Best Places to Visit in Greece for Couples: Romantic Islands & Mainland Escapes

Greece has this unfair advantage when it comes to romance. Something about the light here — that golden hour that seems to last two hours — combined with whitewashed villages tumbling down cliffsides, waterfront dinners where the fish was swimming that morning, and sunsets that make you reach for someone's hand without thinking about it. It's almost too easy.

But here's the thing most couples get wrong: they default to Santorini and stop planning. And while Santorini absolutely earns its reputation (more on that below), Greece has romantic destinations scattered across islands and mainland that are just as swoon-worthy — and often far less crowded.

I've spent serious time exploring Greece's most romantic corners, from medieval fortress towns to car-free islands where the only sound at night is the sea. Here are the best places to visit in Greece for couples, mixing the iconic with the unexpected, so you can build a trip that actually feels like yours.

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Which Romantic Destination in Greece Is Right for You? — A Quick Answer

Every couple is different, and the best romantic spot depends entirely on what romance looks like to you:

If you want the classic, no-brainer honeymoon, go to Santorini. If you want romance with culture and history, choose Nafplio. If you want off-the-grid, just-the-two-of-you isolation, it's Folegandros. If you want sophistication without trying too hard, Hydra is your island. And if you want to feel like you've stepped into a medieval love story, Monemvasia will genuinely take your breath away.

The great news? Several of these are close enough to combine. A Peloponnese road trip hitting Nafplio and Monemvasia pairs beautifully with a ferry to an island afterward. You get depth and variety — which, honestly, is what a great couples trip should feel like.

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9 Most Romantic Places in Greece for Couples

1. Santorini

The sunset queen — still unbeatable for a reason

Let's get the obvious one out of the way first, because ignoring Santorini on a couples list would be ridiculous. Yes, it's the most popular romantic destination in Greece. Yes, everyone goes there. And yes, it's worth it — because watching the sun drop into the caldera from a private terrace, glass of Assyrtiko in hand, is one of those experiences that genuinely delivers on the fantasy.

What makes Santorini work for couples isn't just the views (though the views from Imerovigli and Oia are legitimately staggering). It's the whole package: the cave hotels with plunge pools overlooking the volcanic cliffs, the wine tastings at sunset, the catamaran cruises around the caldera with swimming stops at hot springs.

The catch: Santorini in July–August is expensive, crowded, and the Oia sunset becomes a competitive sport for selfie spots. Visit in May, June, September, or early October and it's a completely different — infinitely more romantic — experience.

Best for: Honeymoons, proposals, milestone anniversaries, anyone who wants the full cinematic romance

Romantic tip: Skip Fira for accommodation. Stay in Imerovigli — same caldera views, half the crowds, and the path to Skaros Rock at sunset is one of the most romantic walks in all of Greece.

Find romantic hotels in Santorini | Book a sunset wine tasting

2. Nafplio

Greece's most romantic mainland town — Venetian charm without the island prices

Nafplio is my number one recommendation for couples who want romance on the mainland, and it's not even close. Greece's first capital sits on a small peninsula in the Peloponnese, with a gorgeous old town of neoclassical mansions, narrow lanes draped in bougainvillea, and a Venetian fortress towering above it all.

The magic happens in the details. Morning coffee on Syntagma Square watching the town wake up. Wandering through lanes so narrow you have to walk single file, discovering tiny galleries and artisan shops. Gelato from one of the best gelaterias in Greece (the Italian influence is strong here). And then, as the day winds down, climbing the 999 steps to Palamidi Fortress for a sunset that's worth every single step.

The waterfront dining here is criminally underpriced compared to the islands. You'll eat fresh seafood at tables practically in the water, with the Bourtzi fortress illuminated in the bay, and your bill will be half what you'd pay in Santorini.

Best for: Couples who love history and culture alongside romance, road trip stopovers, budget-conscious romantics

Romantic tip: Stay inside the old town, not the modern part. Book a room with a balcony overlooking the rooftops and make sure you're there for sunset at Arvanitia beach — a small hidden cove just beneath the old town walls.

Combine with: A day trip to Epidaurus (a summer evening performance in the ancient theater is genuinely unforgettable) and the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, both under 30 minutes away.

Find hotels in Nafplio

3. Folegandros

The anti-Santorini — raw, romantic, and blissfully quiet

If Santorini is the Hollywood blockbuster of Greek romance, Folegandros is the indie film that stays with you longer. This tiny Cycladic island has no airport, limited ferry connections, and absolutely zero intention of becoming the next big thing. And that's exactly what makes it one of the most romantic places in Greece.

The Chora (main town) is perched on a cliff 200 meters above the sea, and the walk to the Church of Panagia at sunset — along a zigzag path carved into the rock — is hands-down one of the most romantic walks in the entire country. The views from up there, with the Aegean stretching in every direction and the church glowing white against the deepening sky, are the kind of thing you'll remember long after the tan fades.

Folegandros has maybe a dozen restaurants, a handful of boutique hotels, and beaches you reach by boat or hiking trail. There are no chain stores, no party bars, no beach clubs. It's just you, your partner, the cliff, and the sea.

The catch: Limited accommodation — book early, especially in summer. Getting there requires a ferry from Santorini, Milos, or Piraeus (no airport).

Best for: Couples who value atmosphere over amenities, experienced Greece travelers, anyone escaping crowds

Romantic tip: Have dinner at a restaurant in the Chora square at night. The tables sit on a terrace overlooking the cliff edge, the food is simple and excellent, and the only light comes from candles and the stars.

Find hotels in Folegandros

4. Monemvasia

The medieval fortress town that feels like a time-travel love story

Monemvasia is unlike anywhere else in Greece — or anywhere else, period. A massive rock island connected to the Peloponnese by a single causeway, with a Byzantine fortress town hidden on the seaward side. You park your car, walk through a tunnel carved into the rock, and emerge into a world of stone lanes, hidden churches, and rooftop terraces overlooking the open Aegean.

The lower town has been beautifully restored: boutique hotels in medieval buildings, candlelit restaurants in converted stone houses, tiny squares where cats sleep on Byzantine walls. Walking through the lanes after dark, with just lamplight on the stone, is one of the most atmospheric experiences I've had anywhere in Europe.

Climb to the upper town for the full dramatic effect — the ruins of the medieval citadel stretch across the entire plateau, with 360-degree views of the coast. In spring, the ruins are carpeted in wildflowers.

Best for: History-loving couples, anniversary trips, anyone who appreciates atmosphere over beaches

Romantic tip: Stay inside the old town walls. When the day-trippers leave in the late afternoon, you'll have the entire medieval town practically to yourselves. That feeling of walking ancient lanes at night with your partner is genuinely unforgettable.

Combine with: Nafplio (2 hours north) for a Peloponnese romantic road trip, or continue south to the wild Mani Peninsula.

Find hotels in Monemvasia

5. Hydra

The car-free island of artists and elegance

Hydra has rules: no cars, no motorbikes, no high-rises, no neon signs. The only transport is your feet, donkeys, and water taxis. And those rules have created something rare — a Greek island that feels genuinely sophisticated without being pretentious, and romantic without even trying.

The port is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. Stone mansions climb the hillside above a horseshoe-shaped harbor where wooden fishing boats bob alongside sleek yachts. Leonard Cohen lived here. The Athenian art world weekends here. And it has a quality of light that has attracted painters for over a century.

Despite the glamorous reputation, Hydra is surprisingly unpretentious. Dinner at a waterfront taverna is affordable. The hiking trails to remote beaches (Bisti, Agios Nikolaos) are free and beautiful. And the pace of life — forced to slow down by the absence of engines — is exactly what most couples need.

Best for: Sophisticated couples, art lovers, long-weekend escapes from Athens, anyone who wants elegance without the Mykonos price tag

Romantic tip: Take a water taxi to a remote beach for the day — it's just you and the water. Then come back for sunset cocktails at the harbor. The 90-minute hydrofoil from Piraeus makes this the easiest island escape from Athens.

Find hotels in Hydra

6. Milos

Volcanic drama meets secluded coves

Milos has some of the most extraordinary beaches in Greece — and many of them feel tailor-made for couples. The lunar landscape of Sarakiniko, the hidden cove of Tsigrado (accessed by rope ladder), the sea caves of Kleftiko that you can only reach by boat — every day on Milos feels like an adventure you're sharing together.

But it's the fishing villages that give Milos its romantic character. Klima, Mandrakia, and Firopotamos have colorful boathouses built right at the waterline, and they're some of the most photographed spots in the country. Sunset from the Plaka castle ruins rivals Santorini's — and you might be sharing it with a dozen people instead of a thousand.

Best for: Adventurous couples, beach lovers, photographers, honeymooners who want something different from Santorini

Book a Milos boat tour to Kleftiko | Find hotels in Milos

7. Pelion Peninsula

Mountain romance with forest, sea, and stone villages

For couples who want something completely different from the typical Greek island experience, the Pelion Peninsula in central Greece is a revelation. Imagine forested mountains dropping to hidden beaches, stone villages connected by cobbled kalderimi paths, and cozy guesthouses with fireplaces — yes, Greece has those too.

Tsagarada and Vizitsa are the standout villages: beautifully restored stone mansions, tiny squares with ancient plane trees, and tavernas where the menu is whatever the owner cooked that morning. The beaches below (Fakistra, Mylopotamos) are reached by winding forest paths and feel completely untouched.

Best for: Couples who love nature, off-season travel (Pelion is gorgeous in autumn and spring), anyone who wants to see a side of Greece most tourists never discover

Find hotels in Pelion

8. Paros & Antiparos

The Cycladic couple that balances beauty with ease

Paros gives you the Cycladic dream — whitewashed villages, turquoise water, outstanding food — without the intensity of Santorini or Mykonos. Naoussa's harbor at sunset, with fishing boats bobbing and waterfront tavernas glowing, might be the most romantic low-key scene in the Cyclades.

Then take the short boat ride to Antiparos for something even quieter: a tiny island with one charming main street, a beautiful cave, and beaches where you'll often be alone. Tom Hanks owns a house here, which tells you everything about the vibe.

Best for: Couples who want the Cycladic experience without the crowds, island-hopping romantics, those combining with Naxos

Find hotels in Paros

9. Symi

The most photogenic port in the Dodecanese

Symi's harbor — with neoclassical mansions painted in every shade of ochre, terracotta, and dusty pink climbing the hillside — is quite possibly the most beautiful first impression of any Greek island. The whole scene looks like someone arranged it specifically for couples arriving by boat.

The island is tiny, walkable, and wonderfully quiet once the day-trip boats from Rhodes leave in the afternoon. That's when Symi reveals its best self: dinner at the harbor as the mansions light up, a swim at one of the small beaches, and an evening stroll through lanes that have barely changed in a century.

Best for: A romantic day trip from Rhodes or a quiet 2–3 night stopover, couples who love colorful architecture and port towns

Book a Symi day trip from Rhodes | Find hotels in Symi

Quick Comparison: Most Romantic Places in Greece

Destination

Romance style

Beaches

Budget

Crowds

Santorini

Classic honeymoon

★★★

€€€€

High

Nafplio

Cultured & historic

★★

€€

Low

Folegandros

Raw & intimate

★★★

€€

Very Low

Monemvasia

Medieval & atmospheric

★★

€€

Very Low

Hydra

Elegant & artistic

★★★

€€€

Low–Med

Milos

Adventurous & unique

★★★★★

€€

Medium

Pelion

Nature & seclusion

★★★★

€€

Very Low

Paros

Relaxed & easygoing

★★★★

€€–€€€

Medium

Symi

Charming & colorful

★★

€€

Low

Sample Romantic Itineraries

7-Day Mainland + Island Romance: Days 1–2: Athens → Days 3–4: Nafplio → Day 5: Monemvasia → Days 6–7: Ferry to Hydra or fly to Santorini

10-Day Island-Hopping Honeymoon: Days 1–2: Athens → Days 3–5: Santorini → Days 6–7: Folegandros → Days 8–10: Milos

Long Weekend Escape from Athens: Day 1: Ferry to Hydra (90 min) → Day 2: Explore on foot, swim at remote beaches → Day 3: Return to Athens

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Tips for a Romantic Trip in Greece

Book the view, not the star rating. A 3-star hotel with a caldera view or a sea-facing room in Monemvasia will beat a 5-star without a view every time. Romance in Greece is about the setting.

Go shoulder season. May–June and September–October give you warm weather, fewer crowds, and significantly lower prices. The difference in atmosphere between peak and shoulder season at romantic destinations is enormous.

Slow down. The most romantic moments in Greece aren't at landmarks — they happen at a waterfront taverna where dinner stretches to three hours, on a quiet beach where you're the only ones, or walking through a village lane after everyone else has gone to bed. Plan fewer destinations and give each one room to breathe.

Reserve sunset restaurants. At popular romantic spots (Santorini, Naoussa in Paros, Nafplio's waterfront), the best sunset-facing tables book in advance. Don't leave this to chance.

Rent a car on the mainland. The Peloponnese especially rewards couples who drive — hidden beaches, tiny village tavernas, and scenic routes that are part of the experience.

Rent a car in Greece

FAQ

What is the most romantic place in Greece for couples?

Santorini is the classic choice for good reason — the caldera sunsets, cave hotels, and sunset sailing cruises are hard to beat for pure romance. But for couples who want something more intimate, Folegandros offers equally dramatic clifftop views with almost none of the crowds, while Monemvasia on the Peloponnese mainland delivers a unique medieval atmosphere — particularly magical when staying overnight inside the fortress walls. The best choice depends on whether you prefer iconic grandeur (Santorini), quiet intimacy (Folegandros), or atmospheric history (Nafplio or Monemvasia).

Can you have a romantic trip in Greece without visiting the islands?

Absolutely — and more couples should consider it. The Peloponnese alone could fill an incredible romantic road trip: start in Nafplio with its Venetian old town and fortress sunsets, drive to Monemvasia for a night inside a Byzantine fortress, and explore the wild Mani Peninsula with its empty coves and stone tower villages. Add the Pelion Peninsula's forest villages with their fireplaces and hidden beaches, and you have a deeply romantic trip that never requires a ferry ticket — at significantly lower prices than the popular islands.

What is the best time of year for a couples trip to Greece?

Late May to mid-June and September to mid-October are the sweet spots. You get warm weather (25–30°C), the sea is swimmable, restaurants and hotels are fully open, but the summer crowds haven't arrived or have already left. Prices are 30–40% lower than July–August, and the light during these shoulder months has a warm, golden quality that makes everything look even more beautiful. For mainland-only trips (Peloponnese, Pelion), April and early May are also wonderful — wildflowers, mild weather, and empty archaeological sites.

Final Thoughts

Greece has a way of making everything feel more romantic than it should. Maybe it's the light, maybe it's the pace of life, maybe it's the fact that you're eating dinner at 10pm by the sea and nobody's in any rush. Whatever it is, this country rewards couples who come with open plans and a willingness to get a little lost — both in the lanes of an old town and in the moment.

Don't just do the postcard version. Mix an island sunset with a mainland fortress. Pair a caldera view with a cliffside village nobody's heard of. The best romantic trips in Greece are the ones where you combine the iconic with the intimate — and this country makes that ridiculously easy.

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