We gazed out over the caldera, watching the sun hover above the horizon and the azure Aegean Sea. The sun emblazoned the famed whitewashed buildings, turning them from snowy white to hues of pillow pinks. The warm wind whipped past us, cloaking us in a blanket of island air. We soaked in our infinity pool, 500 meters above sea level, seemingly eye-to-eye with the Grecian sun. We were young, we were in love, and we were in Santorini. Read our Couple’s Guide to Santorini and then check out these Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations off the beaten path.

Santorini Fast Facts

  • Location: The Cyclades Islands, Greece
  • Currency: The Euro (many activities require cash so be prepared to have cash on you)
  • Best Times to Visit: May, September – Mid October
  • Perfect for: Honeymoon, anniversary, proposal, destination wedding
  • Forms of Transportation: ATV, Rental Car, Bus, Motorbike, Taxi
  • Length of Trip Recommended: 5-7 days
  • How to Get There: Fly from many gateway cities in Europe such as Athens, London, or Rome. You can also take an overnight ferry from Athens or fast ferries from neighboring islands.
  • Phrases to Know: Thank you = “efharisto”; You’re Welcome = “paracalo”; Good Day: “Kalimera”; Cheers = “yamas.”
Santorini, Greece Aerial View

History of Santorini Greece

The island of Santorini was formed from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes tens of thousands of years ago. One volcanic eruption in particular, 3600 years ago, created a massive tsunami that wiped out the entire human population of the island of Crete, nearly 90 miles to the south of Santorini. In the thousands of years before Christ, Santorini had a population of 30,000, nearly double of what it is today. What is left of the volcanic eruption is an enormous caldera. Summer Offer 2017 : up to 30% off your hotels in Europe

Where to Stay in Santorini

The number of 5-star hotels in Santorini rivals the number of taxicabs in Manhattan. It’s difficult to choose the best places to stay on the island because there are so many great choices. We recommend splitting your time between two parts of the island: Imerovigli and Oia.

Imerovigli: Located just 5 minutes away from popular Fira, Imerovigli has unrivaled views of the caldera and Skaros Rock. As the highest town in Santorini (other than the monastery), this quiet town has some of the best views on the island. We recommend staying here for a few days and staying at the posh Grace Hotel or renting a villa. In Imerovigli, you’ll have peace and quiet at home, but you’ll be close enough to the hustle and bustle of Fira if you’re craving action.

Oia: Oia is the place to watch the sunset in Santorini, however it is extremely crowded. There are dozens of hotels wedged into the cliffs of Oia, but not all of them offer privacy. Quite often, private plunge pools are on top of main walkways, which is not exactly ideal for a our Couple’s Guide to Santorini. While we were in Oia, we stayed at Santo Maris, which was a 3-5 minute walk from downtown Oia. We had unspoiled views of the famous Santorini sunset, privacy in our plunge pool, and easy access to the town when we wanted it. Click here to book Santo Maris in Oia.

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Santorini Restaurants

  • Argo: Located in bustling Fira, Argo boasted the most delicious seafood we had during our time in Santorini. Plus, the restaurant has a fantastic view of the caldera and the sunset. Afterwards, go shopping in the city of Fira and stop off at one of the various bars for a night cap.
  • Selene: This Michelin-starred restaurant is in the sleepy town of Pyrgos. You can take cooking classes here or just join the restaurant for dinner. This is by far, the most upscale dining experience on the island.
  • Fanari Villas: Everyone goes to Oia for the sunset, but the city gets overly crowded. Escape to Fanari Villas for an unparalleled view of the Oia sunset without the pesky crowds. This is a Couple’s Guide to Santorini, after all, and you’ll want to be alone!
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Couple’s Activities

  • Wine Tasting: The white wines in Santorini are famous around the world and they’re the perfect drink for a hot Santorini day. We visited two wineries while in Santorini, Santo Wines and Domaine Sigalas. The latter is a boutique vineyard in Oia that has a delicious dry wine pairing (of 10 glasses! Opa!) and an ocean view. While Santo Wines is very touristy, it is well worth the visit. We recommend visiting at sunset for a wine pairing with a delicious Greek salad while you watch the sunset over the caldera.
  • Cooking Class: We had the pleasure of visiting the Michelin-starred restaurant, Selene, while on the island. Located in the quaint town of Pyrgos, this restaurant is known for its creative dishes and five-star kitchen. We learned all about the world-renowned ingredients grown on the island such as the sweet cherry tomato (for those gourmet Greek salads), wild eggplant (which tastes sweet like a pear!), and fresh zucchini. The cooking class is completely 5-star and it is the perfect place for a couple to bond and learn something new together.
  • Beach Hopping: There are so many great beaches in Santorini. Our recommendations for the best beaches: The Red Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perissa Beach.
  • Shopping: There is fantastic shopping all over Santorini, but the town with the best shops is Fira.
  • Rent a Boat: Rent a catamaran or a speed boat for a day trip around the caldera.
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What to Pack

Out on the Town Dress

Jumpsuit

Sandals

Maxi Dress

Wedges

Floppy Hat

Sunglasses

One Piece Swimsuit

Bikini

Beach Bag

Purse

Cover Up