10 DAY GREEK ISLAND HONEYMOON

Written By Lisa Devenny

10 DAY GREEK ISLAND HONEYMOON

Written By Lisa Devenny

This itinerary is packed with tips on what to do (and what to skip) if you prefer a balance of sightseeing, outdoor adventure and relaxation on your vacations.

We had high expectations for our honeymoon in the Cyclades of Greece, and it far exceeded them. The views were stunning, the locals were friendly (and most spoke English, which is a big factor to think about when planning an international trip), and the food was so fresh and full of flavor. When deciding on a honeymoon destination, we ended up choosing Greece for many reasons, but mainly because we felt it had a good balance of relaxation and active adventure opportunities, as well as a balance of touristy things and off-the-beaten-path options.

 

WHICH ISLANDS TO VISIT

We chose our islands based on the length of our trip and our desired activities. We did a 10 day trip – 2 nights in Mykonos, 3 nights in Milos, and 4 nights in Santorini. We were extremely satisfied with the order in which we visited these islands because Mykonos is the most high energy, Milos has the most outdoor activity and adventure and Santorini was the most relaxing and romantic. If we had a few more days we would have explored Athens on the mainland and maybe Paros or Naxos in the Cyclades, which we heard are other great destinations.

WHEN TO GO

I would suggest going in early summer or early fall. I would not suggest going in the winter, as most resorts, stores and restaurants close down during the “off-season”. Because of our work schedules, we only had the opportunity to go right after our wedding, in mid-August, which is known to be the peak tourist time as well as one of the hottest months of the year in Greece. Those facts definitely turned out to be true as it was incredibly hot and most places were swarming with tourists. We were able to find our own little corners of the islands to avoid the crowds and overall still had an amazing trip, despite the heat.

GETTING THERE

We opted for round trip tickets to Athens with American Airlines and then separate one way flights and ferries to get to the islands.

  • American Airlines flight San Diego > Athens

  • Aegean Airlines flight from Athens > Mykonos

  • SeaJet ferry from Mykonos > Milos (~3 hours)

  • SeaJet ferry from Milos > Santorini (~1.5 hours)

  • Aegean Airlines flight from Santorini > Athens

  • American Airlines flight Athens > San Diego

Our exact Itinerary

The quick facts

Click on the day/title in the list to see an overview of our day-to-day itinerary. In-depth details, map links, tips and advice about each island can be found in the next paragraphs.

    • Fly San Diego > Athens > Mykonos

    • Arrive at 12 Noon

    • Explore Mykonos Town / Little Venice

    • Stay in Mykonos

    • Rent ATVs

    • Explore Beaches & Lighthouse

    • 180 Sunset Bar for Dinner/Drinks

    • Stay in Mykonos

    • Explore Mykonos Town

    • Beach & Relax

    • Ferry to Milos

    • Stay in Milos

    • Rent ATV

    • Fishing Village of Klima

    • Plaka Castle

    • Plathiena Beach

    • Ancient Theater of Milos

    • Sunset Picnic Dinner

    • Stay in Milos

    • Sarakiniko Beach

    • Lunch in Pollonia

    • Papafragas Beach

    • Dinner in Adamantas

    • Return ATV

    • Stay in Milos

    • Ferry to Santorini

    • Explore Oia

    • Stay in Oia

    • Amoudi Bay & Armonia Beach

    • Check In to The Vasilicos

    • Explore Imerovigli & Fira

    • Relax at The Vasilicos Pool

    • Stay in Imerovigli

    • Hike Skaros Rock

    • Pyrgos & Akrotiri Lighthouse

    • Pool & Sunset at The Vasilicos

    • Stay in Imerovigli

    • Caldera Catamaran Cruise

    • Private Chef Dinner at The Vasilicos

    • Stay in Imerovigli

    • Fly from Santorini > Athens > San Diego

Island #1: Mykonos

High energy & touristy

Mykonos was the most high energy island that we visited, which was ironic since we were jet lagged most of the time there. We didn’t really mind the timing of our fatigue though since we aren’t really the beach club type people. We spent the majority of our two days in Mykonos avoiding the crowds by exploring Mykonos Town early in the morning (people-watching club-goers stumbling through town to return to their hotels at 6am) and renting ATVs to explore the whole island during the days.

WHERE TO STAY - MYKONOS

We LOVED our airbnb. The location was a perfect central spot – 5 min walk from Mykonos Town, 10 min walk to Little Venice, quick cab ride to airport and ferry port. It also was super clean and newly renovated with nice little details. It wasn’t anything super luxurious, but definitely had everything we needed, and was great quality for a fair price.

I would recommend staying near Mykonos Town if possible. It seemed like most of the resorts and airbnbs in other areas of the island were really remote and isolated. You would need to have transportation to get anywhere – restaurants, beaches, bars, etc. 

SIDE NOTE: Be cautious and aware wherever you stay in Mykonos. There has been an uptick in robbery recently. We felt safe in our airbnb, but one of our friends was robbed at a different resort a few weeks before we were there.

WHAT TO DO - MYKONOS

  • Get lost in the iconic stone pathways and alleys of Mykonos Town. It’s a never-ending maze of gift shops, restaurants, churches and homes. So many adorable cats wandering the alleys and a new surprise around every corner.

  • 180 Sunset Bar - This was one of the best, if not the best, sunset experiences of my life. I may or may not have cried while insanely talented live signers performed “Time to Say Goodbye” while the sun set. I definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. We made a reservation for the “Main Terrace - 1st Row” a couple months before our trip. The minimum spend per person in our section was $100. That may seem steep, but I cannot emphasize enough how worth it that was. Also, there isn’t a time limit, so we sat there for 2+ hours and thoroughly enjoyed the views, entertainment, unique craft cocktails and the overall atmosphere.

  • Rent ATVs - Everything on the island is super accessible by ATV. Some of the roads can get a little tight with oncoming traffic, so just be sure to wear helmets and be a defensive driver.

  • Armenistis Lighthouse - The drive up to the lighthouse is an experience in itself, winding through the country roads and along the cliffs. The lighthouse has incredible views of Mykonos and neighboring islands.

  • Agios Sostis Beach - There are a bunch of small beaches scattered throughout Mykonos. We ended up at Agios Sostis which was incredibly secluded and gorgeous. The sand was coarse and almost felt like an exfoliating scrub. I could have sat on that beach forever.

  • Lunch in the adorable town of Ano Mera at Odos Araxame

  • If you are into the clubbing scene, there are a TON of beach clubs on Mykonos. We personally didn’t spend time visiting them, but they are definitely one of the most popular attractions for tourists on the island.

Island #2: Milos

Outdoor adventure & charm

Milos quickly stole our heart with its charming little towns and unique “moonscape” beaches scattered throughout the island. It was also by far the least touristy of the islands we visited, so it was rich in history and character.

WHERE TO STAY - MILOS

We really enjoyed our Airbnb. It was spacious (except for the smallest bathroom I’ve ever seen) and centrally located in Triovasalos for all our adventures. Otherwise, Pollonia might be a nice little town to stay in with access to beaches and restaurants.

The main city/port, Adamantas, also seemed to have a lot of lodging options, but it wasn’t anything special compared to some of the other little towns on the island. However, it would be convenient for rentals, transportation, etc.

WHERE TO STAY - MILOS

  • It’s 100% necessary to rent a car, scooter or ATV in Milos to be able to see everything. There is also a bus system, but we didn’t look into that too much since we wanted the freedom of having our own timeline with a rental instead of relying on the bus.

    • RENT WELL AHEAD OF TIME. We waited until a month before our trip to rent and were only able to find one place left renting ATVs. It was expensive and it ended up breaking down… twice. They ended up giving us a rental car instead for our second day at no charge, but dealing with that was not a fun experience. That being said, DON’T RENT FROM “RAC - Rent a Car” in Milos.

  • Beaches and cliff jumping – The water was the most gorgeous blue, crystal clear water I’ve ever seen. I recommend bringing or renting snorkel gear and wearing water shoes on some of the beaches since you have to climb on rocks to get back up after jumping in.

    • Sarakiniko Beach - moonscape terrain with ample places to cliff jump. I recommend going early in the morning, so it’s not crowded or super hot.

    • Papafragas Beach - another incredible terrain with cliff jumping and crystal clear water.

    • Plathiena Beach - sandy beach surrounded by cliffs that is great for relaxing and wading in the water

  • Pollonia - We stopped here for lunch while exploring our cliff jumping beaches.

  • Klima - This super colorful fishing village is secluded and beautiful. There are a few little restaurants and unique gift shops with local artwork, but mostly people come here to enjoy the colorful painted buildings and relaxing atmosphere.

  • Plaka Castle – Known for the iconic sunset views, but we opted to go during the day to avoid the crowds. They close down the road late afternoon in anticipation of the crowds for sunset.

  • Sunset picnic - grab takeout from Methismeni Politia (best lamb we had on the trip) and walk out to The Ancient Theater of Milos to watch sunset

  • Boat tour - we opted not to do a boat tour here because we had one booked from Santorini a few days later, but if we had another day in Milos we would have booked a boat tour. We heard there are some amazing beaches and coves only accessible by boat in Milos.

Island #3: Santorini

Relaxation & romance

The island of Santorini has such a unique landscape because… it used to be a volcano! Take a look at the island on a map and you can see the crescent moon shaped island of Santorini plus the nearby Thirasia create the outer rim of the volcano. After it erupted in 1646 BC the crater filled with water, creating the “caldera” we see today. A few eruptions since then have created the island of volcanic rock in the middle of the caldera – Tholos Naftilos, which is a popular tour spot.

The sides of the island that face inward towards the center of the caldera are all super high cliffs. When you pull into the caldera on a ferry or boat, the towns perched on top of the cliffs have the illusion of snow capped mountains.

WHERE TO STAY - SANTORINI

We stayed one night in the iconic town of Oia (pronounced ee-uh – the o is silent) and three nights at a resort in the less touristy area of Imerovigli. Both rooms we stayed in were authentic cave homes – cut into the cliffside – which is part of the unique experience of Santorini.

Oia Airbnb – I would 110% recommend our Airbnb if you want to stay in Oia. The location was priceless and our views were breathtaking. The place was super clean and had everything we needed. The host was super responsive, set up a cab from the ferry port and had an assistant meet us in town to help us navigate the maze of pathways in Oia to the airbnb, which was super helpful. 

The Vasilicos  – When we were researching which resort to stay at in Santorini, we stumbled upon The Vasilicos and fell in love with its story and charm. Formerly the vacation home of an art collector, it is undeniably gorgeous and private with only 7 total suites that are authentic caves carved into the caldera cliff. Some rooms have private plunge pools and each room has its own private patio and access to the shared infinity pool. Unlike many brand new cookie-cutter resorts nearby, The Vasilicos is full of history and attention to detail. Each detail – the room keys, artwork, vintage books and even the pool towels – are uniquely selected. The staff and chef were incredible and made us feel so welcome. It was the perfect place to end our Greek Honeymoon. Check out their website and Instagram – the beauty speaks for itself through the images. CONTACT ME FOR A VASILICOS FAMILY/FRIENDS REFERRAL CODE.

SIDE NOTES: It’s worth it to stay on the cliff instead of anywhere inland. You came to Santorini for the views, so stay somewhere you can see them. Also, DO NOT STAY in Thira if you have the choice - all cruise ships get unloaded there so it’s just a big crowded tourist trap.

WHERE TO STAY - SANTORINI

  • Spend a day walking around the breathtaking city of Oia. This famous city features many blue-domed churches, maze-like stone footpaths through shops, restaurants and hotels. It has a magical energy about it unlike anything I have experienced before.

  • Castle of Oia – Ruins of a big historic castle on the cliffs. Go during the day. Do NOT go for sunset. It is one of the most overcrowded tourist traps during sunset. We were lucky enough to have a partial sunset view from our airbnb, so we opted to sit on our patio for sunset instead of braving the crowds.

  • Ammoudi Bay – Wear walking shoes, not sandals, for this “hike” down 200+ stairs to the fishing village from Oia. Follow the rocky path around the corner to Armonia Beach for a secluded “locals-only” swimming spot. If you’re feeling extra brave, you can swim out to the tiny island ~50 yards away to cliff jump off a concrete retaining wall.

  • If you stay near Imerovigli, like we did, hike Skaros Rock. If you keep going down a little further you will reach a classic blue and white gorgeous church that has incredible views of the whole caldera. We were the only people there, so it was super peaceful.

  • Catamaran Cruise – On our last day of our trip, we went on a 6 hour catamaran cruise in the caldera. We opted for a small-group boat tour, which was slightly more expensive than a larger boat tour with more people. The cruise stopped at a few of Santorini’s famous beaches where we were able to jump off the boat and snorkel.

  • SIDE NOTE – I would advise to not wear a white swimsuit in the caldera. Since it is a volcano, the water has some sulfur and other natural chemicals that will turn your swimsuit orange.

GREECE quick tips:

  • If your airbnb host offers to set up a cab for you from the airport or ferry port to the airbnb, DO IT. We had cabs set up through our airbnb hosts / resort receptionist on all three islands and it was such a life saver. The ferry ports and airports can be overwhelming to navigate and full of crowds, so seeing someone with your name on a sign to take you exactly where you need to go when you are super jet lagged after 30 hours of travel or when you arrive at 11pm on an island you’ve never been to before, it is a HUGE relief. The prices for the cabs were usually around $20-$40 and well worth it.

  • Check with AAA before you go about the international driving permit requirements for car, scooter and ATV rentals in Greece. We got ours from AAA in the States a few weeks before we left, but were told when we got there that this year is the last year they are required. I am not sure what is true or not regarding that, so definitely check with AAA before.

  • Not a tip, but it needed to be mentioned… there are cats EVERYWHERE. Being a cat person, I loved this about Greece. They were so friendly and cute. We didn’t interact much with them since they are stray and not necessarily the cleanest, but there were a few that really stole our hearts at our resort in Santorini and we named them Feta & Chicken.

  • Our ferry experience from Mykonos to Milos was kind of a nightmare. It was super hot, crowded and unorganized. We both ended up getting seasick because the weather wasn’t great which created choppy water and made for a not so smooth ride. We have heard of some people having better ferry experiences than us though, so maybe we just were unlucky. My advice would be to pay the ~$18 for the upgraded upstairs cabin. We ended up doing that on both ferry rides and it was well worth it.

  • Do not expect dine-in experiences to be quick. The servers in most restaurants we visited seemed to be in no hurry. Coming from the US, where everything is so fast-paced, this took a while to get used to. Most of the time it was fine because we weren’t on a tight schedule, but be sure to plan ahead if you only have an allotted amount of time.

  • I would recommend having an international plan on your phone so you can access google maps while exploring. Some of the roads get windy and confusing. Our international plan was only $10/day from AT&T.

Sunset at The Vasilicos - Santorini

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and it helps you plan an unforgettable trip!

Traveling has always been an important part of my life. I love experiencing new places and being inspired by them creatively – the vibrant colors of Santorini, the lush landscape of Phuket, the quaint fishing towns in Alaska.

Although a travel blog doesn’t directly have anything to do with my graphic design business, Rockfish Design Studio, I started my travel blog to be able to easily share info and photos with anyone who asks for recommendations for destinations that I have traveled to.

Writing is something I genuinely love to do and has always been a creative outlet for me. And sharing helpful info with others has always been my love language. So it’s a win-win situation!

Cheers, Lisa

**All images featured are property of Lisa Devenny & Rockfish Design Studio. Please do not use without written permission.

Lisa Devenny
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