A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Birmingham for Couples, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Santorini or Birmingham?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Birmingham, 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 stunning, historic, and romantic island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a fun-filled, bustling, and historic city. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the live music, food, and shopping.

Santorini and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Birmingham?

Both Birmingham and Santorini have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Santorini is very popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Birmingham attracts visitors for its museums, theatre productions, nightlife, and music. Santorini is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Birmingham is famous for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

How is Santorini different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Birmingham 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 Birmingham?

Birmingham is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its sights and museums.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santorini. 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.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a great city for its theatre productions. However, Santorini is not a theatre destination.

Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Birmingham. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Santorini is not a theatre destination.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Santorini and Birmingham can be an enjoyable experience.

Santorini has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Birmingham area. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

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

The nightlife in Birmingham has something for everybody. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

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 Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for its live music scene. However, Santorini is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Birmingham. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Santorini is not a live music destination.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Resorts?

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

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Santorini is a perfect choice. 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.

Birmingham is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is very good for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Santorini. 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.

Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Beaches?

Santorini is very good for its beaches. However, Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Santorini to enjoy the beach. 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.

Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Hiking?

Santorini is very good for hiking. However, Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting 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.

Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Birmingham?

If you're looking to go shopping, Santorini and Birmingham both offer plenty of excellent spots.

Santorini is well-known for its shopping. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Birmingham is very family-friendly. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

Santorini is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Santorini is an amazing island to visit for romance. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, Santorini has plenty to offer. 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.

Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for couples. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santorini is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Santorini is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Santorini or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. However, Santorini is not popular with students.

Birmingham is a great destination for students. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Santorini and Birmingham both offer nice 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.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Santorini or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Birmingham is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

Birmingham is a very walkable city. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

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 Birmingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Birmingham?

In either Santorini or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santorini than Birmingham because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santorini than Birmingham if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santorini.

One day in Santorini or Birmingham?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the stunning island of Santorini, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing 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 museums and theater around the city of Birmingham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Birmingham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Birmingham?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Santorini, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find theater and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Birmingham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Birmingham?

Santorini, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the historic city of Birmingham. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Most people head to the area for the live music. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Santorini or Birmingham?

Santorini is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this island makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Birmingham is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. 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 Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

When comparing the travel costs between Santorini and Birmingham, 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 Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Birmingham, 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.