Getting Between Stops
The only transfer is the flight from Paris to Santorini. In summer, budget airlines and the Greek carriers run nonstops from Paris that take about three and a half hours. In spring and fall, schedules thin out and you may need to connect in Athens, which adds two or three hours. Book early for June and September, when fares climb.
In Paris, walk and use the Métro. A contactless bank card works at the gates. Taxis and ride-hail cars are easy except during rain at rush hour.
On Santorini, pre-book every transfer through your hotel. Taxis are few and unmetered. Buses run from Fira but are packed in summer. Renting a car or ATV on narrow, busy roads is more stress than fun, so hire a private driver for a winery or beach day instead.
Where to Stay
In Paris, choose your neighborhood first. Relais Christine is a quiet courtyard hotel in Saint-Germain. Pavillon de la Reine sits right on Place des Vosges in the Marais. Le Bristol, on the Right Bank, is the palace-hotel splurge. Ask for a courtyard room or a high floor, since street-facing rooms can be noisy late.
On Santorini, stay on the caldera rim. Oia is the most famous village and the busiest at sunset. Katikies Santorini is the classic Oia choice, with white suites stepping down the cliff. Canaves Oia Epitome, just outside the village, faces the open sea with a private pool for every suite. Imerovigli, the highest point on the rim, is quieter with the widest views. Grace Hotel, from Auberge, has only 23 rooms there.
For a honeymoon, the private plunge pool is worth more than the bigger room.
When to Go
Late May through June and September through early October are the best months for this pairing. Paris is mild and green, with long evenings. On Santorini, the sea is warm enough for comfortable swims and the crowds are thinner than in high summer.
July and August work, but expect heat in Paris, which has few air-conditioned spaces outside hotels. On Santorini you get peak prices and cruise-ship crowds. Many Santorini hotels close from November to March, so this is not a winter route.
April is a gamble. Paris is lovely with blossom, but the Aegean is still cold for swimming and some island restaurants have not yet opened. If your wedding falls in late October, the island stays pleasant for walking and wine, though evenings can be breezy and boat trips may be cancelled for wind.
What It Costs
This is not a budget honeymoon. As an approximate guide, good boutique hotels in central Paris cost about $400 to $700 a night for two, with palace hotels well above $1,500. On Santorini, caldera suites with a private plunge pool often run $800 to $1,500 or more a night in June and September and more in August. Rooms in the beach towns of Kamari and Perissa cost far less but lose the view.
The Paris to Santorini flight is usually reasonable if booked early. Add the Santorini to Athens hop for the trip home.
The things worth paying for are the sunset catamaran, a private driver for wineries, a Seine dinner cruise and a lunch at Ammoudi Bay. Save in Paris with lunchtime prix fixe menus, which offer the same kitchens as dinner at a lower price.
Tips for the Two of You
Santorini's villages are built on stairs. Pack light, bring shoes with grip for polished paths and check how many steps lead to your suite. Sun on the caldera is strong even in May, so bring hats and reef-safe sunscreen.
Oia's main lane fills an hour before sunset. Watch from your own terrace, from a boat or from the quieter rim in Imerovigli instead.
In Paris, watch for pickpockets on the Métro and around the big sights. Keep phones zipped away. Churches expect covered shoulders for both of you; a light scarf or overshirt helps. Many restaurants close one or two days a week, so book your special dinners ahead.
Plan for different tastes. One of you might want the Louvre and the other a long run along the river. Give each other a morning off and meet for lunch.
Make It Shorter or Longer
With a week, spend three nights in Paris and three on Santorini. You lose the slow days but keep the shape of the trip.
With 12 or 13 days, add a second Greek island. Milos, a short ferry from Santorini in summer, has sea caves and boat trips to white volcanic coves. Naxos and Paros, also linked by ferry, add sandy beaches and lower prices. Two or three nights on any of them makes a calmer finish.
Another option is a night in Champagne between Paris and the flight, with a cellar tour in Reims, about 45 minutes from Paris by fast train. Or end in Athens for two nights, with the Acropolis at opening time and a sunset drive to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion before the long flight home.
