Editorials
Italy vs. Greece: Which is Better for a Luxury Honeymoon?
Ready to start planning your dream Mediterranean honeymoon?
Choosing between Italy and Greece for your luxury honeymoon is not easy. Both countries provide unimprovable romantic settings and flawless weather. Yet each destination creates distinctly different honeymoon experiences that appeal to different romantic sensibilities and travel preferences.
From exploring the ruins of the Roman Empire to partying in Mykonos, there’s so much to see in Italy and Greece. Let’s find out which one is the best for your honeymoon.
The Romance Factor: Different Styles of Amore
Italy delivers romance with an added dose of culture and history. Picture yourselves sharing an aperitivo on a Tuscan terrace as golden light bathes cypress-lined hills, or gliding through Venice’s canals in a private gondola whilst historic palazzos reflect in moonlit waters. Perhaps stopping off for a drink in Verona after visiting Juliet’s balcony, before jumping on a train to Florence. These are the settings that inspired Shakespeare, even though he probably never visited them. They represented romance in his imagination, so he wrote about them anyway. That’s how much Italy is associated with romance!
Greece offers romance through natural beauty, dreamy islands and stunning whitewashed hotels. Imagine watching the world’s most famous sunset from your private infinity pool in Santorini, or discovering a secluded beach accessible only by your chartered yacht.
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Whatever your answer, you’ll find fabulously evocative remnants of the ancient Roman world in both Italy and Greece.
Luxury Accommodations: Palazzo vs. Minimalism
Italy’s luxury hospitality showcases centuries of style through converted palazzos, historic villas, and design hotels. Properties like Belmond Hotel Caruso on the Amalfi Coast or Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole are great choices for a honeymoon. Over in Venice, the Belmond Hotel Cipriani represents the pinnacle of Venetian luxury, an ultra-exclusive retreat on the private island of Giudecca that has been enchanting discerning travelers since 1958. What sets the Cipriani apart is its sense of splendid isolation – despite being just a five-minute private boat ride from St. Mark’s Square, the hotel feels like a peaceful sanctuary complete with Venice’s only Olympic-sized swimming pool, sprawling gardens, and the acclaimed Oro Restaurant. This hotel was the setting for the richest man in the world’s wedding.
Greece’s luxury hotels embrace natural beauty through properties that seem to emerge from clifftops and hillsides, showcasing the classic minimalist design Greece is known for. Resorts such as Katikies in Santorini or Amanzoe in the Peloponnese are impeccably stylish. In the Greek islands, you’ll find a world-class selection of luxury hotels designed with romance in mind, especially on Santorini. If you’d like to avoid the crowd of the more touristy islands, you can stay on an equally stunning but less crowded island, such as Naxos.
See your complete itinerary before you decide.
Request a quote →Wining and Dining
Italian cuisine is best understood from a regional perspective. You’ll find distinctive traditions as you travel the country, so it’s best to try dishes that specific to the region you’re in. Honeymoon dining experiences might include truffle hunting in Umbria followed by private cooking classes, wine tastings in Barolo cellars, or intimate dinners in Michelin-starred restaurants.
The Greek islands are home to many exceptional places to wine and dine. Picture yourself savoring just-caught sea bass grilled with wild herbs on a candlelit terrace overlooking the Aegean, or discovering family-run tavernas tucked into whitewashed villages where recipes have been passed down for generations alongside local wines made from indigenous grape varieties like Assyrtiko and Moschofilero. The island dining experience calls to mind mezze plates arriving in endless succession – creamy fava from Santorini, tender octopus from Mykonos, and rich local cheeses paired with thyme honey. From Michelin-starred establishments in Santorini that marry molecular gastronomy with traditional Greek flavors to rustic beachside psarotavernas where fishermen’s wives serve the day’s catch with nothing more than olive oil, lemon, and sea salt, Greek island dining celebrates the pure pleasure of exceptional food shared in spectacular settings under star-filled Mediterranean skies.
LGBTQ+ Friendliness
Both Italy and Greece have made significant strides in LGBTQ+ acceptance, though their approaches and regional variations differ considerably.
Italy’s LGBTQ+ landscape varies by region, with northern cities like Milan and Rome boasting thriving gay scenes and strong legal protections, whilst southern areas remain more conservative. Major tourist destinations generally welcome LGBTQ+ travelers warmly, particularly in cosmopolitan areas like Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast where hospitality professionals prioritize guest comfort regardless of sexual orientation. Italy legalized same-sex civil unions in 2016, though full marriage equality remains unavailable.
Greece has embraced LGBTQ+ tourism more comprehensively, with the Greek National Tourism Organization actively promoting the country as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination. Greece legalized same-sex marriage in 2024, becoming one of the first Orthodox Christian countries to do so. Islands like Mykonos and Santorini have particularly strong reputations for welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers.
Greek islands have several advantages for LGBTQ+ honeymooners, including well-established gay beach scenes, inclusive luxury resorts, and generally relaxed attitudes toward same-sex couples. Mykonos, in particular, has been a gay travel destination since the 1960s.
In the ancient world, Greece and Italy all but invented same-sex love. Many of the Roman Emperors, as readers of Suetonius will discover, were dedicated fans of same-sex love. It was actually considered unusual for an emperor not to experiment with people of both sexes.
The Perfect Compromise
Many couples discover that combining both destinations creates the perfect Mediterranean honeymoon experience. Consider splitting your time between Italy’s great cities and Greece’s islands, or plan Italy for your honeymoon and Greece for your first anniversary. Both countries offer experiences that complement rather than compete with each other.
Ready to start planning your dream honeymoon? Get in touch and we’ll create the perfect itinerary for you, whether you choose Italy over Greece or decide to combine the two.
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