Greece is a large and diverse country. Many focus on the well-known islands, completely overlooking the smaller ones and the mainland. Some head only to Athens or Thessaloniki.

There are many options to spend a lovely vacation in Greece, whether short or long. In case you plan to explore the mainland and throw in an island, here’s a rather different itinerary than what you’d expect: Athens with a day trip to Mycenae, Meteora, Thessaloniki, and the island of Thassos.

The below itinerary assumes that you are flying into Athens, spend 15 days in the country and fly back home from Athens as well. The logic behind this? Buying a roundtrip flight into a city typically saves quite a lot of money rather than flying into a city and out of another. The alternative is to fly out of Thessaloniki.

3 days in Athens with a day trip to Mycenae

>>book your accommodation in Athens

Athens is a large city and there are a lot of historical and cultural places to see. Visiting the Acropolis of Athens along with the New Acropolis Museum is definitely a must. Also, don’t forget the many free things to do in Athens and the museums you can visit. You should allow at least 3 days for visiting the capital.

When it comes to finding a place to stay, hotels in Athens range from affordable to expensive. You’ll probably want to stay in Plaka or Psirri, two of the most popular neighborhoods among tourists. There are many choices, with apartments for two starting at 25 euros per night and a room in a 2-star hotel at 31 euros per night.

Visiting Mycenae is one of the most popular day-trips from Athens. If you choose to visit it during the summer, make sure to arrive as early as possible. To get to Mycenae, you have to travel to Nafplion first. The easiest way is by bus from Athens. And Mycenae is just half an hour drive from Nafplion. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours.

2 days in Meteora

>>book your accommodation in Kalampaka

Visiting Meteora is a must for most travelers interested in the Greek culture. The monasteries perched atop massive rock formations are a unique site. Getting from Athens to Meteora is not hard at all. You should probably consider either the bus (4.5 hours) or the train (about the same travel time).

You should stay overnight in Kalampaka (the town near which Meteora monasteries are located). Accommodation starts at 38 euros per night for a double room.

3 days in Thessaloniki

>>book your accommodation in Thessaloniki

Getting from Meteora cu Thessaloniki is also very easy. You can choose a bus (about 3 hours) or the train (depending on the type of train, between 3 hours and 4 h 30 min). Thessaloniki is totally different than Athens and an excellent choice for the younger crowds. You should visit the White Tower but don’t miss other museums in Thessaloniki either.

Finding affordable hotels in Thessaloniki is not hard and you can easily find rooms starting at 27 euros per night.

Allow for about 3 days to visit Thessaloniki.

3 days in Thassos

There isn’t a direct way to get from Thessaloniki to Thassos. The closest ferry crossing is at Kavala, which is a major port city in Northern Greece. There are buses which link Thessaloniki to Kavala and the journey ranges from 2 h to 3 h, depending on the itinerary (the most beautiful one is via the mountain road).

Kavala is very beautiful and worth your time so consider spending a day here. You can take the 8 p.m. ferry from Kavala to Thassos . The ferry ride takes between 25 min and 1 h 45 min, depending on the type of the ferry. Tickets start at €4 per person, one way.

Thassos is a great choice if you want to relax. Consider spending the last 3 days of your vacation here. There are archeological sites and museums to visit, but the landscape is also beautiful. Plus, there are quite a lot of beautiful public beaches to enjoy. Known as a budget island destination (especially for Central-European travelers), Thassos doesn’t lack affordable places to stay. You can easily find rooms from 25 euros per night.

From Thassos it’s back to Kavala, then to Thessaloniki; and then hop on a flight to Athens to be ready for your flight back home.

The above itinerary is based on an idea coming from Anne (@polyxena) but also has my personal touch.

Other 15 days itineraries in Greece:

• Smaller Cyclades Islands itinerary is a lovely choice for those who want to mix in the glamour of the island with the laid-back, traditional lifestyle.
• Posh Towns and Famous Islands itinerary is great if you fancy a luxury vacation in Greece.

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