Mykonos or Santorini: Which Island Is for You?

As Santorini is a volcanic island, you won’t find kilometre-long beaches with pristine white sand. The Red Beach is impressive, flanked by dramatic crimson cliffs, whilst in the north, there’s the peaceful White Beach: a little more isolated with underwater caves. However, the golden sands of Mykonos might be more up your street. The southern strip of beaches, such as Paradise and Super Paradise, are dotted with lively bars creating an all-day party vibe. The best spot for watersports is Kalafatis Beach. It’s blue-green waters are lashed by a dry north wind, making it a popular spot for windsurfers.

Mykonos has attracted beautiful party people since the 1960s. The bars here are high-end and glitzy; a shot at dusk with a backdrop of whitewashed alleys and blooms of pink bougainvillea equals Instagram gold. Try Scorpios, a hip beach bar, or mix with ritzy drag queens and oiled bodybuilders at Jackie O. Meanwhile, in Santorini, a couple of bars in Fira (Thira) are worth visiting, but clubs are nonexistent. To put it simply, there is rarely something happening after midnight.

Strike a balance between beach fun times and history-heavy sights in Mykonos by hopping on a cruise to the tiny island of Delos, an archaeological sanctuary that once thronged with 30,000 sun worshippers; the temple is dedicated to Apollo, the Greek god of light. Over in Santorini, the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and dates from the Bronze Age. It’s known as the Greek Pompeii by historians.

The ever-lasting bohemian allure of Mykonos adds a certain magic to a romantic break. There are plenty of chic luxury hotels in which to hide away. Boheme in Mykonos Town, for example, will deliver on massages, private balconies and poolside cocktails. However, partygoers might quash any special moments. Santorini is a popular destination for honeymooners and weddings. The dreamy white blue-domed houses and deep blue Aegean Sea combine with picture-postcard sunsets. Both have plenty of potential for romance, but Santorini probably just pips it.

Santorini is family-friendly but in a more active exploring way than a hang-by-the-pool summer destination. That said, there are plenty of beach resorts on the southeast side of the island, in Perissa or Kamari, which cater for kids and adults. Mykonos is geared more to a sophisticated party set with boutique hotels and pricier restaurants and bars. The luxury hotels will suit families on a blow-the-budget trip who just want a pool and great service; however, it lends itself more to party animals.

As Greece’s standout glamorous party island, Mykonos caters well for the wealthy set and their multiple outfit changes. From designer stores, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, to teeny-tiny retail nooks in the thick of Chora, there are plenty of retail therapy opportunities amongst Mykonos’s labyrinthine streets. Many are open late, too. Santorini is more low-key with shopping focused on independent jewellery and craft shops. Luxury fashion boutiques in Oia and Atlantis Books are also well worth a look.

If you truly embrace the decadence of Mykonos and live the high life at hedonistic beach clubs and five-star hotels, you can expect a hefty price tag. Santorini is similar in that you can dial up the luxury factor if you like, but there is less emphasis on being flashy. In both cases, you can have a wonderful time on beautiful beaches, family-run restaurants and memorable boat trips without breaking the bank.

Where to start? Both islands are world-famous beauty spots. Take Mykonos, with its picturesque main town featuring white narrow paved streets, quaint windmills and pink blooms, plus a selection of gorgeous beaches. Santorini also has the classic Cyclades white-washed houses, plus blue-domed churches. However, its cliff-top villages elevate the views of the Aegean and sunsets above any other Greek island.