Comparison · Mykonos vs Santorini · Greece
Mykonos vs Santorini
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vijinn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Mykonos for Little Venice and Windmills of Kato Mili; choose Santorini for Caldera views, Oia sunsets and lower day-to-day costs. Santorini is generally less expensive, and the two are about 115 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 115 km
- Less expensive
- Santorini
- Best time for Mykonos
- June and September
- Best time for Santorini
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Mykonos | Santorini | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Greece | Greece |
| Known for | Little Venice, Windmills of Kato Mili and Beach clubs | Caldera views, Oia sunsets and Blue-domed churches |
| Best time to visit | June and September | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$450 | $200–$380 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 28°C (82°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | Ornos | Kamari |
| Airports | JMK | JTR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mykonos for…
Little Venice and Windmills of Kato Mili. Mykonos is a small, dry Cycladic island whose main town, Chora, is a maze of whitewashed lanes, blue-shuttered houses and chapels around an old harbour. Its row of windmills and the balconied seafront of Little Venice are among the most photographed sights…
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Choose Santorini for…
Caldera views, Oia sunsets and lower day-to-day costs. 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
| # | Mykonos | Santorini |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Venice | Oia village and sunset |
| 2 | Kato Mili windmills | Fira to Oia caldera hike |
| 3 | Panagia Paraportiani | Akrotiri archaeological site |
| 4 | Delos | Museum of Prehistoric Thera |
| 5 | Archaeological Museum of Mykonos | Fira caldera promenade |
Food compared
| Mykonos | Santorini |
|---|---|
| Kopanisti | Santorini fava |
| Louza | Tomato fritters |
| Mostra | Greek salad with Santorini capers |
| Mykonian onion pie | Grilled octopus and fresh fish |
Which is cheaper?
Santorini is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$380 per person there, against $250–$450 in Mykonos (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Santorini on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Mykonos and Santorini are about 115 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Mykonos and 4 in Santorini.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mykonos or Santorini cheaper?
Santorini is usually less expensive: about $200–$380 a day mid-range against $250–$450 (estimates).
+Is Mykonos or Santorini better for a first trip?
Pick Mykonos for Little Venice and Windmills of Kato Mili, or Santorini for Caldera views, Oia sunsets and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Mykonos from Santorini?
About 115 km in a straight line.