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

Should you visit Santorini or Dubai?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Dubai, 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 romantic, stunning, and historic 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. It's also popular because of the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Dubai

Dubai is a glamorous, opulent, and modern city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Santorini and Dubai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Dubai?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dubai than Santorini, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dubai is more popular for its skiing, museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Santorini is known for its hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Santorini is more touristy than Dubai and is known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Dubai is popular for its luxury shopping, glamorous resorts, city beaches, and ultramodern development style. It is also home to Burj Khalifa.

Burj Khalifa

How is Santorini different from Dubai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Skiing?

Dubai is adequate for skiing. However, Santorini is not a skiing destination.

Dubai is a fun local destination for snow skiers. Despite being a desert city, Dubai became famous for its massive indoor ski complex that covers 22,500 square meters. It is located in the Mall of the Emirates.

Santorini is not a skiing destination.

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

Dubai 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 Dubai can be an interesting and educational experience. The city's most famous landmark is the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. Head to the observation deck for stunning views.

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

Dubai is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Dubai has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The national dish in the area is khuzi, or ghuzi, which is a meal of roasted lamb or mutton, prepared with rice vegetables and nuts.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Santorini area. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Nightlife?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Dubai is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Frequented by the wealthy and opulent, the city has world class night clubs and DJs that travel from around to world to perform.

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 Dubai Better for Music?

Dubai 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 Dubai. The city attracts world famous international DJs and musicians giving it one of the world's best music scenes.

Santorini is not a live music destination.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Resorts?

With a similar set of options, terrific resorts can be found in both Santorini and Dubai.

Santorini offers an unforgettable resort vacation. 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.

Dubai is a world class resort vacation destination. Some of the most famous include Atlantis - The Palm, The Four Seasons, and Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find good snorkeling or scuba diving in both Santorini and Dubai.

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 Dubai. One of the best scuba diving spots is Jumeirah Beach.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Beaches?

Both Santorini and Dubai have good 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 Dubai. There are a number of both private and public beaches in the city. They are almost all man-made, so they are large, flat, and have soft sand. It's also generally safe to swim at most beaches.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Hiking?

Santorini is very good for hiking. However, Dubai 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.

Dubai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Dubai?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Dubai draws large crowds to its stores. With its many malls, souks, and shopping areas, this is the place to go for luxury shopping. Popular items to purchase include gold and diamond jewelry, shawls, and Persian rugs.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Santorini. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Families?

Dubai 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, Dubai is very family-friendly. This city has family-friendly resorts, skyscrapers with spectacular views, and amusement parks that are fun for the whole family. There are also plenty of fountains that the kids can splash around in.

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 Dubai Better for Couples?

Santorini is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Dubai is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

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.

Dubai is a nice destination for couples. From the spectacular views to the high end resorts, couples can enjoy a romantic retreat to the city.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santorini is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Dubai is not known 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.

Dubai is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It is known to be an expensive and not so backpacker friendly city, but there are some hostels around that you can stay at.

Is Santorini or Dubai Better for Students?

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

Dubai is a great destination for students. Many major universities from around the world have campuses in this city, making this a top destination for international students.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Santorini and Dubai both offer good 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.

Dubai has a few public transit options. The city's public transportation system includes buses, water buses, a monorail system, and a metro.

Is Santorini or Dubai a more walkable city?

Santorini is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Dubai is not known for its walkability.

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.

Dubai is generally not very walkable. It is one of the less pedestrian-friendly cities around the world. There is lots of road work, even in the more walkable areas, so getting around on foot can be challenging.

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

Should I spend more time in Dubai or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Dubai?

Both Santorini and Dubai have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Dubai has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Dubai than Santorini. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dubai than Santorini 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 Dubai.

One day in Santorini or Dubai?

In Santorini, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this historic destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

People visit Dubai because there is so much to do. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Dubai?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santorini. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

People visit Dubai because there is so much to do. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Dubai?

Santorini is a fun place to experience. In Santorini, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this quaint destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

People visit Dubai because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Santorini or Dubai?

In Santorini, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this stunning destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Dubai is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dubai, 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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Dubai, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Santorini much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe and Dubai is in Middle East, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Santorini would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santorini and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Santorini.

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Dubai?

Dubai has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Dubai, 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.