Greek Island Advice

kellylynn2

We are going on our honeymoon in July 2010 to London (5 days), Athens (2 days), and Santorini (5 days).  We are looking for one other island to go to for about 3 days.  Any suggestions for a second island?  If you have been there please tell me what you liked about the island.  Thanks!!

atlcatlover

Another vote here for Mykonos.

kellylynn2

Thanks ladies!  We were thinking about Mykonos but after looking into it more,  I am not sure we want the whole party/nightclub vibe for our honeymoon (we do enjoy cocktails but usually not at clubs .  For those of you who have been to Mykonos - are there other things to do in Mykonos?  Also, can anyone recommend any other island other than Mykonos and Santorini?

Thanks so much for you help!  I have been researching this  forever and really want to get it done

LaFemmeRousse

I have been to Mykonos, and it's definitely more of a party island than Santorini and others.  You could certainly go there and not participate- there are many lovely resorts set apart from the crazy beaches and clubs (happy to recommend one if you want), and the main town is beautiful and has lots of shops and restaurants.

I've been to Samos en route back from Turkey by water, and it was pleasant but quite small.  I've heard good things about Naxos as an additional island to visit by those looking for a quieter vacation than Mykonos would provide.

Would you consider doing Turkey for a couple days instead of another Greek island?  Or, alternatively, spending some time on the "Athens riviera" instead of an island?  I have stayed in both Glyfada and Vouliagmeni in that area and enjoyed it.  I did two day trips to the Pelopennesian peninsula from there as well, and it was really interesting and fun.

[Deleted User]

I second the option listed above of going to Turkey for a bit. Ephesus is amazing.

irshis20

The beaches on Mykonos are better than on Santorini. Santorini has black sand beaches, which are difficult to walk on as they are basically volcanic rock (Santorini is a volcano). I enjoyed both islands, but I wouldn't spend five days on Santorini...it is a small island.

For another island, I would go to Crete. It is the furthest away, but it is also the biggest and has lots to do, from what I understand. I didn't make it there, but when I go back to Greece, I will. Otherwise, I hear Naxos is great, as is Ios, though Ios has a bit of a party reputation, too. Tinos is also along the same ferry routes as Santorini and Mykonos in some cases.

I recommend flying to Santorini and Crete instead of taking the ferry, as that will save you many hours (or maybe days in the case of Crete). Take the ferry from Santorini on to your next island.

Cmyernick

i visited the greek island of folegandrous this summer! perfect honeymoon spot, low key.!

reddie36

We are visiting Crete while in Greece in addition to Athens and Santorini. I suggest looking into it since there are a lot of things to do and it is not 'party town' like Mykonos or some of the other areas are. We are staying there a week and plan to rent a jeep and see as much of the island as we can, including hiking the Samaria Gorge one day.

sonyaisgettinghitched

Hello.  I went to corfu paleokastrica last summer, in June.  It was amazing.  You  can take a boat tour to a private beach as well for about $20.  You will not regret going to Corfu.  Good luck HM planning.  I am also trying to plan my HM. 

Santorini2011

Hate to say it but I would skip Mykonos as a honeymoon spot.  It could be trouble   Santorini is not a beach spot and you can easily see all it has to offer in a few days.  I second the idea of Crete or Turkey.  Hydra and Spetes are cool but are day trips.  The ferry from Pireaus (Athens) to Santorini passes a few islands on its 8 hour journey.  You might want to plan on spending a day at a couple of those islands for a lowkey trip.  You could spend an extra day in Athens too.

kellylynn2

Thanks so much everyone!

sonyaisgettinghitched - I really wanted to do Corfu but from what I understand, to get there from Santorini we would have to do back to Athens then make our way by land to Corfu.  That sounds like a lot and we only have 3 extra days (even cutting one day from Santorini).  Corfu sounds amazing though and is somewhere I will definitely go if and when we return to greece.  . 

We are starting to lean toward Naxos.  It seems to be a big island with lots to do.  Has anyone had any experience there?

Santorini2011

FI said great things about Naxos.  I have never been...

irshis20

One thing that Mykonos offers that the other islands don't offer is trips to the sacred island of Delos, regarded as the birthplace of Apollo and which at one point was the capitol of Greek trade and politics. It is a fascinating place to visit - an island of all ruins, where no one is allowed to "be born or die" and therefore there are no houses or hotels. You can go there on a day trip and see where Cleopatra, Antony and other legends would stay when they visited...archaeologists are still exploring and excavating the island, which is only a couple of miles offshore of Mykonos.