko boat trip):
Book a Kleftiko sailing tour in advance (Alexandros, Excellent Yachting, or Volakas Cruises)
Full day boat: Kleftiko caves, several swim stops, lunch cooked on board, back around 5pm
Cost is €80 to €120 per person for the full day, absolutely worth it
Dinner in Klima (the tiny fishing village with the coloured boat-house doors) as your last island night
Day 10: Ferry back to Athens
Milos to Piraeus takes 4 to 5 hours on the fast ferry, 6 to 7 on Blue Star. Or fly (Milos has an airport with two daily flights to Athens, about 30 minutes, though the price sometimes doubles in peak summer).
The day:
Morning coffee, drop off hire car at Adamas port
Ferry or flight to Athens
Check into an Athens Airport-area hotel (Sofitel Athens Airport is the safe pick, right at the terminal)
Final dinner nearby if you can be bothered, otherwise room service and pack
Day 11: Fly home
International check-in three hours before departure. Athens Airport (ATH) is well organised for Aussie flights via Middle East hubs. Duty free is decent for last-minute Greek gifts (olive oil, honey, ouzo).
Costs for this itinerary in 2026
Rough guide for two people travelling together, mid-range accommodation, summer 2026 prices.
Flights (return, Sydney to Athens): AUD $2,800 to $4,200 per person
Athens accommodation (3 nights + 1 night): €600 to €1,200 (mid-range hotel in Koukaki)
Paros accommodation (3 nights): €400 to €900
Milos accommodation (3 nights): €450 to €950
Ferries (Piraeus-Paros, Paros-Milos, Milos-Piraeus): €120 to €200 per person
Car hire (5 days across two islands): €200 to €350
Food and drink (2 people, 10 days): €900 to €1,500
Museums, boat trips, extras: €300 to €500
Total for two, excluding flights: AUD $4,500 to $8,000 depending on how nice you go on hotels and food.
Total including flights: AUD $10,000 to $16,000 for two people. Don’t forget travel insurance on top: our Greek travel insurance guide for Australians covers what to look for.
Adjustments for different travellers
If you’re travelling with kids: Swap Milos for Naxos. Bigger beaches, better family infrastructure, less rocky terrain. Consider 4 nights in Naxos instead of 3.
If you’re honeymooners: Swap Paros for Hydra (2 nights only, but very special) or add a boutique Milos hotel. Consider a two-night side trip to Sifnos from Milos on days 7-8.
If you’re food obsessives: Swap the Milos leg for Thessaloniki (fly from Athens, 55 minutes). Different Greece entirely, but the best food in the country.
If you want history over beaches: Swap Paros for Meteora (train from Athens, 3.5 hours to Kalambaka, then monasteries). Keep Milos or Naxos for the sea days.
If you want to be lazy: Cut the second island. Do 3 nights Athens, 6 nights Paros, 1 night Athens. Rent a beach house and just be still for a week.
Common Aussie itinerary mistakes
Trying to do Santorini in 10 days. Santorini adds a full day of ferry each way plus a €100-per-person premium on both ends. Better done as a separate trip, or as a 2-night hit on a longer itinerary. Our why we don’t recommend Santorini or Mykonos editorial covers the wider argument.
Booking an evening ferry into an island. Arriving at 10pm to find a rental car office closed and your hotel a 20-minute drive away is a bad start. Book morning or early-afternoon ferries.
Skipping Athens entirely. Aussies do this to save “wasted” time and then spend the whole holiday jet-lagged and cranky. The city rewards the days you give it.
Packing a fifth destination. “Just a day in Mykonos” adds 6 hours of ferry, €120 of transport per person, and no real visit. Cut it.
Not booking the last-day Athens hotel. The night before your international flight is not the night to test your luck. Book a hotel at or near the airport (Sofitel Athens Airport, Holiday Inn Athens Airport, or the Hyatt in Kifissia).
Practical tools for this itinerary
Ferryhopper. For booking all three ferry legs (Piraeus-Paros, Paros-Milos, Milos-Piraeus). Book six weeks ahead in summer.
Rome2Rio or Google Maps. For working out the airport-to-city transfer in Athens (metro is €9 to central Athens and takes 40 minutes).
Google Maps offline for both islands. Download Paros and Milos before you fly. Rural mobile coverage on both is patchy.
The Ferries in Greece app or the Ferryhopper app. Real-time cancellation and delay alerts during summer meltemi winds.
Windy.com. Check the forecast the night before each ferry day. If red across the Aegean, expect delays or cancellations. Have a plan B.
FAQs
Is 10 days enough for the Greek islands from Australia?
Yes, if you cap yourself at two islands. Three or more islands in 10 days feels rushed and eats time on ferries. Ten days works well as 3 nights Athens, 6 to 7 nights across two islands, 1 night Athens on return.
Which islands should I visit in 10 days?
For first-timers, Paros and Milos or Paros and Naxos are our default picks. Substitute Sifnos for either for a quieter, food-focused trip. Skip Santorini and Mykonos in a 10-day slot.
Do I need to book ferries in advance?
For June to early September, yes, at least six weeks ahead. Popular routes (Piraeus-Santorini, Piraeus-Mykonos) sell out. Shoulder season can be booked one to two weeks ahead.
How much does a 10-day Greek islands trip cost for two Australians?
Approximately AUD $10,000 to $16,000 total including flights, mid-range accommodation, ferries, car hire, food and activities. Budget travellers can do it for AUD $7,500. Luxury travellers can spend AUD $30,000+.
Should I fly or ferry between islands?
Ferry is usually cheaper and the transport itself is part of the experience. Fly if you’re time-poor or if the ferry route requires a long detour (e.g. Crete to Santorini).
When is the best time to do this itinerary?
Late May, early June, September and early October are the sweet spots. Warm enough for beach days, less crowded than July and August, hotel prices 20 to 40% lower than peak. Our Best Time to Visit Greece guide has the month-by-month breakdown.
Can I do Santorini in a 10-day itinerary?
Possible but expensive and rushed. Santorini adds a full ferry day each way plus a €50 to €100 per-person premium. Better as a stand-alone trip or a 2-night add-on to a longer itinerary.
What’s the buffer day for at the end?
Greek ferries cancel for weather, particularly the meltemi winds in July and August. Always have a buffer night in Athens or near the airport before your international flight. Missing a Sydney flight because of a Mykonos ferry cancellation is a real risk we’ve seen.
Do I need a hire car on the islands?
Yes for both Paros and Milos. Both islands have their best beaches and villages 20 to 40 minutes from the ferry ports. Public buses exist but are limited. Book the car through the ferry company or with a reputable local operator.
