16 days in Greece Itinerary

One of the world's most ancient cities, Athens remains Europe's undisputed historical and cultural capital.

Kick off your visit on the 4th (Wed): make a trip to Ancient Agora of Athens and then admire the masterpieces at Benaki Museum.

For more things to do, other places to visit, reviews, and other tourist information, read Athens road trip planner.

Washington DC, USA to Athens is an approximately 15-hour flight. You can also do a combination of train and flight. Traveling from Washington DC to Athens, you'll lose 7 hours due to the time zone difference. In July, daily temperatures in Athens can reach 91°F, while at night they dip to 75°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) to allow enough time to fly to Heraklion.

Crete's largest city, Heraklion remains best known for its proximity to a sprawling Bronze Age archaeological site, once the center of a vanished Minoan civilization.

To see traveler tips, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Heraklion route planner.

You can fly from Athens to Heraklion in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and ferry; or ride a ferry. Traveling from Athens in July, you will find days in Heraklion are a bit cooler (85°F), and nights are about the same (73°F). You'll set off for Chania Town on the 4th (Wed).

The place where Cretan and Venetian cultures merged in the 13th century, Chania Town attracts throngs of tourists with its well-preserved medieval harbor.

On the 5th (Thu), see some colorful creatures with Captain Nick's Glass Bottom Boat Aphrodite and then enjoy the sand and surf at Nea Chora Beach.

For where to stay, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Chania Town driving holiday planner.

Traveling by shuttle from Heraklion to Chania Town takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 89°F in July, and nighttime lows around 71°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 6th (Fri) early enough to catch the shuttle to Heraklion.

On the 6th (Fri), get engrossed in the history at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, steep yourself in history at Venetian Walls and Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis, learn more about the world around you at The Natural History Museum of Crete, then take an in-depth tour of Historical Museum of Crete, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Church of Saint Titus.

To find reviews, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Heraklion trip site.

You can take a shuttle from Chania Town to Heraklion in 2 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Sat) to allow time to travel to Korithi.

On the 7th (Sat), stroll through Ammoudi Beach and then enjoy the sand and surf at Ampoula Beach. Here are some ideas for day two: do a tasting at Ampelostrates Horse Vineyard, then learn about winemaking at Goumas Estate - Art & Wine Winery, and then Head underground at Blue Caves.

To see other places to visit, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Korithi trip itinerary builder tool.

Explore your travel options from Heraklion to Korithi with the Route module. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Sami.

Sami serves as Cephalonia's main port and provides a convenient gateway to the other Ionian Islands.

Start off your visit on the 9th (Mon): tour the pleasant surroundings at Myrtos Beach, enjoy the sand and surf at Eglina Beach, then take an in-depth tour of Corgialenios Istoriko kai Laografiko Mouseio, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Antisamos Beach. Keep things going the next day: enjoy the sand and surf at Emplisi Beach.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Sami trip planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Korithi to Sami. In July in Sami, expect temperatures between 88°F during the day and 70°F at night. On the 11th (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly to Athens.

To find reviews, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Athens travel route planning app.

Traveling by flight from Sami to Athens takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and car; or take a bus. You will leave for Athens on the 11th (Wed).

Start off your visit on the 11th (Wed): get engrossed in the history at Acropolis Museum. Keep things going the next day: steep yourself in history at Acropolis of Athens, explore the ancient world of Erechtheion, and then admire the masterpieces at National Archaeological Museum.

For where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Athens road trip tool.

You'll set off for Paros on the 14th (Sat).

Long ignored by tourists because of its reputation as a plain ferry hub, Paros today serves as one of the Aegean's major holiday destinations, luring travelers with its fashionable resort towns and quaint mountain villages.

To find maps, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Paros vacation maker.

You can do a combination of flight and bus from Athens to Paros in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of taxi and ferry; or ride a ferry. When traveling from Athens in July, plan for slightly colder days and about the same nights in Paros: temperatures range from 85°F by day to 73°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can catch the ferry to Naxos.

Zeus, the master of all gods from Greek mythology, allegedly grew up in a cave on Naxos, a small but fertile island in the South Aegean Sea.

To find photos, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, use the Naxos online travel route planner.

You can ride a ferry from Paros to Naxos in an hour. In July in Naxos, expect temperatures between 85°F during the day and 73°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Tue) to allow enough time to ride a ferry to Fira.

Fira, the busy capital of Santorini, sits on the very edge of a volcanic caldera.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Tue): see the interesting displays at Wine Museum Koutsogiannopoulos, do a tasting at Venetsanos Winery, and then pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

Discover how to plan a Fira trip in just a few steps with Klarna Trips's itinerary builder.

Ride a ferry from Naxos to Fira in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and flight. July in Fira sees daily highs of 86°F and lows of 74°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Wed) so you can fly to Athens.

On the 18th (Wed), delve into the distant past at Temple of Hephaestus, take an in-depth tour of Byzantine and Christian Museum, and then explore the world behind art at Museum of Cycladic Art.

For other places to visit, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, use the Athens online driving holiday planner.

Fly from Fira to Athens in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of ferry and taxi; or ride a ferry. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Wed) so you can catch the flight back home.