You’re on your way to getting married, and now it’s time for the big decision: where to honeymoon? The world offers countless fantastic destinations for celebrating this incredible life milestone. For Anmol and me, we wanted something a bit different from the typical honeymoon. We aimed to avoid the usual island and resort spots and instead indulge in a mix of culture, food, and stunning sights. This led us to one of the countries on our bucket list: Turkey! Turkey may not be the first place that comes to mind for a honeymoon, but it truly has it all—remarkable architecture, delicious cuisine, endless shopping, vibrant cities, and an abundance of culture. To top it off, it offers one of the most romantic experiences imaginable: a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. As we researched Turkey, it quickly became clear that it was the ideal destination for our honeymoon. We also thought, since we were flying all that way, why not visit the beautiful Greek Islands too? After all, you only get married once! Thus, our honeymoon plan was set: a two-week trip through Greece and Turkey. While we knew this time wouldn’t be enough to fully explore both countries, we felt it would be a fantastic journey filled with some of the best memories of our lives. There’s no better way to celebrate the conclusion of hosting a wedding party!
Here is everything you need to know for an epic two-week honeymoon itinerary through Greece and Turkey:
Itinerary Logistics
To make this itinerary work in the outlined amount of days, you will need to fly into Greece (Athens) and out of Istanbul or Cappadocia. Of course, you can flip this around if you find cheaper flights the other way, or return to your arrival destination if you have extra time to spare.
Itinerary Style
I’ll be upfront, this honeymoon itinerary isn’t for everyone. It’s fast-paced and involves moving through several locations. It also involves being ok with missing some mainstream Greek Islands like Santorini or Mykonos.
While we loved everything about our Honeymoon, it may not be the ideal itinerary if you are only looking to relax and chill. We did our honeymoon a few months after our wedding, so we were recharged and ready to go for this epic trip
Itinerary Summary
Day 1- Arrive in Athens and Explore
Day 2- Acropolis
Day 2- Boat to Milos and half day in Milos
Day 3- Milos
Day 4- Milos
Day 5- Boat to Folegandros
Day 6- Folegandros
Day 7- Folegandros/Athens
Day 8- Fly to Istanbul and Istanbul
Day 9- Istanbul
Day 10- Istanbul
Day 11- Cappadocia
Day 12- Cappadocia
Day 13- Cappadocia
Day 14- Return to Istanbul
Day 15- Fly Out
Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrive in Athens
Day 1 is all about getting settled. It’s your honeymoon, and you deserve to celebrate! We spent the day wandering around Athens, exploring the city, tasting different foods, and stopping at bars with incredible views of the Acropolis. If you have time, I highly recommend checking out the Anafiotika area. It’s a picturesque district that will make you feel like you’ve truly arrived in Greece.
Check Out: The 360 Cocktail Bar is a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink while watching the sunset over the Acropolis. Just keep in mind that it can be quite touristy and a bit overpriced, but hey, it’s your honeymoon!
Eat At: Mira Mera. While there aren’t many vegetarian options available, the food we tried was amazing (Order the Beetroot Risotto a if it’s on the menu)! The romantic views of the Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant are absolutely stunning, especially after dark; it’s a truly unforgettable honeymoon experience.
Lodging: Athens is all about the Acropolis, so we wanted a reasonably priced place with a view of it! We went with this Airbnb and were happy with our choice. While the room is smaller and less luxurious than some of the hotel options, having a private terrace with a view of the Acropolis is worth the sacrifice in our opinion!
Day 2: Athens
Day 2 is all about the Acropolis (again)!
If you can get up early, I highly recommend being one of the first in line to enter the Acropolis. Typically, most tour groups arrive about 30 minutes to an hour after opening, so I would head straight to the top and enjoy the masterpiece in peace (while you can). We bought our tickets in advance via Tiqets, and this saved us time in the line as well. Check opening times and try to be there 20-30 minutes before.
Once you have arrived, spend the next few hours marveling at the incredible Acropolis and surrounding grounds. It is truly the biggest highlight of Athens. While some people do book a tour, we read up on our history and also downloaded Rick Steves’s free audio guide.
Post the Acropolis, treat yourself to a nice breakfast/brunch nearby, and then head to your next stop, the Olympic Pantheon stadium. This was much cooler than we expected and I would not recommend missing it!
The last stop I’d recommend for the day is the Acropolis Museum which was interesting and also served as a nice reprieve from the heat!
While there are many other historical and mythological sites you can see, in Athens, we just saw many of them via passing, and didn’t feel the need to enter every archeological site.
Check Out: Book Tree Café, if you want a place to relax and chill and are a book lover!
Eat At: Vegan Beat! An incredible vegan Greek restaurant. You must visit this place if you like vegetarian or Vegan food!
Day 3: Milos
On day 3, it’s time to visit your first Greek Island, Milos! Milos was voted one T&L’s best islands in the world, but is still heavily underrated in our opinion!
We took an early boat and arrived at Milos around lunchtime. We picked up our ATV Rental and drove to our INCREDIBLE AIRBNB. As a new ATV driver, the ride was scary but the Airbnb was one of the best we have ever stayed at! After unwinding and taking in the views of our private Airbnb, we drove over to Plaka and then walked up to the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa for one of the island’s best sunset viewing spots. Along the way, we also couldnt resist ourselves from stopping for a few drinks and living our best Greek-island lives. The rest of the night was spent in Plaka enjoying the lively vibes of Greek Island life
Logistics: We booked our ferry via Ferry Hopper, and booked our ATV rental through our Airbnb host
Lodging: Milos by the Sea Airbnb is incredible! It is a secluded fishermen’s house right by the water. It was quite literally, the perfect lodging experience for our Honeymoon, and one of the things we remember the most about our entire trip! Read more about it here.
Day 4: Milos
The plan today was to take the famous Kleftiko boat ride which highlights the stunning landscapes of Milos, which are not accessible by road. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, as a storm came in! We ended up spending the whole day in our Airbnb. Luckily, our Airbnb was incredible so we didn’t feel too bad about the situation. Travel will always throw curveballs, but hopefully, you get better weather and can enjoy the boat ride during your visit. It is one of the must-do’s while in Milos
Day 5: Milos
Spend day 5 exploring some of the must-see landscapes of this incredible island. There are so many places to visit in Milos but here are a few that I would recommend:
- Firopotamos Village
- Madrika Village
- Papafragas Cave
- Pollina Town
- Sarakiniko Beach (moon Beach)
Hitting all of these is very doable in a day. However, if you have more time, you could choose to do it at a more leisurely pace if you wish. Without a doubt, the highlight for us was Sarakaniko Beach. It was a landscape like no other I have seen. Cliff jumping off of it is a blast as well
Logistics If you have a car/ATV you can easily drive around to all these spots. Milos is an incredible place to drive around on an ATV!
Eat At: The famous Kivotos ton Gefson bakery in Pollina. Make sure to try their watermelon Pie!
For dinner, a must during your time in Milos is dining at O Hammos (come early or expect long waits without a reservation). It’s truly a place like no other, with handwritten menus, recipes passed down for generations, and authentic and locally sourced food. It was one of the best dining experiences we have ever had!
Day 6: Folegandros
Day 6 is off to another one of T&L’s top-rated islands, the laid-back and beautiful island of Folegandros. Folegandros is the place to really slow down your travel and enjoy relaxing! This Santorini alternative boasts incredible views and epic sunsets but in a much slower and less chaotic scene (and less expensive). We spent the afternoon reading in our beautiful hotel and then wandered through the very walkable Polka downtown area.
Around an hour before sunset, we made the short hike up to the most famous sunset viewing spot on the island, the Church of Panagia! It seemed like everyone who was visiting was going up to this spot with their wine, games, or snacks. We brought some wine and cups and settled in for the next hour as we enjoyed a true Greek island sunset.
Tip: if you aren’t in a rush, wait a bit longer after sunset, until it is dark, to see the island light up!
Stay At: Polikandia Hotel. A stunning and beautiful hotel located very centrally to downtown.
Eat At: Zimarkaki. A very delicious Italian restaurant located not too far from the main square
Lodgistics: Downtown is walkable and you wont need any transportation
Day 7- Folegandros
I would use your second day on the island to check out one of the island’s gorgeous beaches. We visited Angali Beach and it was stunning!
After a nice day of R&R, we enjoyed Folegrandos just like how it should be, slowly. We spent the evening with no plans and just wandered around downtown again. We decided to bar hop because all the local bars were small, intimate, and not chaotic. A great way to spend our last evening on the island
Day 8- Return to Athens
Today is mostly a travel day with the goal of returning to Athens for a flight out to Istanbul tomorrow. We booked a late afternoon ferry so we could enjoy another half day on the island. If you can wake up early, I highly recommend, using your morning to just walk or jog around the island. It’s a very peaceful place and even more so in the morning.
Day 9 to 11- Istanbul
One country down, but another one still to go! Next up is one of my favorite cities in the world, Istanbul!!! If you only have three days in Istanbul like this itinerary calls for, I would highly recommend taking as early of a flight from Athens so you can maximize your time. Istanbul has so much to see. For more details on how to spend these next three days in Istanbul, check out my post here
Day 12- Cappadocia
Next up, the land of caves, horses, and of course, hot air balloons! Arrive late morning in Cappadocia and spend the day getting acquainted with the unique landscapes that make up Cappadocia. In the evening, I would recommend going on a romantic private horseback sunset riding experience through the incredible scenery of Cappadocia. Cappadocia, after all, is known as the land of horses, so what better place to ride one?
Logistics: Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia and then book a transfer from the airport to the hotel (Note Cappadocia has two airports)
Stay At: Charming Cave Hotel. If you are in Cappadocia, you have to stay in a cave hotel! Charming Cave was a great value hotel, that had a large rooftop for viewing balloons and also offered an amazing breakfast!
Day 13- Cappadocia
Today is the day! Probably the most romantic thing you will do on your entire honeymoon is the famous Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon ride. This is a magical experience and something you will never forget. The tour starts early so today will be a long day, but it will be so worth it. While the experience is pricey at around $300 EUR a person, it truly was worth every penny. To book I would go through your hotel, or through Butterfly Balloons (a highly reputable) company. Be wary of cheap rides you may see online!
After witnessing one of the most amazing scenes anywhere in the world, come back, enjoy breakfast, and rest for a bit. Then head out on the green tour (book in advance with the hotel or via Viator). The green tour is one of the popular tour options that tourists partake in in Cappadocia, to see the must-see sights outside of the main area of the city. There are several other options (Red, Blue, etc), but we loved our tour and highly recommend the Green. Alternatively, you could do some later afternoon hiking if you have the energy for it!
Day 14- Cappadocia
Because it’s a honeymoon, and you deserve to be treated like royalty, if you can afford to splurge, I recommend doing a photo shoot with the balloons on your last day! I am not a big photoshoot guy, but if there is one place where you can get epic couples pictures, it’s here. Of course, this means waking up early again, but in Cappadocia, you have to plan to wake up early any chance you get, to see the balloons. We booked our photoshoot through Airbnb Experiences and had an overall quality experience with our photographers. More than anything we felt like royalty having our pictures taken as the balloons rose behind us!
The rest of the day we spent at leisure and booked a Hammam to wind down after a long but amazing trip (Highly recommend doing this somewhere in Turkey). We also did some rug shopping because we wanted to bring home a rug for our new home!
Additionally, if you wish, you can check out a Whirling dervish show in the evening. We had this booked but decided to skip it and relax instead.
Check Out: The Pottery Shop (put this on google) for some incredible handmade ceramics
Day 15- Return to Istanbul
Depending on your return flight home, you can either fly back to Istanbul in the morning or evening. We had one more day to spare, so we spent the final day back in Istanbul and enjoyed shopping and relaxing after a long trip!
If You Have More Time
If you have one extra day I would add it to Istanbul. Istanbul is so massive and there is so much to see, you need at least 4-5 days to see it all at a relaxed pace
If you have two extra days, I would consider adding one to Istanbul and one more to Milos or Folegrandos to slow things down a bit more.
If you have another week, I would explore the eastern side of Turkey (lake districts), for an off-the-beaten-path destination, or the beautiful Turkish coast.
