Santorini’s blue domed churches and Mykonos’s whitewashed lanes have become such a fixture of honeymoon inspiration boards that a Greece trip from Bangalore barely needs an introduction anymore. What does need explaining is how to actually plan one properly, since Greece works quite differently from a single city trip like Paris or London. Between choosing the right islands, figuring out ferries versus flights, and timing your visit to avoid both scorching heat and overwhelming crowds, there is more to get right than the postcard photos suggest.
This guide covers what a Greece holiday from Bangalore actually involves, from the visa basics to splitting your time between Athens and the islands, along with costs and a sample itinerary.
Why Santorini and Mykonos Keep Winning Over Indian Couples
Santorini’s appeal comes down almost entirely to its setting. The island sits on the rim of a volcanic caldera, and towns like Oia and Fira are built directly into the cliffside, which is why sunset views here look genuinely different from anywhere else in the Mediterranean. Mykonos offers a different energy entirely, with a lively beach club scene, a charming old town of narrow whitewashed lanes, and windmills that have become almost as photographed as Santorini’s caldera views.
Together, the two islands cover both ends of what a Greek island holiday can be: quiet romance in Santorini and a livelier, more social atmosphere in Mykonos, which is exactly why so many itineraries combine both rather than choosing just one.
Greece Visa for Indians: The Schengen Process in Brief
Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so Indian citizens need a Schengen visa to enter, the same category used for France, Italy, and Switzerland. There is no visa on arrival for Greece, so this needs to be arranged well ahead of your travel dates, particularly if you are travelling during the busy summer season when appointment slots at visa application centres fill up faster than usual.
We have covered the full Schengen visa process, including document requirements and common mistakes, in our guide to planning a first time Europe trip from Bangalore. If you are combining Greece with another Schengen country such as Italy, our Italy travel guide covers how the Mediterranean routes typically pair well together in one longer trip.
Getting to Greece and Between the Islands
Most Bangalore travellers reach Athens through a one stop connection via a Gulf or European hub, with onward travel to the islands handled either by a short domestic flight or a ferry. Flights to Santorini and Mykonos from Athens take under an hour and are generally the faster option, while ferries take considerably longer but let you enjoy the scenery along the way and tend to be more budget-friendly.
During peak summer, book both your international flights and any inter-island transport well ahead, since seat availability on the smaller island-hopping flights and ferries can get tight. For a broader look at how Bangalore’s international connectivity has changed recently, our article on new international flights from Bangalore is worth reading before you finalise your route.
Greece Trip Cost from Bangalore: Budget vs Premium
A budget-conscious trip means guesthouses or simple hotels slightly away from the caldera view rooms in Santorini, ferries instead of flights between islands, casual taverna meals, and free activities like beach time and walking the old towns.
A mid-range trip typically includes 3- to 4-star hotels with partial sea views, a mix of ferries and short domestic flights, a private sunset catamaran cruise in Santorini, and a good spread of taverna and sit-down restaurant meals.
A premium trip generally means caldera-facing suites with private plunge pools in Santorini, beach club access in Mykonos, private transfers, and fine dining at some of the islands’ well-regarded restaurants.
Caldera view rooms in Santorini specifically tend to command a significant premium over similar rooms without the view, so deciding early how much that specific feature matters to you can meaningfully shift your overall budget. Our guide on saving money on flights, hotels and holiday tours has broader tips that apply here too, and couples comparing options before committing may find our list of budget international honeymoon destinations useful, alongside our separate roundup of budget honeymoon places within India if an international trip is not the right fit this year.
If Greece feels a little further than you want to travel, our guides to the Maldives and Bali both cover destinations with a similar romantic, island-focused appeal and considerably shorter flight times from Bangalore.
Best Time to Visit Santorini and Mykonos
Late April to June offers warm weather, blooming landscapes, and noticeably thinner crowds than peak summer, often considered the best overall window for a honeymoon trip.
July and August bring the hottest weather and by far the heaviest crowds, along with the highest hotel rates, particularly for caldera view rooms in Santorini that can sell out months in advance.
September to early October offers a similar advantage to late spring, with warm sea temperatures and thinning crowds as the peak season winds down.
November to March sees many island hotels and restaurants close for the off-season entirely, so this window generally does not suit a Santorini or Mykonos trip, even though Athens itself stays open year-round.
A Sample 7 Day Greece Itinerary
- Days 1 to 2, Athens: The Acropolis and Parthenon, a visit to the Acropolis Museum, and an evening exploring the Plaka neighbourhood.
- Days 3 to 5, Santorini: Sunset in Oia, a catamaran cruise around the caldera, and time to simply enjoy the views from Fira.
- Days 6 to 7, Mykonos: The windmills and old town, a beach club afternoon, and a final evening of shopping before your flight home via Athens.
Details on current opening hours and ticket booking for the Acropolis and its museum are best checked directly through the official Acropolis Museum website closer to your travel dates. For general trip planning and up-to-date information on the islands, Visit Greece, the country’s official tourism portal, recently relaunched with a completely redesigned platform and is worth bookmarking while you plan.
Practical Tips for a Greece Trip from Bangalore
Greece uses the euro, and cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants across Athens and the main islands, though smaller tavernas and beach bars sometimes prefer cash. Sun protection matters enormously here given how much time you will likely spend outdoors on white sand or white painted streets that reflect a lot of glare, so pack accordingly.
If you are considering something more significant than a regular holiday, Santorini in particular has become a genuinely popular destination for small, intimate wedding ceremonies among Indian couples, and our guide to destination wedding packages from Bangalore covers how Greece compares against other overseas wedding destinations. Our packing checklist by trip type is also worth a look given how different a city stop in Athens is from island days in Santorini and Mykonos.
Food and Island Culture Worth Slowing Down For
Greek food is one of the simpler cuisines to enjoy as a first-time visitor, built around fresh vegetables, olive oil, grilled fish, and simply prepared meats that rarely stray too far from what most Indian palates already find comforting. A taverna meal of grilled octopus, Greek salad, and fresh bread, eaten slowly over a couple of hours with a view of the sea, is as much a part of the Santorini and Mykonos experience as the sunsets themselves.
Fresh seafood is genuinely the highlight across both islands, and ordering the catch of the day rather than a fixed menu item usually gets you whatever was brought in that morning. Vegetarian travellers are well served too, since dishes like fava, a yellow split pea puree, and a wide range of vegetable-based mezze plates appear on almost every taverna menu.
Island life in Greece also runs on a noticeably slower rhythm than a city trip. Many smaller shops and even some restaurants close for a few hours in the early afternoon, particularly outside the busiest tourist strips, so building a relaxed pace into your itinerary suits the destination better than trying to pack every hour with an activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indians need a visa for Greece?
Yes, Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to enter Greece, since it forms part of the Schengen Area. There is no visa on arrival option for tourism.
Should I choose Santorini or Mykonos if I can only visit one island?
Santorini generally suits couples looking for quieter, more romantic scenery, while Mykonos suits travellers who want a livelier atmosphere with more nightlife and beach clubs. Many itineraries combine both if time allows.
Is it better to fly or take a ferry between the Greek islands?
Flights are faster and more reliable, generally under an hour, while ferries take longer but cost less and let you enjoy the scenery, so the choice usually comes down to how much time you have.
What is the best time to visit if I want to avoid both extreme heat and heavy crowds?
Late April to June and September to early October both offer a good balance of warm weather and manageable crowds compared to the peak of July and August.
How many days should a first trip to Greece include?
Seven days works well for splitting time between Athens and two islands, though five days is workable if you focus on just one island alongside Athens.
Is Greece a good destination for families, or mainly couples?
Greece works well for both. Athens offers plenty of historical sites that engage older children, and calmer beaches on both islands suit families, though the clifftop paths in Santorini’s towns are worth keeping an eye on with younger kids.
Plan Your Greece Trip with RTW Travel and Tours
Getting the island combination, timing, and inter island transport right makes a real difference to how smoothly a Greece trip comes together, especially during the busy summer season. Our team at RTW Travel and Tours can help you plan the right mix of Athens and islands for your travel dates and budget. Browse our Greece and Europe holiday packages or get in touch with our travel consultants to start planning your Santorini and Mykonos trip.