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

Should you visit Santorini or Kiel?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Kiel, 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. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Kiel

Kiel is a off-the-beaten-path, waterfront, and maritime city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Santorini and Kiel: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Kiel?

Both Kiel and Santorini have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Santorini is better known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Kiel is more popular for its big city activities. Santorini is more touristy than Kiel and is popular for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Kiel is well known for its maritime history and its role as the host of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

How is Santorini different from Kiel?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Kiel. You'll find museums and landmarks that focus on the city's maritime past. These include Submarine U-995, the Naval Memorial, Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel, and Leuchtturm Bülk.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Santorini and Kiel 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 Kiel area. The local cuisine, Schleswig-Holstein cuisine, is similar to much of Germany in that the dishes are hearty and filling. There are many British and Scandenavian influences. Local dishes that you should try include Kieler Sprotte (herring-like fish), Schnüüsch (veggie stew), and Mehlbüdel (bread dumpling with pork belly)

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Santorini and Kiel.

If you're looking for night time activities Santorini has a few options to choose from. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Kiel. The nightlife scene is low key and relaxing. You can sip a cocktail at a trendy bar or enjoy a beer on a floating beach bar.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Resorts?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Kiel is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Santorini is a great 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.

Kiel is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Kiel is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santorini has a few good snorkeling spots. 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.

Kiel is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Beaches?

Both Santorini and Kiel 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 Kiel. The city has several sandy beaches with coastal dunes and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Kiel is not a hiking destination.

Santorini is a good destination for hiking. 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.

Kiel is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Kiel?

Santorini is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Kiel 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.

Kiel has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a mix of retail shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets like Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Families?

Santorini and Kiel 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.

Kiel is a family-friendly place to visit. The U-Boot U 995 is a museum on an actual submarine. Kids will love exploring this unique setting. The Kiel Botanical Gardens is another beautiful and fun place to explore. Also make sure you check out the city's aquarium, the Zoologisches Museum, and Computermuseum der Fachhochschule Kiel.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Couples?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Kiel is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Santorini makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Kiel is a good island for couples to visit. The old port city sits along Germany’s Baltic Sea and couples can enjoy learning about the city's maritime past and shopping along the shopping streets of Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santorini is a popular place for backpackers. However, Kiel is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santorini. 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.

Kiel is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not on the main backpacker circuit, there is a hostel or two in town.

Is Santorini or Kiel Better for Students?

Kiel is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Santorini is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Kiel. Students can enjoy the city's beaches and lively nightlife scene.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Santorini is a popular place for its public transit. However, Kiel is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Santorini, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kiel. There is a bus system around town.

Is Santorini or Kiel a more walkable city?

Santorini and Kiel are notable when it comes to walkability.

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

Kiel is a somewhat walkable island. Some parts of Kiel are more walkable than others.

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

Should I spend more time in Kiel or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Kiel?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santorini and Kiel. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santorini than in Kiel. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 1-3 days is enough time in Kiel.

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

Couples should spend more time in Santorini than Kiel. 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 Kiel 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 Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Santorini. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Kiel. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kiel has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Kiel?

Santorini is a fun place to experience. 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 a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the waterfront destination of Kiel. 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 Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the stunning destination of Santorini. This island offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the off-the-beaten-path city of Kiel. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Santorini or Kiel?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic island of Santorini. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Kiel 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Kiel, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Kiel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiel 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in Kiel.

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Kiel?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kiel. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Kiel, 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.