A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Taormina for Resorts, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Santorini or Taormina?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Taormina, 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 nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Taormina

Taormina is a beautiful, exclusive, and opulent town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Santorini and Taormina: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Taormina?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santorini. Although Santorini and Taormina are both popular with visitors, Santorini has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santorini is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, hiking, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Taormina is known for its food, nightlife, and small town charm. Santorini is more touristy than Taormina and is known for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. It is also home to The Caldera and Volcano of Santorini. Taormina is popular for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views.

How is Santorini different from Taormina?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Taormina. The main landmark in town is the Greek Theater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Also visit Madonna della Rocca as well as Castello di Taormina, which is perched above the sea.

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

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

Taormina has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The local dishes draw on traditional Italian flavors such as pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables, but they're also heavily influenced by the island's many historical invaders. You'll find a variety of ingredients in recipes including red chilies, tuna, swordfish, sardines, pine nuts, capers, and olives.

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 Taormina Better for Nightlife?

Taormina 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 Taormina has something for everybody. The town has a bit of an exclusive vibe and that's felt in the nightlife scene as well. There are lounges and exclusive clubs that serve fine wine and cocktails. You'll also find some late night dance clubs 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 Taormina Better for Resorts?

Santorini is very popular for its luxury resorts. Also, Taormina is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

There are plenty of resorts in Taormina to choose from. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a island with good options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Taormina 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.

Taormina is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Beaches?

Both Santorini and Taormina 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 Taormina. The easiest beaches to access from town are Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella Beach. The beaches are near hotels and there are restaurants as well as beach umbrellas and chairs that you can rent.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a island with good options for hiking. However, Taormina is not a hiking destination.

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.

Taormina is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Taormina?

Santorini is a great island for its shopping areas. Also, Taormina is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Santorini. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

Taormina is a great destination for shopping. It's a fashion-conscious town and you'll find boutiques and shops that carry high end Italian brands. There are also shops that sell local pottery and other items.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Families?

Santorini is a island with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not known for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Taormina is not the most family-friendly destination. Kids may not appreciate everything that the adults enjoy about this town, but they will likely have fun taking a ride on the cable car and visiting the Greek Theater. There are also wonderful desserts that kids will enjoy.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Couples?

Santorini is very popular for couples. Also, Taormina is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

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.

Taormina is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's a truly beautiful town with impressive views and a great atmosphere. It makes a wonderful stop off for couples or honeymooners who want to soak up the region's beauty.

Is Santorini or Taormina Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

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.

Taormina is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There aren't many hostels around town and you won't find a large backpacker crowd here. The town has the feel of an exclusive resort community with high end resorts more common than anything else.

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

Santorini and Taormina 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.

Taormina has a few public transit options. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the town.

Is Santorini or Taormina a more walkable city?

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

Taormina is a very walkable town. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the town.

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 Taormina Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Taormina or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Taormina?

It's fun to spend time in either Santorini or Taormina. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Santorini due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 2-4 days is enough time in Taormina.

Families should spend more time in Santorini than Taormina. 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 Taormina. 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 Taormina 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 Taormina?

The beautiful island of Santorini offers museums and nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Even though Taormina is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. 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 Taormina?

Santorini is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Taormina is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Taormina?

Santorini is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santorini, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Taormina is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Santorini or Taormina?

Santorini is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santorini has to offer. This island offers something for everyone.

Taormina is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Taormina?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Taormina, 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.