Athens, Santorini, and Crete Vacation for History Lovers

The modern academy of Athens in Greece

What to expect on this itinerary

On this historically rich 7-day vacation through Athens, Santorini, and Crete, you will be immersed in the mythology, philosophy, and architecture of the ancient Greeks. Discover the striking geology and landscape of the islands, indulge in a historically inspired wine tour, hike through the Samaria Gorge, and kayak on the Aegean Sea. This weeklong vacation effortlessly combines extravagance with history and will leave you with a unique experience that has you living ancient Greek culture.

Countries Visited

Greece

Places Visited

Athens, Santorini, Crete

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Athens – Arrive in Athens

Today is the day that you will finally land in Greece and begin your historical adventure through Greece’s ancient past. After you exit the terminal, your private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your luxurious accommodation. As you arrive at the hotel, your gracious hosts will take your luggage, check you in, and show you to your room. You can have some time to relax and anticipate the cultural adventure that lies ahead of you. When you are ready, you can head down to the lobby for a lovely Greek dinner.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Dinner
Day 2

Athens – Explore the Acropolis

Day 3

Santorini – Ancient Thira and Calderas

Day 4

Santorini – Unearth Atlantis Bookshop

Day 5

Crete – Explore the Lassithi Plateau

Day 6

Crete – Olive Oil and Wine Tour

Day 7

Crete – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the wealth of knowledge and collection of ancient artifacts at the world-renowned National Archaeology Museum
  • Immerse yourself in the mythology, philosophy, and architecture at the legendary Acropolis
  • Uncover living history at the ancient Thira archeology site
  • Bask in the sea and sunshine as you kayak through the crystal-clear, sparkling Aegean Sea over inspiring calderas
  • Indulge in an off-road adventure to the peak of the Lassithi Plateau and Cave of Zeus
  • Marvel at inspirational mountain passes as you hike through history from Samaria Gorge to Sweet Water Beach
  • Sample local grapes and olives on a historically inspired olive oil and wine tour

Detailed Description

This weeklong, historical journey through Athens, Santorini, and Crete perfectly combines extravagance with antiquity and will leave you with an experience that not only allows you to learn about the past but live in it.

After you land, a private driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your luxurious accommodation, which will be located in the heart of the City. The following morning, your tour through the ages will begin at the National Archeology Museum. This Museum is the perfect place to begin your discovery of Greece because it contains one of the most impressive and diversified collections of ancient Greek artifacts in the world. During your visit, your guide will explain how each different era built upon the previous one in addition to many other interesting historical facts. Afterward, you will begin your ascent to the legendary Acropolis. Tidbits of philosophy, mythology, and history will captivate your heart as you walk the same marbled steps that Plato and Aristotle once did. As you hike up the steps, you can admire the aesthetic beauty and architectural feat of each intricate temple.

The next day, you will fly from Athens to Santorini on a private aircraft, where you will experience breathtaking views of the Greek islands. When you land, a private driver will escort you to your opulent accommodation that will overlook the infamous, blue-domed churches. During your time in Santorini, you will explore the ruins of Ancient Thira, glide over crystal-clear waters and inspiring calderas, sift through the famed Atlantic Bookshop, and unearth the spectacular Byzantine Castle. Each activity will include a passionate, energetic, and knowledgeable guide to ensure that you acquire a detailed understanding of the cultural significance that surrounds each iconic site.

Your final destination will be the enigmatic island of Crete. Your first activity will be an off-road adventure through the Dikti Mountains to the inspiring Lassithi Plateau, where you will walk through the cave where Zeus was born. In the cave. During the remainder of your excursion, you will witness the impressive Aposelemis Dam and appreciate the serenity of a monk monastery. Your final day will be spent enjoying Greece's natural splendor as you hike through history and savor the local grapes and olives on a historically inspired wine tour.

Nearly everything about this itinerary is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and interests once you are in Greece.

We work closely with the best Greek travel agents to ensure that you have a fully personalized trip of a lifetime.

Starting Price

$3,000 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 293 reviews

Greece Tour Review: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, History, Culture, Tradition, Local Cuisine, Shopping, 8 Nights

If you're considering a trip to Greece, look no further than Zicasso. Our travel expert planned an unforgettable journey for our family; Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, and every detail was executed with care, expertise, and passion. 

From the moment we arrived in Athens, we were immersed in the country’s warm hospitality. Our agent made sure we had the perfect balance of sightseeing and relaxation. The historical sites in Athens, like the Acropolis and the ancient Agora, were must-sees.

Mykonos is vibrant yet relaxed. The beaches were beautiful. Every meal on this trip was a highlight. Fresh seafood, local cheeses, olive oil, and delicious pastries—each bite told a story of Greece’s deep culinary heritage.

In Santorini, we were captivated by the island’s charm—whitewashed buildings, breathtaking sunsets, and the deep blue Aegean Sea. We visited traditional villages, giving us a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions that are still very much alive.

Throughout the trip, what stood out most—beyond the stunning landscapes and ancient history—was the friendliness of the Greek people. Their warmth and pride in their culture made every moment feel welcoming and genuine.

Our agent didn’t just plan a vacation—he created an experience rooted in history, tradition, and hospitality. I can’t recommend him and Zicasso highly enough.

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Greece Trip Review: Athens, Santorini, Crete, Meal With Local Family, Museums, Archeological Sites, 10 Nights

Words cannot describe how wonderful this trip to Greece was! Zicasso’s tour operator did a wonderful job planning out our days so we could experience the highlights of Athens, Santorini, and Crete! The accommodations at all three spots were more than comfortable and had lovely staff and a good breakfast. 

We did run into one problem in Crete at the hotel, where our rooms were up on the third floor and there was no elevator and no staff to carry our bags. I had to ask for room changes. We could all walk up the steps, but not carrying 50-pound suitcases! The staff quickly offered us rooms accessible by elevator and the rooms were beautiful! They gave us a complimentary bottle of wine for our troubles.

All of the drivers arrived on time, many giving us information about what we were seeing as they took us to destinations. The tour guides who had been arranged were knowledgeable and had a great way of presenting archeological sites, as well as museums. 

We especially enjoyed our private tour to a small town in the mountains in Crete, where we were given a tour of a family's olive gardens, as well as a fabulous meal with them! We had such a good time with them and we all had tears when we left them! I cannot give enough stars for this fabulous vacation!

Our agent was available to us the whole time as we ran into a few questions. Nothing major, just a few small things. I will definitely be using Zicasso and our travel agency in my future travels. Bravo to our agent!

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Greece Tour Review: Athens, Naxos, Santorini, Crete, Cuisine, RIB Experience, Cooking Class. 10 Nights

Fabulous, Fantastic, Fun! We had an absolutely amazing 10 days traveling in Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Crete. We were traveling with four 20somethings with varied interests. Zicasso's tour planner listened to my description of what we were looking for and created a masterpiece of a trip!

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Greece Vacation Review: Naxos, Athens, Cuisine, Walking Tour, 10 Nights

Zicasso's travel company made our bucket-list trip to Greece come to life! They organised all our tours and transportation, worked with us to provide activities that were in line with our interests, and even gave detailed information on suggested itineraries for our free days.

Some highlights included the walking tour(s) of Athens, our trip to see Santorini, and the best steak I have ever had at a beach hotel in Naxos! Our only suggestion is that we went on a day tour to Delos which was self-guided. There is so much history there though that a guided tour would have been helpful. I would definitely recommend booking your tour with them!

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Greece Tour Review: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Horseback Riding, Food Tours, 10 Days

We had a wonderful time in Greece. We spent 10 days there and went to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. The accommodations were great and the planned excursions were fantastic. The weather was perfect.

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Greece Trip Review: Crete, Chania, Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Villages, Private Guides, Hiking, Wine Tasting, History, 2 Weeks

This was a dream vacation made reality–five stars!

We just returned from the most unforgettable two-week adventure through Greece, all thanks to the exceptional planning and care of Zicasso's travel operator and her team! From the moment we landed until our final farewell in Athens, every detail was flawlessly executed.

Our journey began in Crete, where we were welcomed by a warm, knowledgeable guide who brought Chania's rich history to life during all of our many activities. From touring the many villages to hiking Imbros Gorge to the Palace of Knossos, we felt immersed in the true spirit of Crete.

Next was Santorini, where the sunsets were just as magical as we’d hoped. Our stay was filled with stunning cliffside views, wine tastings, and personalized recommendations that made it feel like we were exploring the island with a local friend.

Naxos was an unexpected gem—less touristy, but bursting with charm. The tour guide here was particularly fantastic, taking us to authentic villages, ancient ruins, and serene beaches that felt like our own private paradise.

Our final days in Athens were the perfect ending to this epic journey. The historical sites were breathtaking and our guide’s passion for Greek history made every moment at the Acropolis and the museums feel deeply meaningful.

What truly set this experience apart was how responsive and supportive our agent and her team were throughout the trip. Any time we had a question—whether about transportation, recommendations, or small changes in plans—they replied quickly and helpfully, making us feel completely at ease and well cared for.

Throughout the trip, the logistics were seamless—beautiful accommodations, smooth transfers, and thoughtfully curated excursions. Every guide was not only professional and knowledgeable, but also incredibly kind and engaging. It felt like we were traveling with friends who truly cared about our experience.

We can’t thank our agent enough for crafting such a memorable and enriching vacation. Greece was always on our bucket list and now we’re already dreaming of our return!

Highly, highly recommended!


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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews