Honeymoon getaways

10 days in Greece

Greece draws in holiday travelers every year. From the mainland to the islands, there is a lot to explore. Greece has over 6000 islands, with only about 220 inhabited. This means there is a wide variety of options when it comes to planning your trip as different islands will be better for different desires. To help narrow down your options, this itinerary will focus on the Cyclades island group.

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Getting There

To reach Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki will be your main airports on the mainland. Athens is a gateway to the islands, home to a huge ferry port connecting visitors to many of the SE islands. If traveling to the islands, fly to Athens, enjoy a day exploring the historical city, and then get on a ferry the next day to enjoy the island life.

Some of the larger, more frequently visited islands have their own airports which you can fly direct into from some European cities or from Athens if you prefer to avoid the ferry. In the Cyclades, Santorini and Mykonos have sizable airports, with a few others having very small airports like Milos.

The next part of planning your journey is evaluating the ferry options. Seajets, World Champion Jets, Blue Star Ferries and Power Jet are a few of the big ferry companies. Start by checking any of the individual websites for planned ferries, entering your start and end destination. Using websites like ferryhopper or directferries can also be helpful to find options available as these websites will provide an overview of all options available from point A to point B on a given day. Ferry tickets usually range from 50 – 100 euros, depending on the journey route and can be bought online. Closer to the date of departure, you will be able to either download tickets electronically or can pick them-up at the ferry port.

When planning your trip, keep in mind the ferries in Greece are often delayed by at least 30 minutes and sometimes departure times are adjusted from the original time noted at booking (depending how far in advance tickets are purchased). Therefore, book adequate time when depending on flights or ferries. If possible, in order to optimize time on the islands and reduce stress of potential flight or ferry delays impacting the journey, consider taking a flight in the afternoon / evening and then catching a ferry the following morning. Another option is to plan to spend time in Athens, Santorini or Mykonos before or after your time in Paros. This can also help reduce the long travel days and dependencies on different forms of transportation running on-time.

Getting Around

On most islands, if looking to explore different areas of the island, renting a car is your best option to provide flexibility in your schedule. For some, having a car may be critical for the full duration, while others you can use local buses or take a day rental.

Cyclades – Greek Islands

The Cyclades are a volcanic island group in the Aegean Sea with over 200 islands, some much larger than others. The islands are characterized by their painted white and blue houses and crystal blue water.

Santorini

Santorini is known for being a favorite Greek island for many. With romantic vibes, luxurious accommodation options, and picturesque views, the island is a honeymooners heaven. Visitors and locals gather every night to enjoy magnificent sunsets, watching the sun disappear u

Paros

Paros is a great mix of some of the other islands. It offers cute Greek villages, some nice beaches, delicious food, and more nightlife options, all while being quite affordable. It is an easy island to add when visiting other Cyclades islands.

Milos

An underrated island in the Cyclades, but slowly growing in popularity, Milos offers a bit of it all. It is known for its beautiful, and unique beaches. It also feels less commercialised and brings in many local Greeks, keeping it a more local and authentic experience.

Naxos

Naxos is a chill and quieter island, ideal for nice beaches and a relaxed Greek island trip with incredible Greek food. It provides a unique and more authentic experience on the Greek islands

Mykonos

Known for stunning beaches and being a partygoers destination, Mykonos draws in a younger crowd looking to hit up a beach party. Although the beaches are beautiful, Mykonos is definitely best for a group looking to go out and happy to spend more money as it has gotten quite pricey.

Regardless of options, check tips for locations to stay when picking accommodations

Milos

Plaka

Located up on a hill, and known for having the best sunsets in Milos, Plaka is a very cute town. It is located about a 10 – 15 minute drive from the port in Adamas. The town itself has a variety of restaurants, places to grab drinks, and shopping spread throughout. The town is very busy in the evenings as many people head to Plaka to watch the sunset. Plaka is a great place to use as a home base as it is easily accessible to a lot of the island, has nice views, and provides many evening options so you can end your day in the town you are staying.

Adamas

Adamas is the port town where the ferry arrives and departs Milos from. For a convenience factor, staying in Adamas is a good option. The town itself has a bunch of restaurants, shops, and is a good hub. There are places to rent vehicles in Adamas, and it is also quite easy to get a taxi from the town.

Hotel Portani is a very convenient hotel to stay at in Adamas as it is located just minutes from the port. The hotel has quaint rooms and many with a nice seaside view. The hotel staff is also very kind, and breakfast is provided each morning to guests. Easily book the hotel here.

Paros

Naoussa is the cutest town in Paros and the best place to stay when visiting. Located about 15 minutes from the port town of Paroikia, Naoussa is a picturesque Greek town with winding roads and white buildings all throughout the town. It sits right on the water, and has an immense amount of restaurants, cocktail bars, boutiques, and cafes.

Santorini

Oia is the village on the northern tip of the island, right on the cliffs with a beautiful sunset view. It is smaller than the capital, Fira taking about 25 minutes to walk from one side of town to the other. Best for beautiful sunset views and the quintessential visit to Santorini, Oia is worth the splurge. The town is sizable enough to offer a variety of restaurants, shops, cafes, and accommodations, but smaller than Fira providing a more intimate option.

For a real treat, pick accommodations with a private pool, or one accessible for guests, with a sunset view.

Fira is the capital of Santorini located in the “middle” of the island on a cliffside. It has a similar view to Santorini and feels much larger. Thus, there are more shops, but also more tourists and overall has a more touristy feel. Since it is in the middle, it is closer to some places on the southern side of Santorini like the black and red sand beaches. Nevertheless, Santorini is not a big island and it can be driven easily in a day.

If Oia and Fira are not appealing to you, there are tons of little towns in Santorini like Pigros, Megalochori, etc. You can check out any of these as other options for places to stay. These will be much quieter than both Oia and Fira, which does feel busy with tourists.

Naxos

Naxos is different from some of the other Cyclades. In comparison to Santorini and Mykonos, Naxos is much quieter, creating a more peaceful and calm atmosphere. Even though a fair number of tourists still visit Naxos, it is nothing in comparison to the quantities visiting Santorini and Mykonos. This is also because unlike Santorini and Mykonos, cruise ships do not dock in Naxos. This, along with the fact that Naxos is less-known, allows it to be a more authentic Greek island experience.

Chora (Naxos Town) is the ideal location in Naxos to stay. The ferry arrives and departs from the port right in town, making it easy to walk to your accommodations. Naxos Town has the most going on including numerous restaurant options, cute boutiques, cafes, and local shops. Nevertheless, if wanting to leave Naxos Town, it is easy to catch the bus from Naxos town and venture away for the day to beaches or on other excursions.

Naxos Center Houses is a great option if available and can be booked Here. There are a few different rooms available to book for a short stay, with one having a huge balcony available. The customer service was excellent with the owner being very responsive and flexible with check-in & check-out times. The host provided recommendations for Naxos, and the accommodations themselves were very nice (including air conditioning). It is located in Naxos town, making it easily accessible to Chora Old Town, the port, and Agios Gorgios (beach).

Hotel Grotta is another great option, with a rooftop terrace providing stunning sunset views. Quickly book here.