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🇬🇷 Itinerary · Greece · 30 days

1-month Greece itinerary 2026: the mainland and the islands

30 days in Greece: Athens, the Peloponnese, Meteora, the Cyclades and Crete. The full mainland and island tour, with detailed budget, transport and options.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

30 days

Stops

8 regions

Average budget

€2,900-4,600

Total distance

~1,600 km

Profile

Grand tour

Season

May-Jun, Sep-Oct

Athens 4d · Nafplio 3d · Olympia 2d · Delphi 2d · Meteora 3d · Naxos 4d · Santorini 4d · Crete 6d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Greece 1-month itinerary map: Athens, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Naxos, Santorini, Crete

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

8 days, day by day

1

~€65/d

Athens · D1 to D4 · Antiquity

  • D1-2 Acropolis, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora.
  • D3 Plaka, Monastiraki, Lycabettus, the Psiri and Exarchia districts.
  • D4 Cape Sounion trip (Temple of Poseidon), pick up the rental car.
🛌 🛌 Plaka · e.g. Hotel Plaka (4 nights)·🚇 Metro then 🚗 car·Greece guide →
2

~€60/d

Nafplio · D5 to D7 · The Peloponnese

  • D5 Drive to Nafplio (2h). Mycenae and its Lion Gate on the way.
  • D6 Theatre of Epidaurus, Venetian old town of Nafplio, Palamidi fortress.
  • D7 Tolo beaches, or the ancient city of Mystras further south for enthusiasts.
🛌 🛌 Old town · e.g. Amfitriti Palazzo (3 nights)·🚗 Car
3

~€55/d

Olympia · D8 to D9 · Cradle of the Games

  • D8 Drive to Olympia (2h30). Ancient site, stadium, Temple of Zeus.
  • D9 Olympia archaeological museum, scenic road to the Gulf of Corinth.
🛌 🛌 Olympia · e.g. Hotel Europa (2 nights)·🚗 Car
4

~€60/d

Delphi · D10 to D11 · The navel of the world

  • D10 Rio-Antirio bridge, drive to Delphi (3h). Sanctuary of Apollo at dusk.
  • D11 The Tholos, Delphi museum, the village of Arachova on Mount Parnassus.
🛌 🛌 Delphi · e.g. Hotel Acropole (2 nights)·🚗 Car
5

~€60/d

Meteora · D12 to D14 · Hanging monasteries

  • D12 Drive to Kalambaka (3h). First sunset over the rock pinnacles.
  • D13 Tour of the six clifftop monasteries, hike between the rocks.
  • D14 Sunrise over Meteora, return the car, train to Athens (4h30).
🛌 🛌 Kalambaka · e.g. Hotel Doupiani House (3 nights)·🚗 Car then 🚆 train
6

~€60/d

Naxos · D15 to D18 · The Cyclades

  • D15 Ferry Piraeus → Naxos (4-5h). Check in at Chora, the Portara at dusk.
  • D16-17 Mountain villages (Halki, Apiranthos), Mount Zas, southern beaches.
  • D18 Trip to Paros or the Lesser Cyclades (Koufonissia).
🛌 🛌 Chora · e.g. Nissaki Beach Hotel (4 nights)·⛴️ Ferry + 🚗 local car
7

~€70/d

Santorini · D19 to D22 · The caldera

  • D19 Ferry Naxos → Santorini (1h30-2h). Check in at Oia.
  • D20-21 Fira-Oia hike, volcanic beaches, wine estates, Akrotiri.
  • D22 Caldera cruise to the volcano and the hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Oia · e.g. Aroma Suites (4 nights)·⛴️ Ferry Naxos-Santorini
8

~€65/d

Crete · D23 to D30 · The big island

  • D23 Ferry Santorini → Heraklion (2h). Palace of Knossos, archaeological museum.
  • D24-26 Chania and its Venetian harbour, Samaria Gorge (16 km hike).
  • D27-28 Pink-sand lagoon of Elafonissi, Balos beach, the wild west.
  • D29-30 Lassithi plateau or Rethymno, return flight from Heraklion (HER).
🛌 🛌 Chania · e.g. Casa Delfino (6 nights)·⛴️ Ferry + 🚗 car in Crete

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€2,900

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €220
  • 🏨 Studio / guesthouse: €50/night
  • 🥙 Tavernas: €26/day
  • 🚗 Car + ferries: €700
  • 🎫 Ancient sites: €280
Recommended

Comfort

€3,700

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €280
  • 🏨 3-4★ hotel: €110/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €45/day
  • 🚗 Car + ferries: €850
  • 🎫 Sites + cruises: €400

Premium

€6,800

per person

  • ✈️ Upgraded flight: €500
  • 🏨 Suites and boutique hotels: €230/night
  • 🍽️ Fine Cretan tables: €80/day
  • 🚗 Premium car + transfers: €1,200
  • 🎫 Private tours: €700

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

Athens and the two flagship islands by ferry.

2 weeks

2 weeks

Athens and a tour of the Cyclades.

You're here

1 month

1 month

The mainland, the Peloponnese and the islands.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

A month combines a rental car on the mainland (Peloponnese, Delphi, Meteora), a return train to Athens, then ferries for the islands. Budget ~€750 of transport over 30 days, car included.

🚗

Car on the mainland

~€35/day · essential for the Peloponnese and Delphi

🚆

Train Meteora → Athens

€20-30 · 4h30 · scenic

⛴️

Ferry Piraeus → Naxos

€40-60 · 4-5h · Blue Star

⛴️

Ferry Naxos → Santorini

€40-60 · 1h30-2h

⛴️

Ferry Santorini → Crete

€50-80 · 2h · to Heraklion

Adapt by season

Mainland in spring, islands in summer

Over a month, the mainland (Peloponnese, Delphi, Meteora) is best enjoyed in spring and autumn, when the heat of the ancient sites stays bearable and the hills are green. The islands hold up until October, with the sea still warm. In peak summer, start with the mainland early in the morning and finish with the Cyclades and Crete, freshened by the breeze. The meltemi (mid-July to late August) can disrupt ferries in the southern Cyclades.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In October 2023, I returned the car at Meteora and took the train to Athens rather than looping by road: 4h30 of landscapes, zero fatigue and no tolls. The Kalambaka-Athens train is one of the finest rides in Greece.
  • • Meteora at sunrise, before the tour coaches: the monasteries float in the mist.
  • • Crete at the end, large enough for a full week without getting bored.
  • • The Samaria Gorge early in the morning, to finish the descent before midday heat.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Swap Olympia for Monemvasia and the Mani if you prefer fortresses to ancient sites.
  • • Add an Ionian island (Kefalonia) instead of Crete for a greener, less crowded month.
  • • Cut the mainland by two days to keep a full week in the Cyclades.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Do I need a car for this full month? +
Yes on the mainland (Peloponnese, Delphi, Meteora), where the sites are scattered and poorly linked by public transport. On the islands, a scooter, the bus or a small local rental is enough.
Isn't a month too much for Greece? +
No, the country blends antiquity, clifftop monasteries, the Cyclades and Crete, vast on its own. A month links mainland and islands without rushing, which two weeks cannot do.
How do I link the mainland to the islands? +
Return the car at Meteora, reach Athens by train (4h30), then take the ferry from Piraeus. Crete is reached by ferry from Santorini (2h to Heraklion).
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes over a month, the pace stays relaxed. Kids love Meteora, the beaches of Naxos and Crete, and the cruises. Lighten the ancient sites during the hottest hours in summer.
What is the best time to go? +
May-June and September-October, to visit the mainland without excess heat and enjoy a still-warm sea on the islands. Avoid July-August at the ancient sites (over 38°C).
How much does a full month in Greece cost? +
Around €2,900 backpacker, €3,700 comfort and €6,800 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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