Mykonos and Santorini are the most famous and most visited of the Greek islands. Both are located in the Cycladic chain of islands in the Aegean Sea, a group that boasts over 20 islands. Whether your trip is for an idyllic stay of a week or more, or to drop by for the day as part of a cruise itinerary, you will not be disappointed.
Santorini is a series of inhabited and uninhabited islands formed around a caldera, the hollow that forms after the chamber of a volcano is emptied by an eruption. The Minoan eruption, which occurred about 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization is considered to be one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
The main city of Fira, and the much more scenic city of Oia are both worth any time you can spend there. The main port is a tender port and the only way to get up to the city of Fira is either by a gondola ride (be prepared to wait) or riding a donkey up the donkey path (be prepared to smell bad). You can also walk up and down if you so wish but you will share the space with the donkeys.
Alternately, from the tender port you can hope on one of the local boats that will take you directly to Oia and then offers a bus ride back to Fira for what we thought was a very reasonable price. You will still have to pay for a ride down to the tender port. There is also a new port with waiting buses if you take a shore excursion.
Either city offers an array of restaurants, souvenir and high end shops, historical buildings and scenic backdrops. All of the photos you have seen of blue domed roofs layered over whitewashed buildings is probably from Santorini. There are a number of beaches, wineries and an amazing archaeological site at Akrotiri to explore if you want to get out of the main cities. There is a local bus that runs frequently from Fira to Akrotiri for just €2.
The island of Mykonos was named after its first ruler, Mykonos, the son or grandson of the god Apollo and a local hero. The island is also said to have been the location of the great battle between Zeus and the Giants. It is told that Hercules killed the invincible giants after having lured them from the protection of Mount Olympus.
Also a tender port it is much smaller and more accessible than Santorini. The main town (also called Mykonos) has mouthwatering seafood and Greek restaurants lining the waterfront, shops hidden in meandering lanes and the iconic five windmills overlooking the town. There is also an assortment of beaches throughout the island that are easily accessible by local transportation, or you can catch a ferry to the nearby island of Delos to explore the archaeological site, said to be the birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis.
A quick google search will offer a number of tempting accommodations on either island. Both are great destinations for couples because of the nice weather and the romantic vistas. A stop at either of these Greek islands will surely be remembered long after your return home.