The cradle of the Mediterranean
Greece is the destination where Western civilisation learned to walk. Every stone of the Acropolis, every theatre carved into rock, every Doric column is a reminder that democracy, philosophy and theatre were all invented here. But Greece is not a frozen museum: it is a living country, sensual and profoundly Mediterranean, with six thousand islands scattered across two seas and a long table that remains the emotional centre of its culture.
Greece entered the curious traveller's imagination through the Acropolis and the Oia sunset, and never let go — because everything else demanded attention too. Compared with Italy, Turkey or Croatia, Greece plays in a different league when it comes to island variety, world-class archaeology and the emotional connection between landscape, history and table. It is a destination that rewards curation: it doesn't work on autopilot or in a sealed package. It works when someone applies discernment — the right climate window, the islands in the right order, the right boutique hotels and an archaeologist guide who turns an hour on the Acropolis into a masterclass in classical Greece. Done that way, Greece delivers the most memorable Mediterranean journey there is.
A classical capital, a volcanic caldera, a cosmopolitan island, the Minoan cradle and a sacred mountain. Each region is a distinct journey; every combination bears the CocoVolare signature.
01 · Capital
3–4 nights
The capital you don't understand — you absorb
A Mediterranean metropolis of three and a half million where the Acropolis literally floats above the city like a marble ship that ran aground 2,500 years ago. Creative neighbourhoods, boutique hotels, Greek coffee and a Doric temple around every corner.
02 · Cyclades
3–4 nights
The caldera that collapsed 3,600 years ago
The curved rim of a collapsed volcano: a 300-metre cliff above the water, dotted with white villages, blue domes and sunsets so iconic they appear in the imagination of people who couldn't find Greece on a map.
03 · Cyclades
2–3 nights
The cosmopolitan epicentre of the Aegean
The jet-set refuge since the 1960s: immaculate white villages, 16th-century windmills, international beach clubs, a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and the finest dining in Greece. And just 30 minutes by boat, the sacred island of Delos.
04 · Largest island
3–4 nights
The cradle of Minoan civilisation
Greece's largest island and Europe's first palace: Minoan Knossos, the Venetian cities of Chania and Rethymno, the Samaria Gorge, beaches like Balos and Elafonisi, and a cuisine of its own recognised as part of the Mediterranean Diet heritage.
05 · Mainland
3–4 nights
Classical Greece and monasteries in the sky
The deep Greek mainland: Mycenae and the Lion Gate, the Theatre of Epidaurus with its perfect acoustics, Olympia and neoclassical Nafplio. To the north, the Byzantine monasteries of Meteora crowning sheer columns of vertical rock.
Six thousand islands scattered across two seas. A capital with three millennia of uninterrupted history. White villages hanging above volcanic cliffs, monasteries suspended in the air and Doric temples facing the sea. The Aegean light is aggressive, clean, almost white, and it changes how you see. Greece doesn't reveal itself at first glance — it is crossed slowly, with the long table, the unhurried sunset and a voice to accompany it.
"Democracy, philosophy and theatre were all invented here; and the long table remains the emotional centre of the culture."· CocoVolare master document
Based on averages for Athens and the Cyclades. Our chart shows all twelve months with estimated cost, climate and calendar highlights. Marked in gold, the windows we recommend experiencing Greece with us — chosen for experience, not price.
Greece is best experienced in the shoulder seasons: May to June and September to October. The chart shows all twelve months with estimated costs, temperatures and iconic festivals. Marked in gold, the windows we recommend experiencing Greece with us.
Verified by our travel designers and updated for 2026. Browse by category.
Six signature itineraries to match your dates, pace and budget. Zero templates — each is rewritten 100% to your measure. Prices per person in double occupancy, boutique category, excluding international flights.
Athens → Santorini
Greece distilled — compact yet perfectly coherent
The essential introduction to the country: the classical capital with the Acropolis and a private archaeologist, and Santorini with the caldera, Assyrtiko vineyards and a private sailboat. Ideal for couples and time-pressed travellers.
Arrival at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and private transfer. Check-in at the Hotel Grande Bretagne with Acropolis views. Walk through Plaka and Anafiotika, the hidden Cycladic neighbourhood. Aperitif on the rooftop and dinner at Hytra, contemporary Greek cuisine with a Michelin star.
Acropolis with a private archaeologist at 8 am: the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. Acropolis Museum. Lunch at Mani Mani in Koukaki. Afternoon at the Varvakeios market and Monastiraki. Dinner at a genuine taverna in Pangrati.
Domestic flight to Santorini with Aegean, 45 minutes. Check-in at Canaves Oia or Mystique on the caldera. Poolside lunch with volcano views. Sunset from Imerovigli or Skaros Rock — more intimate than Oia. Dinner at Selene in Pyrgos.
Private sailboat through the caldera with a stop at the volcanic thermal waters and the island of Thirassia. On-board lunch of Aegean fish. Private tasting of Assyrtiko from ungrafted vines at Domaine Sigalas. Dinner at Metaxy Mas, suspended above the cliff.
Visit to Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompeii buried by the 1600 BC eruption, with a private archaeologist. Caldera-view lunch and Vinsanto shopping. Return flight to Athens and international connection.
Athens → Naxos → Santorini
Three readings of the country: classical, authentic and iconic
The itinerary that adds the best-balanced island in the Cyclades: the classical capital, Naxos with its marble villages and its own cuisine, and Santorini with the caldera and a sailboat. No package-tour ferries — a perfectly measured week.
Arrival, private transfer and check-in at the Hotel Grande Bretagne or AthensWas. Aperitif on the Couleur Locale rooftop with Acropolis views. Dinner at Nolan, Greek-Asian fusion cuisine.
Acropolis with an archaeologist at 8 am and the Acropolis Museum. Lunch at Diporto, a no-sign ouzeri next to the market, open since 1887. Afternoon through Anafiotika, Plaka and Monastiraki. Dinner at a taverna in Exarchia.
Fast business-class ferry from Piraeus to Naxos. Check-in at Naxian Collection or Mr & Mrs White in the Stelida area. Walk through the Chora and up to the Portara at sunset. Dinner at Apolafsi, with slow-roasted lamb and Naxian kitron.
Inland tour with a local guide: Halki, capital of kitron liqueur, white-marble Apeiranthos and Filoti. Lunch at a family taverna with mountain cheeses. Afternoon at Plaka or Mikri Vigla beach. Dinner at 156 in the Chora.
Ferry from Naxos to Santorini. Check-in at Canaves Oia Epitome or Mystique. Free afternoon by the pool with volcano views. Aperitif in the suite and dinner at Selene in Pyrgos.
Akrotiri with an archaeologist and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira. Lunch at Metaxy Mas in Exo Gonia. Afternoon and sunset by private sailboat through the caldera, with dinner on board anchored off Oia.
Optional sunrise walk from Imerovigli to Oia. Lunch at Pelekanos in Oia with caldera views. Flight to Athens and international connection.
Athens → Meteora → Peloponnese → sailboat
Classical civilisation, monasteries in the sky and Cycladic sailing
The most complete boutique itinerary: the classical capital, the Meteora monasteries, the Peloponnese of Mycenae and Epidaurus and a private sailboat through the Lesser Cyclades. Ten days that honour the country's pace.
Arrival, private transfer and check-in. Walk through Plaka and dinner on a rooftop as the Acropolis lights up in gold.
Acropolis at dawn with an archaeologist, Acropolis Museum, lunch at Mani Mani and afternoon through Monastiraki. Dinner at CTC or Spondi.
Ancient and Roman Agora, Kerameikos and the Varvakeios market. Lunch at Diporto and live rebetiko at Stoa Athanaton in Psyrri.
Scenic train to Kalambaka, 4 hours. Visit to three monasteries: Great Meteoron, Varlaam and St Stephen. Orange sunset over the rock. Dinner at Meteoron Panorama.
Roussanou and St Nicholas Anapausas monasteries — the most intimate. Private driver transfer to Nafplio, the first capital of the modern Greek state. Dinner by the harbour.
Mycenae with an archaeologist: the Lion Gate and the Treasury of Atreus. Theatre of Epidaurus — the finest acoustics in the ancient world. Dinner in Nafplio.
Transfer to the port of Lavrio. Board the sailboat or motor yacht with crew and chef. Sail to Kea and anchor in Vourkari. Dinner of the day's fresh seafood.
Sail to Kythnos and stop at Kolona, the double-sided beach. Lunch on board. Sail to Serifos and climb to the Chora at sunset.
Sail to Sifnos, the Cycladic gastronomic capital, then to Milos. Sunset at Sarakiniko, the lunar landscape of white volcanic rock. Dinner on board under the stars.
Last snorkel at Kleftiko and brunch on board. Domestic flight Milos to Athens and international connection.
Athens → Meteora → Peloponnese → sailboat → Crete
All of Greece: classical civilisation, sailing and another island culture
The serious Greek itinerary: the full deep journey plus Minoan Crete. Fourteen days to breathe between classical civilisation, Cycladic sailing and the cradle of European civilisation.
Welcome, private transfer and check-in. Walk through Plaka and rooftop dinner.
Acropolis with an archaeologist, Acropolis Museum and living neighbourhoods. Chef-driven dinner.
Agora, Kerameikos and the Varvakeios market. Live rebetiko in Psyrri.
Scenic train to Kalambaka and visit to three monasteries. Sunset over the rock.
The intimate Roussanou monastery and transfer to the Peloponnese.
Mycenae and the Theatre of Epidaurus with an archaeologist.
Transfer to Lavrio and embarkation. Sail to Kea and anchor in Vourkari.
Kolona beach and Serifos Chora at sunset.
Gastronomic Sifnos and the lunar sunset at Sarakiniko.
Domestic flight to Chania. Check-in at Domes Zeen Chania or a stone house in Vamos.
Day exploring the Venetian city of Chania, its lighthouse and market. Dinner with traditional Cretan music.
Palace of Knossos with a private archaeologist and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Afternoon cooking Cretan food with a yiayia.
Beach day at the Balos lagoon and the Falassarna coast. Farewell Cretan dinner with raki.
Flight to Athens, a final pass through the Varvakeios market and shopping in Plaka. Farewell dinner at Aleria or Hytra.
Athens → Santorini → sailboat → Peloponnese
Beginning the rest of your life facing the Aegean caldera
Greece at its most intimate: private-pool suites above the caldera, an exclusively chartered sailboat, a vineyard dinner with the producer and a vow renewal at sunset. Every detail designed to celebrate.
Arrival and private transfer. Check-in with upgrade at the Hotel Grande Bretagne with Acropolis views. Aperitif at the GB Roof Garden and intimate dinner.
Acropolis with a private archaeologist and the Acropolis Museum. Free afternoon and funicular up Mount Lycabettus at sunset. Dinner at Hytra.
Flight to Santorini and check-in with upgrade to a plunge-pool suite at Canaves Oia Epitome or Grace Hotel. Private sunset from the suite with champagne.
Private dinner with producer and sommelier at Estate Argyros vineyard, among the basket-trained koulara vines. Vow renewal at sunset at a private viewpoint with an officiant and live music.
Private sailboat through the caldera with a swim in the thermal waters and sunset anchored off Oia. Dawn photography session at Imerovigli.
Board an exclusively chartered sailboat with a 30-square-metre master cabin, captain and cook. Sail to the Lesser Cyclades. Dinner on board under the stars.
Anchor in coves with no road access at Koufonisia and Schinoussa. Lunch from the morning's catch. Private champagne at sunset.
Final sail and disembarkation. Transfer to Amanzoe, the retreat above the Peloponnese hills. Couples' spa afternoon.
Private breakfast morning at Amanzoe. Epidaurus or a private beach according to preference. Farewell dinner with a view.
Transfer to Athens for the international connection, or an optional extra night with a private suite dinner.
Athens → Naxos → Santorini
The Mediterranean diet at its source — table by table
An itinerary for foodies: the contemporary Greek cuisine of Athens, market tours with a chef, cooking with a yiayia in Naxos, an Assyrtiko vertical tasting and the volcanic cuisine of Santorini. The Mediterranean Diet, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Arrival and check-in. Welcome dinner at Hytra, contemporary Greek cuisine with a Michelin star inside the Onassis Cultural Centre.
Tour of the central Varvakeios market with an Athens chef: fish stalls, spices and a patsas breakfast. Afternoon mezedopolia tour through Psyrri. Dinner at Aleria in Metaxourgio.
Fast ferry to Naxos. Check-in and walk through the Chora. Visit to a graviera cheese dairy and a tasting of kitron liqueur. Dinner at a family taverna with slow-roasted lamb.
Morning in the marble inland villages. Greek cooking class with a yiayia at a family taverna: moussaka, dolmades and wood-fired bread. Lunch from what you cooked. Afternoon at the beach.
Ferry to Santorini and check-in on the caldera. Dinner at Selene in Pyrgos, the restaurant that celebrates Santorinian volcanic cuisine: PDO fava, tomatokeftedes and white aubergine.
Private sailboat through the caldera with lunch on board. Assyrtiko vertical tasting across multiple vintages at Domaine Sigalas, including their Vinsanto from sun-dried grapes. Dinner at Metaxy Mas.
Morning at the Fira market and shopping for Vinsanto, mastiha and olive oil. Caldera-view lunch. Flight to Athens and international connection.
We tailor itineraries for honeymoons, families with children or teenagers, foodies, slow travellers, adventurers and Dodecanese sailing routes. Zero templates. A quote within 24 hours from a dedicated travel designer.
Start your quoteThese are not tours. They are private access, certified archaeologists and a pace set entirely to yours. Ten experiences worth planning a journey around.
Arriving before 9 am with a private archaeologist, when the Parthenon stands in silence before the tour buses. The absolute symbol of Western civilisation, read as a masterclass in classical Greece.
Athens · dawnThe most photographed sunset on the planet — the visual ritual that defines the destination. We design it from an alternative viewpoint, a private terrace or the deck of a sailboat anchored in the caldera.
Santorini · sunset
Hidden coves with no road access, swimming in crystal-clear water and fish caught that same morning. Catamaran or motor yacht with captain and cook on board — far removed from any commercial cruise.
Aegean Sea · sailing
Six 14th-century Byzantine monasteries built on vertical rock columns of up to 600 metres. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a unique spiritual atmosphere. Best at dawn, without the crowds.
Kalambaka · dawnSantorini's prehistoric Pompeii, buried by the Thera eruption 3,600 years ago: extraordinary frescoes, streets and ceramics beneath a bioclimatic roof. The earliest European civilisation.
Santorini · daytime
The finest acoustics in the ancient world: a coin dropped at the centre is heard in the back row. In July and August, a classical tragedy performed in the original 2,400-year-old theatre.
Peloponnese · day or eveningThe uninhabited island where, according to myth, Apollo and Artemis were born. A UNESCO archaeological site with the Avenue of the Lions and near-intact mosaics, just 30 minutes by boat from Mykonos.
Mykonos · half day
Assyrtiko is a white grape cultivated in circular basket forms close to the ground to protect it from the meltemi, vinified in volcanic soil. Vertical tasting at Domaine Sigalas or Estate Argyros, including Vinsanto.
Santorini · half day
Symi, a neoclassical jewel with pastel facades, and Rhodes with its medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Palace of the Grand Masters and an intact city wall. Eastern Greek islands without the crowds.
Dodecanese · circuit
The most important feast in the Greek calendar: the Epitaphios procession on Good Friday and the midnight Resurrection Mass on Holy Saturday with candles in hand. One of the most authentic experiences in the country.
All of Greece · AprilEvery property is part of our private network with confidential rates. These are not simply "the most famous" in the country — they are the ones that open doors and understand the CocoVolare rhythm.
We work with additional properties on the lesser Cyclades, historic houses and private villas with staff. The final selection depends on the travel profile.
From the morning cheese pastry to a Michelin-starred tasting menu. Greek cuisine is the most authentic edible expression of the Mediterranean Diet, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Where the produce and the long table are everything.
Onassis Cultural Centre · Athens
Contemporary Greek cuisine with a Michelin star and views of the Acropolis. Michelin at a reasonable price point — the finest introduction to the new Greek kitchen.
Pyrgos · Santorini
The restaurant that celebrates Santorinian volcanic cuisine: PDO fava, tomatokeftedes and white aubergine, in a historic courtyard above the cliff.
Koukaki · Athens
Southern Peloponnese cuisine in sunlit upper-floor rooms. Mani pasta, artisanal charcuterie and small-producer ingredients.
Varvakeios market · Athens
A no-sign ouzeri next to the central market, open since 1887. The daily stew, house wine from the barrel and Athens at its most honest and underground.
Exo Gonia · Santorini
Suspended above the cliff, elevated taverna-style Greek cooking with local produce. Book at least two weeks ahead.
Agia Anna · Mykonos
A table inside a natural cave, metres from the sea. Fresh fish of the day in one of the most memorable settings in the Aegean.
A well-chosen moment turns a trip into a memory. We design your itinerary around the experience that matters most to you.
Greece's largest carnival, with parades, street troupes and the country's biggest street festival running for weeks.
Greece commemorates the start of the 1821 War of Independence with a grand military parade in Athens.
The most important feast in the calendar: the Epitaphios procession on Good Friday and the midnight Resurrection Mass with candles in hand.
Classical tragedies performed at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and in the original Theatre of Epidaurus, built 2,400 years ago.
Patron saint festivals on every island, with rebetiko music, sirtaki dancing and an open table through the night until dawn.
The most widely attended religious feast of the summer, especially on the island of Tinos, a major pilgrimage centre.
The Assyrtiko harvest in the volcanic vineyards, with harvest experiences and tastings at the wineries.
The country's most important film festival, held in Greece's second city — vibrant and steeped in Byzantine history.
Real reviews from clients, rotating automatically.
Real stories from CocoVolare travellers in Greece. Rotating every 6 seconds. Pauses on hover.
We entered the Acropolis at eight in the morning, with the site almost empty and an archaeologist who explained every stone. By the time the tour buses arrived, we were already on our way back down. CocoVolare understood that the moment mattered as much as the place.
The private sailboat through the Cyclades changed everything. We anchored in coves no road could reach, the cook served fish caught that morning and no one else shared our horizon. It is not a cruise: it is another country entirely.
We were married in Imerovigli at sunset, with the entire caldera as our witness. CocoVolare arranged the vow renewal, the photographer and the music as if they had spent years doing it for us alone. We both wept.
I travelled alone and never felt alone. The Peloponnese driver, the guides, the hotel staff — by the third day they all knew my name. CocoVolare builds an invisible network that holds the whole trip together.
We cooked moussaka with a yiayia in Naxos, tasted Assyrtiko at Domaine Sigalas and had lunch at a market with an Athens chef. I thought I knew Mediterranean cuisine. Greece proved I hadn't understood it at all.
No unnecessary disclaimers, no inflated marketing copy. These are the questions Greece travellers ask us most.
Tell us what excites you and we will have a tailor-made proposal in your hands in under 24 hours, with a dedicated travel designer.
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"The private sailboat through the Cyclades changed everything. It is not a cruise: it is another country entirely."· Javier Mendoza · Mexico City
