Mykonos and Santorini are undoubtedly the preferred islands in Greece and possibly a few of the hottest islands on the planet. Adorned with white washed domed homes, completely painted blue homes, gorgeous ocean views, and light stone streets, these islands are the definition of picturesque.
Situated within the Aegean sea, Mykonos and Santorini are a part of the Cyclades, a bunch of small islands that each one share the identical architectural kinds. I spent nearly two months touring by the Cyclades visiting a dozen totally different islands. I began my journey in Mykonos earlier than making my method all through the archipelago and ending at Santorini.
If you’re seeking to go to Greece and particularly the islands, you’ll absolutely take into consideration visiting these two islands. Should you can’t swing the time to go to each islands and need to determine, then you may have one of many more durable journey selections to make! This publish will go intimately of all of the totally different attributes with these two islands and my opinion on what’s superior. Hopefully after studying this publish, you should have what that you must determine!
When you’ve determined, make certain to learn my journey guides for the 2 islands!
Visiting each islands
First issues first, it’s best to go to each islands if in any respect potential. In case you have every week for the Greek islands, this might be ample time to discover each islands in my view. I feel 3-4 days is ample time to discover an island. I feel a minimal of 5 days is required to go to each islands except you might be okay with simply droppign in, taking the long-lasting images, and leaving.
If after studying this publish you continue to can not determine on which island to go to, don’t fear as a result of many others are in the identical boat. It’s actually an apples to oranges comparability and you actually can’t go fallacious with both choice.
Find out how to get from Mykonos to Santorini
Being the preferred islands within the Cyclades, there are common ferry routes between Mykonos and Santorini. I wrote a protracted detailed information in regards to the Greek ferry programs and they’re very effectively run. Blue Star and Sea Jets will make a number of every day routes between the 2 islands.
From Mykonos, there are every day ferries that may run to Santorini whereas stopping in numerous different islands within the Cyclades. These ferries will usually take 3-4 hours and price €50-€70 a method. There isn’t any categorical ferry that I do know of that runs between the 2 islands.
There are giant worldwide airports in each islands so you might fly into Mykonos from someplace in Europe, and fly residence from Santorini (with out having to return to the identical airport you arrived in).
Value of visiting Mykonos or Santorini
Mykonos and Santorini are each costly locations to go to. Greek individuals largely keep away from these islands due to the crowds and the prices so it’s best to count on to compete with worldwide vacationers on all fronts.
Through the excessive season months of June to August, you may count on to pay about 50% extra on these islands versus different islands close by like Naxos or Sifnos.
Each islands are equally as costly in my view. Bars and eating places in the primary cities just like the Mykonos Chora or Santorini’s Oia may be fairly expensive. Cocktails may be simply €10 or extra with entrees at an honest restaurant being €20+. Due to how touristy these locations are, you may count on to additionally pay extra for any excursions you had in thoughts like a sundown cruise and even renting scooters/quadbikes. If you’re visiting Athens earlier than these islands, you’ll instantly discover the distinction!
Nevertheless, you may mitigate these prices by merely eating outdoors of the primary cities and avoiding the upscale trying locations. I had an incredible meal outdoors of the Mykonos Chora at Limnios Taverna for 30% lower than within the Chora. In Santorini, I left Oia and went to the city of Spyrgos which had far superior Greek eating places at a a lot friendlier value.
Winner: Tie
Restaurant and Eating Choices
Considered one of my favourite elements of Greece is the meals. I might even wager that Greece has the very best delicacies in Europe. Probably the most shocking factor nevertheless, is the consistency. There are such a lot of Tavernas serving Greek meals across the islands. In fact some are higher than others however the high quality can also be as much as a sure normal which is larger than what I’m used to.
For such touristy locations like Mykonos and Santorini, there are nonetheless many many scrumptious choices serving native Greek meals. Even the whole vacationer entice eating places within the Chora are a minimum of respectable and infrequently simply straight up horrible.
Being as developed and vacationer pushed as these two islands are, there are additionally superb non-Greek eating choices available. Nevertheless, after spending two months in Greece, Greek meals was one factor that I by no means bought uninterested in so this isn’t a lot of a problem for me.
Winner: Tie
Bars and nightlife
That is in all probability the simplest class to determine. Mykonos is understood for its nightlife. Folks from around the globe come right here to celebration it up. You could find events all day lengthy from the seaside bars throughout the day to the golf equipment at evening.
There are world well-known seaside bars throughout Mykonos just like the Alemagou Seashore Bar or the Tremendous Paradise Seashore bar that cater to your whole day consuming fantasies. At evening, the Chora is filled with power and you might be certain to search out events and the quite a few golf equipment in and across the city.
Mykonos can grow to be a type of sceney kind of locations the place everyone seems to be seeking to impress. I visited in 2020 throughout Coronavirus so there was little to no nightlife however I might see how in regular instances, this place can be packed stuffed with semi-pro influencers and fist bumping celebration bros.
Santorini however is extra chilled in that regard. It’s extra of a romantic getaway vacation spot than a spot to celebration. Oia doesn’t even have any bars or golf equipment. For that you simply’ll have to move to the primary city of Fira.
In both place, put together to drop quite a lot of money particularly in Mykonos. Should you’re visiting in the summertime, make certain to pre-book tables and such because it will get full rapidly.
Winner: Mykonos
Romance and honeymoons
Santorini is a very fashionable honeymoon spot and it’s simple to see why. The views of the ocean from the numerous luxurious motels are simply gorgeous and excellent for essentially the most romantic of experiences.
I’m personally not a fan of Santorini due to how packed it will get. Nevertheless, I did stroll by a few of the most unique and opulent motels and if I stayed in one in all these locations, it could be a unique story. Positive you’ll have to battle the crowds while you depart, however you might all the time simply select to spend most of your time in your personal serene bubble.
Mykonos may be charming particularly the Chora however it doesn’t scream luxurious and romance like Santorini does.
Winner: Santorini
Crowds and folks
Mykonos and Santorini are the preferred islands in Greece and up there with the preferred islands on the planet. I feel on a vacationer per sq. km ratio, it’s in all probability among the many highest on the planet. Pre-Coronavirus, there can be a dozen cruise ships a day throughout the excessive season months that might dock within the ports of those islands ands finish 1000’s of individuals into the cities.
I visited Mykonos in July proper as they have been reopening for tourism and located it to be fairly pleasant so far as crowds go. I visited Santorini ultimately of August and it was a whole zoo. Nevertheless, after speaking to quite a few individuals working in Santorini, apparently it was solely 20% of what an August would usually appear like with out Coronavirus.
If you’re visiting both island in the summertime, count on to be shoulder to shoulder with individuals when you find yourself in the primary cities. Restaurant reservations are a should and endurance much more so. In fact, you may keep away from these issues just by visiting throughout the off season or staying distant from the Chora.
Each islands are extraordinarily busy so there isn’t any clear winner right here!
Winner: Tie
Sunsets
Sunsets within the Greek islands are well-known. I completely love watching the solar set over the ocean and you should have alternatives in each locations.
The pure winner right here is Santorini merely due to its terrain. The complete island is elevated tons of of meters above the ocean so you may have clear views of the solar setting over the horizon. Santorini’s Oia city is legendary worldwide for its sundown. Nevertheless, the sundown is a bit overrated right here in my view merely due to the sheer crowd measurement.
It’s a whole zoo throughout golden hour as 1000’s of individuals pack into the tiny streets and homes to seize a spot. Nevertheless, the very best a part of Santorini are the catamaran cruises that run from its harbour. I might extremely suggest doing this if in case you have a bunch of individuals as you sail across the island watching the sundown.
Mykonos isn’t any slouch both. The Chora faces west so the solar units immediately in entrance of the city. As well as, the 180 diploma sundown bar and the Cavo Tagoo are the final word locations to get a sundown cocktail. Make sure that to order your desk in these locations effectively upfront as a result of it will get tremendous busy as effectively. If you wish to keep away from the vibey cocktail bars, then the Armenistis lighthouse within the northwest nook of the island is your spot. It’s situated excessive up so you may have views of the encompassing islands whereas watching the solar set.
Winner: Santorini
Views and pure magnificence
The Greek islands are all lovely in their very own method, particularly the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia.
The Cyclades islands are gorgeous as effectively however not fairly as inexperienced because the Ionian islands. Mykonos is a largely flat with a dry nearly desert like panorama whereas Santorini is one thing fully totally different. Mykonos has its justifiable share of hills however it’s nothing particular in my view. If you would like out of this world views and pure surroundings, Amorgos is my absolute favourite and much superior to Mykonos or Santorini.
Santorini was fashioned from a volcanic eruption 1000’s of years in the past so the island is usually simply derived from volcanic ash. That is very distinctive in its personal proper and whereas I don’t discover it to be significantly fairly, the views are unmatched.
The entire cities are constructed on the highest of the caldera and presents breathtaking views due to the sheer drop into the ocean. There’s nothing obstructing your view as you may watch the Mediterranean from above. The well-known images of Santorini all the time embrace the ocean within the background due to how the island is designed.
Winner: Santorini
Which cities are prettier
Mykonos’ fundamental city is the Chora which is the place you’ll undoubtedly spend a while in whereas visiting. This can be very charming due to simply how completely manicured it’s. The island spends some huge cash yr spherical to maintain clean up the white paint and to make sure its allure stays unsullied.
Strolling by the Chora within the morning earlier than the crowds are available in is gorgeous. It’s simple to get misplaced within the lovely small streets and impulsively you might be in Little Venice with its iconic views of the homes over the ocean with the windmills behind you. Mykonos is sort of too good at instances. It nearly feels a bit faux by how lovely it’s.
Santorini isn’t any slouch both. The city of Oia is legendary worldwide. The blue domes and the view of the Mediterranean are breathtaking. The image prospects listed below are limitless. Nevertheless, the city of Oia simply felt a bit faux. It didn’t have the identical allure as Mykonos’ Chora as a result of it felt just like the city was constructed purely for vacationers. The homes are nearly all luxurious motels that whereas they appear good, don’t exude the allure you’re searching for within the Cyclades.
In fact, there are rather more lovely cities within the Cyclades than Mykonos in my view. Naxos, Amorgos, and Folegandros are a few of my favorites.
Winner: Mykonos (however not by a lot)
Seashores
Santorini is just not recognized for its seashores as a result of it’s primarily the remnants of a volcanic eruption. Santorini is legendary for its “black seaside” and “pink seaside” that are simply rock seashores from volcanic sediment. They entice lots of people however will not be my factor.
Mykonos is a extra typical Cycladic island so you’ll find rather more typical seashores with good gentle sand and azure waters. Nevertheless, Mykonos’ seashores typically time are accompanied by big seaside bars the place the bass is pumping. Quite a lot of seashores don’t even have a lot open area so that you can lay out in. You’ll have to pay for seaside chairs.
I might not suggest both island as a seaside vacation spot as a result of they’re each mediocre. The seashores in Kefalonia are completely to die for however the ones within the Cyclades are simply okay. Nevertheless, if I needed to choose between Mykonos or Santorini because it pertains to seashores, Mykonos wins.
Winner: Mykonos
Instagram and photograph alternatives
Instagram and influencers actually put these two islands on the worldwide map. Influencers posting in these iconic images on the rooftop of a home in Santorini with the ocean in entrance has completed wonders for his or her advertising and marketing.
Influencing apart, each islands are completely superb for photograph taking. The Chora in Mykonos has numerous photograph spots in its small streets and iconic views. Nevertheless, I feel Santorini has such extra dramatic views which you could take a photograph from wherever in Oia going through the ocean and it’ll look superb.
That is in fact fully goal as a result of a superb photographer will carry out the wanderlust in any setting. I’m not an influencer by any means; I’m missing the lengthy blonde hair and flowing white gown so I gave up earlier than I even tried. Nonetheless, I’ve a superb sense of what’s going to drive the wanderlust out in modern-day vacationers and I feel these photos are greatest taken in Santorini.
For the women on the market, all that you must do is stand on a constructing in Oia, put on a pleasant summer season gown with an enormous hat, and your images would be the envy of all your mates. Emphasis on the massive hat although, it’s key. The larger the higher.
Winner: Santorini
So which is best? Mykonos or Santorini
Nicely as you may see, there isn’t any good reply right here. Each islands are extremely fashionable for a motive and each islands warrant a go to. Should you solely have just a few days and wish one thing extra romantic and quiet, then Santorini might be a superb choice relying on the place you say. If you would like a bit extra nightlife and a social scene, Mykonos might be your jam.
Should you’re not eager for both of these items due to the massive crowd sizes within the vacationer season, take into account visiting different islands close by like Naxos, Paros, Amorgos, Folegandros, Milos, or Sifnos. They’re lesser recognized however supply simply as a lot magnificence if no more.
Both method, Greece is one in all my favourite locations on the planet and you’ll’t go fallacious with any choice!
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