If that special occasion in your life is coming up soon and you have made out your mind to have a Santorini honeymoon, you’ve ended up in the right place!
Read this comprehensive guide and you’ll have access to all the information you need to plan for the perfect couples holiday in Santorini.
After spending one week on the island and having some of the most stunning experiences you could have in Greece, I genuinely think this is one of the best honeymoon destinations.
But let’s dive directly into the guide and assist you in creating an unforgettable vacation!
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. This helps keep our site running at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support! Read more about it on our disclosure page here.
Here are my tips and important resources that will come in handy when you want to organize a trip to Greece or to Santorini:
-
Book your flight by checking Skyscanner.com – this is an online aggregator that will show you all the best combinations and will help you optimize prices and timetables.
-
Discover Cars is a great aggregator that will help you find and book the best option for renting a car during your trip, helping you save up to 70% on your car rental. They have a pretty good Cancellation policy that would give you options in case your flight or travel plans change. Choose the best price here!
-
Day trips and experiences can be easily booked through GetYourGuide – they have a wide selection of tours and a great cancellation policy that will offer you a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the tour. Explore perfect tours here!
-
If you want an organized vacation and want to forget about having to think about timetables, flights, cars, accommodation, attractions, and whatnot, head over to Tourradar and book your next vacation. They have vacation options only for Santorini, but also packages including Athens and other islands from the Cyclades.
-
Don’t forget about insurance – at AardvarkCompare.com you can compare from over 30 insurance plans and find your best option.
Where to stay for your Santorini honeymoon – mind-blowing Santorini honeymoon hotels
If you don’t know where to stay in Santorini for a mind-blowing honeymoon, the answer is simple: you’ll want to choose accommodation in the western part of the island.
From here you’ll have access to some of the most breathtaking views in the world – the caldera and the iconic white villages.
Oia and Thira are the most popular Santorini towns where you’ll find plenty of staggering hotels with state-of-the-art services and accommodation.
For a more affordable option, I’ve gathered here a list of great and cheap hotels with caldera views. Look for Imerovigli or Firostefani because that’s where you’ll find a mix of views, tranquil locations, and more affordable prices.
I’ve also made it easy for you to choose one of the best hotels with private pools in Santorini if that’s what you’re after for your honeymoon.
Here are a few of my options for mind-blowing Santorini honeymoon hotels:
- Katikies Hotel – mind-blowingly amazing, this hotel is one of the most beautiful in the world, but it also comes with a certain price tag. A stay in one of the 21 honeymoon suites of this white cave hotel, with a private pool offering panoramic views over the caldera, is what dreams are made of.
Another stunning option for a small luxury hotel is perfect for a Santorini honeymoon. Set on the cliff above the picturesque fishermen’s village of Ammoudi Bay, you will be in the perfect location for exploring Oia and the whole island. Enjoy your private terrace for a morning breakfast or an evening wine with sunset views.
See availability and prices here!
- Oia Angle Cave house
You cannot come to Santorini and not experience staying in this one-of-a-kind accommodation – the Cycladic cave house. Choose one of the rooms with a terrace and outdoor jacuzzi for your perfect honeymoon.
See accommodation and prices here!
What to do on a couples holiday in Santorini – epic experiences
Even though the island might seem small, you’ll be happy to learn that it offers plenty of experiences to fill your time here.
I know you will most probably want to sit back and relax, but you’ll have to tick off at least a few of these experiences, if not all.
No matter if you only have 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days allocated for trips and experiences, I assure you there’s plenty to choose from!
Hike from Thira to Oia
Or the other way around.
This won’t be a challenging hike, but it will offer you some of the most heart-stirring views of the island – the reasons why millions of people have visited or have Santorini on their bucket lists.
Walk for 10 kilometers and go early in the morning or just before sunset, especially if you choose to visit Santorini in July or August. The hike itself will take anywhere around 2 hours and 4 hours depending on your pace and how many times you choose to stop for pictures or to take in the dramatic views.
Read also: What to wear in Santorini – travel essential tips
See the sunset in Oia
One of the must-do things in Oia, many people flock to the streets of this charming town every day just for this reason alone.
Come prepared with patience because you will have to wait for at least one hour if you want to find the perfect spot. The Byzantine Castle is one of the most popular spots, but you might want to head to the hillside outside of Oia, or by the windmills of Oia when you want to skip the crowds.
If you want to enjoy dinner with a view, make sure to book a table way in advance, no matter if it is for Oia or Thira – tables are fully booked days in advance for the sunset.
Wine tasting and vineyard tours
Not many know, but Santorini is a great wine producer. Expect strong and sweet wine, because of the special weather conditions on the island.
The vineyards that grow here on the volcanic soil don’t get much water and receive plenty of direct sun for months in a row.
That’s why, any wine lover, and even those that are just curious about the process of making wine in Santorini, should go on a sunset wine-tasting tour or a longer version for half of the day with a local sommelier – See the tour here!
No matter which option you’ll choose, you will get to taste at least 4 types of wine and have the chance to buy directly from the local producers, supporting them, especially after a tough year.
Check out more wine-tasting options in Santorini and book your tour here!
Splurge with a private helicopter ride
If you don’t do it during your honeymoon you will never do it!
Hop on a helicopter and spend 30 minutes enjoying incredible aerial jaw-dropping views over one of the most stunning Greek islands.
What’s included:
- pick-up and return from your hotel
- protective equipment
- 30 minutes flight and stunning views, perfect for pictures
See more and book your tour here!
Cook some authentic Greek food and get to taste it
In my opinion, and not only, but Greek food is also one of the best in the world. So why not get to learn how to cook some special dishes that you will prepare back home for your friends and family?
You will not only get to taste some signature Greek dishes, but you will learn about the ingredients and how they are grown on the volcanic island.
Additionally, you will be introduced to wine pairing and get to taste some local wine that goes well with these dishes.
See more and book your cooking class and tour here!
Spend a day at the beach
Admittedly, Santorini is not a destination for sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot find beaches on the island where you can relax and dive into the Aegean Sea.
Since the island is volcanic, all beaches have volcanic stones or small pebbles. The unique part is that you can choose from many different types of beaches:
- black sand beaches like Perissa or Kamari
- red sand beach
- the white beach next to the red beach and close to Akrotiri
Learn about history on a trip to Akrotiri
Go back in time with a visit to the ancient archeological site of Akrotiri.
I strongly suggest booking a guided tour, because there are so many interesting facts you will learn from your guide. Going on your own won’t be so interesting, you really need to understand the impressive history of this prehistoric city that was destroyed and yet kept alive by the volcano we now admire so much.
Akrotiri was one of the most important Minoan Bronze Age settlements of Greece, pretty much like Knossos in Eastern Crete.
Walk through the ruins of this ancient town and learn about the myth of Atlantis and all about how people lived so many years ago on this charming island.
Volcano day – Nea Kameni
For the most adventurous of you, a day spent climbing the volcano, splashing in the clear waters around it – and the hot springs close by, and on the Thirassia island is a great option.
Come prepared with good walking shoes and lots of water, because you will need them! The climb is not too hard and it will only take less than one hour but will offer you a glimpse of an active volcano, one of the most famous worldwide.
In Thirassia you’ll get to experience life on a small island, taste real local food, and spend some more time at the beach before heading back to Santorini.
Make sure to check out these tour options that will include a part of our itinerary or all of it. Book in advance so that you can secure the best deal, and make sure you’ll have the whole trip planned.
Book an unforgettable photo session
Some people come to Santorini, especially for an unforgettable photo session, and why not have one while you spend your Santorini honeymoon?
I’ve invested a lot of time and money in my photo gear and I’m lucky to be able to take some pretty pictures myself, however not all people have that, and if you want to have a couple of pictures that are almost impossible without the help of a photographer.
What I love about Flytographer is that you have so many great local photographers to choose from, they know the region and when and where exactly to go for the perfect shot. On top of that, they have been featured everywhere from The New York Times to Martha Stewart Weddings, and have been called “The Future of Travel Photography” by Conde Nast Traveler and “The #1 Gift for Travelers” by Forbes.
They are a female-founded company, with an all-female team!
You also get 25USD off your first photo session, as a gift from me when you book here!
Catamaran ride for sunset
To me, riding a boat into the sunset is one of the most romantic things you could do. Add the fact that you’ll be sailing between the volcano and the stunning white villages perched on the top of hills, and it becomes even more charming.
Additionally, you’ll get to savor delicious food paired with great local wine.
Check out this great option here!
Eat your heart out
Whenever we go to Greece we come back with some extra weight and that’s simply because the food here is so delicious you don’t know what to choose first.
With plenty of restaurants serving fresh seafood and other signature Greek delicacies, you won’t find it hard to eat well. No matter where you go you’ll eat something stunning, but if you want to have also a nice view you’ll have to book a table in advance if you want to find any restaurant options.
Head to Ammoudi Bay for lunch or dinner at one of the traditional tavernas, but make sure to go when cruise ships are not in the port – this way you will skip the crowds.
Don’t leave without trying some of my favorite dishes and sweets:
- Halva – toasted semolina, flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel.
- Baklava – the heavenly pastry packed with nuts and honey, and sometimes stuffed with ice cream, like the one we had
- Fresh fish at a local taverna
- Fried calamari – the perfect snack on the beach
- Tarama spread – something we eat back home in Romania as well, but I never found anywhere else in the world. If you haven’t heard of it, please try it.
- Dolmas – stuffed grape leaves
- Baked feta with honey – my ultimate favorite food in Greece. It comes also in a savory variation, without honey, but with some spices.
Go on a day trip to Ios or Mykonos
Or any other island you could get to by boat.
During our trip, we had scheduled a day trip to Ios which was unfortunately canceled because of the strong winds. I trust that you will be luckier than us and you will get to explore a smaller and less touristic island of the Cyclades, or at least the charming and popular (for a good reason) Mykonos.
When to travel to Santorini for your honeymoon
Even though July and August are the most popular months for visiting and peak season for the Greek islands, I would strongly suggest skipping these 2 months if you have the possibility. Santorini in particular is extremely crowded and expensive during this time, and you will get a far better experience when you travel during June or September.
The weather is also nicer and temperatures are just perfect.
For how long to stay in Santorini
I strongly believe you can spend as long as one week on your Santorini honeymoon without getting bored. Mix days filled with activities with days of relaxation by the pool and you’ll have a perfect vacation.
However, if you are more active and want to see as much as possible during your special vacation, choose to go on a Greek island hopping trip. You’ll explore Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini in one trip.
Getting around on Santorini Island
As you land at Santorini airport it won’t be too hard to get to your hotel when you choose to book a private transfer. It is not too expensive and you will be transferred in style.
The cheaper option would be to opt for a shared transfer, but that would mean it will take you longer to get to the hotel.
Lastly, you can take a taxi from the airport or use public transportation.
What to wear in Santorini
I know you will want to look your best on your Santorini honeymoon, and that’s why I’ve picked some pretty and comfortable options for dresses to choose from.
I’m sure you will want to return from vacation with some amazing pictures and memories (especially when you book that photo shoot). That’s how I am as well and I always try to bring the perfect outfits.
Of course, anything would look good with Santorini as a background, but try to choose vivid colors, clothing with Greek patterns, white or blue.
Other Santorini Travel Resources
PIN FOR LATER!
[…] one of the most beautiful Greek islands, the perfect destination for couples looking for a romantic honeymoon, Santorini has so much to […]