Athens, Santorini and Milos in 11 Days

A caldera sunset, a volcanic coastline by boat and the Acropolis lit up at the end

11 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Four nights on the Santorini caldera, four on Milos for boat days and colorful volcanic coves, then two nights in Athens to finish with the Acropolis before a nonstop home. It suits couples who want the classic Greek island view plus a quieter island built around swimming. Go from late May to June or in September and early October.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

This is the Greece honeymoon that gives you the postcard and then the quiet. You start on Santorini, where whitewashed villages balance on the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera and a cave suite with a plunge pool looks straight at the sunset. Four nights there is enough to sail the caldera, walk the cliff path and taste the island's wines without fighting the crowds every evening.

Then you take a ferry west to Milos, a horseshoe-shaped volcanic island known for its water. Its coastline comes in chalk white, rust red and ochre, with sea caves and arches you reach by boat. Milos is about swimming, seafood and slow evenings rather than scene.

Athens comes last. Every US nonstop to Greece leaves from Athens International (ATH), so ending there means no tight connection on the last day. Two nights give you the Acropolis at opening time and a rooftop dinner facing the lit Parthenon.

The route

Best months: Late May to June and September to early October
Trip length: 11 days
Budget: About $450–1,200 a night for two in boutique to luxury hotels, with Santorini's caldera suites at the top of that range (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–4: Santorini

Land at Athens International (ATH) and connect to Santorini (JTR), a short domestic flight. The airport is roughly 20 to 30 minutes from the caldera villages; pre-book a private transfer through your hotel, since taxis are limited. Check in, sleep and watch your first sunset from your own terrace rather than from the crowds at Oia's castle.

On day 2, walk part of the cliff path from Fira through Firostefani and Imerovigli toward Oia in the early morning, before the heat. The whole route is about six miles, but even a short stretch gives you huge views. Spend the afternoon by the pool.

Day 3 is the caldera sail. A catamaran trip stops to swim near the warm springs and ends with sunset at sea. That evening on the water is the romantic moment of Santorini. On day 4, tour a winery to taste dry Assyrtiko and amber Vinsanto, then visit Akrotiri, the Bronze Age town buried by the eruption. Book a private driver for this day instead of driving the narrow roads yourselves.

Days 5–8: Milos

Take a ferry from Santorini's port of Athinios to Milos on day 5. High-speed boats link the two in summer, usually in about two to four hours depending on stops. Pick up a rental car or small 4x4 at Adamas and drive to your hotel. Pollonia, Plaka and the boathouse village of Klima each give the stay a different feel.

On day 6, book a full-day boat trip to Kleftiko, where white cliffs are riddled with arches and caves that were once a pirate hideout. Swim stops are the highlight. Many trips also call at Gerakas or the uninhabited islet of Polyaigos.

Day 7 starts early. Go to Sarakiniko at sunrise before the tour vans arrive. You may have its white volcanic rock to yourselves. In the late afternoon, walk up to the Venetian castle ruins above Plaka. The small church of Panagia Thalassitra sits on the path, looking across the whole bay at sunset. That walk is the romantic moment of Milos. Keep day 8 for beaches and a long seafood dinner on Pollonia's waterfront.

Days 9–11: Athens

Fly from Milos to Athens on day 9, often in under an hour, or take a high-speed ferry to Piraeus in roughly three to four hours. Book the flight early, since seats are limited. Check in near Plaka, Makrygianni or Koukaki, then walk the tiny lanes of Anafiotika at dusk, a cluster of island-style houses on the slope below the Acropolis. Finish at a rooftop restaurant as the monument lights up.

On day 10, be at the Acropolis gates at opening time with timed tickets, then walk down through the Ancient Agora. Spend the hot afternoon in the Acropolis Museum, whose café terrace faces the Parthenon. At sunset, ride the funicular up Lycabettus Hill for the widest view of the city, or drive out to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Dinner under the lit Parthenon is the romantic moment of Athens.

On day 11, metro Line 3 reaches the airport from Syntagma in about 40 minutes, or taxis charge a fixed fare. Allow extra time in summer.

Getting Between Stops

Fly from the US to Athens, then connect on a short domestic flight to Santorini. Delta, United and American all fly nonstop to Athens from several US cities, with more seasonal routes in summer.

Santorini to Milos is by ferry. High-speed boats run in summer, usually taking about two to four hours depending on the route and stops. Schedules are seasonal and are published a few months ahead, so book once they appear. The meltemi wind can delay or cancel sailings in July and August, which is one reason this route ends in Athens with a full day to spare.

Milos to Athens is a short flight or a three to four hour fast ferry to Piraeus. Rent a car on Milos, since buses thin out quickly. On Santorini, use hotel transfers and a private driver; taxis are limited and roads are narrow.

Where to Stay

On Santorini, stay on the caldera rim. Katikies Santorini is the classic Oia choice, with white cave suites cascading down the cliff. Canaves Oia Epitome sits just beyond the village above Ammoudi Bay, with suites facing west over their own pools. Grace Hotel Santorini in Imerovigli, the highest point of the rim, is quieter with the widest views. Book your splurge here.

On Milos, Milos Cove near Pollonia has private pools and its own beach. Skinopi Lodge has seven stone villas on a hillside above the bay. Melian Boutique Hotel & Spa has sea-view rooms on the Pollonia waterfront. Klima's converted boathouses, where the sea laps below the door, make memorable rooms.

In Athens, choose a room or rooftop with an Acropolis view. Hotel Grande Bretagne on Syntagma Square is the grand old address, while Makrygianni and Koukaki have boutique hotels near the museum.

When to Go

Late May, June, September and early October are best. The sea is warm enough to swim, ferries run frequently and the islands are lively without the August crush. September often has the warmest water.

July and August are hot and crowded, with the highest prices on Santorini and the strongest meltemi winds, which can make boat trips choppy and cancel ferries. Athens can be very hot in midsummer, so plan the Acropolis for opening time.

April and late October are good for walking and sightseeing, though the water is cool and some island hotels and ferry routes have not started or have already wound down. Many Cyclades hotels close from November to March.

Budget and Booking

Plan on roughly $450–1,200 a night for two in good boutique to luxury hotels. Santorini's caldera suites sit at the top of that range and above it in peak season. Milos and Athens usually cost less for similar quality. These figures are approximate.

Book Santorini first, since the best caldera rooms sell out early. Then book Milos, where the small boutique hotels also fill fast for June and September. Reserve the Kleftiko boat trip and the caldera catamaran when you book the hotels.

Other costs: domestic flights, ferry tickets, the Milos rental car, private transfers on Santorini, the Acropolis and museum tickets and a nightly accommodation tax at each hotel.

Make It Shorter or Longer

For eight days, spend three nights each on Santorini and Milos and one in Athens before your flight.

With two weeks, add three nights on Folegandros between Santorini and Milos. Fast ferries from Santorini take around 45 minutes to an hour and a half and Folegandros also connects to Milos. It is the quietest island on the route, with a cliff-edge village and walking paths to coves.

Couples who want a mainland finale can swap one Athens night for two nights at Nafplio, about two hours by car, or stay at a resort on the Athens Riviera near the airport for a beach day before the flight.

Honeymoon Tips

Pack light. You will carry bags on and off ferries and up steps on Santorini, where many cave suites sit far below the lane.

Book sunset dinners and boat trips early and accept that Oia's castle will be crowded at sunset. A caldera-view terrace in Imerovigli or a boat at sea is far more romantic.

Sun and wind are strong at sea, so bring high-factor sunscreen, a hat and a light layer for boat days. On Milos, watch for loose rock at Sarakiniko and take care jumping into the water. In Athens, wear comfortable shoes on the slippery marble paths of the Acropolis and carry water.

FAQ

Planning this trip

Is 11 days enough for Athens, Santorini and Milos?

Yes. Four nights each on Santorini and Milos give you two full days for boats and beaches plus slow mornings. Two nights in Athens cover the Acropolis and a rooftop dinner. There are only two island transfers. Ending in Athens means you are not catching a ferry on the day of your flight home.

How do we get from Santorini to Milos?

By ferry. High-speed boats link Santorini's port of Athinios with Milos in summer, usually in about two to four hours depending on the route. Schedules are seasonal and can change, so book once timetables are published. Strong summer winds can delay sailings, so avoid planning anything important for the evening you arrive.

Why stay on Milos instead of Mykonos?

Milos is built around the water rather than nightlife. Its volcanic coastline has sea caves, arches and coves in colors you do not expect from Greece, best seen by boat. Evenings are quiet seafood dinners in fishing villages. Mykonos suits couples who want beach clubs and late nights. For most honeymooners, Milos is the better contrast to Santorini.

Should we start or end in Athens?

End there. Every US nonstop to Greece leaves from Athens, so a last stop in the city protects you from ferry delays on the day you fly home. Starting on Santorini also means you arrive at the beach to recover from jet lag. You connect to Santorini on a short domestic flight on arrival day.

What is the best time of year for this route?

Late May, June and September to early October. The sea is warm, ferries run frequently and the crowds are lighter than in July and August. September often has the warmest water of the year. Many island hotels close from November to March, so plan a winter trip around Athens and the mainland instead.

Stops on this route

Greece

Santorini

Greece

Milos

Greece

Athens

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