A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Nagano for Resorts, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Santorini or Nagano?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Nagano, 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. 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. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Nagano

Nagano is a traditional, alpine, and scenic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Santorini and Nagano: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Nagano?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Nagano than Santorini. While Santorini is larger than Nagano, Nagano has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Nagano is better known for its skiing, museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, hiking, and big city activities, while Santorini is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Santorini is more touristy than Nagano and is known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Nagano is well known for its historic temples, beautiful mountain setting, and being the host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Also, Nagano is famous for Zenko-ji Temple.

How is Santorini different from Nagano?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Skiing?

Nagano is a great city for skiing. However, Santorini is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Nagano. The city hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and many of the skiing events were held at ski resorts in the area. In the Nagano Prefecture you'll find several ski resorts with some of the most popular being the Hakuba ski areas, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko Kogen.

Santorini is not a skiing destination.

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

Nagano 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 Nagano can be an interesting and educational experience. The area is filled with history and there are many places to explore. Matsumoto Castle, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Zenko-ji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine are just some of the highlights.

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 Nagano? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nagano 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.

Nagano has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find many of Japan's culinary favorites here like ramen, udon, sushi, and sashimi. There are also regional dishes and some comfort food like Tonkatsu and Oyaki Dumplings.

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 Nagano Better for Nightlife?

Nagano 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 Nagano has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is varied, from local and intimate venues, to wild and crazy clubs. You'll find all styles and activities such that whatever you're looking for, the city likely won't disappoint.

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 Nagano Better for Resorts?

Santorini is terrific for its luxury resorts. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its resorts.

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.

Nagano has a few great resort options. You'll find wonderful mountain resorts throughout the entire prefecture.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a island with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Nagano is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life 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.

Nagano is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Beaches?

Santorini is a island with good options for the beache. However, Nagano is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Santorini. 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.

Nagano is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for its Old Town?

Nagano is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Santorini does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Nagano. Throughout the prefecture there is a lot of history and charming towns. If you're willing to get out of Nagano City, you can enjoy an area filled with tradition and culture. In particular, Tsumago-juku was the first preserved old town in Japan.

Santorini does not have a historic old town.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Hiking?

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

Many visitors go to Nagano for the hiking trails. The surrounding area is filled with stunning scenery, natural beauty, and beautiful hikes. You'll find shrines and temples, historic villages, nice views, and peaceful walks throughout the region. One of the most unique walks is along the highest road in Japan, the Norikura Echo Line. The route is at 8,800 feet and is lined with ten meter high snow walls. It's open from from late April to the end of June every year.

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 Nagano?

Santorini is a great island for its shopping opportunities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

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.

Many visitors go to Nagano to go shopping. There are a number of shopping streets that are fun to explore including the historic street of Naka-mise. This street is lined with tea shops, cafes, traditional stores, and more. While there aren't a huge number of shopping centers around town, Midori Nagano is one of the biggest.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Families?

Nagano 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, Nagano is very family-friendly. Chibikko Ninja Village is a great place for kids with climbing walls, indoor playgrounds, and more. There are also a number of sports facilities around town, and you can keep the sport theme going with a visit to the Nagano Olympic Museum. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Nagano Chausuyama Zoo and for little kids, the Nagano City Joyama Zoo is nice.

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 Nagano Better for Couples?

Santorini is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Nagano is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Santorini is a great island for couples, as it 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.

Nagano is a good island for couples to visit. The city has a lot of history and beauty, making it a romantic destination for couples. There are also outdoor activities as well as a number of sports that you can enjoy.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Santorini and Nagano are notable places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Nagano is a good island to visit for backpackers. There are several good hostels in the area, as well as some great activities for young travelers, backpackers, and sports enthusiasts.

Is Santorini or Nagano Better for Students?

Nagano 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 Nagano. It's relative affordability combined with its close proximity to Tokyo and laid back populations make this a nice place to study.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Santorini and Nagano 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.

Nagano has a few public transit options. The main station in town is Nagano Station. There's a bus and train system through the area, including buses that run to Zenkoji Temple. There's also a bus that goes to the Togakushi area and takes about an hour. However, renting a car will give you more freedom and efficiency. .

Is Santorini or Nagano a more walkable city?

Santorini and Nagano 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.

Nagano is a somewhat walkable island. Parts of the city are walkable and there are hiking trails around the Togakushi area, where you'll find many shrines and other attractions.

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

Should I spend more time in Nagano or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Nagano?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Santorini than Nagano. 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 Nagano 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 Nagano.

One day in Santorini or Nagano?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Santorini. 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 skiing and nightlife around the city of Nagano. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Nagano has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Nagano?

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 nightlife and food around the alpine destination of Nagano. 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 city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Nagano?

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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the alpine city of Nagano. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Santorini or Nagano?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the romantic destination of Santorini. 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.

Nagano is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 in Japan, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Nagano, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Nagano much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe and Nagano is in Asia, 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 Nagano would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nagano 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 Nagano.

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Nagano?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 67% larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Nagano, 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.