Savor the flavors and history of Greece with a flexible self-guided itinerary. Discover iconic sites and local secrets on your own terms.
Greece is where ancient ruins meet modern-day feast s—where a single street can lead you from a taverna serving moussaka to a marble column older than most civilizations. With a Greece self-guided tour from Smartours , you can wander through centuries of history, taste flavors perfected over generations, and never be tied to someone else’s timetable. Our AI-crafted itineraries blend cultural immersion with culinary discovery, all at your own speed.
Athens (Days 1–2): Stay Steps from the Acropolis
Begin in Athens, where boutique hotels in Plaka or Monastiraki put you a short walk from the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. Welcoming over 3 million visitors each year, this iconic site still impresses with its marble columns and sweeping views. Spend mornings exploring sunlit ruins, afternoons sipping Greek coffee in shaded squares, and evenings dining on souvlaki with the Parthenon aglow in the background. Imagine that centuries ago, a colossal bronze statue of Athena once stood atop the Acropolis, visible to sailors approaching from the sea.
Nafplio (Day 3): Coastal Charm and Venetian Castles
Nafplio combines the elegance of Venetian architecture with the warmth of a Greek seaside town. Once the first capital of modern Greece in 1829, it remains a place of history and romance. Stay near the Palamidi Fortress , start your day with a café frappé by the harbor, and in the evening tackle the fortress’s legendary 999 steps for panoramic sunset views over the Argolic Gulf—a climb locals insist you’ll never forget.
Delphi (Day 4): Sleep in the Shadow of the Oracle
Perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi was once considered the “Center of the World” in ancient Greek mythology. A stay in a mountain-view inn puts you within easy reach of the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle’s famously cryptic prophecies once guided kings and generals. Between exploring the archaeological site, warm up with hearty mountain dishes like slow-cooked lamb and foraged greens, just as travelers have done here for centuries.
Santorini (Days 5–6): Sunset Stays and Volcanic Views
Oia in Santorini is a nightly celebration of color, with cliffside suites and cave hotels overlooking the caldera. The island’s dramatic landscape was shaped by a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE—one of the largest in recorded history—which left behind black sand beaches made from finely crushed volcanic rock. Spend your days sipping crisp assyrtiko wine, wandering streets lined with blue-domed churches, and taking in sunsets that seem to set the horizon ablaze.
Crete (Day 7): History and Island Hospitality
Crete, Greece’s largest island at 8,336 km², blends ancient history with vibrant present-day life. Stay in Heraklion to explore the Palace of Knossos, believed to be Europe’s oldest city, and stroll through lively food markets brimming with olives, honey, and fresh cheese. This was once home to the Minoans, considered Europe’s first advanced civilization—making a traditional Cretan feast and a toast of raki the perfect ending to your journey.
A Greek Feast for the Senses
A Greece self-guided tour lets you savor the country’s history, flavors, and landscapes entirely on your own terms. From the columns of the Acropolis to the cliffs of Santorini, from Venetian harbors to mountain sanctuaries, Greece is a journey best enjoyed at your own pace. For more Mediterranean inspiration, explore Smartours’ other self-guided itineraries for Italy, Croatia, and beyond.