Start at the Mount Srđ Cable Car station in Ploče, just outside the Old Town. The ride takes only a few minutes, but allow about an hour for the summit viewpoints and café terrace—the panorama over the orange roofs, Lokrum, and the Adriatic is one of Dubrovnik’s best introductions. In August, go around 4:30–5:00pm when the heat begins to ease, though the cable car can have queues; return tickets are roughly €27–€30, and taxis are easier than driving because parking near the station is limited. Back in the Old Town, walk through Ploče Gate to the Dubrovnik Cathedral, usually open into the early evening outside service times. Allow 45 minutes for the Baroque interior and treasury, with entry to the treasury generally around €3–€5; dress respectfully and check the door hours if arriving close to closing.
From the cathedral, wander west along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s polished limestone main street. This is the nicest time to stroll: the stone reflects the fading light, tour groups thin out, and side lanes reveal small stairways and quiet doorways. After roughly 45 minutes, continue toward the southern walls and follow the signs for Buža Bar, reached through a small opening in the city walls. It is a simple, exposed cliffside bar rather than a full-service beach club, so order a cold beer or a drink, settle on the rocks, and watch swimmers and boats below. Bring cash as a backup, wear shoes with a decent grip, and arrive before sunset for the best tables; conditions and opening hours can vary with the weather.
Finish at Proto, a long-established seafood restaurant in the Old Town, ideally with a reservation for around 7:30–8:00pm. Expect approximately €35–€60 per person before wine, depending on the catch and starters; grilled fish, shellfish, and local Ston oysters are good choices, while the terrace is particularly pleasant after dark. The restaurant is an easy walk from Buža Bar, but allow time for the steep, polished lanes and crowds around Stradun. After dinner, take a relaxed final lap through the quieter side streets rather than lingering on the main thoroughfare—August evenings stay lively late, but the Old Town becomes much more atmospheric once the day-trippers have gone.
After your early bus arrival, leave your bags at your accommodation and head straight into Diocletian’s Palace before the lanes become crowded. Enter from the Golden Gate and spend about two hours wandering through the Roman cellars, the Peristyle, and the maze of medieval streets that grew inside the palace walls. The cellars usually open around 8:00–8:30am; entry is roughly €8–€10, while the surrounding palace streets are free. From the Peristyle, it is only a few steps to the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Allow 45 minutes to see the cathedral and climb the bell tower—go slowly on the narrow stairs, and avoid carrying bulky bags. Cathedral and tower tickets are generally around €8–€10, with hours commonly beginning around 8:00am but changing for services.
Walk east toward the Green Market in Grad, where the stalls are liveliest before lunch. Take a relaxed 45-minute browse through figs, peaches, tomatoes, island cheeses, olive oil, and jars of local preserves; cash is useful, and a small purchase makes a good picnic for later. Continue west into Varoš for lunch at Konoba Fetivi, a traditional neighborhood tavern known for Dalmatian seafood. Reserve ahead in August, especially for a shaded table, and expect about €25–€40 per person depending on the fish and wine. After lunch, walk roughly 15 minutes toward the foot of Marjan Hill and spend the afternoon under the pine trees, following the paths to the viewpoints above the harbor and islands. Wear proper shoes and carry water—the shaded forest is pleasant, but the exposed overlooks are hot in August. Allow about two hours, returning to central Split on foot or by a short taxi ride if you are tired.
Start in Bari Vecchia, ideally around 8:30–9:00, while the narrow lanes are still pleasantly quiet and residents are beginning their day. Wander slowly around Strada Arco Basso, where you may see local women making orecchiette by hand, then continue through the atmospheric lanes toward Piazza Mercantile and the historic churches. Allow about 1½ hours; the old quarter is best enjoyed without a strict route, but keep valuables secure in crowded passages and wear shoes with a good grip on the polished stone.
Late morning, visit the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, one of Bari’s most important pilgrimage sites. The main church is generally free, while the crypt may have a small donation or modest admission charge; opening times can be interrupted around services, so check the notice at the entrance and dress respectfully. From the basilica, walk roughly 10–15 minutes toward the waterfront and Teatro Margherita for the Bari Fish Market. It is liveliest before lunch, with fishermen and small seafood stalls, though the exact selection and trading activity vary by day. Treat this as a quick local-style tasting rather than a formal meal, and carry cash for small purchases.
After the market, take a relaxed walk south along the seafront—about 25–30 minutes—or use a local bus or taxi to reach Pane e Pomodoro Beach. Set aside two hours to swim and cool off; August sun is intense, so bring water, sunscreen, and a towel, and expect a busy public beach. There are basic facilities and nearby kiosks, but for a more comfortable break buy supplies in the city before heading down. A taxi is usually the easiest return option in the heat, while buses can be slower and less predictable in summer traffic.
Return to Bari Vecchia for dinner at La Uascezze, a casual spot known for Apulian small plates, cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, and local wine. Aim for around 7:30–8:00 pm and reserve if possible, as the compact dining rooms fill quickly in August; budget approximately €20–€35 per person. Afterward, leave time for an unhurried passeggiata around Piazza Mercantile and the old harbor—the limestone lanes are cooler and especially atmospheric after dark.
Begin at the Acropolis of Athens as soon as your timed entry allows—ideally around 8:00, before the August heat and tour groups build. Allow about 2½ hours for the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaia, and the viewpoints over Plaka and the Aegean. Wear proper shoes, carry water, and buy your ticket online in advance; entry is roughly €20, with combined-site options costing more. From the south exit, it is only a few minutes downhill to the Acropolis Museum, where the air-conditioning and excellent layout make a welcome change. Spend about two hours with the Caryatids, Parthenon sculptures, and glass-floor excavations; the museum generally opens from 9:00, though August hours and timed-entry rules should be checked before arrival.
Walk five minutes through Makrygianni to ManiMani for a relaxed modern Greek lunch—book ahead in August, and expect about €25–€40 per person. Order several dishes to share rather than rushing through a large main course. Afterwards, follow Dionysiou Areopagitou east and then north toward Monastiraki, roughly 20 minutes on foot, or take a short taxi if the heat is intense. Continue to the Ancient Agora of Athens for around 1½ hours, entering from Adrianou Street; the shaded paths, Stoa of Attalos, and remarkably intact Temple of Hephaestus are best explored later in the day. Admission is usually included in the Acropolis combined ticket or available separately for roughly €10, with seasonal closing times often around 20:00.
From the Agora’s Thissio side, walk into Philopappos Hill via the quieter paths near Apostolou Pavlou Street. Aim to reach the Philopappos Monument about 30–40 minutes before sunset for one of the finest evening views back toward the Acropolis, with fewer crowds than the hilltop monuments. Bring water and avoid descending unfamiliar wooded paths after dark; the lit route toward Thissio is the easiest way back. For dinner, return toward Koukaki or Monastiraki by taxi or a 15–25-minute walk, depending on energy. Expect very hot pavement through the afternoon, so keep the middle of the day flexible and reserve the sunset walk as the day’s final highlight.
After arriving in Naxos Town from Piraeus, drop your bags at your accommodation and walk first to Portara, the huge marble gateway on Palatia Island. It is about 15–20 minutes from the ferry port, across the causeway; allow an hour for the sea views and the walk around the rocky islet. This is especially pleasant after the ferry, though bring water and a hat—the August sun is exposed and there is very little shade. The site is free and accessible all day.
Walk back into the old town and climb gradually through Naxos Castle, where the Venetian quarter’s narrow lanes, old mansions, and quiet stairways make a good contrast with the busy waterfront. Allow roughly 1½ hours, stopping at small galleries and courtyards as you go. For lunch, settle at To Elliniko, a well-regarded taverna on Old Market Street, for Naxian cheese, local meats, vegetables, and dishes such as rooster or slow-cooked lamb. Expect about €20–€35 per person; reserving is sensible in August, and lunch service generally runs from late morning into mid-afternoon.
Hire a car or take a pre-arranged taxi from Chora to Halki, about 16 km inland and usually 20–25 minutes by road. The former island capital is ideal for an unhurried afternoon: browse its small galleries and craft shops, admire the neoclassical houses, and take a cold drink at Café Galaxias or another village terrace. Allow around two hours, with a little flexibility for the heat. From Halki, continue roughly 10 minutes by car to the Temple of Demeter near Sangri. The restored marble temple is usually open until around 8pm in summer, but hours and last admission can change, so check locally; entry is commonly around €4–€8. Visit in the late afternoon when the light softens, then return to Naxos Town—about 40 minutes—to finish with dinner in the lanes near the castle or along the waterfront. A car is strongly recommended for this sequence; taxis are available but should be booked in advance for the return.
This is an exceptionally ambitious arrival day: with the Naxos–Athens–Preveza connection and the drive across the causeway, aim to reach Lefkada by late morning, collect a rental car, and head straight toward the southwest coast. Allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to Porto Katsiki from Lefkada Town; the final approach is a winding mountain road, and parking near the beach usually costs around €10–€15 in August. Descend the long staircase for a swim beneath the enormous white cliffs, allowing about 2½ hours including the walk back up. Bring water, shade, and reef shoes—the beach is pebbly, there is little natural shelter, and the small tavernas above are convenient but basic.
Continue north along the coast to Egremni Beach, allowing around 35–45 minutes by car depending on traffic. The access road and staircase can be tiring in the heat, so carry supplies and check the sea conditions before committing to the descent; two hours is enough for a swim and a relaxed stretch on the shore. Later, drive south toward Cape Lefkatas, where the road ends near the lighthouse and broad Ionian viewpoints. Give yourself about 45 minutes here, ideally in the softer late-afternoon light, but do not climb onto cliff edges—the wind can be surprisingly strong.
From Cape Lefkatas, allow roughly 45 minutes to reach Rachi Restaurant in Exanthia. Reserve ahead for August and request a terrace table; the sunset view over the western coast is the reason to come, while the menu of grilled meats, salads, local cheeses, and Greek home-style dishes generally runs about €25–€45 per person. After dinner, drive around 25 minutes back to Lefkada Town and finish with an easy walk along the Lefkada Town waterfront, stopping for a drink at one of the harbor bars. Keep the evening unhurried, and leave the car parked outside the pedestrian center, where narrow streets and summer crowds make driving inconvenient.