Known as the two most famous island destinations in Greece, Mykonos and Santorini are two sides of the same Cycladic coin. Different in character, vibes, and landscapes, these two Greek islands are among the most popular summer destinations in the country.
If you’re torn between a trip to lively Mykonos versus a vacation in romantic Santorini, or if you are still uncertain about where to head next when visiting Greece, this guide will help you decide which destination is best for you.
Which is better Mykonos or Santorini? It depends… so keep reading to learn about the differences between the two in order to decide which one is right for you. Here are ten features to consider when deciding on Santorini or Mykonos.
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Mykonos for its Wild Nightlife
Rivaled only by Ibiza in Spain, Mykonos is known all over the world as one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan islands and exclusive resorts, featuring some of the most exclusive beach bars and nightclubs in the continent that attract visitors from every corner of the world.
A place where champagne and caviar are nothing but normal, where rave parties on the sand go on until the early hours of the next morning, Mykonos is one of the trendiest destinations in Greece.
Head to the luxurious beach of Ornos to find the most lavish beach clubs, while some of the most expensive yachts in the Mediterranean will be anchored in the tiny port by the beach.
Mykonos Island is the place to be for nightlife, beautiful beaches, and trendy bars
Santorini for the Typical Cycladic Architecture
If you’ve always dreamed of a romantic landscape made of whitewashed cubic houses, grey cobblestoned alleys, and plenty of colorful Bougainvillea flowers, then Santorini is the right place for you.
Perched on the sides of the world’s most famous Caldera, Santorini features some incredible settlements built from the ruins of ancient cave houses that populated the side of the volcano in past years.
Oia and Fira, two of the most popular coastal towns, sit high on top of the mountain and feature incredible sunset views, among the most photographed postcards of Greece.
What a view from Fira on Santorini Island!
Mykonos for its Stunning Beaches
Even if dreamy like no other, Santorini does not feature the best beaches in Greece, as they often include coarse sand or dark volcanic rocks and quite deep shores. But Mykonos does.
The island is home to some of the most enchanting shores in the Aegean, counting beaches such as the long and enchanting Elia Beach, the jaw-dropping blue shore of Psarou, and the lesser-known Agios Stefanos Beach.
This magic corner of Mykonos was, a few years ago, the set of the romantic movie I love Shirley Valentine.
You will find gorgeous white sand beaches on Mykonos Island
Santorini for Stunning Archaeological Sites
Home to the impressive archaeologic town of Akrotiri, on the southern coast of the island, the volcanic ashes from the terrifying explosion dating back to around 1600 BCE have preserved one of the most impressive archaeological ruins in the Mediterranean.
Dubbed the Greek Pompeii, Santorini’s Akrotiri features dozens of ancient constructions from the Bronze Age that clearly portray the sophisticated lifestyle of this advanced society.
Moreover, in the same area, you can also check out the odd lunar landscape of the famous Red Beach as well as the romantic Lighthouse of Akrotiri, one of the most visited places on the island, after Oia Town to witness the sunset.
The Ancient City of Thera, on top of a high hill facing the sea, is another old settlement that was probably inhabited by the Minoan civilization as early as the fifteenth century BCE.
On Santorini, there are also two important archaeological museums exhibiting objects that were unearthed on both of these archaeological sites.
On the south coast of Santorini visit the Town of Akrotiri for archaeologic ruins
Mykonos for Unforgettable Day Trips
Several small islands around the island of Mykonos can represent the perfect day trip for those in love with the pristine beaches of the Greek islands as well as for those travelers interested in the great past of the area.
The uninhabited Rhenia Island is a paradisiac location a few nautical miles from the coast of Mykonos, which can be reached by private excursion or group tours.
Rhenia hosts some of the most incredible shores in the Aegean, with deep emerald seas and golden sandy coves.
Spending a day swimming along the shore of Rena Island is one of the top things to do when visiting Mykonos; most tours include a lavish lunch, abundant cold champagne, and even an unforgettable fish grill cooked onboard.
However, Mykonos is not only about stunning beaches. It is also possible to visit one of the most mysterious sites in Greece by boarding a boat headed to the Sacred Island of Delos.
Located right in the center of the Cycladic group of islands, Delos is a huge archaeological site as well as the mythical place of birth of the Greek God Apollo.
Can’t decide between these two gems? No problem, there are several tour companies that feature unique trips like this one taking you on a day-long visit to both destinations.
Take a tour to Delos Island from Mykonos to visit the ruins
Santorini for its Delicious Wine
The wine trail of Santorini is marked by characteristic dark red signposts spread along different roads on the island.
Following this path will take you on an interesting journey to discovering dozens of important wineries that produce some of the most prestigious wines in the country.
Some of them face the caldera; others are hidden in the inner villages of the island.
No matter which local wine producer you decide to visit, the truth is that some of the best wine producers in Greece are located in Santorini.
Three grape varieties (Aidani, Athiri, and the famous Assyrtiko) thrive on the volcanic soil of Santorini.
Grown in every inch of available terrain on the island, many of these vineyards are often grown in bushes featuring a special circular shape that helps protect the grapes from the strong winds that are common in the Aegean.
While visiting Santorini be sure to try the Greek wines…and delicious food!
Santorini is also home to one of the best-known dessert wines in the world, the Vinsanto, a sweet wine locally known as Liasta, produced using an ancient method that includes leaving the grapes to dry under the hot sun of Santorini, thus enhancing the natural production of sugar that gives the resulting wines a fantastic, sweet taste with notes of chocolate and dried fruits.
Santorini Wine Musuem
And if you’re curious about all the wines that Santorini produces, simply pay a visit to Santorini’s Wine Museum and enjoy an affordable visit with an audio guide that portrays every stage of winemaking as well as the historic methods used on the island through the centuries to produce wine.
In this museum, it is also possible to visit the tasting room of Koutsogiannopoulos winery and discover some of the most delicious dessert wines made in Santorini.
Santorini Wine Tasting Tours
No idea which wine tasting tour to join when visiting Santorini? The following ones offer top value-for-money experiences:
- Sunset Wine Tasting Shared Experience: A tour that is ideal for solo travelers looking for fun moments and new friends, this small group tour allows to request pickup at your hotel and includes entrance tickets to different wineries on privileged locations facing the caldera. Book the Santorini sunset wine tasting
- Vothonas Village and Wine Tasting Tour: This day trip takes you to discover the fantastic vineyards in the area of Vothonas, in the center of the island and includes wine tasting experiences and a visit to Santorini’s Wine Museum. Book the Vothonas Wine Tasting Tour
- Complete Santorini Wine Experience: A fantastic tour that introduces you to the secrets of wine making and features different labels and wine varieties produced on the island. Book the complete wine experience Santorini
Mykonos for Trendy Beach Bars and Discos
Dancing all night long is the norm every day of the week during the long summer season on Mykonos.
Whether it is in a fancy (and uber-expensive) disco in or near the old port or in one of the many beach bars that populate the coast of the island.
Renowned dancing floors on Mykonos include the legendary Jacki O’, with locations both in town and by the sea, as well as several other clubs such as the incredible Scandinavian Disco, Paradise Club on the homonymous beach, Moni Club, and the imposing space of Void Club.
If you prefer to spend nights with a quiet vibe, then head to the old port and the small district of Little Venice.
Over here, you will bump into many incredibly beautiful speak-easy bars, pubs, wine bars, and relaxed lounges, often included among the trendiest places to have a drink looking at the Mykonos coast.
For the quieter side of Mykonos nightlife head to Little Venice at the old port
Santorini for Whitewashed Blue-Domed Churches
Who hasn’t seen those truly picturesque, whitewashed churches adorned with blue-domed cupolas facing the blue of the Aegean?
If you’ve dreamed of looking at some of those pictures, trust me, those photos were probably taken in Santorini.
On the island, it is possible to find some of the most amazing churches and chapels in the Cyclades, some of them in the center of the most famous settlements; others, instead, perched on top of the hills or in some unexpected solitary locations.
Santorini is famous for the blue domes and white buildings
One such church is certainly the small, blue-domed chapel located high on the hillside of Mesa Vouno Mountain.
Another incredible whitewashed church is located against a unique rusty-toned stone wall only a few meters from the well-known Red Beach in Akrotiri.
But not all the churches on Santorini feature these incredible blue cupolas.
For instance, the most important church and cathedral on the island can be found in the colorful town of Fira. The church has one of the most spectacular white cupolas in the Aegean.
Santorini’s main Catholic church instead, dedicated to Saint John, has a unique colorful dome with red and white accents that create a remarkable contrast against the cloudless skies that characterize the summers in Santorini.
Mykonos for its Open-Minded Vibe
Open-minded and inclusive, Mykonos is one of the top LGBTQ destinations in Europe, a story that started back in the seventies and never stopped growing.
The Greeks are known for their deeply religious and fairly conservative character. However, after years of a long economic stall, locals understood that welcoming any kind of visitor would be the key to enhancing its finances and growth.
What the islanders did not suspect is that almost fifty years later, the island would have become onf of the top summer destinations in the Mediterranean, catering to a wide and quite exclusively gay community at first and, in later years, expanding to welcome a more vast LGBTQ audience.
On the island, it is possible to find shops, beaches, discos, beach bars, and even hotels and luxurious resorts that offer services exclusively to the LGTBQ community.
Moreover, the island has become a port of call for LGTBQ cruises, while some beaches on the island also host some of the most important gay music festivals and drag queen events every year.
Santorini for its Gastronomic Panorama
Some of the most stunning hotels and the most delicious restaurants in Greece face the dreamy Santorini caldera.
Unique indigenous products, such as Santorini cherry tomatoes, white aubergines (eggplant), capers, and yellow split peas, create some of the typical dishes you would certainly enjoy in Santorini, including the delicious fava spread and the fantastic Santorini tomato fritters.
With a clear fishing tradition, Santorini’s most important fish restaurants include delicacies such as octopus, lobster, and oysters in their menus, not only for lunch and dinner but also for breakfast!
Many of the typical gastronomic products that you will find on Santorini can also be considered delicious souvenirs that you can take home with you to try and replicate some of the best typical dishes served on the island.
As you can understand, these two incredible Greek islands have quite different profiles that can make any type of tourist happy.
No matter whether you’re a disco fan or a lover of Cycladic landscapes, these two amazing islands certainly won’t disappoint when it comes to spectacular beauty.
Final Thoughts
Have you made up your mind yet? Don’t worry, after all, both islands are less than a two-hour boat ride from each other, so if this turns out to be quite a difficult decision to make, visiting both destinations is always a valid alternatie, don’t you think?
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About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.