There’s plenty of travel destinations that are easy to plan out, however certain countries can be a bit more complicated and require a lot of planning and coordination, especially for hopping the Greek islands. That’s why in the post I’ll be documenting how to plan a trip to Greece for a girls trip. I’m heading out in a few weeks and after I get back I’ll also complete a follow up post that will detail how the trip went and what worked/didn’t work.

🌱 Greece is one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations – and it’s also leading the way in sustainable Mediterranean tourism. From solar-powered hotels in Santorini to eco-certified boat tours in Mykonos, you can experience the magic of the Greek islands while traveling responsibly.

For my trip it will be a group of 4 girls (including myself), but feel free to modify for your specific trip (e.g., couples, family, etc.).

How to Plan a Trip to Greece

How Far in Advance to Book a Flight to Greece

One of the first things to consider is when is the best time of year to go to Greece? Of course you’ll first consider July/August , typically because that’s usually the easiest to travel and everyone usually has that week off. That’s actually when I’ll be going because the week of 4th of July is just easier for all of our schedules.

However if have more flexibility I would recommend shoulder seasons such as May/June or September. You don’t want to go too far outside of the summer because in Greece many stores and restaurants do not open in the off season. You’ll beat the crowds, but there’s a chance you may not get to visit any of the cool places you see online.

🌱 Traveling in May, June, or September isn’t just about beating crowds and saving money, it’s one of the most impactful sustainable choices you can make. Here’s why:

• Reduces overtourism: Santorini and Mykonos experience severe crowding in July/August, straining local resources (water is especially scarce on the islands)
• Supports local economy year-round: Many seasonal workers struggle when tourism is concentrated in 2 months
• Lower environmental impact: Fewer cruise ships, less waste generation, reduced strain on infrastructure
• Better experience for you: More authentic interactions with locals, less environmental degradation and if July/August is your only option, consider visiting lesser-known islands like Paros, Naxos, or Milos where overtourism is less severe.

Our Planning Process & Why Use a Travel Planning Template

My trip was a bit last minute because we didn’t know if we were actually going to go on the trip for a while. We bought our tickets in April 2025 for a trip in July 2025. However if you’re wondering when is the best time to buy a flight to Greece, I would say a range of 3-6 months before you go, but earlier if you plan to go in July.

All of our planning was done in a Google document which got super messy and confusing with all of the random links and recommendations that we got from people who have gone already. If I could go back in time I wish I would’ve convinced my friends to just use a planning template to make organization easier. There’s so much to consider regarding timing, booking ferries, etc. that it would just be easier to keep things in a spreadsheet that make things simple. (Check mine out below!)

My super easy to use Google Sheets Itinerary Template, makes it a breeze to list out the travelers joining, auto-calculates hotel fees & activity prices, helps you organize and track your daily itinerary, and more!

Which island to visit in Greece?

After booking flights we first needed to figure out our travel plan and what islands we would hop to. There are literally 6,000 Greek islands! So you’ll want to narrow down which ones you’ll want to prioritize.

When you’re figuring out your Greece island hopping itinerary, consider what your travel priorities are. For example if you’re interested in partying and nightlife you’ll definitely want to spend some time at Mykonos, however if you want a more chill vibe with slightly less tourist you’ll want to go to Paros or Naxos.

For my trip we decided to stay on the main islands (Mykonos and Santorini) and if time permits do a day trip to one of the smaller islands. I believe one of our day tours on a boat actually stops at a different island!

You’ll really want to spend time researching this because once you’re set it can be difficult to rebook ferries or flights!

+ Choosing Islands Responsibly

Greece deals with tons of overtourism espcially in the summer months. To decrease the strain on resources you may also want to consider some less popular spot: Paros, Naxos, Milos or Folegandros. They may not be as exciting or lively as Mykonos, but if you prefer a quieter vacation this might be a good option!

Where to Stay When Planning a Trip to Greece

+ Eco-Luxury Hotels in Athens, Mykonos & Santorini

An important thing to consider if you’re wondering how to plan a trip to Greece is hotel booking. This is something you’ll want to do immediately after getting your flight! The islands are small and there’s not an infinite number of hotels so you’ll want to try to get the best one. I’ll list out the ones we chose and later will provide reviews on my follow up post!

Athens Hotel: Vasi Boutique

• Athens – Vasi Boutique Hotel: This hotel seemed to be great for groups and had very modern decor. Some of the suites fit 5 people and also include a jacuzzi on the balcony.
• 🌱 Green Hotel – Electra Metropolis Athens is a green key certified hotel for the most luxurious guests!

Mykonos Hotel: Casa Centro Mykonos

• Mykonos – Casa Centro Mykonos: We really loved the location of this hotel given that it’s right in the center/downtown area. We wanted it to be easy to get to bars and restaurants, however there is a potential downside of being close to noise very late at night.
• 🌱 Green Hotel – Kalesma Mykonos is a brand new hotel, however it is Greece’s first LEED Gold certified (fancy way of saying its super sustainable and energy efficient!)

Santorini Hotel: Uma Ray Suites

• Santorini – Uma Ray Suites – This is probably the nicest accommodation we are staying at and it has the highest nightly rate (why not be a little bougie for a night or two!). I’m definitely looking forward to seeing if experience matches the photos online!
• 🌱 Green Hotel – Mystique Santorini is built into a caldera and is committed to sustainability and social responsibility throgh its use of solar energy and partnerships with local farmers!

Athens Hotel: Philia Boutique Hotel

• Athens (Return) – Philia Boutique Hotel: Another really nice spot, but we’re barely staying in it since we leave the next morning for our flights back to the US! It does look very nice and could be a great place to stay if you’re spending more time in Athens.

If you need help searching for hotels while you’re trying to figure out how to plan a trip to Greece, consider requesting a travel advisor (like myself!) to do the work for you! I’ve booked hotels and completed itineraries for previous clients and would love to create a trip of a lifetime for you!

Things to Do in Greece

You’ll see tons of advice (especially on TikTok) about places to go and food to eat, but I don’t want to recommend any specific spots until I get back!

One of the things I’m super excited about is this boat cruise we’re doing in Mykonos. I’ll share tour information after it’s over and let you know how it goes!

Nightlife is also something we’ve heard a lot about and I’m for sure looking forward to it. Right ow we have a ton of places on our list such as Pacman, Lio Club, Zuma, Scorpios (but get a reservation!), 180 Sunset bar, and more! Many places you’ll need a reservation for dinner to get a good spot, but I’m more of a “where the wind takes me” kinda girl when it comes to nightlife.

Final Thoughts

This is probably one of the most complicated trips I’ve planned in a while and completing a Greece itinerary for a 7 day trip will require a lot of coordination. There’s tons of moving parts, especially when there’s other people to consider. However, I’m very excited and can’t wait to tell you guys about how it all goes!

While you wait for my follow up post, check out a few blog posts on my other travel experiences:

• What to Pack for an International Vacation
• Solo Trip to Barcelona Guide
• What to Pack for a Trip to Peru