Mykonos vs. Santorini: Which Island is Right for You?

If you’re planning a trip to Greece, then you’re likely in the process of researching different islands. And with more than 200 inhabited islands to choose from, knowing which one to select can be difficult. For many, it comes down to Mykonos or Santorini.

Get to Know Mykonos

Located in the southern portion of the Aegean Sea, Mykonos is one of the more famous and acclaimed Greek islands belonging to the Cyclades complex. You’ll find it nestled in close proximity to a number of other smaller islands, including Paros, Tinos, Naxos, and Syros.

Mykonos is believed to be the second-most visited Greek island each year – something that’s due in large part to its vibrant dual personality. During the daytime, Mykonos is a classic Greek island with all of the iconic views and experiences that travelers and tourists have come to expect: windmills, cozy paved alleys, trendy shops, Instagram-worthy architecture, and sugar-cube houses. But when the sun goes down, the island’s wild side comes out. The nightlife in Mykonos is renowned, and the Little Venice portion of the island comes alive on warm summer evenings.

Get to Know Santorini

Santorini’s iconic crescent moon shape is easy to spot on a map of the Greek islands. And whether you’re browsing a map or swiping through international travel pictures, there’s no mistaking Santorini when you see it.

Year after year, Santorini continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Known for its beautiful rugged cliffs, pristine white architecture, and carefully “stacked” homes overlooking the Aegean Sea, this island is a lively oasis that every world traveler will eventually want to experience firsthand.

“Breathtaking” is the only word to accurately describe Santorini. Neatly paved streets, one-of-a-kind architecture, and eclectic shops and cafes make this island a popular wedding spot and honeymoon destination. And because it’s so close to other popular Greek islands like Mykonos and Crete, it sees a steady flow of travelers from cruise ships and Greek gulets.

Which Island is Right for You

While it’s somewhat unfair to compare them, Mykonos and Santorini will forever be pitted against one another. Their proximity and popularity make them worthy “rivals” – though it’s a friendly and healthy competition.

As a traveler, you may be wondering which island is right for you? Well, it depends. Here are some factors to consider:

Best for Beaches: Mykonos

You can’t go wrong with any of the beaches on either island, but they offer totally different experiences. On Santorini, you’ll find volcanic pebbles and red sand. They’re pretty interesting and impressive, but not the kind of beach that most people think of when they imagine sticking their toes in the sand. Mykonos, on the other hand, has white sandy beaches with clear turquoise waters. Plus, you can find a beach for any style (family beaches, gay beaches, nude beaches, etc.).

With all of that being said, we give Mykonos the award for “best beaches.” We’ll put it like this: People visit beaches in both Santorini and Mykonos, but they come back for the beaches of Mykonos.

Best for Nightlife: Mykonos

As mentioned before, Mykonos has quite the nightlife scene. It has a surprising number of clubs and bars for people of every taste. It also happens to be an incredibly LGBTQ+ community that caters to people looking for a good time. (That’s not to say Santorini isn’t gay-friendly, but Mykonos is known for gay bars, gay beaches, and world-class drag shows.)

Santorini doesn’t exactly shut down at sunset, but you’ll only find a couple of bars worth visiting late at night, and there aren’t any clubs to speak of. However, if your version of “nightlife” is a bottle of wine with your significant other in a corner booth, Santorini has plenty to offer. It all depends on what you want.

Best for Attractions: Santorini

Santorini has one of the most diverse cultures of any Greek island. It’s beautiful, refined, and distinctly, well, Santorinian. You’ll find no fewer than 16 wineries on the island, amazing museums (like Akrotiri Prehistoric Site, Art Space Gallery, Ancient Thera Site, Maritime Museum, Archeological Museum, etc.), five Venetian castles, and an active volcano!

While Mykonos is known for its beaches and nightlife, you won’t find nearly the same attractions and culture. The main town of “Chora” is picturesque and has some good food, but there isn’t as much to “do” during the daytime (when compared to Santorini).

Best for Romance: Santorini

Romance can be found anywhere, but when it comes to romantic destinations, these two islands can be best described as follows:

Santorini is for couples. Amazing sunsets, incredible culinary hotspots, quaint villages, and best-in-class hotels and resorts all make for a romantic experience tailored to couples.

Mykonos is for singles. Party-friendly beaches, all-night clubs, and plenty of LGBTQ+ bars make Mykonos an amazing place for singles to hang out, mingle, and enjoy new experiences.

There are obviously exceptions to this – and it doesn’t mean that singles can’t visit Santorini or couples can’t have a great time in Mykonos – but you get the idea. One is more upbeat and carefree, while the other is laid back and luxurious. You’ll have to decide which version of romance you’re looking for.

Book Your Greek Gulet Holiday

If you can’t tell by now, both Mykonos and Santorini have so much to offer visitors. Whether you’re a solo traveler, honeymooner, or large family, these two Greek islands have so much to offer. And the best way to see them is by scheduling a Greek gulet holiday.

Sail in Greece is proud to be the largest gulet fleet owner in Greece. We own 9 luxury gulets and have the ability to arrange private excursions at the best rates on the market for all ages and group sizes.

Whether you want to visit Mykonos, Santorini, and/or every island in between, we can make it happen. Simply click here for our private gulet charter prices or contact us today to learn more!

Why is a Gulet Cruise Better Than a Traditional Cruise?

Taking a European cruise sounds like a dream to many people, but what if there was a way to make your experience even more unique? Now you have the opportunity to set sail around one of the various oceans and seas that encompass 227 different islands surrounding Greece.

While you may be thinking of a traditional cruise aboard a massive ship, there are options available known as gulet charter cruises that provide a completely different vacation than you may have envisioned.

What exactly is a gulet charter and why is it better than taking a traditional cruise? Let’s take a look at what the main differences are and why you should consider taking a gulet cruise for your upcoming trip to Greece.

What Is a Gulet Charter?

The word gulet is derived from the French “golette.” However, there is also some debate as to whether or not the word originated instead from the Turkish name “gulet” or from the Italian word “goletta.”

It is a traditional two or three-masted wooden sailing vessel that’s design originated from southwest Turkey. When you imagine a gulet, you probably think of a traditional sailboat; however, these are significantly larger.

You’ll find several of these types all along the Mediterranean that range in different sizes, some as big as Sail In Greece’s Gulet Artemis that has sixteen cabins and can accommodate up to forty-six passengers. The intricacies in the construction of these ships go as far back in time as the 18th century for purposes of war. Gulets have since been transformed to cater to the world of tourism and luxury cruises for people to experience throughout this European sea.

Benefits of a Gulet Charter Cruise

There are dozens of benefits in choosing to take a gulet charter cruise along the Mediterranean rather than a traditional cruise. From cost and size to making the most of your time, you won’t even think twice after reading this about whether or not to choose a gulet charter cruise.

Traditional Cruises Have Too Many People

Traditional cruise ships tend to be extremely large, carrying upwards of three to six thousand passengers. This means you are sharing the same space with thousands of people for multiple days at a time. Too many people tend to be one of the biggest complaints by traditional cruise attendings.

It means there is a lot of waiting time between boarding and deboarding at your designated locations. There may also be significant wait times for buffet breakfast, lines at the bar, seats at restaurants, and even booked-out showtimes.

On a gulet charter cruise, you can expect to be sharing the space with no more than forty-five other passengers. You can also create a more intimate setting where you can select to be on board a charter gulet that carries no more than twenty-five passengers total. You’ll find lots of opportunities for privacy, tranquility, and relaxation.

Traditional Cruises Won’t Give You You a Personalised Experience

One of the downsides of taking a traditional cruise aboard a large ship is that you won’t have much time to explore or take part in excursions throughout the destinations you visit. While yes, you do get a chance to potentially stop at multiple islands or countries throughout your cruise, with as many people as there are, it’s not feasible to be able to accommodate a full experience while needing to also wait in line to reboard the ship.

With there being so many people, this also means that your destinations will be mostly in destinations with high tourism. If you want a more personalised experience, gulet charter cruises give you ample opportunities to explore multiple islands with the perfect blend of private and more secluded nature, beaches, heritage, history, and even on-deck sea-view unwinding.

Besides, you certainly wouldn’t be able to jump off the side of a cruise ship for some afternoon swimming like you could on your unique experience aboard the Zante Cruise!

Traditional Cruises Aren’t That Unique of an Experience

If you have never been on a cruise ship before and are considering taking a cruise to Greece for your next vacation, you may want to rethink it. Because most of your time is spent on the ship rather than at your destinations, you will find yourself doing things aboard the ship you could do right within your own city.

For instance, some cruises have some of the more popular restaurants onboard such as Johnny Rockets, or even some very basic options for their buffets that aren’t really anything special. And if you do decide to eat at one of the finer restaurants onboard, you’ll be spending a substantial amount of money and may not have the privacy or intimacy of a meal that you may like. You might have to share a large table with a group of people or have to wait in line even though you already had a reservation.

Or perhaps your cruise ship may offer their passengers time to spend at the casino. But why would you want to pay all of that money for a vacation when you are sitting inside a dark casino gambling away your money all night?

With a Greek gulet charter cruise, you will be guaranteed to have an experience like no other. Because the islands are relatively close, you will have less time on the boat and more time to spend at each of your destinations – meaning unique, one-of-a-kind experiences on each of the islands you visit.

Don’t worry; if you want to spend more time on the gulet than walking around, there are options for you to spend more time relaxing on the boat. But you won’t be bombarded with casino incentives or shows to watch onboard the ship. You’ll spend more time soaking up the sun on the top deck, relaxing in luxury instead.

At the end of the day, taking a gulet charter cruise around the Greek Islands is a more unique and memorable experience beyond any traditional type of cruise you may take. If you are ready to jump aboard, talk to one of the specialists with Sail In Greece and book your cruise today!

Traveling to Greece is on just about everyone’s bucket list. You can’t help but daydream about gorgeous sunsets along the Mediterranean Sea or sinking your toes into the notorious black sand beaches. Or maybe you picture yourself drinking a cup of coffee while setting sail aboard a gulet charter that takes you to places you never thought you would see.

If you weren’t aware, Greece has 227 different islands. There are different clusters such as the Ionian Islands or the Cyclades islands. With so many options to choose from, it may feel impossible to narrow down where you plan to go. Well, look no further because we’ve got you covered.

If you are looking for the ultimate guide to your top five Greek islands to visit, keep reading. We’ll take you to some of our top destinations like Corfu, Naxos, Zante, Santorini, and Mykonos.

Corfu

Along the western side of Greece, right near Italy, is an area of islands known as the Ionian islands. These are by far one of the most breathtaking sets of islands that are worth visiting, specifically Corfu. It’s filled with so much history within its city to explore or you can hike throughout the various hilltop ruins such as Angelokastro, or Angel’s Castle.

A unique way to explore Corfu is through a gulet charter. Through Sail In Greece’s Corfu gulet charter cruise, you’ll experience sailing for eight days around different locations on a cabin charter. We highly recommend that if you are going to be taking a journey to Greece that you embark on an adventure that takes you through hidden coves and natural environments you may not have the opportunity to see otherwise.

Naxos

This quaint little island is home to just over 7,000 people. One of the best times to visit is in the fall because you will find that there are fewer tourists and more locals around. It gives you that small island feel and no matter where on the island you go, you are extremely close to the water. You’ll find more secluded beaches that offer privacy amongst the rocks or you can head over to another coast which may offer more options such as snorkeling.

While you’re there, make sure to check out Panormos Beach with its golden sand and crystal clear water. This beach does require a car to access, but it is well worth the drive. Or if you plan on staying near the port, you can also check out Agios Georgios which is only a ten-minute walk from when you get off of the boat.

Zante

If you want to spoil yourself on your Greek adventure, we suggest taking a tour through Zante. Also known as Zakynthos, the island is known as a summer resort location and there is no question as to why. It’s the southernmost island of the Ionian group and is well known for its Caretta-Caretta turtles as they come there to lay their eggs.

If you’re looking to give yourself a luxury experience, try onboarding a Zante cruise aboard the M/S Aphrodite. It seats up to twenty passengers and offers fine dining options as you explore the island for seven nights. Or, depending on the season, you may have a delicious Captain’s dinner aboard one of Sail in Greece Zante cruise’s other gulets such as Hemera, Harmonia, Eros, Panagiotia, or Auror.

Santorini

But of course, how could we possibly forget one of the most well-known, romantic islands of them all? This island of Santorini, filled with white architecture and blue rooftops along the Aegean Sea, is one of those places you see on the front of postcards. About 15,000 people live on this beautiful island and it is a gorgeous place to visit any time of year.

The main villages in Santorini are Oia and Fira, located along the volcanic cliff sides of the island. There is a hike you can take that brings you from one point of the island to the other over the course of six miles. You’ll pass through Firostefani and Imerovigli along the way, giving you the ability to see the island in its entirety.

You’ll end your hike by watching the iconic sunset overlooking the ocean and dine out with delicious Turkish-influenced cuisines. What more could you ask for than the most picture-perfect way to end a gorgeous hike along the cliffs?

Mykonos

Mykonos is an island that is known for its thriving nightlife so if you are looking to dance beneath the stars of Greece, this is the spot for you. Luxurious hotels and fine dining are nearby, but if you are looking for something a little off-the-beaten-path, you may want to check out Agia Anna Beach. There are minimal tourist spots here such as watersports or beach bars which makes it the perfect little spot to hide away for a day at the beach.

If you are looking to find a blend of culture, history, and a friendly atmosphere, you will definitely want to consider treating yourself to a Mykonos Greek Island Cruise by Sail in Greece. It provides an opportunity to relax by the ocean while also having the element of socialization with friends both new and old aboard the gulet. This is a great option for people who are looking to throw a bachelor or bachelorette party or are going to be hitting the open seas with friends. 

No matter where you decide to go on your vacation to Greece, you will want to make the absolute most out of your time there. Your best bet is by creating a unique experience that caters to what you want your dream trip to be. Sail in Greece offers both intimate and large party gulet cruises through Greece.

Don’t settle for flying when you could have the opportunity of a lifetime to set sail to multiple different islands around the Mediterranean sea. The only step left is to book your trip!