Greek Islands Tours from Athens

What our customers ask about Greek Islands Tours from Athens

• What's the best time of year for an Athens, Greek Islands tour?

  For Athens and Greek Islands tours the sweet spot falls between May and September. While July and August draw the largest crowds May and September provide pleasant temperatures with fewer tourists. Early mornings or late afternoons work best for exploring the Acropolis in Athens and the classic sunset views from Oia in Santorini are less crowded during shoulder season. A TourRadar traveler shared: "In May the weather was hot but perfect for exploring the islands and ancient sites."

• What's the typical accommodation standard on Athens, Greek Islands tours?

  Most tours provide 3-star to 4-star lodging options across the destinations. In Athens many tours use centrally located properties like the Acropolian Spirit Hotel near Syntagma Square or the President Hotel. On Santorini popular choices include El Greco Resort and Kallisti Hotel & Suites both known for their location and amenities. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The hotels were all well situated. The Athens Hotel was near the center and the Santorini Hotel was a short walk to the heart of Fira."

• What's the typical travel time from Athens to the first island destination?

  Ferry travel times range from 4 to 8 hours depending on your island destination. The Athens to Mykonos route takes about 5 hours on standard ferries while fast ferries cut the journey to 2.5 hours. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The ferry ride from Athens to Santorini was comfortable and worth it for the views though upgrading to the fast ferry saved us valuable time."

• What are the most common departure points for island ferries from Athens?

  The main gateway to the islands Piraeus Port sits 20-30 minutes from central Athens. Most tours arrange early morning hotel pickups with departures between 7:00-7:30 AM from central properties like Fresh Hotel or Electra Palace. As one TourRadar traveler noted "We had excellent connections every time we were supposed to be picked up for transfers including the early morning pickup to Piraeus port for our island connections."

• What are the most common first stops after Athens when island hopping?

  Most itineraries begin with either Mykonos or Syros after leaving Athens. The day starts with an early transfer to Piraeus followed by a 4-6 hour ferry journey. Accommodations range from Hotel Fresh in Athens to Yiannaki Hotel in Mykonos. A TourRadar traveler sharing "The hotels in Mykonos & Santorini were beautiful offering stunning views and great amenities. Transfers and connections between islands were smoothly organized."

• What's included in the first day's activities when starting from Athens?

  Day one typically starts with airport pickup and hotel transfer followed by free time to explore key sites like the Acropolis Parthenon and the Plaka district. Many tours include a welcome dinner at local establishments near Syntagma Square or Monastiraki. As a TourRadar traveler noted: "From the moment I arrived I was greeted with warmth and professionalism by the tour organizers making arrival day smooth and welcoming."