Both are amazing for different reasons, most of which you can read about online. Mykonos for the beautiful Chora (main town) and the beaches. Santorini for the views (not the beaches!).
If you miss out on one or both of these islands, obviously, you will have time for something else to fill in your itinerary.
Both Mykonos & Santorini are very expensive and very crowded. If you don’t care so much about the first issue, the latter will bother you!
- Santorini is not famous for its beaches.
- Party Island is synonymous with Mykonos and Ios.
- Touristy, non-authentic, you interact with Athenian businessmen most of the time.
- In Santorini, most accommodations will offer amazing views.
- The famous Oia sunset? The question is how you get there in time to see it behind all these people with the cannon-like cameras!
These are all just facts for the first-time visitor to consider.
Difficult not to visit Mykonos & Santorini when you’ve heard so much from your friends whose “know-how” of Greece is only about these islands.
So, go for it if you have to, and spare some time for islands like Amorgos, Foleganrdros, Paros, Sifnos, Naxos, Hydra (
), Skiathos (), Skopelos, Alonissos, Mylos.
Even better? Smaller islands like Koufonisia (), Schinousa, or Serifos and Amorgos are unassuming destinations that people love because “it feels like home”.
We would suggest a visit to Santorini for two nights (1 full day) and then … go!
Maybe not Mykonos to save time for some off-the-beaten-path islands?
Alternatively? Fly in, take your photos and … fly out!
🙂