Comparison · Bodrum vs Santorini · Turkey / Greece
Bodrum vs Santorini
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Bodrum for Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and lower day-to-day costs; choose Santorini for Caldera views, Oia sunsets, free sights and a short break. Bodrum is generally less expensive, and the two are about 191 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 191 km
- Less expensive
- Bodrum
- Best time for Bodrum
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Santorini
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bodrum | Santorini | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | Greece |
| Known for | Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Gulet cruises | Caldera views, Oia sunsets and Blue-domed churches |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$260 | $200–$380 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Beaches | Bitez | Kamari |
| Airports | BJV | JTR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bodrum for…
Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and lower day-to-day costs. Bodrum is the main town of a hilly peninsula on Turkey's south-west Aegean coast, built on the site of ancient Halicarnassus, home of the Mausoleum that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Knights' Castle of St Peter divides the town's two…
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Choose Santorini for…
Caldera views, Oia sunsets, free sights and a short break. Santorini is a crescent of volcanic cliffs around a flooded caldera in the southern Cyclades, left by one of the largest eruptions in human history about 3,600 years ago. Whitewashed villages — Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia — line the caldera rim up…
Top sights compared
| # | Bodrum | Santorini |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology | Oia village and sunset |
| 2 | Mausoleum at Halicarnassus | Fira to Oia caldera hike |
| 3 | Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus | Akrotiri archaeological site |
| 4 | Myndos Gate | Museum of Prehistoric Thera |
| 5 | Bodrum windmills | Fira caldera promenade |
Food compared
| Bodrum | Santorini |
|---|---|
| Çökertme kebabı | Santorini fava |
| Stuffed courgette flowers | Tomato fritters |
| Sea beans | Greek salad with Santorini capers |
| Aegean wild greens | Grilled octopus and fresh fish |
Which is cheaper?
Bodrum is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $130–$260 per person there, against $200–$380 in Santorini (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bodrum on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bodrum and Santorini are about 191 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Bodrum and 4 in Santorini.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bodrum or Santorini cheaper?
Bodrum is usually less expensive: about $130–$260 a day mid-range against $200–$380 (estimates).
+Is Bodrum or Santorini better for a first trip?
Pick Bodrum for Bodrum Castle, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and lower day-to-day costs, or Santorini for Caldera views, Oia sunsets, free sights and a short break.
+How far is Bodrum from Santorini?
About 191 km in a straight line.