A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Amalfi for Food, Couples, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Santorini or Amalfi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Amalfi, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Santorini

Santorini is a historic, romantic, and stunning island. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. The famous beauty of Santorini is one of the main draws. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santorini travel costs.

Amalfi

Amalfi is a picturesque, stunning, and dramatic town. Many visitors also come to Amalfi because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Amalfi travel costs.

Santorini and Amalfi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Amalfi?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Amalfi than Santorini, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Amalfi is better known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and hiking, while Santorini is more popular for its resorts, shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Santorini is well known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Amalfi is well known for its dramatic views, charming character, and excellent limoncello. Also, Amalfi is famous for the dramatic coastline.

How is Santorini different from Amalfi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Amalfi and Santorini. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santorini or Amalfi?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Santorini and Amalfi.

Santorini offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. One of the most impressive historical sights is Akrotiri Archaeological Site. The island has many archeological sites as well as the Archeological Museum in Fira.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Amalfi. The town is an attraction in and off itself. It's filled with charm and character and visitors spend much of their time simply walking around and soaking up the atmosphere.

Is the Food Better in Santorini or Amalfi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Amalfi is an unbeatable place for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Amalfi is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The town's access to the beautiful sea means that many dishes use a variety of seafood. Eggplant is also a common ingredient and you'll find everything from pastas to elegant desserts around town.

Dining out in Santorini is an experience not to be missed. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Nightlife?

Amalfi is a great town for nightlife and partying. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Amalfi has something for everybody. There's a good number of bars and clubs in town that often have live music or DJs. Alternatively, there are also clubs that dot the entire coastline.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santorini. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Resorts?

Santorini is an amazing island to visit for its resorts. However, Amalfi is not a resort destination.

Santorini is a world class resort vacation destination. The resorts range from all-inclusive options to resorts with a more local feel. The island is one of the most romantic of the Greek Islands, and the resorts are no exception.

Amalfi is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find notable snorkeling or scuba diving in both Santorini and Amalfi.

Santorini has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. Some of the best snorkeling places are found at Red Beach, White Beach, and the less accessible Kambia. One of the island's best diving spots is Caldera Beach.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Amalfi. You'll find snorkeling trips that take you along the coastline and stop at several places so you can take a peak at the underwater world.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Beaches?

Both Santorini and Amalfi have notable beaches worth visiting.

Santorini has a beach worth visiting. The island has many beaches, most of which are made of black pebbly sand that are a result of the island's volcanic history. Popular beaches include Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perivolos Beach.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Amalfi. The beaches tend to be pebbly and rocky. During the summer months they can get very crowded, but taking a swim is a great way to escape the heat for a bit.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for its Old Town?

Amalfi is a great town for its old town. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its historic old town charm.

Many visitors go to Amalfi to see the historical old town. The town is charming and filled with great shops and restaurants. It's the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere of the Amalfi Coast.

Santorini offers a nice historic old town area. The historic towns of Fira and Oia are the two most popular with visitors, although they have become more built up and less historic over the past few decades. Historical areas are still found within these towns mixed in with restaurants, shops, and hotels set among the beautiful cliff-side views.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Hiking?

Amalfi is a great town for hiking. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Amalfi for the hiking trails. The coastline is filled with great trails that offer stunning views. Hiking is a top way to see the natural beauty of the Amalfi Coast and catch a glimpse at some of the best beaches.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Santorini. The best hiking trails on the island pass by quaint villages and offers stunning ocean views. You can also hike along the edge of a volcano.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Amalfi?

Santorini is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Santorini is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

Amalfi has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find many great shops that sell everything from clothing to fine wine, local foods, or limoncello.

Is Santorini or Amalfi More Beautiful?

Santorini and Amalfi are somewhat similar when it comes to the first-rate scenery.

Many visitors also come to Santorini because of it's amazing beauty. It has striking blue water and contrasting white buildings. It is the place many travelers dream of visiting for its picturesque setting.

You'll find world class beauty in Amalfi as well. The coastline is world renowned for its beautiful villages, striking cliffs, and stunning blue water. The weaving roads make for a dramatic and breathtaking drive.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Families?

Santorini and Amalfi are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Santorini offers lots of family activities. It is a calmer destination than many of the Greek Islands. While it's a great place to relax with kids, the beaches aren't as good as they are on some of the other islands. Most families hang out in Kamari and Perissa Beach.

Amalfi is a family-friendly place to visit. The town is positioned in the middle of the Amalfi Coast, making it a great base for exploring the area. It's also one of the larger towns so you'll find more energy and things to do with kids, including the Museum of Paper.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Couples?

Santorini and Amalfi are both first-rate to visit as a couple.

Santorini has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. It is a dream honeymoon destination that is famous for its picturesque setting and luxury resorts. For many couples, this is a top pick for a romantic trip to the Greek Isles.

Amalfi is a great island for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The Amalfi Coast is a world class honeymoon destination and couples will enjoy staying in the lively town of Amalfi. It's a quaint and beautiful town in the middle of everything, so you'll have access to all that the area has to offer.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santorini is a island with good options for backpackers. However, Amalfi is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santorini is a good island to visit for backpackers. The island has its share of 5 star resorts, but if you head a few streets in you'll find some surprisingly affordable accommodation. Backpackers are welcomed on the island and beaches are free, so it's possible to get by on a relatively low budget.

Amalfi is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The area has a couple of hostels around, but in general this is a difficult place to visit as a backpacker. There are SITA buses that offer transportation, and because the town is in the middle of the coastline, it offers decent access to everything.

Is Santorini or Amalfi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santorini and Amalfi both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Santorini offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system, KTEL Santorini Buses, that runs 23 buses during the summer months but only a small fraction of that operate during the winter months.

Amalfi has a few public transit options. The SITA buses offer transit between many of the towns along the Amalfi Coast.

Is Santorini or Amalfi a more walkable city?

Amalfi is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

Amalfi is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a compact and charming town that is a bit flatter than some nearby villages so it's easy to explore on foot.

Santorini is a somewhat walkable island. Many towns on the island are walkable, including Fira, but the actual island is too large to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Santorini Worth Visiting? and Is Amalfi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Amalfi or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Amalfi?

Both Santorini and Amalfi have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Amalfi has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Amalfi than Santorini. In general, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 2-7 days is enough time in Amalfi.

Families should spend more time in Amalfi than Santorini. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Amalfi, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Amalfi than Santorini. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Amalfi that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Santorini or Amalfi?

Santorini might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find nightlife and food around the town of Amalfi. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Amalfi?

Santorini is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the picturesque destination of Amalfi. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Amalfi?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santorini. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the dramatic town of Amalfi. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.

A week in Santorini or Amalfi?

Santorini is a small town with plenty to do. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Amalfi is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Amalfi, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours from Rome, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Santorini and Amalfi, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is Amalfi Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Amalfi?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Amalfi. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Amalfi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.