Mykonos vs Santorini: Which Cycladic Greek Island is more suited for you?

Mykonos and Santorini are 2 of the most famous Greek islands, often on most visitors’ first-time itinerary for Greece. But if you have to choose one of the islands to visit, either due to paucity of time or budget constraints, then which is the island better suited for you? On the Mykonos vs Santorini debate, let’s explore what each of these islands offers.

As Cycladic sisters barely more than 100km apart, they share some similarities – easily accessible from Athens, white-washed buildings, sugar-cube architecture, popular with international visitors. But the experiences that Mykonos or Santorini in Greece offer are quite different.

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Overview of Mykonos and Santorini, Greece

Mykonos has the reputation of a party island. And sure enough, from June end until August end, hordes of youngsters descend on this island to revel in the night vibes, cool music, and dance till the wee hours of the morning. Mykonos is also a picturesque island that offers lovely sandy beaches, delicious food and wine, proximity to the most important historical ruin amongst all Greek islands. Till the middle of the 20^th century, Mykonos lived in the shadow of the ancient island of Delos. But now it is an island famous in its own right. We explored Mykonos in a day on our Greece trip.

Santorini has a laid-back luxury holiday feel to it. If you are in a romantic mood to sit back and relax, take in the jaw dropping views of the caldera, enjoy the luxuries of your hotel, see some of the best sunsets in the world, sip wine and eat at fine-dining restaurants, head to Santorini. The island with its picturesque villages is an international luxury destination. But don’t scrimp on money if you want a holiday of a lifetime. Indulge in some of the best hotels with glorious views, great food and service, and easy day tours. We based ourselves in Oia village for our 3 days in Santorini.

What do Mykonos and Santorini offer?

Mykonos has beautiful beaches

If you are thinking of sandy stretch of beaches, then Mykonos is your island. Mykonos beaches are actually enjoyable to lounge at. This is why Mykonos is the Beach Club destination. And surprisingly, this is true whether you are a 20-something going with friends to party till wee hours, or as a family with young kids to build castles on the beach!

Paradise and Super Paradise are beaches famous for parties. Psarrou Beach on the southern side of Mykonos is a favourite among celebrities, this is more like a resort-style beach. Elia is the longest sandy beach in Mykonos, with facilities like umbrellas, sun beds, and seaside bars. Platis Gialos is one of the popular beaches in Mykonos, it is quite family friendly. Kalafatis is ideal for water sports including windsurfing. Ornos beach has well developed tourist facilities. There are plenty more beach options on Mykonos Island.

In comparison, Santorini’s beaches are all pebbles and rocks. They are mainly located on the east side of the island: Perissa and Kamari to name a few. These are black sand beaches made of volcanic soil. On the west side, the black and red beach are completely rocky and while they offer dramatic views, it is difficult to reach them. 

Santorini has stunning views of the caldera

If you are looking for jaw-dropping views of the caldera, no better place than Santorini. There are beautiful views of the western part of the island to be enjoyed from any cliff hugging spot, hotel or restaurant in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia. If you want extended epic views of the caldera, I suggest adding the 10-km Fira to Oia hike on your Santorini Itinerary. This offers some of the best hiking in Greek islands.

Santorini has unique topography and geology owing to its volcanic formation. The island is basically the collapsed part of the volcano. The caldera, a flooded volcano crater, sits over 1,000 feet above sea level. It’s a sheer drop to the jewel blue seas below. Unforgettable is an understatement.

Mykonos is pretty as a peach. You will love walking down the narrow lanes of Chora, the old town. But the picturesque island is no match for the unique caldera views of Santorini, any photographer’s dream.

Mykonos has a party vibe

We visited Greece in mid-May, before the summer crowds descend upon the islands during the peak summer season. Even then, on our first night in Little Venice, a waterfront area in Mykonos old town, the buzz was undeniable. Restaurants and cafes all along the old town serving cocktails, several bars playing loud music with eclectic beats, waitpersons in sexy outfits trotting along.

Little Venice is tame, of course, compared to the party beaches that Mykonos is known for. They bring alive the phrase ‘Party All Day, Party All night’! Some of the Mykonos spots famous for epic parties are Scorpios, Super Paradise Beach Bar, Kalua Beach Bar, Tropicana Beach Bar, Paradise Club Mykonos, and Cavo Paradise. If you are comparing Mykonos vs Santorini on party scene, Mykonos wins hands down.

Santorini on the other hand, has a romantic vibe: pretty villages, spectacular sunsets. There is the capital town, Fira which merges into the tiny villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli on the western side of the island. Akrotiri lies on the southern part while Oia village is located on the north tip of the island. Its photogenic whitewashed hillside villages are delightful to stroll through, and the caldera views are exceptional.

Santorini offers spectacular sunsets

All Greek islands including Mykonos and Santorini in Greece have wonderful sunsets. But there is something iconic about Santorini sunsets.

The unique rugged topography and the way in which light interacts with the landscape creates a kaleidoscope of colours each evening in Santorini. There are few very places that can match the nature spectacle and the golden hues draping the beautiful village of Oia in warm colours. We also enjoyed a nice sunset at Akrotiri Lighthouse on the southern side of Santorini.

Taking a sunset cruise is a good way to enjoy the caldera and the vibrant colours of the sky. Or you could opt for a tour that includes Santorini’s top sights, wine tasting, and a sunset in Oia.

It is easier to drive around in Mykonos

Mykonos is a relatively flat island. You can rent a car or a scooter or an ATV and move around easily by yourself on the island. Of course, for late-night drinking, it is best to book a drop back to your hotel.

Santorini is a much more difficult island to drive around. Steep drop-offs, hairpin turns, and narrow roads spell out disaster for anyone who is not a local. And for some reason, google maps gets thoroughly confused in the narrow lanes of its villages. Just easier to have a private taxi take you between villages in Santorini.

We has a bad experience renting a fiat car in Akrotiri Village and driving it to steep lanes towards Black Beach. From there, we decided to go ahead to the Red Beach. There was a steep gravel road where the tiny Fiat got buried in the loose gravel and refused to budge! Eventually, we got the rental guys to come over, take the car out of the gravel mess, and got us back to a proper tar road. 

Santorini is even more expensive than Mykonos

On the Santorini vs Mykonos debate related to budget, Santorini is more expensive. Santorini is one of the most famous islands in the world and can be more expensive than Mykonos. Oia, Imerovigli and Fira villages have a plethora of high-end resorts and hotel accommodations, fine dining restaurants and trendy bars. You can stay in some of the most luxurious hotels in the Greek islands here. If you prefer the high life, then Santorini is it. Santorini is a destination visited mainly by international tourists, not by local Greeks people.

Mykonos is a destination where you can go as luxury or as basic as you want. Mykonos offers more variety in prices when it came to both accommodations and dining. So you can manage your travel budget as per your preference.

Mykonos has a family-friendly side

Travelling with kids? Mykonos wins out because the beaches here are better and the ruins on nearby on Delos island are magical. Earlier in the post, I mentioned that Mykonos is also a great party place. And yet, there are beaches and activities that are of more interest here to families with younger kids as compared to Santorini.

On our family vacation trip to Greece, my teenage daughter was far less wowed by the caldera views of Santorini and the sunset spectacle that Oia village offered than me. Instead she loved the evening we spent at Ornos Beach in Mykonos, walking the streets of Chora town and posing in front of the iconic windmills at Kato Mili.

Verdict: Mykonos vs Santorini in Greece

Mykonos is best for a range of budgets, so suitable to budget traveler and the luxury traveler as well. If you are looking for sandy beaches whether to relax, party, lets your kids be, or sip cocktails at beach clubs, then Mykonos is your choice. It is also easier to rent a car or a two-wheeler and navigate the island by yourself. Mykonos has spots and beaches that can have slightly lesser crowds in the peak season as compared to Santorini.

If you are looking for a romantic trip or a honeymoon of a lifetime, where budget is no constraint, then Santorini is your choice. Unique experiences such as stay in a luxury cave hotel with jaw dropping views of the caldera await you. Santorini’s pretty villages are a dream for any photographer.

Planning a trip to Greece? Check out –

Greece Mainland: Greece mainland itinerary, 3 days in Athens, Athens day trips

Greek Islands: Crete Itinerary, Santorini itinerary, Mykonos Itinerary, Beautiful Greek islands for a family holiday, Best Hotels on Greek Islands

Itinerary Suggestions: Greece in 2 weeks, Greece 10-day Itinerary with kids

Greece Packing List for your trip

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