Mykonos vs Santorini. Which one is better to visit? The Ultimate Comparison Guide (with Photos)

Thinking of whether you should visit Mykonos vs Santorini, is a beautiful dilemma. Obviously, the best thing would be to combine both Mykonos AND Santorini in a visit. But if you don’t have the time, here is the ultimate comparison of Mykonos vs Santorini.

Rest assure that whatever island you choose to visit, you will have a great time, in a different way though.

If you don’t have time to read all the blog post, here is a quick view:

Mykonos vs Santorini on Size: Which one is Bigger?

Mykonos is bigger than Santorini. Mykonos has a total area of 105 square km, while Santorini is 90 square km. So, both Mykonos and Santorini are pretty small islands and they have around the same size. Santorini is longer, and its shape is like a banana, while Mykonos is more “rounded”.

In Mykonos, you can drive from one part of the island to the other in 40 minutes. Santorini is longer and less wide and you will need about an hour to cross the island in your car.

However, slightly more people are living permanently in Santorini than in Mykonos. Santorini has a permanent population of 15.5k people, while Mykonos has 15k inhabitants.

Name of the island	Total area	Population	Shoulder season	High season	Low season
Mykonos	105.2 km2	15,000	May, June, September and early October	July and August	Late October to April
Santorini	90.623 km2	15,550	April, May and October	Late June to early September	November to April

The maps illustrating the locations of Mykonos and Santorini. You can access the map here.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Scenic Views: Winner is Santorini

Let’s have a look at some photos from Mykonos:

And now let’s have a look at some photos from the scenic views of Santorini.

Even though Mykonos main town is really beautiful, Santorini is a volcanic island and offers some of the best scenic views you can get in the world. The first time that you will gaze at the caldera of Santorini and all its white houses, will be a moment to remember forever. Reality is even more impressive than what you expect to see from the photos.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Best time to Visit: Winner is Santorini

Santorini has a longer touristic period and you can find more shops open during the low season of October, November and February, March, than what you will find in Mykonos.

The best time to visit Santorini is from March to November and Mykonos from April to October. The peak time in both islands is July and August, when the temperatures reach 35 degrees or even higher.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Food and Restaurants: Winner – Both

Mykonos has always been a great place to have a delightful gastronomic experience. Since there are many visitors arriving on this island, it has more than 300 restaurants working to deliver the distinctive dishes of exquisite local cuisine. The main gastronomic raptures of the island are the soft fresh cheese tyrovolia, xynotyro, onion pie and honey pie that are made with cheese, Mykonos tsimbita (sweet cheese pastries mixed with honey, cinnamon and orange zest) etc.. If you are wondering where to dine in Mykonos, visit our page about 15 best places to eat in Mykonos for all budgets.

Santorini has a large list of unique local products, such as fried white eggplant, succulent sun-dried tomatoes, tomato pastes, zucchini fritters, and many others. All these products are widely used in the local cuisine recipes and are turned into a creation of art with a modern touch. Typical local Santorini dishes are Santorini pudding, marinated fish, Atherinopita (tiny fish and onion pie), etc. Both islands can give you excellent food experience and a true feeling of Greek culture.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Restaurants

Both islands have excellent restaurants with Greek, or international cuisine. Santorini has more cheap-eat places (e.g. souvlaki places, where you can eat with 15 euros per person), while Mykonos has only a couple of them. In both islands you will find amazing restaurants, on the beach or in the towns, and of course the prices are pretty high for Greek standards. Expect to pay +50 euros per person for lunch or dinner in a middle budget restaurant.

Some famous Mykonos restaurants:

Have a look at some of the best restaurants in Santorini:

Mykonos vs Santorini Beaches: Winner – Mykonos

Details for Mykonos Beaches

One of the most notable features of Mykonos island is its heavenly beautiful golden beaches with turquoise waters. Santorini, on the other hand, is a volcanic island, thus the beaches are covered with black and volcanic sand that have a detoxifying and anti-stress effect. It does not mean that you will not have an enjoyable beach experience at Santorini, but Mykonos definitely wins here.

The water is crystal clear in both islands and the sea temperature is usually better in Mykonos.

Have a look below at some of the most popular beaches in Mykonos and Santorini, to understand the difference.

Details for Santorini Beaches:

(-)The water in the beaches of Santorini is deep. Not that great for families with small kids, or if you don’t love deep waters.

(-)There is no “white-sandy” beach in Santorini. You can find a black one, a red one but no “yellow or white” sand beach.

(-) The famous black sand beaches (in Perissa and Perivolos), attract a lot of sunlight and get too hot during the summer. You cannot even walk on them on bare feet.

(+)The beaches are organized well and you can easily find an umbrella and sunbeds.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Romance: Winner – Santorini

Santorini is known as one of the best places to spend your honeymoon. Many couples visit here to spend a relaxing and peaceful time, enjoying the beautiful sunsets, wine tasting and overall the romantic setting of the island.

However, Mykonos is also fit for couples. If you and your other half enjoy parties, tasty food, and golden beaches, this is the destination for you.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Sunsets: Winner – Santorini

Sunsets at Mykonos are breathtaking and there are many locations, hotels, and restaurants to enjoy them from. Santorini is considered one of the most famous sunset spots in the world, where many people arrive to photograph sunsets and of course, enjoy the view. That is also the reason why the island is considered one of the most romantic places for honeymoons and couples overall.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Nightlife| Winner – Mykonos

This one is pretty obvious. You definitely want to go to Mykonos for parties and nightlife adventures. The island is full of bars and clubs of all preferences and there are even places that host daytime parties which may last till morning. Santorini, in comparison, is more low-key and peaceful, although there are few bars on the island that you can visit but, overall the place is not as active after midnight as Mykonos.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Shopping: Winner – Both

Quick Comparison: Both islands offer many luxury or standard shops, and will give you access to the best brands worldwide (Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Boss, Dolce Gabbana etc).

Details on Shopping in Mykonos

Mykonos has numerous fancy beaches and clubs, and so the demand for shopping is also high. There are many luxury boutiques, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and other leading labels.

Most of the shopping takes place in Mykonos town and the most expensive shops are in the area of “Matoyanni” in Mykonos town.

However, there are some new shopping areas next to the beach clubs, such as the Nammos village.

One of the new entries in shopping in Mykonos is the Nammos Village and you can have a look at its brands at https://www.nammosvillage.com/search . They include Chloe, Chanel, Bvlgari, Fendi, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and other famous designers.

Other Shopping spots in Mykonos include:
– The Jar of Brands – http://www.thejarsofbrands.com/
– Luxury Toys (Second-hand luxury brands’ items) – http://www.luxurytoys.gr/
– ChrisP – http://www.chrisp.com.gr/
– Makris – http://www.makriscollection.com/
– Cavo Paradiso Boutique – http://www.cavoparadiso.gr/

Details on Shopping in Santorini

Santorini also offers wonderful shopping experience but it is based on more independent brands with handmade craft stores and local boutiques.

The capital of Santorini, Fira (or Thira), has the most shops in the island, followed by Oia. If you are staying in Perissa, or Perivolos, you will not find the luxury brands.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Sightseeing: Winner – Both (given that you travel to Delos)

Although Mykonos has several incredibly interesting places to visit, such as the Archeological museum, the small Cycladic villages, etc., the main tourist sightseeing spot is the neighboring island of Delos, which is literally an open-air museum. Built in the year 1904, Delos has a rare archeological and historical value and is absolutely worth visiting.

Santorini attracts tourists with its ancient city of Akrotiri, which is a Minoan Bronze Age settlement and was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Tourists also enjoy the wine tasting tours in Santorini and a boat trip to the small islet of Therasia that fascinates visitors with its smoke fumes rising from the volcano.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Scenery: Winner – Both

Regarding the scenery, it actually depends on your taste, as both islands have absolutely fascinating nature and charming places that you will enjoy during your visit. Santorini has magnificent cliff-top villages, breathtaking sunsets and beautiful beaches that make the island one of the most visited places of Cyclades. Mykonos easily rivals with Santorini with its famous nightlife locations, elegant main town with marble maze streets and Little Venice, which is one of the most iconic and picturesque places of the island.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Off-season visits: Winner – Santorini

If you are visiting the Cyclades outside the high season, you should consider that both islands are very quiet, hence many hotels, restaurants, beach towns, and bars are closed. And since the beaches are not the main reason to visit Santorini, you can easily find other things to entertain yourself with, especially in April, May, and October, when the prices are very low. Mykonos, on the other hand, is much quieter from late October to April.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Prices: Is Mykonos more expensive than Santorini?

Yes, Mykonos is more expensive than Santorini, even though both islands are very expensive during the peak season of July and August. Let us explain to you why. During August, you cannot find a hotel or a room to let in Mykonos for less than 150 euros per night. In Santorini, during August, you can find budget rooms in Perivolos and Perissa villages for less than 100 euros.

For your information, here is a list of the prices of the best 5-star hotels in Mykonos, during the summer:

Hotel	Rating	$ June	$ August	Link
Myconian Kyma	9.2	250	530	Go
Kouros	9.0	386	620	Go
Bill & Coo	9.4	652	895	Go
Boheme	9.2	644	824	Go
Semeli	9.1	350	554	Go
Absolut	9.0	347	594	Go
Cavo Tagoo	8.8	769	1039	Go
Tharroe	9.0	256	452	Go
Myconian Korali	9.0	225	451	Go

During the high season (July, August), the daily budget you should plan for a day in Mykonos would be:

• Hotel Budget: a minimum of 170 euros/night for a decent double room, with free breakfast included
• Beachtime Budget: 40 euros for two sunbeds and an umbrella. Two cold coffees will be 10 euros and if you get some waters and a couple of beers, you will need another 20 euros. A total of 70 euros for spending 4-5 hours on the beach, without eating anything.
• Lunch: 50 euros for two persons
• RentACar: 40 euros per day
• Dinner: 70 euros for a two-persons dinner
• Drinks in a bar in the evening: a minimum of 10 to 15 euros per person for a drink or cocktail. This can go much higher obviously, depending on your drinking habits.

So, a conservative total budget per day for a couple, is around 450 euros per day in Mykonos, during the high season. Have a look also at our blogpost “Is Mykonos Expensive“?

Moreover, Santorini has more budget restaurants outside of the main town of Fira, where you can eat for 20 euros per person. Mykonos has almost no budget restaurant – we don’t count the “souvlaki places” where you get a pita with souvlaki for 3 euros. Having said that, you have to know that both Mykonos and Santorini are the two most expensive Greek islands.

The prices of hotels in Santorini are very expensive if you book a hotel with a caldera view (e.g. in Fira, Imerovigli, Oia) and much lower if you book a hotel in Perissa and Perivolos, which offer no particular views. Expect to pay at least 100 euros for a very basic room and north of 300 euros per day for a 4-star hotel in Santorini. Prices can get much higher, even up to 1000 euros per night if you book a cave hotel room, in the caldera.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Ease of Access (and Easier to Reach from Athens): Winner – Mykonos

Quick Comparison:

• Athens to Mykonos Flight Time: 25 minutes
• Athens to Santorini Flight Time: 30 minutes
• Athens to Mykonos with the Fastest Ferry: 2h and 20min
• Athens to Santorini with the Fastest Ferry: 5hours

More Details:

Is Mykonos or Santorini more easy to get to? Both islands have an airport, so if you are flying to Mykonos or Santorini, it’s the same thing for you.

Flying from Athens to Mykonos takes 25 minutes and flying from Athens to Santorini takes 30 minutes.

However, if you get the ferry from any one of the two Athens main ports (Piraeus port or Rafina port), you will get faster to Mykonos than to Santorini, as Mykonos is closer to the mainland of Athens than Santorini.

The fast ferry from Rafina will get you to Mykonos in 2 hours and 20 minutes, while you will need around 5 hours to get to Santorini with the fast ferry (SuperRunner is the name fo the fast ferry and it costs 45 euros per person). The slower ferry will get you from Rafina port to Santorini in 8 hours and 35 minutes and costs 35 euros per person. Both islands have daily ferry routes and many flights every day from Athens, during the summer.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Island Hopping: Winner – Mykonos

Quick Comparison:

Here are some examples of island hopping routes from Mykonos and Santorini, to three of the most popular islands (Paros, Naxos, and Koufonissia):

Santorini to Paros with the Fast Ferry: 2 hours. 29 euros per person.
Santorini to Paros with the Slow Ferry: 3 hours and 15 minutes. 23 euros per person.
Mykonos to Paros with the Fast Ferry: 40 minutes. 36 euros per person.
Mykonos to Paros with the Slow Ferry: 1 hour 35 minutes. 23 euros per person.

Santorini to Naxos with the Fast Ferry: 1 hour 25 minutes. 43 euros per person.
Santorini to Naxos with the Slow Ferry: 2 hours 15 minutes. 22 euros per person.
Mykonos to Naxos with the Fast Ferry: 35 minutes. 38 euros per person.
Mykonos to Naxos with the Slow Ferry: 1hour 40 minutes. 29 euros per person.

Santorini to Koufonissia with the Fast Ferry: 2 hours 25 minutes. 47 euros per person.
Mykonos to Koufonissia with the Fast Ferry: 1 hour 24 minutes. 56 euros per person.

More Details:

If you want to do some island hopping and travel to nearby islands from Mykonos or Santorini, then Mykonos is a better base for your island-hopping vacation. Mykonos has many nearby islands to visit, such as Tinos, Paros, Antiparos, Naxos, Koufonisia and the small Cyclades islands (Schoinoussa, Irakleia, Donoussa).

On the other hand, Santorini is close to Folegandros, which is a beautiful volcanic style island but all the rest islands are more difficult to reach. Of course, you can always combine Mykonos with Santorini in one trip.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Weather: Winner – Santorini

When comparing Mykonos versus Santorini regarding the weather, you have to know that it is pretty similar to both islands, as the temperatures are almost the same. Moreover, you will not find rain during July and August in Mykonos or Santorini.

The reason that we selected Santorini as a winner in the weather section, is that Mykonos has very strong winds for some days during August. If the wind starts to blow, it might blow continuously for a couple of days. The good news is that usually, the wind comes from the north, and the best beaches of Mykonos are on the south part of the island, which means that they are protected from the strong winds. Also, Mykonos town is like a labyrinth and when you stroll around inside the beautiful roads of Mykonos, the houses form “a fortress” which protects you from the strong winds.

Santorini has also windy days but less than Mykonos. It’s not random that Mykonos is called “the island of winds” in Greece.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Visits from Rich and Famous Visits: Winner – Mykonos

Quick Comparison: Mykonos has been the most cosmopolitan island of Greece since the 1950’s, when Onasis and Maria Kallas started to visit the island and introduced their rich and famous friends to Mykonos.

More Details:

If you love people watching, both islands will satisfy you. Mykonos is the clear winner, as it is the place that all rich and famous visit during the summer. D Squared as an example, come to Psarrou beach in Mykonos every summer with their luxurious boat, and you will see them partying in Nammos beach bar in Psarrou. They usually throw a “Gods of Hedonism party”; just search for it on the web to have some fun.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Quality of Service: Winner – Mykonos

Mykonos is the clear winner here, as it is the island with the best quality of service in all Greece. The hoteliers, restauraters and merchants in Mykonos are famous for the service they provide (and for their expensive prices of course). However, in Mykonos, you get what you pay for. In Santorini, you will find many places with a great service but overall, Mykonos is a safer bet in this category. The tourist traps are by far more in Santorini than in Mykonos.

Mykonos vs Santorini on Crowds: Winner – Mykonos

Quick Comparison

Both Mykonos and Santorini are famous throughout the world, so they attract many visitors every year. However, Santorini is more visited (and it has more rooms and hotels than Mykonos), so it gets by far more crowded during the peak months of July and August. During June, September, May and October, both islands are pretty much ok, and not overloaded with crowds.

How Crowded is Santorini in July and August (Peak Season)?

Santorini, can be really crowded in some days during the peak season of July and August. It will be almost impossible to find a parking, or even stroll around in the beautiful Fira, without pushing people away all the time.

Here is a table that shows the number of visitors at Santorini’s airport, in the past three years. It doesn’t count the number of visitors from cruise ships and ferries.

July is the busiest month in Santorini, with almost 115k people arriving at the small airport of Santorini. This is around 4.000 visitors per day, arriving at the airport!

Month	2017	2018	2019
April	13,450	21,521	26,927
May	45,481	59,669	59,865
June	73,959	89,718	91,335
July	101,451	112,259	114,836
August	98,246	105,763	107,874
September	70,533	81,306	79,854
October	26,897	34,888	38,035

Moreover, Santorini has around 800k visitors from cruise ships every year. Yes, you read right… 800k tourists just from cruise ships.

Have a look below at the crowds of Santorini, during the peak season.

Read Also:
5 Mykonos hotels near Paradise beach
Where to Stay in Mykonos on a Budget
The 15 Best Mykonos Hotels on the Beach
Mykonos vs Santorini. Which one is better to visit?
The 15 best Mykonos Hotels with Private Pools
Mykonos Nightlife Guide: The 20 best bars, night clubs and Beach clubs in Mykonos
Best area to stay in Mykonos 
Where to stay in Mykonos: Beach or Town
Best 5 Star Hotels in Mykonos
Best time to visit Mykonos 
Best Suite Hotels in Mykonos
Best Mykonos Hotels near Nammos
Best Mykonos Hotels near Town
Best Mykonos Hotels for Yoga
Mykonos to Athens by Ferry or Flight