Maldives vs Santorini: Which Honeymoon Is Right for You?

Choose the Maldives if you want total seclusion, warm water and marine life. Choose Santorini if you prefer dramatic scenery, wine, culture and the option to explore. Both are romantic, but they feel very different.

The Maldives is flat, turquoise and quiet: each resort is its own island and you rarely leave it. Santorini is vertical, with whitewashed villages clinging to volcanic cliffs and sunsets that unite the entire island.

Couples who love infinity pools and silence lean Maldives; those who love wandering lanes and eating out lean Greece.

The Maldives is best from November to April, with humidity year-round. Santorini is best from May to early October, though mid-summer is hot and crowded; winter is quiet and many hotels close.

Because their seasons are almost opposite, you can pick one based on when you marry.

Overwater villas are expensive, and resorts charge premium prices for food and drinks. Santorini hotels in Oia are also costly, but you can find good value in Imerovigli or Fira, and dining out is cheaper.

On average, a week in the Maldives costs 20 to 40 percent more than a week in Santorini for equivalent comfort.

In the Maldives you snorkel, dive, spa, sail and dine on sandbanks. In Santorini you hike the caldera, taste wine, cruise to hot springs and visit ancient ruins at Akrotiri.

Active couples may find the Maldives too static; relaxation seekers may find Santorini too busy.

Can't choose? Combine them across seasons or pair Santorini with Athens for culture and the Maldives with Dubai for a stopover. Our designers can price both. Content here is demo copy.