Santorini is one of the most picturesque destinations in the Mediterranean, and that’s saying a lot. It’s simply gorgeous, and it’s a common destination for cruise ships, honeymooners, and romantic vacations.

If you and your partner want a romantic getaway in Santorini, Greece, you can definitely have it. The question is, how? We’ve done it, so here are our tips, the pitfalls you might run into, and some things you should know.

Key Facts and Things to Know About Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a world-renowned destination, and with good reason. To make sure your getaway goes off without a hitch, there are some things you should know before you even get to planning.

Getting to Santorini

Santorini is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, part of the whole cluster of volcanic islands throughout the sea off the coast of Athens. It’s about as classically Greek as can be, and has unparalleled views of the sea, the sky, and the historic architecture.

Being an island, it can be a little tricky to get to. You basically have four options:

• A cruise. Cruise ships frequently travel throughout the Aegean Sea, throughout the Mediterranean, and all around the world’s oceans. They’re a very particular kind of experience, being essentially floating cities, and are very different from the experience you have visiting on your own. You can read about our experience on a cruise to Santorini here.
• Flight. Santorini has an airport that handles flights from a lot of major cities throughout Europe. When you’re flying from the USA, you can stop over in places like Heathrow in London or Athens before finishing the journey to Santorini. The flight from Athens to Santorini is just under an hour.
• Ferry. A ferry will take you from Athens to a few other islands in the Aegean Sea and, eventually, to Santorini. It will be a whole-day affair, as the ferry generally takes between 5 and 7 hours to make the trip. But it’s scenic and a lot less crowded than a cruise.
• Private boats. You can charter a bareboat, yacht, catamaran, or other private boat to take you from Athens to Santorini. Some of these are whole tour experiences, while others are simple trips. They’re a little faster than the ferry, more private, and much more expensive.

The option you choose comes down to your budget and your goals. If you want to spend as much time as possible on Santorini, take the flight. If you want to experience everything the sea has to offer, the ferry might be the best option. It’s your call, really!

Staying on Santorini

Santorini is awash in hotels and resorts for pretty much any possible purpose. Smaller 2-star hotels and more inland hotels – without the stunning sunset or sunrise views many people go to Santorini to see in the first place – might be as cheap as $45 or $60 a night. Hundreds of hotels in the 3-star range, with better views and better access, can be found for $100-$200 per night. And, of course, the sky’s the limit with the 4-5-star and beyond, with resorts and luxury villas you can find for $500-$1,000 per night.

The main choices you need to make are:

• Where you want to stay. Santorini has the caldera view and the sea view, and inland hotels that lack either one. Caldera-view stays tend to be more expensive, specifically because of that stunning view.
• How long you plan to stay in one place. Some people pick a middle-ground area and explore the island each day, while others start at one end and move every couple of nights. You can also spend your entire trip just in one city for the most laid-back experience.
• Which city to visit. Santorini has a handful of cities to stay in. To the north, at the top of the crescent, is Oia, where we visited on our cruise. Toward the middle is Fira, also known as Thira, the capital of the island. The southern tip of the crescent has the ruins of Akrotiri. On the outer edge, you also have cities like Vlichada, Agios Georgios, Kamari, and Perissa. Truthfully, we recommend setting up shop in either Oia or Fira and exploring from there.

There’s not really a way to go wrong with a trip to Santorini. Just think about what you and your spouse want, and plan a few major things to see and do, and you’ll be golden.

Exploring Santorini

If you want to do anything other than lounge on a terrace and take in the sun, you need to be prepared for the biggest challenge Santorini has to offer: hills. It’s a rocky volcanic island, after all; there’s pretty much no way to get anywhere without going up or down something that, sometimes, feels more like a cliff than a path. Even if you initially feel like you want to walk everywhere, you’ll probably find quite quickly that it’s not that simple.

The most common way to get around the island is on a quad. They’re a little safer than motorcycles, small and easy to maneuver, and readily available to rent. If you’re comfortable on a motorcycle, you can rent one of those instead.

Renting a car is also possible, though some of the streets are narrow and winding, and it can be a challenge to find a place to park, so you’ll end up wasting a lot of time on it. They drive on the right-hand side in Santorini, so keep that in mind too.

The local public transportation, via bus, is also quite good, though it won’t necessarily take you everywhere you want to go on the schedule you want to visit. It’s good for a lot of the major destinations, though.

You can also take a donkey up and down the hills. It’s a famous mode of transport throughout Santorini, and we recommend trying it at least once, but for a really romantic getaway, you probably don’t want the scent of donkey or the saddle-sore bum, so maybe don’t rely entirely on it.

Fast Facts for Santorini

Let’s also address a few other details and small questions you might have. If you have a question we didn’t cover, let us know in the comments!

Greece is part of the EU and thus uses the Euro. Banks and ATMs are readily available, though the branches close early, so currency should be readily available. Tipping isn’t generally done, but bills that aren’t flat numbers can be rounded up as a gratuity.

The best time to visit is May through September, though it’s gorgeous all year round. Wintertime is a lot slower, and a lot more touristy businesses and services are closed, but it can be a very intimate getaway. Winter can be a bit wet and dreary, but it’s never frigid.

The official language is Greek, of course. As an international tourist destination, though, most people and services speak English more or less fluently. Learn a few phrases in Greek and enjoy your time!

Bottled water is a must, at least for drinking. Santorini doesn’t have natural freshwater, so tap water isn’t all that pleasant, though it’s clean enough to use without too much concern.

They use the Type C Europlug for electricity, so have your converters on hand.

Greece is generally considered safe, and there are no travel precautions from the State Department.

You don’t need a visa for a trip less than 90 days long, but you will need a valid passport, as is typical. You will also need to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorization System pass, or ETIAS. This is new as of 2025, so don’t let it surprise you.

One thing worth paying special attention to is the need for flexibility. Greece is known for labor strikes and spur-of-the-moment collective action that can disrupt things like ferry service. You’ll want enough budget and flexibility to do something like book a last-minute flight or another day or two of a hotel stay to make sure you can adapt if something disrupts your plans.

Is Santorini safe? Pretty much, yes. There’s the usual pickpockets, the occasional confidence scam, and the typical over-priced tourist traps, but you don’t have to worry about assault, mugging, or other more violent crimes on the island. Just keep your valuables secured and keep your wits about you, and you shouldn’t have trouble.

Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid in Santorini

What should you avoid? What misconceptions should you drop before your trip?

There are a few common mistakes and problems travelers run into that you should try to avoid yourself:

• Don’t expect a vibrant nightlife. Santorini is a lot more laid-back; if you want the party-until-dawn atmosphere, Mykonos is your bet instead.
• Consider avoiding the days cruise ships arrive. At the very least, try to avoid arriving or leaving – or planning major activities – on the same days the ships are in town, to avoid the worst crowds getting in your way.
• Don’t get too locked into a timetable. You’ve heard of “island time” before, right? Santorini isn’t quite as flexible as some of the SEA islands, but it’s still not that rigid. The exception is things like flights and reservations, of course.
• Don’t be afraid to bargain at shops and markets. A little back-and-forth is expected in a lot of cases, and you can end up burning through your budget a little faster than anticipated if you just accept the first prices given to you everywhere you go.
• Don’t clog the toilets. Santorini (and a lot of Greek islands) don’t flush toilet paper. It’s a little grody, but you’ll get used to it.

And, of course, don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Santorini has a ton to offer, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in anxiety for a big, expensive trip like this. Take some deep breaths and relax. Trust us; it’s better that way.

What to Do in Santorini

Santorini has a ton of things to see and do, so it all comes down to what you want. Want to travel the island and enjoy incredible food at world-class restaurants? Go for it! Want to soak up the sun and watch the sunsets from your hotel terrace? Wonderful! Want to explore the rocky terrain and hike to the least-visited areas? Great idea!

Some Greek islands are known for their beaches, but Santorini is definitely not one of them. The island is basically the rocky rim of an ancient volcano, after all, so there are relatively few ledges where sand can gather and turn into a beach over time.

That said, there are a few of them, like the Red Beach, which is at the foot of red-rock walls slowly eroding into a red sand beach.

One thing to be aware of is that, especially during peak season and especially when cruise ships are in town, some of the most popular tourist destinations are going to be absolutely mobbed. You might end up shoulder-to-shoulder with a hundred other people, and the idea of personal space might fade into myth. That’s why visiting in shoulder seasons or even the off-season can be best for a romantic getaway.

One romantic tradition in Santorini is to travel to one of the romance railings. There’s one at the castle in Oia, and one in Fira as well. These are railings with incredible views, but the important part is the tradition of taking a padlock, writing your and your partner’s names on it, and locking it to the rails. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of locks on these railings all over the island. You can add your own and leave your mark for years to come!

Avid adventurers and hikers can also take a boat out to the volcano and hike to the peak. It’s a fantastic hike, and a tour guide can give you a lot of information about the volcano, the history of the area, and more. You can also swim to some hot springs if you like, but you definitely need to be fit to make it.

If you’re flexible, willing to do a bit of research, and be proactive with reservations (especially if you’re there during peak season), you’ll definitely be able to make the most of a trip to Santorini.