Europe
Greece
Where the sea blends with mythology
I suggest visiting Greece by combining the culture and history of Athens with a selection of islands chosen to match what you're looking for: Santorini, Crete, Mykonos, Paros...
Athens opens the trip with marble, neoclassical squares, and a meal facing the Temple of Poseidon, on the cliff where the Aegean changes color. Then the sea takes over: catamarans that slip into caves of clear water, volcanic beaches that shine white under the sun, and a restored wooden kaiki that sails past coves where no one else anchors. In Santorini the pace slows — a cooking class with island recipes, a tasting at a winery carved into volcanic tuff, a sunset dinner with grilled fare over the caldera. Paros closes the trip with no agenda at all: genuinely free afternoons, a fishing village with cobbled streets, the option to get back on board only if you feel like it. It suits anyone who wants to see the essential Greece without hearing about it from a bus — travelers who'd rather have a small boat and an empty afternoon than a packed itinerary.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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The restored wooden kaiki
A renovated fishermen's yacht for coves and sea caves off the mass-tourism trail.
View experience: The restored wooden kaiki
A kaiki, the traditional Greek fishermen's boat, fully restored and equipped for private sailing, leads the way to coves and sea caves of clear water that mass tourism and the big catamarans never reach. The crew knows exactly where to anchor for a swim with no one else around, and lunch is served on board, with local produce, as the boat rocks gently off the coast.
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Cooking by hand at the table
Fava, tomato fritters, and sauces made with the island's sweet wine, cooked by hand.
View experience: Cooking by hand at the table
A hands-on Greek cooking class with a local cook, focused on traditional island dishes: fava, the yellow split-pea purée typical of the Cyclades, tomato fritters, and sauces made with the sweet wine characteristic of the region. You cook and eat alongside the host, pairing each dish with the wine that has traditionally accompanied it on the island for generations.
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Beaches that look like another planet
Lava formations and near-lunar white coves, explored by boat.
View experience: Beaches that look like another planet
A boat tour past volcanic formations that look like they belong to another planet: caves carved by wind and sea, craters of solidified lava, and coves of an almost lunar white that contrast with the deep blue of the Aegean. The route includes stops for swimming in clear waters beside these formations, in one of the most geologically distinctive landscapes of all the Greek islands.
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The art of fishing with Anthi
A fishing family with three generations and 60 years in the trade in Santorini; aboard their traditional boat, the previous day's nets are hauled in and the fresh catch is cooked on an isolated beach.
View experience: The art of fishing with Anthi
Anthi belongs to a Santorini fishing family with 60 years of tradition: her father owns the Giorgaros fish taverna, near the island's lighthouse, and she herself captains her own traditional boat under license. The day sets sail from the port of Vlychada to haul in the nets cast the day before, and continues to an isolated beach where the day's catch is cooked on the grill, fried, or in soup, with time to swim or simply rest.
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Sunset over the caldera
A sailing cruise, a swim in hot springs, and dinner on board beneath the volcano.
View experience: Sunset over the caldera
A sailing cruise around the volcanic islets of the Santorini caldera to an isolated bay, with a stop for swimming in natural volcanic hot springs. The day ends with a dinner prepared on board as the sky changes color over the volcano, in one of the most photographed — and deservedly so — sunsets in the whole Mediterranean.
Itinerary ideas
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12 days
Quiet Cyclades: Milos, Santorini, and Paros
Athens, Milos, Santorini, Paros
View itinerary idea: Quiet Cyclades: Milos, Santorini, and Paros
Athens as the gateway, with the Acropolis and the old town, and then three western Cycladic islands at an unhurried pace: the cliffs and volcanic beaches of Milos, the caldera sunsets of Santorini, and a close in Paros, more authentic and less touristy.
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8 days
Mythical Crete for the Family
Athens, Heraklion, Elounda, Spinalonga
View itinerary idea: Mythical Crete for the Family
Athens with a private mythology-themed tour of the Acropolis, a domestic flight to Heraklion to visit the Palace of Knossos and its archaeological museum, and the rest of the trip at a beachfront resort in Elounda, with a day sailing a traditional caique past the island of Spinalonga — designed for family travel.
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9 days
Greece by Sailboat: A Private Cycladic Escape
Athens, private sailing cruise through Milos, Folegandros, and Santorini
View itinerary idea: Greece by Sailboat: A Private Cycladic Escape
A couple of days in Athens before boarding a private sailboat to sail between Milos, Folegandros, and Santorini, anchoring in coves reachable only by sea, with the boat itself serving as both accommodation and the way to move between islands.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Greece?
From May to June and in September. In spring official Greek tourism describes warm weather, clear skies and plenty of sunshine by May. I add September because it is less crowded than July and August. These are very good months to combine islands and archaeological sites.
How long should a trip to Greece last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 12 and 15 days if you want to combine Athens, historical sites and an island without rushing. The direct flight from Spain takes 3 to 3.5 hours. With fewer days I recommend limiting yourself to one or two bases, since transfers between islands take up time.
Do I need a visa or passport to travel to Greece from Spain?
You don't need a visa and a national ID card is enough, although Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises checking its expiry date: you will not be allowed to board a plane or ferry with an expired document or one reported lost. If you recovered it after reporting it, apply for a new one. As of November 2026; check the official source before travelling.