They both belong to the Cyclades cluster of islands and both have devoted visitants. Yet, many differences between them make it difficult for anyone to choose one of them. Check out the pluses and the disadvantages of the two Cycladic treasures.
Mykonos vs Santorini - Resorts
Well, to be honest both islands offer great accomodation so this is something you should wonder about. You will find many hotels, resorts and greek villas to enjoy your stay.
Just pick the one that suits better your needs and budget.
Santorini vs Mykonos - Beaches
When someone comes to Greece, to swim in the refreshing, crystal-clear waters of the Aegean and then rest on the beach is an official must, to visit the Acropolis first.
Here Mykonos has a small advantage. There are lots of amazing beaches with golden sand and blue waters, classical of the Greek islands. At the same time, it is quite easy and quick to access them comparing to other countries.
Psarrou, Elia, Paradise and Super Paradise beaches are of global fame. They will offer you all that you crave from a beach on a Greek island and more. The Super Paradise beach, for instance, turns into a tremendous party with loud music and cocktails springing in the afternoon and extends till exhaustion.
Mykonos’ vibrating beaches are essentially party areas. They are places to see and be seen and impractical for families. They are mostly suitable for more youthful people who visit the island for fun and flirt.
Santorini beaches are diverse. After ages of volcanic activity, the island has beaches with red sand, others with black sand, and others with pebbles. In fact, Santorini has the most extraordinary beaches due to its geology.
Red Beach is the island’s most famous, with red sand and a huge, imposing red hill in the background. Then there is the pebbled Kamari beach and Perissa beach with black sands and tranquil waters. However, due to the rocky ground, access to the Santorini beaches is not as easy as it is on Mykonos.
Santorini vs Mykonos: Dining
Images of a velvet dining table with the sunset in Santorini’s Caldera in the background are valued the world over. A romantic dinner on gorgeous Santorini is something all couples hope to have at the slightest once in their lifetimes.
Regarding, Santorini has a big advantage: Locals plant many vine trees, and the island is appreciated for its excellent wines. The rocky, sloped, volcanic terrain is perfect for vineyards and local wines are famous globally. So, food in Santorini is fresh and light and the service is warm and welcoming.
On Mykonos, on the other hand, most restaurants try to dazzle with their cuisine, often fall in the trap of serving dishes that are too complicated, and quite expensive too. Also, several Mykonos restaurants appear to mind more about how many celebrities they will serve, and not so much about the quality of the food. As for the service, in Mykonos, we found numerous pretentious waiters who did not commit to an overall pleasant dining experience for the sum of guests.
The nightlife comparison
Mykonos’ nightlife is renowned in the globe, fighting with Spain’s Ibiza in drawing great DJs and performers. Hot parties are standard on a nightly basis, with revelers tripping to their hotel quarters when families go out to have breakfast.
The party on Mykonos begins when the sun is up and ends when the sun comes up again. Party creatures start on the beach bar with their swimsuits on, take a pause to feast, dress up their chic clothes, and go out to one of the island’s many clubs to bounce, tease and drink.
Standard parties are famous for their lavishness and extreme bills, with magnum bottles of champagne selling for thousands of euros. Mykonos is the land where rich people compete with each other on the display of resources.
Santorini is nearly contrary to that. The island is perfect for tranquil romantic getaways or visiting with kids. Here the attraction is the sunset, with many visitors organizing their day aiming to be at the right place to see one whether from Oia and Fira or on a yacht out at sea.
Nightlife on Santorini is quieter, but that doesn’t mean that the island lacks clubs and people don’t party. On the contrary, the island has its portion of great clubs for those who want to go wild and bars for a drink or two.
Santorini or Mykonos?
Both islands are very diverse from various perspectives and the decision depends solely on what one wants. For a family holiday, Santorini is better as it is quieter and has numerous places to visit.
The Thira Archaeological Museum, the Prehistoric Museum of Thira, or the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum are deserving of visiting. The geology of the island could also be enlightening for older children.
Santorini is also the choice for a dreamy weekend for couples. Tasting a good wine and gazing at the sunset on Santorini could be the case of a romance best-seller.
Now, if your idea of a vacation is to party, party, party, follow celebrities letting free, mix with the rich and famous, or you are single and hope to meet a like-minded partner, Mykonos is the key for you.
I rest my case.