At a glanceA long two-country honeymoon that links Italy and Greece by a short flight: three nights in Rome, four on the Amalfi Coast, then over to the Cyclades for three nights on Santorini's caldera and five on Naxos, with long sandy beaches and village tavernas. It suits couples who love food, history and the sea. Go from May to June or in September.
Italy and Greece are two of the most popular Mediterranean honeymoon countries and they fit together neatly. Naples has flights to Santorini in summer while Athens connects to both, so you can move from the Amalfi Coast to the Cyclades in a morning.
This route starts in Rome for three nights of piazzas, gelato and long dinners. The train takes you to Naples in about an hour. A driver then brings you to the Amalfi Coast, where four nights let you hike above the sea, take a boat to Capri and eat lunch under lemon pergolas.
Then you fly to Santorini for three nights on the caldera. Its whitewashed villages, cliffside pools and sunsets are famous for good reason, but the island is busy, so three nights is enough. The finale is Naxos, a short ferry ride away. It is the largest of the Cyclades, with long sandy beaches, mountain villages and a laid-back main town, the right place to slow down for five nights after a busy first week.
The route
- RomeItaly · 3 nights
- Amalfi CoastItaly · 4 nights
- SantoriniGreece · 3 nights
- NaxosGreece · 5 nights
- Best months
- May to June and September
- Trip length
- 16 days
- Budget
- About $500–1,500 a night for two in Italy and $400–1,500 in Greece (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–4: Rome
Land at Rome Fiumicino (FCO), about 30 minutes from Termini by express train or 45 minutes by taxi. Stay near the Spanish Steps at Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, which has a terraced garden behind the building and is a short walk from Piazza del Popolo.
Spend the first afternoon walking: the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, with an aperitivo on a rooftop near the Spanish Steps. On day 2, book the first slot at the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel before the crowds, then rest in the afternoon. In the evening, eat in Trastevere.
On day 3, see the Colosseum and Roman Forum with a guide, then take a pasta-making class for two. On Sunday, the Appian Way is partly closed to cars, which makes it lovely for a bike ride. The romantic moment is sunset on the Aventine Hill, looking through the famous keyhole at St. Peter's dome.
Days 4–8: The Amalfi Coast
Take the high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale in about an hour and ten minutes. A private driver then takes you to the coast in about an hour and a half.
Choose your base. Le Sirenuse in Positano has the famous view over the village and the sea. Hotel Santa Caterina, just outside Amalfi town, has a lift to its own sea platform. Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, sits high in Ravello with an infinity pool above the coast. Monastero Santa Rosa, a former monastery in Conca dei Marini, has terraced gardens and a cliffside pool.
On day 5, hire a private boat for the day to Capri, swimming off the boat and lunching in a cove. On day 6, hike the Path of the Gods from Bomerano toward Positano, about three hours with views all the way. On day 7, visit the gardens of Villa Cimbrone in Ravello and take a lemon grove tour with a limoncello tasting. The romantic moment is dinner on a terrace with the lights of Positano below.
Days 8–11: Santorini
Drive to Naples airport (NAP), about an hour and a half from the coast. Then fly to Santorini (JTR). In summer, there are nonstop flights of about two hours; otherwise, connect through Athens.
Stay on the caldera rim in Oia or Imerovigli. Katikies Santorini and Canaves Oia Epitome both have cliffside pools in Oia; Grace Hotel Santorini in Imerovigli is quieter, with a famous infinity pool.
On day 9, hike the caldera trail from Fira to Oia, about three to four hours, starting early. Rest by the pool in the afternoon. On day 10, explore ancient Akrotiri, the Bronze Age town buried by a volcanic eruption, then taste wine at one of the island's volcanic vineyards. Swim at the Red Beach if it is open. The splurge is a sunset catamaran cruise around the caldera, with swimming at the hot springs and dinner on board.
Days 11–16: Naxos
Take a high-speed ferry from Santorini to Naxos, usually about an hour and a half to two hours. Naxos Town, also called Chora, is a short walk or drive from the port.
Naxian Collection has villas and suites with pools near Stelida, a few minutes from the airport and Naxos Town. Other good choices sit near the beaches of Agios Prokopios and Plaka.
This is the slow stretch. Spend the first two days on the beach at Plaka, Agios Prokopios or Agia Anna, with long lunches at seaside tavernas. On day 13, drive into the mountains to see Halki, taste kitron liqueur and visit the abandoned marble kouroi near Melanes. Hike Mount Zas, the highest point in the Cyclades, if you have the energy.
On day 14, take a boat trip to the Small Cyclades and swim in Koufonisia's clear water. The romantic moment is sunset at the Portara, the giant marble doorway of an unfinished temple. On day 16, fly from Naxos to Athens in about 45 minutes and connect home.
Getting Between Stops
Rome to Naples takes about an hour and ten minutes on the high-speed train. A private driver from Naples to the Amalfi Coast takes about an hour and a half. Driving yourself on the coast road is stressful. Parking is scarce and costly, so avoid renting a car.
From Naples airport, seasonal nonstop flights reach Santorini in about two hours in summer. Outside peak months, connect through Athens.
Santorini to Naxos takes about an hour and a half to two hours by high-speed ferry, with several daily departures in summer. Ferries can be cancelled in strong meltemi winds, so keep this day flexible.
From Naxos, fly to Athens in about 45 minutes or take a ferry to Piraeus in about three and a half to six hours. Athens has seasonal nonstop flights to several US cities in summer.
Where to Stay
Rome: Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel, near Piazza del Popolo, with its terraced garden.
Amalfi Coast: Le Sirenuse in Positano for its view and glamour; Hotel Santa Caterina near Amalfi for its sea platform; Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, in Ravello for an infinity pool high above the coast; Monastero Santa Rosa in Conca dei Marini for a quiet former monastery.
Santorini: Katikies Santorini and Canaves Oia Epitome in Oia for cliffside pools and sunset views; Grace Hotel Santorini in Imerovigli for a calmer stay.
Naxos: Naxian Collection for villas with private pools near Stelida. Smaller beachfront hotels near Plaka and Agios Prokopios suit couples who want to walk to the sand.
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When to Go
May, June and September are the best months. The sea is warm enough for swimming by late May, the days are long and the crowds are lighter than in July and August. Rome is pleasant in spring and early autumn, before and after the summer heat.
July and August bring heat, crowds and peak prices in all four places. The meltemi winds blow in the Cyclades from about July to August, which keeps temperatures comfortable but can make ferry rides rough and close some beaches.
October is also lovely, with warm seas and fewer visitors, though some Amalfi Coast and Santorini hotels begin to close late in the month and ferry schedules thin. Avoid November to March, when much of the Amalfi Coast and the Cyclades shuts down.
Budget and Booking
This is a high-end route in peak season. Top Rome and Amalfi Coast hotels run roughly $1,000–1,500 a night for two or more in summer, with good boutique hotels around $500–800. Santorini's caldera hotels run about $800–1,500 a night for two in high season, while Naxos is much lower, about $400–700 for good villas and suites. All figures are approximate.
Private drivers, the boat to Capri and the catamaran cruise in Santorini are significant extras.
Book Amalfi Coast and Santorini hotels nine to twelve months ahead for June and September. Book the Vatican Museums and Colosseum tickets well ahead, along with ferries once schedules are released. Mention your honeymoon: many hotels in Italy and Greece add a bottle of wine or a small upgrade.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For 12 or 13 days, drop Rome and fly straight into Naples, then spend four nights on the Amalfi Coast, three on Santorini and four on Naxos. Or skip Santorini and fly from Naples to Athens, then on to Naxos.
With 18 to 21 days, add three nights in Tuscany between Rome and the Amalfi Coast for vineyards and hill towns, or two nights in Athens before the flight home for the Acropolis and its museum.
Couples who want quieter islands can swap Santorini for Milos or Folegandros. Couples who want more Italy can add Capri or Ischia for a few nights as an island stop before flying to Greece.
Honeymoon Tips
- Pack comfortable shoes; both the Amalfi Coast and Santorini involve many steps.
- Cover shoulders and knees for both of you at the Vatican and in churches.
- Book sunset dinners in Oia well ahead; tables with a view fill early.
- Keep the ferry day flexible in case of strong winds.
- Watch for pickpockets on Rome's buses and in crowded sights.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a hat; the Mediterranean sun is strong.
- Read the State Department advisories for Italy and Greece before you go.
FAQPlanning this trip
How do we get from the Amalfi Coast to Santorini?
Drive about an hour and a half to Naples airport, then fly to Santorini. In summer, there are seasonal nonstop flights of about two hours. Outside the peak months, connect through Athens. Leave the morning free for the drive, since the coast road is slow.
Is 16 days enough for Italy and Greece?
Yes. Seven nights in Italy covers Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Eight in Greece covers Santorini and a long stay on Naxos. Shorter trips usually drop Rome or Santorini. Longer ones add Tuscany, Athens or a quieter island such as Milos.
Why finish on Naxos instead of Santorini?
Santorini is famous for its caldera views but is busy and has few sandy beaches. Naxos has long beaches, good tavernas, mountain villages and a much calmer pace. Ending on Naxos gives you time to rest after a busy first week.
When is the best time for an Italy and Greece honeymoon?
May, June and September are the best months, with warm seas, long days and fewer crowds than July and August. October is also good, though some hotels and ferries begin to wind down. Avoid winter, when much of the Amalfi Coast and the Cyclades closes.
How much does an Italy and Greece honeymoon cost?
For 16 days, many couples spend roughly $14,000 to $28,000 for two including hotels, drivers, flights within Europe, ferries and main excursions, before international airfare. These are approximate figures. Staying in boutique hotels and choosing Naxos for longer keeps the total lower.
