10-Day Greece Itinerary: Corfu, Lefkada & Athens

Planning a trip to Greece and looking for an itinerary that goes beyond Santorini and Mykonos? This 10-day Greece itinerary combines two of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea, Corfu and Lefkada, with the historic capital of Athens.

Photographer Hector Ruiz Golobart and I followed this exact route during our Greece adventure and loved how diverse it felt. One day we were wandering through the Venetian streets of Corfu Town, the next we were hiking down to hidden beaches in Lefkada or watching the sunset over the Acropolis in Athens.

Over 10 days, this itinerary offers the perfect balance of beaches, culture, scenic drives, charming villages, and ancient history. Whether you’re visiting Greece for the first time or looking for a different side of the country, this route showcases some of its most beautiful and diverse landscapes and experiences.

Before You Start

For this itinerary, I highly recommend renting a car in Corfu and keeping it until Athens. Most ferry companies allow vehicles on board, making it easy to bring your rental car from Corfu to the mainland.

We actually rented one car in Corfu and a second one in Igoumenitsa before driving to Lefkada and Athens. Looking back, keeping the same vehicle for the entire trip would have been significantly cheaper and more convenient.

While this route can also be done in reverse, we loved ending our trip in Athens. The Greek capital was the perfect finale after a week spent exploring the Ionian Islands. If you’re not ready to leave Greece after Athens, the capital is also the perfect gateway to the Cyclades. From the Port of Piraeus, regular ferries & flights connect Athens with the Cyclades islands such as Santorini, Paros, Milos, Naxos, and Mykonos, making it easy to continue your adventure with an island-hopping trip.

Days 1-4: Corfu

Begin your Greece adventure on the beautiful Ionian island of Corfu. With an international airport serving destinations across Europe, Corfu is one of the easiest Greek islands to reach and a convenient starting point for your trip.

Spend your first two days wandering through Corfu Town (Kerkyra), the UNESCO-listed old town of Corfu. Explore the Venetian fortifications, historic churches, and charming alleyways before heading to the island’s spectacular west coast.

It offers a completely different panorama: dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, turquoise water and some of the island’s most spectacular viewpoints. Don’t miss Palaiokastritsa Monastery, Afionas, Porto Timoni and Cape Drastis.

Corfu offers the perfect balance between history, nature, and beach life, making it an ideal introduction to Greece.

👉 Read my complete Corfu Travel Guide for the best things to do, the best photo spots, where to stay & where to eat!

Best Tours and Experiences in Corfu

・Guided walking tour of Corfu town (the best way to learn about the rich history of Corfu Town and its link to the Republic of Venice)
・Day trip to Paxos and Antipaxos islands (two hidden gem islands)
・Rent a self-drive boat (the best way to discover stunning hidden beaches)
・Boat tour from Palaiokastritsa (if you don’t feel like driving your own boat)
・Olive tour with olive oil tasting and mezze (Corfu olive oil was one of my favorite)

Best Places to Stay in Corfu

・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa (most iconic hotel in Corfu)
・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bella Venezia (great hotel in Corfu town)
・Travellers Corfu Town (great budget option in Corfu town)
・Domus Napoleon (great budget option in Palaiokastritsa)

Days 5-8: Lefkada

Leave Corfu in the morning and take the ferry to Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland. The ferry crossing takes approximately 1.5 hours (for less than 10€pp) and offers beautiful views of the Ionian coastline. From Igoumenitsa, continue by car to Lefkada, a scenic drive of around 2.5 hours.

Tip: If you rented a car in Corfu, I highly recommend keeping the same vehicle for both Corfu and Lefkada if your rental company allows it. We chose to rent one car in Corfu and another in Igoumenitsa because we thought it would be cheaper… only to discover later that DiscoverCars had a rental location in Athens. In hindsight, it would have been far more affordable to keep the same car all the way to Athens, even with the ferry costs.

Lefkada is famous for having some of the most spectacular beaches in Greece and you will quickly understand why. My favorite beaches include Porto Katsiki, Mylos Beach and Pefkoulia. Cape Lefkada, the southernmost point of the island, is also a beautiful sunset spot. And if you have extra time, visit one of the traditional villages like Karya or Egklouvi.

Some of our favorite moments were driving around the island and stopping at countless viewpoints overlooking the turquoise Ionian Sea.

👉 You’ll find everything you need to plan your stay in my complete Lefkada Travel Guide.

Best Tours and Experiences in Lefkada

・Waterfalls, Wineries & Olive Oil Tour
・Boat tour to the Forgotten Islands
・Blue Caves Kayak Tour & Snorkeling

Best Places to Stay in Lefkada

・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Crystal Waters Lefkada (most iconic hotel in Lefkada)
・See all hotel options in Lefkada

Days 9 & 10: Athens

Leave Lefkada in the morning and drive east towards Athens. The journey takes around 4 hours, passing through mountain landscapes and coastal scenery before reaching the Greek capital. Once in Athens, return your rental car and explore the city on foot or by public transportation. Most of the main attractions are located within walking distance of one another.

Finish your Greece adventure in Athens, the birthplace of democracy and one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Spend the next two days exploring the Acropolis and its remarkable monuments, wandering through the historic neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki, discovering ancient ruins such as the Roman Agora, and watching the Evzones perform their ceremonial march outside the Greek Parliament.

For sunset, head to Filopappou Hill, Areopagus Hill, or Lycabettus Hill for breathtaking views over the city and the Acropolis.

👉 You will find all of the best things to do and best photo spots in Athens in my full Athens Travel Guide.

Best Tours and Experiences in Athens

・Acropolis & Museum ticket
・Saronic Islands day tour (Hydra, Poros, and Aegina)
・Athens Greek Food tour
・Cape Sounion & Poseidon Temple sunset half day tour

Best Places to Stay in Athens

・⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ St George Lycabettus (great hotel in Kolonaki, Athens)
・Pallineon House (great budget options in Petralona, Athens)
・Eternal Acropolis Suite (great budget options in Psyri, Athens)

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is May, June, September, or October, when the weather is warm and crowds are more manageable.

July and August are peak season, with very high temperatures (which can exceed 40°C during heatwaves) and busier conditions in both Athens and across the islands. This can make sightseeing during the middle of the day quite challenging. That’s why I recommend the shoulder season in spring and autumn, when it’s cooler, generally more affordable, and less crowded.

February can also be a great time to visit for Apokries (Greek Carnival), when parades, concerts, and street food fill the streets.

Extend Your Trip

One of the biggest advantages of finishing in Athens is that it also serves as a fantastic gateway to the Greek islands. If you have more time, consider adding Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Milos, or other Cycladic islands after your mainland adventure.

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Combining Corfu, Lefkada, and Athens gives you a wonderful introduction to Greece, allowing you to experience the lush landscapes and crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Islands before ending your journey among the ancient landmarks, rich history, and vibrant neighborhoods of the capital.

I hope this guide will be useful as you plan your trip and help you make the most of your time in Greece. If you have any questions or need additional recommendations, feel free to send me a DM!

With love,
Marina

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