Greece honeymoon: Santorini, Crete and the islands for two

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This guide covers where to go, where to stay and when to travel, with the hotels we recommend on Santorini and Crete. It is part of our guide to honeymoon destinations in Europe and our best honeymoon destinations series.

In short: a honeymoon in Greece

• Best for: couples who want sea views, good food and a short flight.

• Where: Santorini for the views, Crete for beaches and food, or both in one trip.

• When: May, June, September and October.

• Flying time: about 3 hours 30 minutes from London and about 4 hours from Oslo.

Our first choice: three or four nights on the caldera at Imerovigli, then a week in Elounda on Crete. Our Santorini guide and our guide to Elounda's luxury hotels show where to stay.

Santorini for two

Santorini wraps around a flooded volcanic crater, the caldera, and the villages of Oia, Imerovigli and Fira sit on its rim. The views are the reason to come. Walk the path from Fira to Oia, around ten kilometres along the rim, take a boat to the volcano at Nea Kameni, and watch the sunset from a terrace in Imerovigli rather than in the crowds of Oia.

Santorini is small and busy in high summer. Three or four nights is enough for most couples, and a room facing the caldera matters more here than on almost any other island. Our Santorini travel guide covers the villages and the beaches.

Crete for two

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, with long beaches, mountains and some of the best food in Greece. Elounda in the east has the island's most luxurious hotels, many with their own beach, while Chania in the west has a Venetian harbour and an old town made for evening walks. Balos and Elafonisi in the far west are among the finest beaches in the country.

A week on Crete gives you time for both: rest by the sea and explore. See our Crete travel guide, the old town of Chania and our day trip to Balos and Elafonisi.

Where to stay: six hotels for a Greek honeymoon

Grace Hotel, Auberge Collection, Santorini

Grace sits in Imerovigli on the caldera rim, with a pool that looks straight out to sea. It is calm and stylish, and a good starting point for the walk to Oia. See our Santorini guide.

Katikies Chromata, Santorini

Katikies Chromata is also in Imerovigli, with terraces and a pool above the caldera. It suits couples who want the view without the crowds of Oia in the evening.

Canaves Oia Suites, Santorini

Canaves is one of the best-known hotel names in Oia, with white suites on the slope and views over the caldera. The sunset is right outside the door. Read more in our best honeymoon destinations.

Elounda Mare, Crete

Elounda Mare is a member of Relais & Châteaux and sits on a private beach next to a golf course. The spa offers Ayurvedic treatments, and three restaurants give you breakfast on the terrace or dinner by the sea. See our guide to Elounda's luxury hotels.

Phāea Blue, Crete

Phāea Blue is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and sits at Plaka, directly opposite the island of Spinalonga. It has three restaurants, two bars and a pool facing the bay.

Domes Noruz, Chania

Domes Noruz is an adults-only hotel on the beach west of Chania, with two outdoor pools, an in-pool bar, an indoor pool and a spa. It suits couples who want the beach and the old town in the same week. See our guide to adults-only hotels in Crete.

For a place of your own, see our guide to villas with a private pool in Crete. For a price that covers food and drink, see all inclusive in Greece.

Santorini and Crete in one trip

In season, fast ferries link Santorini with Heraklion on Crete, and Elounda is about an hour by car from Heraklion. Spend three or four nights on Santorini first, when you are still full of energy after the wedding, and finish with a week by the beach on Crete. You can then fly home from Heraklion or Chania.

If you would rather have a smaller island, Skopelos in the Sporades is green, quiet and less visited. See our guide to where to stay on Skopelos and our pick of the best Greek islands.

Getting there from London and Oslo

The flying time to Santorini is about 3 hours 30 minutes from London and about 4 hours from Oslo. Crete has two main airports, Heraklion in the centre and Chania in the west, with similar flying times. Direct routes run mainly in the summer season. Outside the season, most journeys need a change in Athens.

When to go

May, June, September and October are the best months for a Greek honeymoon, with a warm sea and fewer crowds than in high summer. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and the meltemi wind can blow hard across the Aegean. See honeymoon destinations in May, June, September and October, and our guide to the best time to visit Greece.

Plan the rest of your honeymoon

• Compare Europe: honeymoon destinations in Europe sets Greece against Italy and the rest of the continent.

• Choose the style: honeymoon ideas sorts the options into eight kinds of trip.

• Plan the trip: plan your honeymoon covers budget, length and booking step by step.

• Find the beach: our guide to the best beaches in Greece helps you choose the island.

Our verdict

What Picolo chooses: three or four nights at Grace in Imerovigli, then a week at Elounda Mare or Phāea Blue on Crete.

Why: Santorini gives you the views for a few days, and Crete gives you the beach, the food and the space to rest.

The trade-off: two islands means a ferry and two check-ins, and Santorini is crowded and expensive in July and August.

Only have a few days after the wedding? Our mini-moon ideas cover short honeymoons in the UK and Europe, from the Lake District to Paris by Eurostar.

Planning a honeymoon in Italy? Our Italy honeymoon guide combines Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como, with seven hotels we recommend for couples.

Frequently asked questions

Is Greece good for a honeymoon?

Yes. Greece combines sea views, good food and warm weather with a short flight from the UK and Norway. Santorini is one of the most romantic islands in Europe, and Crete adds beaches and luxury hotels in Elounda. It suits couples who want a honeymoon in Europe without a long-haul flight.

Santorini or Crete for a honeymoon?

Choose Santorini for the views and Crete for rest. Santorini is small, so three or four nights is usually enough, while Crete has room for a whole week with beaches, food and day trips. Many couples combine the two, with Santorini first and a slower week on Crete at the end.

How many days do you need for a Greek honeymoon?

Plan on ten to twelve nights if you want to see two islands, for example three or four nights on Santorini and a week on Crete. If you only have a week, choose one island and stay put. Fewer moves leave more time to rest after the wedding.

When is the best time for a honeymoon in Greece?

May, June, September and October are the best months. The sea is warm, and there are fewer people than in July and August, when Santorini is at its busiest and the meltemi wind can blow hard. From November to April many hotels on Santorini close for the winter.

Sources

This guide builds on Picolo's guides to Santorini, Crete, Elounda's luxury hotels and adults-only hotels in Crete, and on the hotels' own information. The flying times are Picolo's estimates based on distance and common routes. Check the times and the season's routes with the airlines before you book. Last checked: 4 November 2026.

Read more

• Italy honeymoon

• Mini-moon ideas

• Best honeymoon destinations

• Honeymoon destinations in Europe

• Honeymoon by month

• Santorini travel guide

• Crete travel guide