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Honeymoon
Athens Crete Santorini

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini

Many visitors ask us their questions. We are more than happy to help you with ideas for your own independent honeymoon to the Greek Islands.

Hi We Love Create team,

Thank you for the enormously helpful information on this site.

My fiancé and I are trying to plan our honeymoon in June, and we're hoping to spend at least 6-7 days in Crete. Right now the plan would be to fly into Athens, spend 2 nights there, ferry or fly to Santorini for at least 3-4 nights, and then ferry to Crete.

We already know we want to spend a few days doing day trips from Chania, visiting Samaria Gorge, Elafonisi Beach, and Balos Lagoon, and right now the plan is to hire a car. I'll admit that I'm feeling a little overwhelmed determining the first leg or rest of the trip so we don't feel rushed and that all we're doing is driving. We love having a "home base" for a few days, hence staying in Chania for at least 3 nights but we're considering staying longer in an Airbnb/apartment. 

I've been trying to determine the following: Is too much to visit Knossos and take an Olive Oil/Winery tour in the same day when we arrive off the ferry from Santorini?

And where do we stay that first night? Can we can even manage a trip to Loutro if we've rented a car, if so, how do we even do this? Or does it just not make sense given the time constraints?.

If we use Chania as our home for the week - what other day trips can we do that makes sense logistically? Or do we spend 3 nights elsewhere in west Crete to explore?

Thanks so much,

Jenn

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Your Honeymoon in Greece

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini

Yiasas Jenn,

What an exciting honeymoon you are planning, and it is great that you have plenty of time to arrange the holiday.

We are glad that you like the website and are happy to help with all these questions (and any more you might have). We have put together a suggested itinerary below that incorporates all your ideas so far.

June
June is a lovely month to visit Greece. It is spring coming into summer, and visitor numbers are not too crazy, like in July and August. In very popular places, you may experience some crowding and tight accommodation options, so we suggest booking ahead as much as possible. We have started your itinerary on the first day of June, just to guess as when you might start, but of course you may have other dates in mind. A honeymoon as early as possible in June is suggested.

Coming from Athens to include Crete and Santorini, it makes more sense to visit Crete first, then take the 2 hour ferry over to Santorini, then the flight/ferry back to Athens. In this way, because of the ferry timetables, it offers the smoothest trip route.

Crete
For Crete we note that you want to stay for 6-7 days with a  base in Chania, and also visit Knossos and depart from Heraklion for the ferry. In this way, it makes sense to  base yourself in the west of the island and not try to over-extend yourselves to see the east. We have made suggestions below that include all of your ideas for day trips.

Accommodation - Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini
Consider staying a couple of nights in a boutique hotel in the old town of Chania (a bit romantic) and then in a small country house rather than an apartment. In this way you will get to experience the real Crete, in the rural villages, meeting locals and enjoying olive groves and wide open spaces.

Feel free to use Airbnb hosts and get a wonderful, personalised welcome. We do not include links here because we do not partner with them. We provide accommodation links via our partner programs, and other properties with which we are familiar. More info here.

Knossos Palace
The ferry for Santorini leaves around 8am or 8.30am from Heraklion Port. Because of this, you might want to drop your car off the night before, and stay in a hotel that is handy to the port, to be ready for your departure. Because of this, it makes sense to visit Knossos on the second-last day of your trip, we have included it in your itinerary below. Allow at least 2 hours to see Knossos and if you like history, longer. Knossos is the most visited archaeological site on the island, so it makes sense to book ahead.

Santorini
June in Santorini is just starting to become very busy. It is imperative that you book well ahead for your accommodation. Oia is very romantic and very popular, and can be very expensive; we have made some suggestions below.

Santorini to Athens - Options
Ferries from Santorini (Thira) to Athens (Pireaus) take 5+ hours. You then have quite a journey to get to the airport, which is on the other side of the city. The more direct route is to take the ferry from Santorini (Thira) to Rafina Port, which is much closer to the airport. It might be handy to spend a night in the airport hotel prior to a long haul flight. Also consider the flight from Santorini to Athens, which is only 50 minutes, and for which you could arrange a direction connection with your departure flight (leaving transfer time, of course).

Travel Insurance - Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini
Please arrange your most important travel insurance for door to door coverage, we have travel insurance information here.

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Your Personalised Itinerary

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini

Day One - June 1
Visit Acropolis and Museum
Skip the Line tickets to Acropolis Museum
Stay in Plaka Athens
Stay at Zillers Boutique Hotel

Day Two - June 2
Half Day or Full Day Tour
Tour ideas here
Stay in Plaka Athens
Stay at Zillers Boutique Hotel

Day Three - June 3
Prebooked taxi transfer from Athens to Airport
Flight Athens ATH to Chania CHQ with Aegean Airlines
Duration 1 hour
Taxi to Old Town
Rest and relax
Stay in Chania Old Town
Stay at Serenissima Boutique Hotel

Day Four - June 4
Organised day tour to Samaria Gorge
A long day but it is worth it
Stay in Chania Old Town
Stay at Serenissima Boutique Hotel

Day Five - June 5
Pick up your hire car
Drive to Chora Sfakion 70 km
Take ferry to Loutro 20 mins
Ferry timetables here
Take the ferry back to Chora Sfakion and drive to rural Chania
Stay at Apanemia, near Vamos village

Day Six - June 6
Self-guided tour to Elafonisi Beach
200 km round trip
Stay at Apanemia, near Vamos village

Day Seven - June 7
Self-guided tour to Balos Lagoon
Drive to Kissamos and take boat tour 10.30am
Boat tour info here
Or self-drive (depart early to get ahead of other visitors)
160 km round trip
Stay at Apanemia, near Vamos village

Day Eight - June 8
Drive to Chania old town
Join an Olive Oil/Winery Tour
Tour ideas here
Stay at Apanemia, near Vamos village

Day Nine - June 9
Drive to Heraklion 116 km
Visit Knossos
Skip the Line Knossos Tour with Guide
Drop off hire car
Stay in Heraklion near the port
Stay at Hotel Lato

Day Ten - June 10
Depart Heraklion Port for Santorini Thira on Ferry
Depart at 07.50
Duration 2 hours 25 mins
Arrive 10.15
Stay in Oia
Stay at La Madeleine

Day Eleven - June 11
In Santorini
Stay in Oia
Stay at La Madeleine

Day Twelve - June 12
In Santorini
Stay in Oia
Stay at La Madeleine

Day Thirteen - June 13
Optional extra day in Santorini
Or depart for Athens
Optional night in Athens Sofitel Airport Hotel
Or depart directly
Santorini to Rafina Ferry
Pre-book Transfer Rafina Port to Athens Airport
or Santorini to Athens Flight with Aegean Airlines

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Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini
Your Itinerary in Pictures

See the highlights of your trip through Greece.

In Athens we suggest staying in Plaka at the base of the Acropolis in a small hotel with views to the Parthenon.

Zillers Boutique Hotel in Plaka, Athens.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - the ancient market of Athens - the agora - is full of history at every turn.

There are great views to the Parthenon from the Acropolis Museum rooftop cafe, take a rest after visiting the museum, letting all that history sink in!

The Venetian Harbour and Old Town of Chania in western Crete.

Serenissima Boutique Hotel in the Old Town of Chania - with the historic character of the Venetian Zone.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - Samaria Gorge is a long, deep gorge in the south of the Chania region of Crete. It is a north-south trek ending on the beach in the remote village of Agia Roumeli. Take the ferry and coach back to Chania town.

The 'portes' are the narrowest part of the Samaria Gorge. The complete walk is 16 km.

Chora Sfakion in the south of Crete - take a ferry from here to Loutro.

Loutro is a sweet blue and white seaside village miles from anywhere - get there by boat or by foot.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - live like locals in this sweet rural house near Vamos Village. So private and charming, close to the town of Chania and close to the national road so you can explore around western Crete.

Bliss out in the clear, clear waters of Elafonisi Beach. This is a protected natural beach.

Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Islet are on the north-western tip of Crete Island. Drive to Kissamos town and take a boat here, or drive out on the dirt road to the end of the point, then walk 1 km down to the lagoon. The road and parking get very busy.

Don't miss Gramvousa Taverna near Kaliviani after a hot day at the beach.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - take a tour of the countryside around Chania, visit an olive farm and taste local produce, local wines and spirits. These are some of the oldest olive trees in the world.

Knossos Palace Archaeological site shows the life of the Minoan people of over 3000 years ago. The controversial restorations make it a very unique site.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - the view over the Old Port of Heraklion from the Lato Hotel. This hotel is close to the historic port and well as handy to the pedestrianised streets of the town and the new port. Very handy for your departure to Santorini.

A honeymoon suggestion: stunning views from your private terrace spot on the edge of the caldera, at La Madeleine.

Honeymoon Athens Crete Santorini - the unique black sands of Perissa Beach in Santorini.

Red Beach in Santorini.

Arriving into port at Santorini - breathtaking!

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About the Team

Yiásas!
Anastasi, Apostoli & Katia are the
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