For many travelers planning a 15 Day Vacation in Greece must include at least some of the very well known islands, such as Santorini or Mykonos , along with visiting either Athens or Thessaloniki .

But Greece has a particular charm which can be best experienced on smaller islands, where the atmosphere is far from “touristy” and you can really learn to live like a local. Although the Cyclades are well known among tourists, there are quite a lot of small islands to be explored here.

Again, let’s assume you fly into Athens and plan to spend 15 days in Greece during mid-August. Yes, it’s during the high season and the prices are higher than usual. But that’s when most Europeans manage to get days off for a longer vacation.

Itinerary: Athens, Antiparos, Sifnos, Folegandros and Amorgos

This itinerary idea came from Kate (@parbon1)

Athens is a large city and there are a lot of places to see not to mention the many free things to do in Athens so that your budget won’t suffer that much. Visiting the Acropolis of Athens along with the new museum is definitely a must. You should allow at least 3 days for visiting the capital.

As for accommodation, 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. Rooms in 2-star hotels start at €45 per night (in the heart of Athens). Alternatively, you can book a bed in one of the hostels near the Acropolis . Beds cost as low as €17 per night (shared bedroom).

Antiparos is a small island in the Cyclades group separated from Paros by a narrow and shallow strait. The easiest way to get to the island is by ferry via Paros. So, hop on a ferry from Athens to Paros – 3 hours on the high speed ferry, €44 per person, one way, economy set – and then catch another ferry to Antiparos. Ferries leave from Pounta every 10 minutes and from Parikia every half an hour. If you want to splurge a little on accommodation, there are excellent 4-star hotels which offer rooms from €75 per night.

Sifnos is easily reached by ferry from Paros. The journey takes about 5 hours and a deck seat costs €5.50 per person, one way. Sifnos is one of the popular Cycladic islands among tourists but the atmosphere is laid-back. The night life cannot be compared to that of the party islands but you won’t get bored. Plus there are quite a lot of interesting museums to visit. Accommodation ranges from cheap to expensive and you can easily find rooms starting at €35 per night in studios. You can easily spend about 3 days on the island to visit the important sights.

Folegandros is the island to visit if you want to get away from the crowds and enjoy some quiet time. If your vacation plans include relaxation, then allow at least 5 days to visit this island. There are direct ferries from Sifnos to Folegandros. The journey takes an hour and an economy seat costs €19 per person, one way. Accommodation is affordable and you can easily find rooms for prices starting at €45 per night.

Then hop on a ferry to Amorgos (port of Katapola). The journey takes four hours and a ticket costs €58.50 one way (economy). The island is an excellent choice if you don’t mind staying in anything but luxury resorts. Here you can enjoy the traditional Greek atmosphere. The food is great and the sights are excellent. Studios for two start at €80 per night during the high season while single rooms start at €50 per night. Allow for at least 4 days on the island.

From Amorgos take a ferry back to Athens – 6 hours , high speed ferry, €59.50 per person one way, economy class – and then hop on your flight back home.

Photo credit:
Antiparos
Amorgos