Mykonos vs. Santorini: Which Greek Island Is Better?
Are you trying to decide between Mykonos vs. Santorini for your Greek island trip?
Here’s how to choose whether you should visit Mykonos or Santorini! Chances are, if you’re planning a trip to the Greek island, Mykonos and Santorini are two destinations that are both on your radar.
With nearly 33 million tourists per year, Greece is one of the most visited countries in Europe. And tons of those visitors flock to the Greek islands, especially Mykonos and Santorini. Each of these small islands receives millions of tourists per year, with the majority of them coming between April and October.
If you’re trying to choose which island to visit between Mykonos and Santorini, here’s an overview of various factors that might go into your decision, and which island wins for each point.
I’ve been to both islands (twice!) so this is based on my personal experience and research.
Most Accessible: Both
Both Mykonos and Santorini are easy to get to. Both islands have international airports with flights from Athens year-round and flights from other destinations around Europe during the summer.
The flight time from Athens to Mykonos is 45 minutes, and the flight time from Athens to Santorini is 50 minutes. So both islands are easily accessible from Athens, as well as the rest of Europe.
One thing I want to point out also is that both Mykonos and Santorini are part of the Cycladic Islands, and you can get from one island to the other in just two hours by ferry. So if you have at least four nights to spend in the Greek islands, you can actually visit both Mykonos and Santorini quite easily!
If you don’t want to choose between them, it’s definitely doable to visit both islands.
Best Beaches: Mykonos
When it comes to beaches, Mykonos is the clear winner. This island has more proper sandy beaches with calm, crystal-clear water that is perfect for swimming. Mykonos is also the smaller of the two islands (with an area of 33 square miles compared to Santorini’s 90 square miles) so you can get around more easily and visit different beaches, even if where you’re staying isn’t right on the beach.
Some of the best beaches in Mykonos for partying are Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach, while Platis Gialos Beach is more family-friendly. Paraga Beach and Psarou Beach are two beaches that are more chill and laidback during the day but definitely have more of a party atmosphere around sunset.
And if you’re looking for quieter beaches, Kapari Beach and Agrari Beach are two good options.
Santorini, on the other hand, is a volcanic island, and much of the “coastline” is actually a sheer cliff face, so there aren’t as many beaches. Where there are beaches in Santorini, the waves can be rougher.
Best Nightlife: Mykonos
If you’re looking for a party island with a lot of nightlife, Mykonos also comes out on top.
Now, whether the nightlife is actually worth it or just expensive and overrated is up for debate. In fact, if you’re looking for a much cheaper island that’s known for nightlife, I’d recommend Ios instead.
But anyway, Mykonos is famous for its many beach clubs where parties start early and last well into the night, especially at Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach. There are also lots of bars and clubs in Mykonos Town, another popular nightlife spot on the island. But be prepared for steep prices.
Nightlife in Santorini, on the other hand, is definitely more low-key. The majority of bars and clubs are in Fira, which is the largest town on the island, and there are also some laidback beach bars.
Most Picturesque: Santorini
As I mentioned earlier, Mykonos and Santorini are both part of the Cycladic Islands, which are famous for their whitewashed buildings, windmills, and blue accents like doors and domed roofs.
However, I have to say that Santorini takes the prize for being the most picturesque of the two islands. This is because of the dramatic landscape of Santorini. It’s a volcanic island and towns like Fira and Oia are built on rocky outcroppings overlooking the caldera and the surrounding islands.
The most picture-perfect place in Santorini is definitely the charming village of Oia on the northern end of the island. Facing west, this is a popular spot to watch Santorini’s incredible sunsets.
The actual scenery of the island is pretty dry, rocky, and barren, but that’s also the case in Mykonos. Mykonos has its pretty beaches, but I’d say Santorini has more beautiful and dramatic views.
Best for Friends: Mykonos
If you’re traveling with friends, I think Mykonos is the best of the two islands. Mykonos definitely has more of a social atmosphere — as I mentioned earlier, it’s really well-known for its nightlife.
Aside from that, there are also tons of restaurants in Mykonos, and the fact that Mykonos has the better beaches of the two islands. Additionally, Mykonos is smaller and easier to get around.
All of this makes it perfect for a getaway with friends.
Most Romantic: Santorini
For couples, Santorini would be my top pick. This is an extremely popular honeymoon destination and I would say that Santorini caters to couples more than Mykonos, especially the town of Oia.
If you’re looking for a special destination for a honeymoon, anniversary, or just a romantic couples’ vacation, I would recommend Santorini. Since it’s the calmer of the two islands, it’s the perfect place to go if you want a quieter getaway with your significant other where you can spend quality time together.
That being said, Mykonos can also be a romantic destination. If you want to spend a lot of time at the beach or enjoy the nightlife, it might be the better choice for your couples’ trip.
Best for Solo Travelers: Mykonos
Can you travel solo to the Greek islands? Absolutely! In fact, I’ve done it myself. But when it comes to Mykonos vs. Santorini, which is these islands is better for travelers who are alone?
I haven’t been to Mykonos or Santorini on my own, but based on my experience in both destinations, I would have to say that Mykonos seems like it would be the better option for solo travelers.
First of all, it’s smaller and easier to get around if you don’t want to rent a car. You can stay in Mykonos Town and be able to walk tons of places or take a quick bus ride to get to many of the beaches.
Since Mykonos has such a social atmosphere, it’s also a great place to meet people.
Most Family-Friendly: Both
Mykonos and Santorini are about equally family-friendly, but honestly, neither island is totally ideal for families with children or teens. Mykonos definitely has more of a party-heavy atmosphere while Santorini definitely has more of a romantic couples’ getaway atmosphere. So which should you choose?
I think both islands have good areas for families. In Santorini, I’d recommend basing yourself in Fira. Kids will enjoy activities like renting ATVs to ride around or going on a boat trip.
In Mykonos, most families stay around Platis Gialos Beach or nearby Ornos Beach. Both of these beaches are more family-friendly and less party-focused, while still having things to do nearby.
However, if you’re looking for cheaper islands that are more kid-friendly overall, somewhere like Crete, Rhodes, Naxos, or Milos might be a better destination than Mykonos or Santorini.
Best Value: Neither
Mykonos and Santorini are both very expensive destinations, and I wouldn’t say that one is a better value than the other. That being said, it’s possible to save money on either island.
Choosing a hotel without dramatic views, skipping the rental car or taxis and taking the bus instead, limiting how much you go out to eat, skipping out on expensive nightlife, and not going to beach clubs are some of the ways that you can drastically reduce how much you spend in Mykonos or Santorini.
However, splurging is kind of the point in these destinations, so as long as you go into it knowing that you’ll spend a lot of money, you can enjoy yourself even if it’s not the best value ever.
My biggest tip for getting more value out of your trip? Go during the off-season! Hotels in May, for example, might be a quarter of the price they would be in July or August during peak summer season.
Best for Low Crowds: Neither/Both
Finally, let’s talk about crowd levels. Neither Mykonos nor Santorini are hidden gems by any means. Both of these islands are extremely popular, and both are very crowded during the high season.
Both islands also receive a huge number of cruise ship tourists. Close to 900 cruise ships arrive in both Mykonos and Santorini each year, primarily in the summer. These cruise ships dump thousands of additional tourists onto the already-crowded islands for a day, and they come almost every day!
The best way to avoid crowds in Mykonos and Santorini is to visit during the off-season.
The most crowded time of year to visit will be in the summer from June through August. The months of May and September are considered to be the “shoulder season” and are a lot less crowded, but honestly, these months are becoming more popular with tourists (although still better than the summer!)
April and October are good off-season months to come if you still want to enjoy nice weather (October might be just warm enough to swim) while November through March is the true off-season and this is when both islands are at their emptiest — although a lot of hotels, shops, and restaurants will be closed!
Mykonos vs. Santorini: Which Island Should You Choose?
This guide showed you how to choose between visiting Mykonos vs. Santorini.
Of course, if you want to visit both of these iconic Greek islands, you can easily do that too. Since it’s just a two-hour ferry ride between the islands, you could spend two or three nights in Mykonos followed by two or three nights in Santorini (or vice versa) and be able to experience them both.
If you have additional time, I also recommend visiting another Greek island too — there are so many lesser-known islands that are nowhere near as crowded or expensive as Mykonos and Santorini!
That being said, these two islands are popular for a reason, and if they are on your bucket list, you should go. Just avoid visiting during the peak summer months (June through August) and you’ll be golden.
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