Welcome to The Wanderbug, a travel blog written for humans, by a human. I'm Genevieve, and every guide is personally written by me and based on my firsthand travel experiences.
Greece is one of my absolute favourite travel destinations in the world, and several trips to Greece, I’ve designed what I think is the perfect itinerary for two weeks in Greece, especially for first time visitors!
This itinerary for 2 weeks in Greece includes an essential few days in Athens, before heading to the most beautiful Greek islands in the Cyclades: Milos, Paros and Sifnos.
I haven’t included Santorini or Mykonos in this itinerary on purpose – Santorini is over touristed, and I believe you can get the best of Santorinin in Milos and Paros. You’ll get slightly less crowds plus more beautiful beaches in Milos, and beautiful, traditional Cycladic villages in Paros.
Athens: Day 1-3
I know that you’ll want to spend as much time as possible on the idyllic Greek islands, but Athens is not a city to miss! Spending two days in Athens will give you enough time to experience some of Athens’ greatest highlights, and shake off some jet lag, before heading to the islands.
In two days in Athens, you’ll have enough time to visit the Acropolis, to shop for leathergoods & antiques at the Monastiraki Flea Markets, and check out the wonderful Acropolis Museum.
Read More: 2 Days in Athens for First Time Visitors
Top Hotels in Athens
Staying in the right hotel in the right part of Athens can entirely change your experience of the city!
Noma Hotel $$ – A stylish hotel just 2 minutes’ walk from Monastiraki Square, with private bathrooms, air conditioning and some rooms with balconies.
Athens Icon Collection $$ – Small but very sophisticated hotel rooms, just a 1 minute walk from Monastiraki Square.
Aeolian Spirit Suites $$$ – Luxurious suites & hotel rooms, with family rooms available. Great location & breakfast available.
How to get to Athens
Fly into Athens’ international airport, Eleftherios Venizelos. I recommend getting the Metro from the airport to downtown Athens, even if you need to change lines at some point to reach the neighbourhood you’re staying in. You need to watch out for pickpockets, as in any major city, but the Metro is clean, modern and efficient. I prefer the Metro to the hair-raising experience of driving on the highway in Greek taxis, where the speed limit doesn’t seem to apply!
Milos: Day 3-8
Milos is the perfect introduction to the Greek islands, with more than 75 beaches and several beautiful, picture-perfect traditional Cycladic villages. This is my favourite Greek island, and is a wonderful alternative to Santorini and Mykonos.
Unwind while you beach hop between the best beaches in Milos, like Sarakiniko and Aghia Kiriaki, visit jaw-dropping fishing villages like Mandrakia and Klima, and take a day’s sailing cruise into the stunning Kleftiko Caves.
Read More: Highlights from 5 Days in Milos
Where to Stay in Milos
I’ve written a complete guide on where to stay in Milos, because it depends on whether you want to be near a beach, and if you’ll have a hire car (strongly recommended). If you have a hire car, I recommend staying in Pollonia.
Top Hotels in Milos
Pollonia is the loveliest village in Milos, with its own beach, but the port, Adamas, is the main hub for bus connections, which you’ll need if you’re not hiring a car.
Villa Mary Elen $$ – Beautiful, traditional Cycladic suites in Pollonia, with ocean views. We stayed here when we were in Milos, and we really enjoyed our stay.
Om Living Milos $$$ – Stylish, luxury studios and suites, right on the beach in lovely Pollonia
Delmar Apartments & Suites $$$$ – Large, luxury suites perfect for families and large groups. Just 40m from the beach in Pollonia
Hotel Eleni Adamas $$$ – Stylish suites with private terraces or balconies, with countryside views. Located just 50 metres from Lagada Beach in Adamas, which is the best place to stay if you will need to rely on the bus system in Milos.
How to get to Milos
The best way to get to Milos from Athens is to fly, with Aegean Airlines. The flight is super fast, and Athens Airport is modern and efficient. Alternatively you can take a ferry, but they are notoriously late and can be very rough – even if you don’t get seasick, your fellow passengers will
Sifnos: Day 8-11
Sifnos is an enchanting slip of an island, between Milos and Paros. There is no airport on Sifnos, so it is much quieter than Milos and Paros.
Sifnos is very mountainous, so it is popular with hikers, and is also known for having 365+ churches across the island – you can always spot a church, no matter where you are!
Sifnos is a very relaxing place to stay, especially as there are no “major” towns. Sifnos has some beautiful beaches, and is a great place to spend a few days of rest & relaxation, while enjoying the best of the Greek islands – sunshine, good food and beautiful beaches!
Cheronissos is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sifnos, and is quite peaceful thanks to somewhat remote location. Faros, Glyfos and Chrissopiggi are beautiful and accessible beaches, with a handful of tavernas and places to stay nearby.
Check out my post about spending 3 days in Sifnos for a suggested itinerary or my Sifnos Travel Guide for a more detailed overview of the island.
Where to Stay in Sifnos
Check out my complete guide to where to stay in Sifnos for comparisons of different villages and resort towns on the island. I’ve recommended two top-rated hotels in Platis Gialis below, which is one of the island’s “resort” villages with direct beach access.
Top Hotels in Sifnos
Enalion Suites Sifnos $$$ – Stylish, luxury suites with direct beach access to Platis Gialos beach, and offering rooms with sea views, terraces and air conditioning. Glam!
Ammos Sifnos Village $$$ – Stylish apart-hotels with direct beach access in Platis Gialos, and rooms that include a kitchenette
How to get to Sifnos
Catch the Fast Ferry from Milos to Sifnos which takes 40 mins (+ the inevitable delays!)
Paros: Day 11-14
Your final destination in your two week trip to Greece is Paros, which competes with Milos for being my favourite Greek island.
Paros is a great alternative to Santorini, because it has the perfect, traditional Cycladic villages in Naoussa, Parikia and Lefkes, a stunning sunset which is best viewed from Parasporos Beach, and the bonus of having accessible, sandy beaches.
It’s also one of the few Cycladic islands with a winery, Moraitis Winery, which is open to visitors.
Check out my itinerary for 3 days in Paros for ideas & tips on how to spend your time on this enchanting Greek island.
Where to Stay in Paros
For a detailed comparison to the pros & cons of staying in Parikia or Naoussa, check out my guide, Where to Stay in Paros.
Top Hotels & Resorts in Paros
Whether you stay in Parikia or Naoussa, you’ll get to experience a traditional, Cycladic village with a beautiful waterfront location.
Mr & Mrs White Paros Suites $$$ – A stunning resort in Naoussa with double rooms & one-bedroom suites, with options for sea views, private hot tubs and a private pool.
Avant Mar Paros $$$$ – A large, luxurious resort on the waterfront in Naoussa, perfect for a splurge luxury holiday.
Stella Rooms Paros $$ – Simple, beachfront rooms in the heart of Parikia
How to get to Paros
Catch the Fast Ferry from Sifnos to Paros, which takes approximately one hour
You can fly from Paros to Athens, which is why I recommend Paros as the last destination of the trip, to avoid a long ferry journey back to the mainland.
Extra Time: Crete (3-5 Days)
If you have some extra time, spend a few days exploring Crete. Crete is the largest island in Greece, so you’ll benefit from hiring a car and allowing enough time to explore. The most popular places to stay in Crete are Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion. For first time visitors, I recommend staying in stunning Chania, or beachy Rethymno, which is an hour’s drive from Chania.
Further Reading
- 7 Best Places to Visit in Greece
- Where to Stay in Milos? Adamas, Pollonia or Plaka
- Highlights from 3 Days in Sifnos
- Itinerary for 3 Days in Paros
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived in New York City and now live back in Australia, in Melbourne.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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