The Definitive Guide to a Santorini Honeymoon

With its cobalt-colored water, whitewashed villages, and fiery red cliffs, a Santorini, Greece honeymoon guarantees photos so stunning, it's hard to believe you didn't use a filter. And the scenery is even more spectacular in person. Whether you're approaching by sea or taking the funicular up from the old port, the arrival into Santorini is a dramatic one—and so is every aspect of a Greece honeymoon in the Cycladic island known for sunsets that are the signature attraction each evening.

This made-for-honeymooners destination places its natural beauty on a pedestal, with converted caves serving as luxurious honeymoon suites and private plunge pools adding a subtle pop of color to the stark-white cubed buildings. As soon as you start strolling on the cobbled, bougainvillea-lined paths with views of blue-domed rooftops against the Aegean Sea, you'll quickly realize why this Greek island has become a romantic haven for honeymooners. From the best months to visit Greece to the top hotels and things to do, use our travel guide to plan your Santorini honeymoon itinerary.

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Santorini Honeymoon Tips in this article:

• Best Time to Visit Santorini, Greece
• Santorini Honeymoon Planning Tips
• The Best Santorini Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts
• Things to Do in Santorini for Couples
• What to Pack for a Santorini Honeymoon

Photo: Dimitris Meletis / Getty Images

Best Time to Visit Santorini, Greece

The island is a seasonal one, so the prime time to visit is similar to the rest of the Mediterranean, between June and September. If you're not a fan of crowds, it's better to avoid peak season, when newlyweds or soon-to-be-weds take over rooftops posing for numerous photo shoots.

Some of the more iconic resorts close during the colder, rainy months, from November through April, but if you visit during the shoulder season (April to June, September to November) you'll be greeted with pleasant temperatures and less-crowded streets and restaurants.

Best weather: Between June and September. Shoulder season is April to June, and September to November. The rainy season is from November through April.
Festival highlights: The Ifestia Festival (a.k.a. Greek Volcano Festival) is in August and the International Music Festival in Fira is in September. Easter (date changes each year) and the feast day of the Holy Virgin are the biggest religious holidays with locals lighting candles and a procession taking place around the settlements of Santorini.

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Santorini Honeymoon Planning Tips

Santorini is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Europe, and generally one of the most-visited destinations in Greece. While the journey may be slightly longer from the US, since you'll connect via Athens, the trip is worth it. Once you arrive, you'll be blown away by views that have become the Greek islands' iconic postcard shots.

Keep in mind this island is a bucket list trip for a reason—hotel rates, especially for the luxurious cliffside hotels with jacuzzis or plunge pools, can be sky-high so start planning your honeymoon early. In peak season during summer, you'll want to reserve restaurants and tours in advance, but there are plenty of casual tavernas and bars you can walk into last-minute and snag a seat. As for the nightlife scene, it's relatively quiet compared to other Cycladic islands, like Mykonos, but you'll find a handful of bars and clubs in the capital of Fira and tourist-favorite Oia.

Entry requirements: A valid U.S. Passport for a stay of up to 90 days. Starting in 2025, U.S. citizens need to have an ETIAS for Greece. It is valid for 3 years and can be obtained online.
Language: Greek is the official language, but many people speak English.
Location: Santorini (officially known as Thira) is located southeast of the mainland. It is the southernmost spot of the Cyclades group of islands in the Aegean Sea. You can travel by air or sea from Athens.
Currency: The Euro is the official currency (replaced Drachma in 2002), though US dollars are accepted at some places.
Flight time to Santorini: 13+ hours from New York City (connecting flight in Athens).
Getting around: Taxi, car, motorbike, quad, bus and by foot.

Pro tip: Invite a honeymoon planning expert to join your vendor team to help you find Santorini honeymoon packages, flights and accommodations. Browse travel specialists near you on The Knot Marketplace for reviews, testimonials and more.

The Best Santorini Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts

Where should we start? Santorini is an island designed for honeymooners—hotels are created with romance in mind, featuring rooms and restaurants overlooking the sea. This Greek island's accommodations range from small, family-run guesthouses and boutique hotels to luxurious cliffside suites and beachside resorts. Check out these top-rated Santorini honeymoon hotels and resorts.

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Andronis Arcadia, Oia

As soon as couples arrive at the newest Andronis property on the island, a refreshing spritz cocktail and the lobby's views relieve you from the crowds of Oia (and wedding planning). The luxury Andronis Arcadia hotel is conveniently located within a five-minute walk from Oia's town center, yet it feels a world away. The entire grounds of the property carefully reflect the Andronis ethos of blending architecture against natural spaces and colors. Each suite is equipped with soaking tubs, blackout shades, a private terrace, and an infinity plunge pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. For an added touch of romance, couples should enjoy the delicious fare and sunset views at Pacman, one of the trendiest restaurants in town.

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Ducato Wine Village, Megalochori

The tiny town of Megalochori is shielded by Santorini's vineyards, and former wine cellars once used to age vino now open up to whitewashed restaurants, galleries, and a wine-themed collection of villas with hidden pools carved into the caves. For couples who want to stay in a more traditional village away from the crowds in Oia, Ducato Wine Village is the perfect place.

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Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Oia

Built into the cliffs in Oia, Mystique is one of the best honeymoon suite Santorini hotels, since all of the stone-crafted cave suites and villas overlook the Aegean Sea and feature terraces perfect for curling up together with a glass of wine and watching the sunset. Spend your days lounging at the infinity pool and getting pampered during a private couple's session at the spa before lingering over a wine tasting during a candlelit dinner in the resort's 150-year-old Secret Wine Cave.

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Sea Breeze Santorini Resort, Curio Collection By Hilton, Perivolos

With its own private beach along the island's famed black sand beaches of Perivolos, a visit to the secluded and serene Sea Breeze Santorini Resort gives couples a true escape from the crowds found across the island in Oia. Suites are multi-story with a romantic loft-like setting for sleep overlooking the traditional Cycladic home. Sea Breeze's beachfront restaurant, Aura, as well as the property's private yoga classes, wellness treatments, and complimentary afternoon treats are added bonuses. The resort's crowning achievement per suite, however, is its private and heated swimming pools. It's the perfect solution for chillier evenings during shoulder seasons and those windy Aegean nights. Hilton Honors loyalists will be thrilled too.

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The Vasilicos, Imerovigli

Sitting on the highest point of the caldera, The Vasilicos, a seven-suite boutique hotel, was once the summer home of an art collector and feels like you're staying in a friend's villa—yet you still get five-star hotel perks like in-suite dining. Book a honeymoon suite with a terrace and private jacuzzi overlooking the caldera, where you can also indulge in massages and candlelit dinners designed around what the chef sourced that day at the market.

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Istoria, Perivolos

While the cliffside hotels in Oia may have dramatic views and iconic caves, the eastern part of the island, with its volcanic, jet-black sand, offers couples an entirely different side of Santorini—one that's calm and has a private-island feel. Istoria Hotel's 12 suites take over what were formerly stables, with sunbeds on private terraces facing the sea and enclosed plunge pools perfect for honeymooners who would rather soak privately. Dine on tables in the sand at signature restaurant Mr. E, or order straight to a sun bed at the private beach club a few steps away.

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Katikies Santorini, Oia

One of the most luxurious hotels built into Santorini's cliffs, Katikies is an architectural marvel of whitewashed stairs and bridges connecting contemporary, cube-shaped cave homes. A short walk from the town's shops and restaurants, this romantic retreat is like being in a private sanctuary. Dine together on a candlelit terrace restaurant helmed by a Michelin-starred Athens eatery before ending the evening at the Champagne bar above the infinity pool, which shows off some of the most stunning views of the caldera.

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Pro tip: If you're looking for more privacy or budget-friendly accommodations for a few nights or your entire stay in Santorini, consider a vacation rental.

Things to Do in Santorini for Couples

If soaking in your plunge pool or lounging on a boat cruising the caldera is too slow-paced for you and your other half, there are plenty of more active ways for couples to explore Santorini, from hiking and horseback riding to sea kayaking and scuba diving. Here are a few of our favorite couple's activities.

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Tavern Hop and Swim in Ammoudi Bay

Unfolding along the bay carved into Santorini's rust-red volcanic rock, the walk down the 214 steps from Oia's castle (a great vantage point for the sunset) to the port is as scenic as the crayon-colored taverns you'll dine at once you reach the sea. This is that picture-perfect shot of the Greek islands you've been seeking—think octopuses drying in the sea breeze and open-air fish taverns (the namesake Ammoudi Fish Tavern is one of the most popular) serving ceviche catch of the day, charcoal-grilled fish, and classic spreads like taramosalata.

Visit Vineyards for Local Wine Tastings

Nearly 80% of the island's wine production is from the indigenous white assyrtiko grape, and there are plenty of ways to familiarize yourself with these dry, mineral wines. After sampling a selection at restaurants and bars around Santorini, visit the vines themselves and try a few other styles of wines and native grapes. Take a guided tour and tasting in the wine cellar at Hatzidakis, a family vineyard and winery housed in a cave near the village of Pyrgos Kallistis.

Tour Ancient Akrotiri

When Santorini's volcano erupted around 1613 BC, it covered the town of Akrotiri, and the prehistoric settlement—nicknamed the "Pompeii of Santorini"—is now one of the best preserved in the Aegean. Explore the 50-acre excavation site on an archaeological tour and get a deeper dive into some of the artifacts found during the excavation, now sitting on display at the Museum of Prehistoric Thira in Fira.

Pro tip: Add Santorini honeymoon experiences to your gift registry so that loved ones can give you one of these memorable couple's activities. You can even create a honeymoon fund to help pay for your flight and accommodations.

What to Pack for a Santorini Honeymoon

Photo: Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk / Getty Images

Since Santorini is part of the Cyclades, the island gets chilly when it's windy and in the evenings. Bring a light jacket, linen pants and scarf or shawl, especially if you plan to dine down by the water. The island is casual—and gets rather hot in the summer—so think maxi dresses or kaftans, light shirts and skirts, and a slightly more formal outfit for the evenings if you're going out for dinner and drinks. Resortwear is in style all year round, so pack bathing suits, cover-ups, sandals, and any type of shoe comfortable for walking up and down hilly, cobbled streets. Explore honeymoon luggage and our ultimate packing list for more tips.