Multi-centre · Greece
11 Night Athens, Paros & Santorini
The Acropolis, a working Cycladic harbour, and a flooded volcano — linked by ferries that cost less than a UK train fare. The best-value multi-centre in Europe.
The Acropolis, a working Cycladic harbour, and a flooded volcano — linked by ferries that cost less than a UK train fare. The best-value multi-centre in Europe.
Santorini is the shortest stay and the most expensive, so it goes at the end.
Two nights in Athens covers the Acropolis and the museum without the city wearing you down. Then Paros for five — a real Cycladic island with a fishing harbour, sandy beaches and ordinary prices, which is where the holiday actually happens. Santorini last for three: it's spectacular, small, crowded and costly, and three nights is genuinely enough. Fly home from Santorini rather than backtracking to Athens; open-jaw usually costs the same.
Eleven nights with two ferry hops, both booked with the holiday. No backtracking.
1Two nights is the right dose — the Acropolis, the museum and one long dinner, before the boat.
Where you stay: Plaka or Koukaki, both walkable to the rock and the museum.
Getting there: 3h 45m direct from the UK, landing early afternoon.
2The middle and longest leg, because it's the one that's actually relaxing and the one that costs least.
Where you stay: Naoussa for the harbour, or a west-coast beach hotel with a bus into town.
Getting there: Ferry from Piraeus, 3–4 hours on the slow boat or 2 on the fast one.
3Three nights. It's small, spectacular and expensive, and this is the right amount.
Where you stay: Imerovigli or Firostefani — the same caldera view as Oia, considerably calmer and cheaper.
Getting there: Ferry from Paros, about 2 hours. Fly home from Santorini.
Everything below is quoted up front. Nothing appears after you've paid a deposit.
Guide prices per person, two sharing, outside school holidays. The hotel standard is the biggest single variable.
| Standard | What that means | Guide price pp |
|---|---|---|
| 3-star | Comfortable central hotels, harbour-side on Paros, caldera-side room on Santorini | £1,149 |
| 4-star | Better locations throughout, sea-view rooms, Imerovigli caldera view | £1,549 |
| 4-star plus | Boutique Plaka hotel, Naoussa harbour boutique, cave suite with a plunge pool | £2,299 |
Santorini is where the money goes — a caldera-view room costs several times a beach-side one, and Imerovigli gives the same view as Oia for noticeably less. Athens and Paros are both good value at every tier, which is why the itinerary is weighted the way it is.
May, June and September. July and August are hot, full and at peak ferry prices.
September is our pick — the sea is at its warmest, the Athens heat has broken, and the islands empty after the first week. May and June are cooler in the water but quieter still and cheaper. July and August bring 35°C in Athens, the strongest meltemi winds and occasional ferry cancellations, and Santorini at its most crowded.
We'll book the ferries with the holiday, pick the right side of Santorini, and write the payment plan out in full.
Because three nights covers it. It's small, and the caldera is the point — a week there costs a great deal and most people are ready to leave.
Generally yes, though strong meltemi winds occasionally cancel sailings in July and August. We build in margin and book flexible tickets.
Easily. Naxos has better beaches, Mykonos more nightlife and much higher prices. Same ferry route — tell us which.
The ferries are the cheap part — often under €40. The variable is your Santorini room, which is why we price the tiers separately.
Similar shapes, and the ones people most often weigh up alongside it.
Same approach, different shape. All reshapeable around your dates.
10 nights · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,349pp
11 nights · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec · from £1,149pp
8 nights · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £849pp
8 nights · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £899pp
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
