[Continuously Updated] A Bride's Experience and Recommended Spots for a Honeymoon in Santorini Island
2019.09.12 published
I Want to Go to Santorini for My Honeymoon ♡
A Greek island floating in the Aegean Sea, Santorini is extremely popular for honeymoons*
Santorini, so beautiful that it was originally referred to as "the most beautiful thing," is an island formed from a volcanic eruption.
Surrounding Santorini are several smaller islands like Thirasia and Ios, which were originally one continuous island.
It is said that around the 1600s BC, magma erupted from beneath the ground, causing the land to separate, uplift, and collapse, creating the caldera area of Santorini.
Utilizing this terrain, the cave homes carved into the towering cliffs are one of Santorini's famous features and attractions ♡
In this article, I've summarized reviews and experiences from brides who went on their honeymoon to Santorini ♡
(If you would like to add your own experience, please send your text here. ➡︎ support@marry-xoxo.com)
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 1
Recently, I went to Santorini for my honeymoon 😋
What I want future travelers to know is that while Santorini is a tourist destination, taxis are limited and Uber cannot be used, making inter-city transportation quite challenging 💦😅
There are buses, but carrying large suitcases from the bus stops to hotels can be quite difficult 💦
(Many hotels are on slopes, so there are narrow stairs and steep paths making it hard to roll suitcases...)
If you request hotel transfers, you won't have to handle your suitcase at all, which can be pricey, but it makes you feel relaxed both mentally and physically 🥺
I recommend staying multiple nights in Ios. Due to the reasons mentioned above, I think staying at the same hotel in Ios for several nights is the best way to enjoy it.
(If you shift to stay in Imerovigli, accommodation costs will be lower, but it becomes a hassle to travel to tourist spots in Ios and Fira 💦)
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 2
We made a reservation at a restaurant called Katro for watching the sunset! During that time, the narrow streets become crowded with people, so it is recommended to enjoy it while dining.
The food was delicious at every restaurant! If you have a bit of free time, Mykonos and Athens were also great 💡
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 3
At a restaurant called Katro in Ios on Santorini, you can have dinner while enjoying what is said to be the world's best sunset!
Reservations are essential, but since it's our honeymoon, if you specify a table with a view of the sunset, they will reserve the best table for you.
When making the reservation, they were accommodating even with emails translated through translation sites, so I recommend this even if you're not good at English 🥰
When sunset time comes, people gather around the table, but the restaurant staff will kindly clear them away and the food is suitable for Japanese tastes, so you can relax.
Also, I highly recommend honeymoon photos in Santorini! While it’s fun to take selfies, if you book a local photographer and hair/makeup artist from Japan,
you can get access to places that are typically closed to the public (like private homes or other hotel premises) so you can take pictures in stunning locations without other tourists in the background.
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 4
The gyropita I had in Fira was cheap and delicious! It's from a place called "Good Mood Food."
➡︎ Here's the TripAdvisor page*
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 5
I recommend this restaurant!
Candouni Restaurant in Ios, Santorini serves exquisite dishes, and the terrace is adorably Instagrammable ❤️
➡︎ Here's the TripAdvisor page*
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 6
Everything in Santorini is wonderful, but I especially recommend the Ios area! The townscape is beautiful, and it’s a lot of fun just walking around♪
If you're in Athens, you definitely have to check out a yogurt bar!
When I searched, Fresco was the most frequently mentioned, but there are several different shops.
I went to “Chillbox Frozen Yogurt” in Fira! I visited Fresco while I was in Athens. Both places were very delicious!
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 7
I'm currently in Santorini!
If you’re choosing a place to stay, I definitely recommend Ios! Besides the world-famous sunset, the early morning before tourists from other districts come rushing in is a photo opportunity 💓
We used a tripod and took self-photos all around just as the sun was rising 💞 (laughs)
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 8
It gets extremely cold in the morning. The temperature difference between morning and noon is significant.
I traveled around May, and everyone was wearing down jackets in the morning!!
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 9
I just recently visited Santorini for my honeymoon✈️ Of course, the famous restaurants and sunset were amazing!
Santo Wine is a restaurant with a great view of Santorini and had a lovely atmosphere for enjoying wine.
The frozen yogurt at Louyo in Fira was the best I had among several in Greece 😋
I had a delicious smoothie at a cute cafe called Passaggio in Ios.
The restaurant called Sunset at the port of Ios, right by the sea, served delicious seafood 🦞 The seafood pasta was incredibly tasty.
The Atlantis Bookstore in the Ios was filled with wonderful books in a cozy atmosphere, and many beautiful English books perfect for decoration✨
Also, at a silk shop in Ios, I found gorgeous Greek silk and cashmere stoles and dresses, and I bought a stole 🧣
My husband even gifted me a silk dress as a memory of Santorini from that store 🎁
We also did a wedding shoot there! We had a photoshoot in stunning locations unique to Santorini that regular tourists couldn't access, and it was truly moving 🥺 If you have a honeymoon there, I highly recommend getting one!
Santorini was incredibly beautiful and a wonderful place. I absolutely want to recommend it for a honeymoon✨
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 10
Recommendations for places in Santorini 😊
I'm currently in Santorini 😃 I highly recommend wedding photos at @sadiraj_photography in Santorini 😊
The staff were really kind, and we were able to take pictures in places typically not accessible 🤳 It was truly a great memory!
If you are thinking of having wedding photos abroad, I recommend Santorini 😃
After comparing prices and photos of various overseas wedding shoots, Santorini definitely had the best prices and plenty of stunning photos!
One thing to be cautious about is theft 🥺 While Santorini is reputed to have good security, there have been many thefts recently, and we also had our passport stolen 😭
Only the money was taken, and the rest was discarded. Fortunately, kind people who remembered us during our photo session found it and returned it to us, but we were really panicking 😭
Please be really cautious of theft at tourist locations.
Santorini Honeymoon Experience 11
For our honeymoon, we stayed at hotels called Perivolas and Katikies in Ios!
Perivolas is a cave hotel decorated in white and pink, while Katikies has a pure white interior, both are highly recommended for a honeymoon atmosphere.
While the main areas in Santorini are Ios and Fira, if you want to take a "Santorini!" picture, staying in Ios is recommended.
(Ios has many resort hotels and is a beautiful town for photo opportunities, but Fira felt more bustling and crowded with souvenir shops, giving it a hectic impression.)
You can reach Fira from Ios by bus in about an hour, but if you want to leisurely enjoy time together, I think it's better to stay at a nice hotel in Ios!
➡︎【Perivolas】 Here's the TripAdvisor page*
➡︎【Katikies】 Here's the TripAdvisor page*
The restaurant "Sunsets Bar Restaurant," where you can see the world's best sunset, has an excellent location and delicious food. (The cheese risotto was amazing!)
➡︎ Here's the TripAdvisor page*