A Santorini honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) experience that many couples dream of. With its iconic whitewashed villages clinging to the edge of the caldera, blue-domed churches, beaches and international fame as one of the most beautiful places on earth, a honeymoon in Santorini is something you’ll never forget.
Planning your Santorini honeymoon on your own can be overwhelming, as there are so many incredible hotels to choose from – each looking as good as the next. At least, that’s how we felt when we did it.
We disliked the idea of a honeymoon package, so we decided to plan our ideal honeymoon in Santorini independently. In the process, we saved a lot of money and had the best trip, exactly how we liked it.
So, if you, too, are planning a DIY Santorini honeymoon, here is our wedding gift to you lovebirds. Our to-the-point guide shows you where we stayed and what we did in Santorini on our honeymoon.
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Quick Guide to Your Santorini Honeymoon
Visited: August
Suggested Time: 3 days minimum
Where to Stay: Nostos Apartments
Famous for: The most beautiful island in Greece, prime honeymoon destination, romantic vibes and views galore!
Getting to Santorini:
The fastest way to reach Santorini is by plane. Several daily flights go between Athens and Santorini Airport (about 5 kilometres from Fira). Santorini can be reached by plane from other Greek islands like Mykonos, Crete or Rhodes, too. It’s also possible to fly directly to Santorini from abroad (we love Qatar Airways, and they fly three times a week straight to Santorini from Doha).
One of the most popular destinations in Greece, Santorini is well connected by ferry to other islands, such as Milos, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Ios or Crete, among others.
Book a transfer from the airport or ferry port (from €14) straight to your hotel to get started with your Santorini honeymoon ASAP.
Getting Around Santorini: Rent a car or a quad bike for a day and tour the island. This is just great if you prefer discovering things on your own at your own pace. That’s what we did, and we had a great time! Or let a local drive you around and see the island from a local’s perspective.
Top Tip: Make time to just be and relax. Don’t try to cram too much – it’s a honeymoon, after all.
Unique Experience: Go on a private catamaran cruise leaving Ammoudi Bay, the harbour below Oia.
Our Honeymoon in Greece
We only had a week in Greece for our honeymoon, so we decided to split our time between two islands. While a week is a little short, that’s all we had due to work schedules.
We flew to Athens and jumped on a ferry to Milos on arrival in Greece. Milos is known for its fantastic beaches and laid-back life, so we spent three nights there beach hopping and relaxing.
Two ferries a day run between Milos and Santorini in about four hours. We spent three nights in Oia, basking in its incredible sights and ambience before flying back to Athens for one night.
We think that the Milos-Santorini-Athens combo was perfect with the limited available time. It allows for a few lazy days on the beach and sleepy villages of Milos before switching over to stunningly glitzy Santorini for one of Greece’s most sought-after destinations.
Throw in one day in Athens to visit the Acropolis and world-class museums for some culture before flying home, and you’ll have an ultimate Greek honeymoon in just one week!
Stay at the FANTASTIC Nostos Apartments in Oia
The stunning Nostos Luxury Apartments in Oia were exactly what we wanted when we were dreaming of our perfect Greek honeymoon. We loved this gorgeous place sitting right on the caldera’s edge, and we’re sure you will too.
The cave suites have a sleeping and lounge area, a kitchenette with a fridge and a bathroom. Each cave-house has its own private terrace with sunchairs overlooking the caldera. It really is the ultimate adults-only escape, and the setting, ambience and lavish facilities all contribute to the perfect honeymoon.
The infinity pool clinging to the edge of the volcano’s rim is yet another stunning feature of Nostos. By day it’s perfect for cooling off while feeling like you’re floating above the caldera. At sunset, staff light candles, and the transformation from day to night is breathtaking.
Breakfast is something to look forward to. The buffet spread includes yummy pastries, cheeses, fresh fruit, yoghurt and other Greek delicacies, all with a stupendous view of blue and white over the island.
People, trust us on this one – if you’re looking for the best honeymoon hotel in Oia, you cannot go wrong with Nostos.
Things to Do on Your Santorini Honeymoon
You can be as active or relaxed as you choose during your honeymoon. Santorini offers a plethora of activities and tours to keep you occupied and entertained, or you could spend your day in the pool and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
During our three days in Santorini, we spent one day exploring Oia, one day touring the island by quad bike and another day just relaxing by the pool.
It is your honeymoon, so do your thing, and it will be grand. If you need some inspiration, here is what we did with our three days in Santorini.
Wander Around Oia
Oia, clinging to the edge of the caldera like a vanilla ice cream melting over a barren cone, is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. No matter how many pictures you’ve seen online or on Instagram, nothing can prepare you for the real beauty of this stunning village.
The best way to get acquainted with Oia is to set out on foot and discover without a plan. Your stroll around Oia will reward you with fantastic views of the caldera, the island’s iconic blue-domed churches, classic Cycladic architecture, cute tavernas, hip galleries, and so much more.
Remember that you’re on honeymoon, so pop into that cafe, order a drink and just enjoy spending some time with your forever-lover.
Between goggling at the incredible views and layers of white buildings, you’ll likely catch glimpses of the minimalistic lines and curves Santorini is famous for.
Watch the Best Sunset in Santorini
Oia Castle, a Venetian structure sitting at the northwestern tip of Santorini island, is spectacular at any time of day. While only a little remains of the castle, the view you get from here is unsurpassed – especially at sunset.
From the top of the castle, you’ll get that iconic view of Oia’s windmills, cave houses, hotels and pools backed by the deep blue Aegean and the islands of Sikinos and Folegandros on the horizon.
Come here well before sunset and find a suitable spot from where you can watch the fireball drop. Everyone knows that this is the best spot to catch the sunset in Santorini, so it gets ridonkeylously crowded. But you know, the crowds don’t take away from the magical experience that it is.
If you’re in luck, Mother Nature will reward you with a spectacular show.
The sunset crowd disappeared as fast as they showed up in Oia. As soon as that sun touches the water, people start leaving already. Don’t be like them – the most beautiful time of sunset is when the sun is completely gone, but the sky is still on fire. Half an hour or so after dark, Oia is back to its quiet, charming self.
People saying that Oia is too crowded probably only came here at sunset. We found Oia to be the most beautiful spot in Santorini, and outside the sunset rush, it is absolutely serene.
Have a Sundowner at Kastro
During your stay in Oia, you MUST go to Kastro for sundowner drinks and something to eat. With fantastic Mediterranean food and drinks, warm service and arguably the best view in Oia from your dining table, Kastro is as much about the food as it is for the experience.
Situated right beside Oia Castle, Kastro offers the same breathtaking view without the hoipolloi crowding Santorini’s most famous sunset viewpoint.
We ordered a few meze dishes to go with our drinks and basked in the last golden glows of the day like true glitterati.
Reservations are essential if coming for sunset dinner or drinks. I made a reservation on their website a few weeks before we left for Greece and got a confirmation email the next day. Remember to ask for a front-row table!
Take an Island Tour of Santorini
The best way to see Santorini’s beauty is with your own wheels. There is breathtaking scenery waiting all across the island.
We rented a quad bike in Oia for the day, and with a map under the seat, we set out to explore the island.
We followed the caldera rim south and passed Finikia before reaching beautiful Imerovigli. In Imerovigli, we stopped to stretch our legs and got a coffee and pomegranate juice at a cafe with a caldera view.
After that, we pushed on to Fira, where we visited the donkey station to see tourists arriving on donkey back from the cruise ships below. Also, look out for the numbers on the steps leading down to the harbour. Grab a souvlaki from a street stall if you’re hungry, and then head further south.
We rode south towards Órmos Athiniós, Santorini’s ferry port. The views along the caldera’s rim between Fira and the ferry port are incredible. We didn’t go down to the port, but the view of the hairpin bends in the road leading down to the harbour is just grand.
From there, we headed inland to the beautiful village of Pyrgos. Pyrgos, considered Santorini’s best-preserved village, is a great little place to explore on foot, full of nooks and crannies. We also had one of the best meals we’ve had in Greece in Pyrgos. If you’re in this neck of the woods, make sure to go for a meal at Penelope’s Ouzeri. The food, hospitality and rustic atmosphere are the best!
After lunch, we drove to Kamari for some time on the beach before heading back to Oia in time for sunset.
This is a super day out, which allows you to see the best of Santorini while enjoying the freedom of riding a quad bike in the most beautiful locales on earth. Just do it.
Tuck Into Greek Food
Greece might be known for its seductive islands, fantastic weather and fascinating history, but one thing you must also experience is the food. Don’t underestimate the magic power a meal can have to create lasting memories.
Eating well is another layer to a successful trip. As with most other places around the world, food tends to get better the farther away you go from the famous viewpoints or tourist landmarks. You’ll find the best food in Oia away from the caldera, on the quiet side alleys, or on the wrong side of town (without a view).
Here are our three recommended restaurants in Oia for a memorable meal:
- Candouni
- Roka
- Ammoudi Fish Tavern
Some famous Greek dishes to try:
- Moussaka (spiced meat layered between eggplant slices and baked in a creamy white sauce)
- Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)
- Tomatokeftedes (tomato fritters, a traditional appetizer from Santorini)
- Tzatziki ( classic Greek dip made from yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil and dill – goes well with EVERYTHING)
- Greek Salad.
- Cretan Salad
- Grilled octopus (or any seafood, really)
- Kleftiko (lamb shank cooked with lemon, olive oil and garlic)
- Gemista (stuffed veggies with rice)
- Tiropita (Greek cheese pie)
- Spanikopita (Greek spinach pie)
Make Memories
Spending your honeymoon in Santorini is a bucket list experience many can only dream of. If you’re lucky enough to make this dream a reality; also remember to make memories that will last until the end of time.
Take selfies together (or get a photographer to get something really nice), float in the pool all day, sleep in, stay up late, get drunk on local wine, have fun, be serious – whatever is your thing.
Coz let’s be honest, eventually, the sights will fade away in your mind, but the memories of you and your forever-lover, will last much, much longer.
How I Shot This Guide
Every photograph in this article was taken with the exact same gear I carry on every journey. It is a setup refined over years on the road to keep travel light without compromising the final image.
- Camera: Sony A7 V
- Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art.
- Storage: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
- Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic
- My Greece travel essential (trust me): Ray-Ban Wayfarer
Okay, lovebirds. You have yourself a great honeymoon in Santorini. ✌️
If you’re looking for somewhere with palm trees (or you’re just romantics like we are), check out our second honeymoon in Lombok