Working with a budget? Don't want to hop planes and ferries to get around? The mainland of Greece has everything you are looking for all within a few hours drive. You can even see some islands and be back in Athens by nightfall.
Day 1
Get into the setting of Greece and learn the lay of the land with a walking tour of the Parthenon/Acropolis and surrounding historical areas of Athens. Spend the afternoon exploring the Plaka or go to the Acropolis museum.
Day 2
Some suggestions:
Day 3
See 3 islands in one day on this memorable day on the sea. This 3 island tour goes to Hydra, Poros and Aegina.
or
for a more in-depth experience, take the ferry to 1 island for the day. I recommend Hydra! Hydra is a beautiful auto free island with all the quintessential charm you could want in a Greek island and so many nooks and crannies to explore!
Day 4
Stop at Delphi on your way to Meteora and see what the oracle has to tell you.
Day 5
Explore this Unesco World Heritage Site that looks like something out of this world. Visit the monasteries and soak in the surroundings.
Day 6
Enjoy a drive from Meteora along the Gulf of Corinth to Nafplio, your home base for the next few days. Nafplio is generally considered to be the most beautiful town on mainland Greece, has enough activities and sites of its own to keep you busy (3 castles!!) and makes a great jumping-off point for the Peloponnese region. Stretch your legs after your drive with a walking tour.
Day 7
Enjoy a day in the beautiful town of Nafplio. Explore the castles, find the beach, try some of the many wonderful restaurants, shop to your hearts content, join a catamaran cruise or just find a beautiful spot and just relax!
Day 8
From your home base in Nafplio, join a tour or take off in your rental car and enjoy the drive through the countryside to the historic sites of Epidaurus and Mycenae. Finish your day in one of the beautiful Tavernas in Nafplio.
Day 9
On your way back to Athens, drive through Corinth, make sure to take in the ancient site of Acrocorinth and the amazing Corinth Canal.
Whether you would like the quintessential Greek island experience of Santorini, or party a little (or a lot) on Mykonos, or have a quieter, more local experience on Milos, Crete or Corfu, Greece has an island that is sure to delight you.