A 7-Day Greece Itinerary To Experience The Best Of The Country In Under ₹30,000!

Depending on when you arrive from India, after freshening up, you can set out to explore the Greek capital of Athens at your own pace. Start at Syntagma Square where the majority of the political protests and demonstrations take place and stop for a photo point at the Parliament Building. Observe the spectacular changing of the guards ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Solider that is located opposite to the Parliament Building. It happens every hour during the day. A 5-10 minutes walk will bring you to the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. Visit the Temple of Zeus which is one of the most impressive temples in Athens and make a quick stop to Hadrian's Arch which is right outside the Temple of Zeus. In the evening enjoy a stroll along the Plaka, one of the oldest inhabited streets in Athens. During summer months, the sites are open daily from 8am to 8pm, and between 8am and 5pm in the winter months.

Where to eat: You can stop for lunch at Oikeio to enjoy home-style Mediterranean cuisine.

Where to stay: The White House (Rs 4,272), Elikon (Rs 3,452). For more options of cheap stays, check here.

You can also opt for a walking tour of Athens city – they are usually cheap and a great way of exploring a city with so much history.

Set out to explore the ancient world's most magnificent sight, the Acropolis, today. The architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Parthenon and finally New Acropolis Museum is going to take you back in time. A ticket to the Acropolis including the North and South Slopes costs €20 or ₹1,500. The prices are reduced to €10 or ₹750 during winter, (from November 1 to March 31). During summer months, the sites are open daily from 8am to 8pm, and between 8am and 5pm in the winter months.

Where to eat: Have dinner at Mavro Provato where dishes are paired with regional Greek wines.

Head to Piraeus port for your ferry embarkation to Mykonos Island. The ferry tickets cost between €21 to €60 or ₹1,600-4,500 and take between three to five hours depending on the ferry company you choose. If you are short on time, flying is the more economical option. You can book flights from Athens to Mykonos with Ryanair. The journey takes only 50 minutes and the prices start from ₹1,200 onwards.

Mykonos, also known as 'the island of the winds' due to the constant wind that blows here, is one of the most famous islands of the world. The cosmopolitan island of Cyclades group of Greek isles has the postcard-perfect whitewashed village, old-fashioned windmills of Kato Mili overlooking the Ionic sea, and pulsating nightlife. Browse through Archaeological Museum Delos that houses funerary statues and other archaeological findings from Delos and the Aegean Maritime Museum that has nautical history exhibits, reproductions and local model boats. Spend the evening swimming and windsurfing at the Ftelia beach and observe the the beautiful sunset of the Island.

Where to stay: Mykonos Pantheon (Rs 3,644), Filoxenia Apartments (Rs 4,219). For more options of cheap stays, check here.

Spend the day at leisure sunbathing on the wondrous beaches of the Greek Isle Ftelia, Agrari, Agios Sostis Beach or simply hop on a boat and set sail into the Delos and other neighbouring islands. You can take a ferry to Delos from the Old Port in Mykonos, close to the city center and the church. In the morning there is a boat at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00 which return at 12:15, 13:30 and 15:00 respectively. The trip costs € 17 or ₹1300 per person (roundtrip) and takes about half an hour. For the entrance of the site in Delos, you pay € 6 or ₹460 per person. At night head to Caprice bar which is among the best bars in the world and party the night away in the Little Venice district of Mykonos.

Where to eat: Enjoy the Meze and the mixed grill at Joanna’s Niko's or great traditional greek food at To Steki tou Proedrou.

Head to Mykonos port for your ferry embarkation to Santorini Island. The journey takes about three hours on a high-speed vessel and costs €67 or ₹5,000 onwards.

Santorini is a romantic island built on the remains of a volcano crater, renowned for cliff-clinging white villages dotted by blue-domed churches, volcanic black-sand beaches, and spectacular sunsets. Explore the ruins of the prehistoric village Akrotiri featuring an excavation of a preserved Bronze Age settlement. It can be reached by local bus or taxi from anywhere in Santorini and is about 10km away from the city centre. Open hours in April to October is from 08.00 to 20.00, everyday while in November to March it is from 08.00 to 15.00, everyday except on Monday. In the evening enjoy the mesmerising sunset at Imerovigli village which is famous as balcony to the Aegean.

Where to stay: Residence Suites (Rs 5,216), Stavros Villas (Rs 1,933). For more options of cheap stays, check here.

Explore Caldera today, which is the active volcano of Santorini and its hot springs on a cruise today. You can book it online here for €26 or ₹2,000. You can dive or step down into the blue waters or go for a swim in the warm Mediterranean sea. You can take a ferry to nearby Thirassia island of Santorini, where you can either swim, go up to the village or simply relax and have something to eat.

Where to eat: Enjoy the traditional flavors in the village of Firostefani in Santorini when you dine at Aktaion or home-made Mediterranean food in Prygos when you eat at Cava Alta or Metaxy Mas.