Best of Greece Tour Review: An Insider’s Honest Take (I’ve Led This Tour 20+ Times)

I’ve led the Best of Greece tour more than 20 times. I’ve watched hundreds of travellers fall in love with this country—from their first glimpse of the Acropolis to sunset cocktails in Santorini. This isn’t a generic Best of Greece tour review pieced together from research. This is an insider’s honest assessment from someone who’s lived this itinerary dozens of times.

In October 2019, I led my first Best of Greece itinerary with Expat Explore. It was the last Greece tour before COVID shut everything down. When Greece reopened in July 2021—one of the first European countries to welcome tourists back—I got the call to lead Expat’s first post-COVID departures.

In 2022, I requested to work exclusively on Greece tours. My boss agreed, and I’ve led countless Best of Greece tours since then, becoming Expat Explore’s unofficial Greece expert. I consult with their product team on itinerary improvements and have written detailed guides on Athens, Meteora, Mykonos, and Santorini.

This Best of Greece tour review covers everything: the complete itinerary, what’s included (and what’s not), optional excursions, accommodation standards, and whether this tour is worth your money. If you’re considering a group tour of Greece, this review will help you decide if the Best of Greece is the right fit.

Best of Greece Tour: Quick Overview

The tour is called “Best of Greece” because it genuinely covers the most sought-after destinations in the country. While Greece offers far more to explore, this 12-day Best of Greece tour review confirms it hits every must-see location for first-time visitors:

• Athens- The capital city and home to the Acropolis
• Meteora- Awe-inspiring cliff monasteries that appear to float in the sky
• Ancient Wonders- Delphi (home of the oracle), Olympia (birthplace of the Olympic Games), and Mycenae (the famous Lion Gate)
• Mykonos and Santorini- Greece’s two most famous islands

Tour Details:

• Duration: 12 days (Athens to Athens)
• Departures: May-June and September-October only (best weather, fewer crowds, better prices than peak July-August)
• Group Size: Maximum 30-40 travelers
• Age Range: No upper limit (typical range: 20s-60s)
• If 12 days feels too long, the tour splits into two shorter options:
  • Taste of Greece- 7-day mainland tour (Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae)
  • Athens, Mykonos & Santorini- 7-day islands tour (Mykonos & Santorni)

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The Mainland Experience: Taste of Greece (Days 1-7)

The first half of this Best of Greece tour review covers the mainland portion — and can be purchased as a separate tour called the “Taste of Greece.” This feels like a traditional coach tour: structured sightseeing, archaeological sites, and nightly hotel changes. It’s more fast-paced than the island portion but never rushed.

Day 1: Athens Arrival & City Walking Tour

The tour begins mid-morning at your Athens hotel, so book pre-tour accommodation (either at the start hotel or somewhere central if arriving early). After meeting your tour leader and fellow travelers, you’ll take a walking tour through Athens’ historic center—Syntagma Square, Plaka neighborhood, and the ancient Agora area.

Free time follows, with an optional Athens Food Tour available. I highly recommend this if you’re interested in Greek cuisine—you’ll sample everything from souvlaki to loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) while learning about food culture. Otherwise, explore independently before the included welcome dinner where you’ll bond with your group over traditional Greek dishes.

Day 2: Athens to Meteora via Thermopylae

Checkout at 9:00 AM (no early wake-ups yet!), then board the coach for the tour’s longest drive day. Don’t worry—it’s only 4.5 hours total with strategic breaks. You’ll stop for coffee, lunch, and a photo opportunity at Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans famously held off the Persian Empire (yes, the movie “300” is based on real events that happened right here).

Arriving in Kalambaka around 3:00 PM, you’ll visit a local icon workshop (religious art) before checking into your hotel. Then comes one of my favorite moments of the entire Best of Greece tour review experience: the evening drive up to Meteora’s cliff monasteries.

This is when people fall in love with Greece. The moment they see Byzantine monasteries perched on towering rock pillars, appearing to float 400 meters above the valley, their faces transform. Big smiles, cameras out, the group starts bonding—it’s magical. If timing works out (and I always try to make it work), you’ll catch sunset up there, painting the rocks in golden light.

An included dinner at the hotel is followed by free time to explore Kalambaka town. I always send guests to Louloumania for loukoumades, Feel the Rocks rooftop bar for cocktails with monastery views, and the main street for souvenir shopping.

Day 3: Meteora Monasteries to Delphi

Morning free time or join the optional Monasteries of Meteora tour to explore the interiors. I call this a must-do in any Best of Greece tour review—the monasteries are stunning inside, with incredible frescoes, artifacts, and the famous winch system at Varlaam that monks used to haul supplies up the cliffs. Plus, you get more time in those breathtaking mountains.

After regrouping at lunch, two short drives (about 3 hours total) bring you to Delphi, ancient home of the Oracle of Apollo. The archaeological site closes before you arrive, so enjoy a free afternoon exploring this charming mountain town before another included dinner.

Unlike larger tour companies that stay in distant cities and commute to sites, Expat Explore books hotels in quiet local towns like Delphi. This means less driving, more authenticity, and—importantly—you arrive at archaeological sites before the crowds.

Day 4: Delphi Archaeological Site to Olympia

You’ll be first through the gates when Delphi opens. Explore independently or join the optional guided tour with Penny, Expat’s local expert (and she’s genuinely phenomenal—brings 2,500 years of history to life). She’ll explain why Delphi was considered the center of the ancient world and help you visualize the grandeur of the Temple of Apollo when it was intact.

By 11:00 AM, you’re heading to Olympia on the Peloponnese peninsula. But first: lunch on tiny Trizonia Island in the Gulf of Corinth. This requires a short boat crossing to a car-free island with incredible seaside tavernas serving fresh seafood and Greek classics. It’s an unexpected highlight that guests rave about—one of those special touches that make the Best of Greece tour so positive.

Evening arrival in Olympia means either a free night or an optional Greek dancing dinner. Trust me—do the dancing dinner. It’s hilarious, the food is excellent, and you’ll learn traditional Greek dances (and definitely embarrass yourself, but so will everyone else).

Day 5: Olympia to Nafplio via Ancient Stadium

Morning brings an included guided tour of Olympia’s archaeological site—the birthplace of the Olympic Games. You’ll walk through ancient training facilities, temples, and yes, you can run on the original 2,700-year-old Olympic stadium track. Incredible photo opportunity and genuinely moving experience.

Afternoon drive brings you to Nafplio, another unexpected gem in this Best of Greece tour review. This Venetian-built seaside town has serious Italian vibes with Greek character—think colorful harbors, fortress-topped hills, gelato shops, and waterfront cocktail bars. Perfect for relaxing after days of archaeological sites.

Optional excursion to Epidaurus ancient theatre if you want more ruins (it’s the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece with mind-blowing acoustics—guides demonstrate by whispering from the stage, audible 55 rows back).

Day 6: Mycenae to Athens

Final mainland morning visits Mycenae, one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites. It’s more barren than others (predates them by 1,000 years), but the famous Lion Gate and Treasury of Atreus (Agamemnon’s tomb) are fascinating. Then it’s back to Athens to meet the new island-tour members.

Mainland Pace Assessment: Despite changing hotels nightly, this Best of Greece tour review finds the pace surprisingly relaxed. Short drives (never more than 4.5 hours), small destinations with limited must-sees, and only two early mornings (Delphi and Olympia before 8:00 AM). You have time to breathe, explore, and enjoy rather than constantly rushing.

The Islands Experience: Mykonos & Santorini (Days 7-12)

Day 7 marks a dramatic shift in this Best of Greece tour review. When the mainland tour returns to Athens, new island-only guests join for a welcome lunch. Then everyone takes an included city driving tour with a local guide, followed by an optional guided Acropolis tour before an early night (ferry departs early tomorrow).

Important change: The coach and driver don’t come to the islands. At Rafina port, your driver says goodbye, and you walk onto the ferry with your luggage. This transforms from a coach tour into an island-hopping adventure.

On the islands, inclusions are minimal: ferries, port transfers, accommodation, and orientation tours with your tour leader. Everything else is free time or optional paid excursions. This is intentional—Mykonos and Santorini are expensive, so the budget goes to quality hotels rather than included activities.

Days 8-9: Mykonos (2 Nights)

Arrival just after lunch means immediate hotel check-in and pool time (most Mykonos hotels have pools). Late afternoon brings an orientation tour of Mykonos Town with your leader—iconic windmills, Little Venice waterfront, and sunset viewing from the perfect spots.

No included dinners on islands, but leaders typically organise group restaurant bookings to maintain the tour vibe. Then it’s your choice: return to the hotel or experience Mykonos’ legendary nightlife.

Full free day follows—no early alarms (island breakfasts don’t open until 8:00 AM anyway). Options: shopping in Mykonos Town, beach time getting sun and swimming, or the optional Delos & Rhenia boat cruise.

Delos is one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites, but honestly? By this point in the Best of Greece tour itinerary, most people are exhausted by ancient ruins. That’s why Expat’s cruise is brilliant—it combines Delos with Rhenia Island’s turquoise bays for swimming and an onboard BBQ lunch. History plus beach time equals happy travellers.

Days 10-12: Santorini (3 Nights)

Mid-morning transfer to Mykonos port, then a 2.5-hour ferry to Santorini. Another transfer bus waits at Santorini port to bring you to your hotel. Like Mykonos arrival: check-in, pool time, then evening orientation tour into Fira, Santorini’s dramatic cliffside capital.

Seeing Santorini’s white-washed buildings cascading down the caldera cliff for the first time—it never gets old, even after 20+ tours. Cocktails with volcanic crater views, souvenir shopping, and a sunset dinner make for a perfect Santorini welcome.

With three nights (rare luxury on European tours), you have two full free days. Optional excursions available:

Santorini Highlights Tour: Coach tour covering the main island—black sand beaches, charming villages like Megalochori, and particularly Oia, the iconic blue-domed-church village. Going with the local guide helps avoid peak crowds and finds the best photo spots.

Caldera Boat Cruise: Explores the volcanic islands in Santorini’s crater. You’ll hike the active volcano (30 minutes, panoramic views), swim in thermal springs, have lunch on tiny Thirassia island, and return by late afternoon.

Final evening brings a farewell group dinner celebrating an incredible 12-day journey. Next morning, an included flight returns everyone to Athens where the tour officially ends. Expect group hugs, tears, and promises to stay in touch (which people actually do—I’ve seen lasting friendships form on this tour).

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Experience This Epic Greece Journey Yourself

After leading 20+ Best of Greece tours, I’ve seen this itinerary transform sceptical first-time group travellers into enthusiastic advocates. The balance of structure and freedom, ancient history and modern relaxation, guided expertise and independent exploration—it works.

Three tour options:

• Best of Greece (12 days): Complete mainland + islands
• Taste of Greece (7 days): Mainland archaeological focus
• Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (7 days): Islands and capital

Save 5% on any tour with code: TOURLEADERSJOURNAL

Still deciding if group tours are right for you? Read my complete guide on why group tours are worth considering.

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Accommodation Standards: What to Expect

Hotels on the Best of Greece tour review are typical Greek 3-star properties—nothing fancy, but generally satisfying. Here’s my honest assessment after staying in these hotels 20+ times:

Athens: Can be hit-or-miss. Athens hotels in the budget range are basic, sometimes dated. You’re rarely in them except for sleeping, so it matters less than you’d think.

Mainland towns: Small, family-run hotels with local character. Clean, comfortable, authentic. These are my favorites—you feel like you’re staying in the real Greece, not tourist-resort Greece.

Island Hotels: Higher standard than mainland. Both Mykonos and Santorini hotels feature pools and convenient locations near main towns. Since these islands are among Europe’s most expensive destinations, Expat invests heavily in accommodation quality here, which explains fewer included activities.

Ferry Travel: What You Need to Know

At Rafina port, you walk onto the ferry independently—no assistance with luggage. This makes the tour’s strict luggage requirement critical: one suitcase plus small daypack (backpack size). You don’t want to be hauling unnecessary bags on and off ferries.

Suitcases get stored in the car hold area. I recommend not leaving valuables inside—there’s nothing preventing someone from taking your bag. In 20+ tours, I’ve never had a suitcase go missing, but better safe than sorry. Keep valuables in your daypack with you.

Ferries vary in standard but all have assigned airplane-style seating. You can walk around freely, buy snacks, and enjoy views of ports along the route. Journeys are usually smooth, though wind can make crossings rougher—bring seasickness medication if you’re prone to it.

Tour Pace and Physical Requirements

Compared to other Expat Explore tours, this Best of Greece tour review rates the pace as quite easy-going. While Expat prides itself on action-packed itineraries, Greece moves at a Mediterranean rhythm.

Mainland portion: Daily hotel changes but short drives (maximum 4.5 hours). Small destinations with focused attractions mean you see everything without rushing. Limited early mornings (only Delphi and Olympia require 8:00 AM starts).

Island portion: Even more relaxed. Two nights in Mykonos, three nights in Santorini (very rare for European tours). Breakfast doesn’t open until 8:00 AM, so no rushing. Free days mean you control the pace entirely.

Physical difficulty: Walking is gentle—strolls through archaeological sites, not hours of hiking. However, Greece is mountainous. Meteora and Delphi both require climbing significant stairs. If mobility is a concern, these sites might be challenging, though you can skip them and wait at cafes while others explore.

Who Should Book This Tour (And Who Shouldn’t)

This Best of Greece Tour is Perfect For:

• First-time Greece visitors who want to see highlights without planning stress
• Busy professionals with limited vacation time wanting maximum experience
• Solo travelerslooking to explore with a built-in social group
• History enthusiasts excited about ancient sites with expert guides
• Couples wanting structure mixed with romantic island downtime
• Anyone who values convenience, local expertise, and meeting fellow travellers

Consider Alternative Options If You:

• Prefer ultra-luxury experiences(this is comfortable 3-star, not 5-star luxury)
• Want complete independence(there are scheduled activities and group dynamics)
• Have severe mobility limitations(stairs at Meteora and Delphi are unavoidable)
• Want deep immersion in one place(this covers breadth, not depth)
• Dislike group settings(though groups are small, you’ll be together daily)

Should You Do Just Mainland or Just Islands?

This Best of Greece tour review acknowledges that 12 days might not work for everyone’s schedule. Here’s how to choose between the shorter 7-day options:

Choose Taste of Greece (Mainland Only) If:

• You have only one week vacation time
• Your primary interest is ancient history and archaeology
• You prefer organized touring over independent beach time
• You plan to visit Greek islands independently later

Many couples do exactly this — join the organised mainland tour to efficiently see historical sites, then travel independently to islands for romantic downtime at their own pace.

Choose Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (Islands Only) If:

• You’ve already explored mainland Greece
• You’re more interested in beaches and island culture than ruins
• You prefer a slower pace with more relaxation time
• You want guaranteed good weather (islands are more reliable than mainland)

Getting the Best Price: Money-Saving Tips

As someone who’s worked for Expat Explore on the road and in the office, I know exactly how to maximise value. Here are insider tips for getting the best price on group tours:

• Book early: As seats sell, the price of the tour goes up. Early booking often means better prices and more departure date options. May and October departures are typically cheaper but not as good for swimming due to cooler seas.
• Pay in pounds: Expat Explore is based in the UK and operates in British Pounds. Paying in dollars will cost you conversion fees. When booking, switch to the UK site (you’ll need a VPN), it’ll be up to 10% cheaper.
• Get a discount: If it’s your first Expat Explore tour, use my promo code ‘TOURLEADERSJOURNAL‘ for a 5% discount. If you’ve travelled with Expat before, tick the returning traveller box to claim your 10% discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Is the Best of Greece Tour Worth It?

After leading this tour 20+ times and watching hundreds of travellers experience Greece, my honest Best of Greece tour review conclusion: Yes, it’s absolutely worth it—if you value efficiency, expert guidance, and meeting fellow travellers.

What makes this tour exceptional:

• Comprehensive coverage – You see more in 12 days than most independent travellers manage in three weeks
• Perfect balance – Structured mainland touring meets laid-back island freedom
• Local expertise – Guides like Penny at Delphi bring history to life
• Hidden gems – Trizonia Island lunch, Nafplio’s charm, sunset at Meteora—surprises everywhere
• Social atmosphere – Small groups (max 30-40) form genuine friendships
• Hassle-free logistics – No ferry bookings, hotel research, or transport stress
• Excellent value – Comparable quality independent travel costs significantly more when you factor in time spent planning

Minor drawbacks:

• Athens hotel can be basic – But you’re rarely there
• Daily hotel changes on mainland – Though drives are short
• Limited inclusions on islands – But high-quality hotels compensate
• Some optional excursions feel like upsells – Though they’re genuinely good experiences

The bottom line from my Best of Greece tour review: If you want to see Greece’s greatest hits without planning stress, meet like-minded travelers, and benefit from insider knowledge, this tour delivers. The itinerary works, the pace is manageable, and the memories last forever.

I’ve watched people arrive as strangers and leave as lifelong friends. I’ve seen history buffs tear up at Olympia and party animals find peace in Santorini sunsets. I’ve watched families bond, couples reconnect, and solo travelers discover confidence. That’s the magic of this tour.

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Ready to Start Your Greece Adventure?

After 20+ tours, I stand behind this itinerary completely. You’ll experience the Greece I fell in love with—ancient wonders, island magic, incredible food, and warm hospitality. Three ways to explore:

1. Best of Greece (12 days) – Complete mainland and islands experience
2. Taste of Greece (7 days) – Mainland archaeological deep dive
3. Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (7 days) – Island-hopping with capital city

Exclusive discount: Save 5% with code ‘TOURLEADERSJOURNAL‘

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Questions about Expat Explore? Read my comprehensive Expat Explore company review