teachertravelling

I am spending my honeymoon in Greece next week. Although I've read that taking a day trip from Santorini to a neighboring island is not ideal, our hotel arrangements have been made. Thus, I am interested in finding out the most ideal island day trip to take from Santorini for exploring and possibly beach visiting.

travelerjan

You will have to do some research on ferry websites. I think the only island where you can get to in the morning and get afternoon ferry back may be Ios. The fastest trip is about 1 hour, and some at 1 hr 20 mins. Depending on the day, u cn get there by 10 or 11:30. The last daily ferry back is 3:30... on some days there is a 5:30pm ... nothing later.
http://www.gtp.gr/
http://www.openseas.gr/OPENSEAS/index_en.vm
pick a day & see what you get.

Just as well u can't stay late... Aug in Ios is reputed to be like midnight at a college frat party.

Paros is 3 hrs; earliest u could get there would be 12:30, last ferry out, 3:45. So, you see.

Of course this is why we urge and urge and urge new visitors to greece to figure out the transport FIRST, and only THEN book their accommodations. But (sigh) they never do.

teachertravelling

Travelerjan, thank you for your help. I knew we didn't have many options as we had booked our transport for the trip we decided upon months ago. At the last minute, (we're leaving in 3 days), we decided to research the feasibility of an island day trip from Santorini. We might opt to stay on Santorini without making the trip.

GeoffHamer

There is also the problem that the port of Santorini is quite separate from the island's villages. There are buses down a scary zig-zag road to the port. If you were making a day trip from, for example, Paros or Naxos, it would be easy because the port is in the island's main town, but Santorini is different. There are buses down to the port to connect with ferries, but it's a time-consuming business.

hnberlin

We daytripped to Santorini from Crete four years ago - I'm sure you could do the same in reverse. It would mean an early rise to get an early ferry but you could easily be in Crete by lunch. You could visit Knossos which is so interesting (even if there is a similar Minoan settlement on Santorini at Akrotiri). Crete is amazing, huge and wonderful to approach from the water. Oia and Fira will have tourist offices where you can book such a trip. The ferry trip back will be as the sun sets (aaaaah) and you can always suntan on the deck.

Having said all this, if its your honeymoon and hopefully you are staying in Oia, I'll bet you won't want to leave the island. You are in for such a treat (assuming it's your first visit!)

teachertravelling

Thank you!
It is our honeymoon and I had heard that we might, in fact, not want to leave Santorini. Good thing, since it doesn't look like we have many options...
We are spending another part of our trip in Crete too!

lmavolio

If a day trip doesn't work out, don't worry - you will LOVE Santorini and you might not want to leave at all...I was there for 3 nights/4 days and I could have stayed much longer! Have fun on your honeymoon!

teachertravelling

Imavolio,
Thank you! I'm always happy to hear how beautiful Santorini is!