THE BEST GREEK ISLANDS FOR COUPLES

When to visit Greece for couples

Whilst Greece is home to some of the best beaches and most romantic sunsets on the planet there are many things to see and do year round.

Summer in Greece is over June, July and August and is the ideal time to spend at the beaches and waterfalls while Spring and Autumn are excellent for hiking and exploring Ancient Ruins, Caves and Archaeological sites. August is also the busiest and most expensive month of the year whilst many islands close their tourist ‘season’ down between late October until Easter each year.

Most people would say that May – June and September are the best times to visit Greece, when the weather is great as are the prices and the crowds.

Santorini

When it comes to world famous romantic destinations and, indeed, Honeymoon destinations, it’s hard to beat Santorini. Magical sunsets, breathtaking views, enchanting restaurants with divine food and ambiance, luxurious Villas hidden in caves – it really has it all. Plus there are enough activities and things to do to keep things fun and interesting. Even Santorini Beaches are some of the most interesting you will ever see.

Some of Santorini’s key highlights are;

• the famous sunsets from Oia
• incredible views over the volcano’s Caldera
• cruises on the Caldera
• world class wineries
• day trips to neighbouring islands
• infinity pools
• Cave Hotels
• Akrotiri archaeological site
• excellent shopping, especially for Jewelry
• horseback riding

Santorini restaurants 

There are thousands of places to eat too. Even the fussiest eaters will find plenty on Santorini with numerous traditional tavernas and cafe catering to every desire including lots of healthy options.

Lycabettus, FlyAway and La Maison all have incredible views and are consistently rated as some of the most romantic places to have dinner in the Greek Islands, whilst Armeni down at the port is hard to beat on every level. 

Where to stay in Santorini

There are a number of villages to choose from. Most people are happy to pay a premium for a view of the Caldera but there are plenty of options for all budgets.

Some places are particularly perfect for people honeymooning on Santorini too.

For a truly unforgettable stay, Canaves Suites are one of the most Instagrammed hotels in the world and are rated 5 bubbles on Tripadvisor, or check out Art Maison Oia Castle and Andronis Suites, all of which have some of the best views in Santorini, or anywhere for that matter!

For extra privacy and seclusion, Astarte Suites are right at the opposite end of the island from the crowds in Oia and have views that are just as good!

Further reading:

The Best Airbnb’s on Santorini – windmills, mansions and more

3 days on Santorini – a complete itinerary

Insider tip

Kefalonia

Some of Kefalonia’s key highlights are;

• world famous beaches such as Myrtos Beach ( below)
• stunning caves
• day trips to neighbouring Ithaca and Zakynthos
• the delightful small village of Assos
• the colourful fishing village of Fiscardo
• award winning Wineries
• thousands of secluded coves and bays
• huge maintain ranges and hiking trails

Kefalonia restaurants

The food on Kefalonia is excellent with an abundance of locally caught and grown ingredients like fish, vegetables and honey.  Check out Paradise Beach Taverna in Agia Effimia and Hellenic Taverna up above Assos. 

In Fiscardo we’ve had great meals at Roulas Grill or sit across the harbour at Nicolas’ Taverna and watch all the comings and goings of harbour life in front of you.

Also make sure you find time to visit Kefalonia Wine Cooperative who produce the famous Kefalonian Robola wine variety which is sold all over the world. 

Where to stay in Kefalonia

Unless you have several weeks, due to the size and topography of Kefalonia, you probably need to choose between staying in the south OR the north. 

For the southern region luxury health retreat FZeen retreat in Loudatas is worth a look. Petani Bay Hotel is a stunning adults-only resort in Lixouri whilst Olivemare is a gorgeous retreat in the countryside near the southern beaches which offers a very special and tranquil experience.

To explore the North, Agia Effimia is a quaint village in a central location, and Odyssey Hotel is both stunning and located at a dead end with excellent local tavernas out front and small secluded coves for swimming.

Otherwise, incredible Braunis Horio in beautiful Assos has spectacular views and a stunning 1 bedroom Villa or Faros Suites in Fiscardo have great views and are meters from the beach and a short walk to the village centre.

If you are travelling with friends or need an extra few beds than look no further than Villa Eleni in Assos. Jaw-dropping views, an infinity pool, and absolute self-contained luxury. 

Further reading: The best beaches in Kefalonia

Paros

Some of the key highlights of Paros are;

• the lively and failry upmarket fishing village of Naoussa
• cheap and cheerful Parikia Port town
• significant religious monuments such as the Church of a Hundred Doors
• some of the best beaches and beach clubs in Greece
• the medieval town of Lefkas
• easy day trips to Antiparos, Naxos and even Mykonos and Delos
• sailing the Small Cyclades

Paros Restaurants

Paros is a food lovers dream with an abundance of traditional tavernas, modern restaurants and cafe and some truly amazing bakeries.  We’ve had excellent meals in Nasoussa at Statheros right on the beach, SoSo tucked away in a back alley and Yemeni has been one of the best Taverna’s on the island for years.

Spend the days at Monastiri Beach which has an excellent beach club and restaurant as well as sunbeds or dine at any one of the waterfront tavernas in Naoussa – you really cant go wrong at any of them.

For a truly romantic dinner we have a real soft spot for Siparos which is a little more upmarket than many tavernas and has the most incredible sunsets. Tell Paris we sent you!

Where to stay in Paros

There is a good number and variety of Paros hotels, from cheap backpackers to luxury villas. Most couples like to stay in or around Naoussa where the best dining and shopping is located, although there are many great spots scattered around the island. Paros is big enough to offer a lot to see and do but small enough to drive around in a day so a central location is achieved almost anywhere.

In Naoussa, we love to stay at Paliomylos Hotel and Spa where Greek/Aussie Chrys and the team deliver the most efficient yet friendly service in town. Other places that are great for couples in Naoussa are Senia and Lilly Residence which has an adults-only policy.

On Airbnb, there are a couple of fantastic options with a difference, for couples. One is a converted shop on the pier at the small fishing port of Piso Livadi and the other is one of the most photographed little houses on the island in the medieval town on Lefkes.

For cashed up couples travelling together, the extraordinary Villa Faraggas is near the beautiful beach of the same name and comes with a Chef, Housekeeper, and 7 bathrooms!

In other parts of the island its worth checking out Calme Boutique Hotel in Drios and Paros Palace near Parikia.

Further reading:

Where to stay in Paros

Paros or Naxos?

You can stay in this little Traditional house in Lefkes

Corfu

Long before The Durrell’s hit our TV screens Corfu has been charming people for centuries with its beautiful mix of Venetian and neo-classical architecture, stunning beaches and proximity to both the Dalmatian Coast and Italy.

Corfu Old Town is steeped with history having been occupied at various times by the Venetians, British and even the French. It is a large and very green island that has a lot to offer all travellers.

Whilst some pockets are largely populated by large all-inclusive resorts there are magical gems such as the 5 bays that make up the village of Paleokastritsa, which translates to ‘old castle’. This is a place that remains one of the best holidays of our lives and transforms from a busy tourist destination during the day to a quiet magical paradise in the evenings.

Some of Corfu’s key highlights are;

• Paleokastritsa  ( afore mentioned) – a monastery, tiny villages, great beaches, water sports
• Corfu Old Town
• Iconic Vlacherna Monastery aka Mouse Island
• numerous gorgeous beaches
• numerous secluded coves, caves and bays
• a huge variety of water sports and boating
• the Jewish Synagogue
• The Durrells – tour their home, places of work and animal sanctuary
• ancient ruins
• over 20 museums
• self guided hikes on the Corfu Trail
• day trips to Albania, Paxos or the mainland
• Corfu Donkey Rescue sanctuary 
• Princess Sisi palace and the Royal Baths

Corfu Restaurants

Food on Corfu is a delight with many dishes influence by the flavours and style of Italy as well as traditional Greek cuisine. The best of both worlds!

In Paleokastritsa we had a wonderful night at Archontiko and also at Nausika Taverna where the meat roasts on a spit out front and young men dance with fire. We still talk about that night regularly! For something a little more quiet and right on the water then look no further than a candlelit dinner at Akron (pictured below). 

In Corfu Old Town you will find a number of tavernas and cafes along the shady Venetian Colonnade. We like Methystanes for traditional greek food, especially the mussels, and Libra D’Oro which will make you feel like you’re in Venice. 

For a lovely lunch with views over Mouse Island head to La Veranda di Corfu.

Where to stay in Corfu

In Paleokastritsa, we stayed at the wonderful Zefiros Hotel, a small cheap and cheerful pension across the road from the beach. You can just see its distinctive red walls through the pine trees in the photo below.

The rooms were basic but comfortable and breakfast was amazing. I can still picture those fat lazy bees buzzing around the honey. For something more upmarket look at Akrotiri Beach Hotel which is right next to Akron restaurant.

In Corfu Town Locandiera is a charming small hotel in a great location or Mayor Mon Repos Art Hotel is a great waterfront hotel that is Adults Only.

If you’re after something self-contained then there is a gorgeous, newly renovated apartment in heart of Corfu (Old) Town which is fabulous, or right on the harbour is a very charming penthouse with magnificent views over the Castle and the sea.

For something quite different you can even rent a luxury treehouse in the country! 

Paleokastritsa

Milos

Last on our list but by no means least is magnificent Milos, an island that has had a big surge in popularity in recent years but is still largely unaffected by modern development. In fact we have had a number of friends miss out on seeing Milos as accommodation books up quite early and there really isn’t that much of it compared to some islands.

Milos is often described as the new Santorini as it also has extraordinary landscapes and topography due to the shared volcanic geology. This has resulted in a strong and very interesting mining industry as well as a multitude of colours and extraordinary rock formations.

Milos is also home to some of the best food in all of Greece and without regular cruise ships, tour buses and even many local tours, the crowds are minimal and the overall vibe is laid back and largely authentic.

Some of the key highlights of Milos are;

• world famous lunar Sarakiniko Beach
• authentic fishing villages and Smryna – fisherman’s huts
• day trips to incredible Kleftiko ( pictured above)
• the delightful seaside fishing village of Pollonia
• the colourful Plaka
• The Milos Mining Museum ( dragonstone!)
• amazing O’Hamos paddock-to-plate Taverna
• day trips to neighbouring Kimolos island
• Best of Milos tour

Milos restaurants

As mentioned there is some really special food to be found on Milos. People queue to get a table at O’Hamos which is a family run enterprise who pride themselves on producing everything on the menu – the pork, the yoghurt, the fruit and vegetables, the oil and the wine. Everything! They also run a good beach bar and cafe over the road from their taverna on the calm Adamas Bay beach.

Just as you enter Pollonia you will find the famous Kivotos ton Gefseon which translates to ‘Ark of Flavors’, a coffee shop/patisserie that make the most incredible condiments and desserts. Get the chocolate pie!

Further down the road we really enjoy Jordan’s Meating House which specializes in, you guessed it, grilled meat dishes, and its not unusual to find the elderly owner dancing with the guests. Along the waterfront are the more expensive seafood restaurants of which Gialos is our pick.

At the southern beaches you will find excellent food at Psaravolada Taverna and Kipos Restaurant which is located where some half day cruise leave for Kleftiko.

Where to stay in Milos

Pollonia is really the nicest part of the island to stay. It has everything in walking distance if you don’t have a hire car, although you will need to get one at some point to get to some of the other sites and attractions. We had a truly wonderful stay at Unique Milos Suites, right across from the beach in Pollonia. Beautifully appointed and with their own bean bags on the beach which became our office for a few days. Several friends have also stayed at Captain Zeppos Suites which have amazing views and are beautiful rooms as well.

On the southern side of the island Artemis Deluxe Rooms are quite stunning or check out Miland Suites which are in an isolated location closer to the Port but year in, year out, get the best reviews on the island.

One of the most unique attractions on Milos are the fisherman’s huts called Syrmata, some of which have been converted into very special accommodation.  Skinopi Fisherman’s House and The Yellow Boat House are both amazing whilst Oneiro Bungalow is a studio literally steps from Firopotamos (rhymes with Hippopotamus) Beach! 

Further reading:

How to get to Milos

Book one of these converted Fishermans huts!

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