10-Day Greek Islands Hopper — Santorini, Mykonos and Crete

Yes — Greece is part of the Schengen area. Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa, applied through the Greek Embassy or consulate. The visa fee is around €80 (approximately ₹7,200). Processing takes 2–4 weeks. The Schengen visa allows travel to all 27 Schengen-area countries.

April to June and September to October are the best months — warm enough for swimming, cooler than the scorching July–August peak, and far less crowded. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months but the sea is at its warmest. Santorini and Mykonos are best avoided in August if you dislike crowds.

By ferry (most popular) or by domestic flight. Ferries from Athens's Piraeus port connect to most islands — Santorini is about 8 hours on the slow ferry, 2 hours on the high-speed catamaran. Inter-island ferries connect Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and others easily. We book and include all ferries in the package.

It has more options than most European countries — Greek salad, spanakopita (spinach pie), falafel, hummus, grilled vegetables, bread with olive oil, and fresh fruit are widely available. Seafood and meat are central to the cuisine, so some planning is needed, but vegetarians are not left out.

Yes — the Aegean Sea stays warm through October, often 24–26°C in September. September is considered by many Greeks to be the best swimming month: warm sea, fewer tourists, lower prices and pleasant evening temperatures.