None of these three islands has an airport, so every arrival and departure runs by sea — book the Athens–Sifnos leg well ahead, since it sails only two or three times a day even in summer. The short Sifnos–Milos and Milos–Folegandros hops are more forgiving, but Folegandros' thin schedule punishes a missed sailing badly, so pad the exit day.

Cyclades · 9 days

Western Cyclades in 9 days

This route skips the headline islands for three quieter western Cyclades, each earning three nights rather than a rushed two. Sifnos, Milos, and Folegandros share a slower, food-and-landscape-focused character, and the itinerary suits travelers who have already done Santorini and Mykonos and want the version of Greece with fewer people in it.

Day by day

Day 1 Athens (Piraeus)
Athens supplies the Acropolis and a night in Plaka before the fast ferry to Sifnos, a 2h 45m crossing.
Athens (Piraeus) → Sifnos · 2h 45m · from €58
Day 2–4 Sifnos
Sifnos runs on food and craft rather than nightlife: the hilltop capital Apollonia, the fortified village of Kastro, and the potters' workshops fill three nights before a 35-minute ferry to Milos, one of the shortest hops in the Cyclades.
Sifnos → Milos · 35m · from €30
Day 5–7 Milos
Milos spends its three nights on the Sarakiniko moonscape, a boat trip around the Kleftiko sea caves, and the village of Plaka above the old catacombs; the fast ferry to Folegandros takes about 1h 05m.
Milos → Folegandros · 1h 05m · from €42
Day 8–9 Folegandros
Folegandros closes the trip with its cliff-edge Chora, the farmhouses of Ano Meria, and Agali beach, before flying home from Santorini or backtracking through Athens.

Western Cyclades Western Cyclades, slow 9 nights · from €470

Times, prices and frequencies are indicative and change by season and operator. Always confirm the live timetable before you book.