A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Villach for Couples, Hiking, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Santorini or Villach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Villach, 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. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Villach

Villach is a historic, nature-filled, and outdoorsy town. With fun 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 hiking, museums, and nightlife.

Santorini and Villach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Villach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santorini than Villach, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Santorini is more popular for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Villach is known for its historical sights, hiking, and small town charm. Santorini is more touristy than Villach and is popular 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. Villach is popular for its many alpine hikes, nearby lakes, and its quaint main square.

How is Santorini different from Villach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Villach. There are several historical buildings in town such as the Parish Church of St. Jakob, the Holy Cross Church, and the Parish Church of St. Martin. Also worth a visit is the Museum of the City of Villach.

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

Santorini is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Villach is a mediocre town for its restaurants.

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

Villach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find the standard options of pizza and burgers around town. While the food scene isn't particularly special, the quality is decent and reliable.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Villach. The weekends are when you'll find the best nightlife. There are some local bars and clubs that come to life and attract a young crowd on a weekend night.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Resorts?

Santorini is terrific for its resorts. However, Villach 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.

Villach is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Villach 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.

Villach is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Beaches?

Santorini is a popular place for the beach. However, Villach is not a beach destination.

Santorini is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Villach is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for its Old Town?

Villach 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 Villach. You'll find churches and gardens throughout the charming old town. At the heart of the town is the main square.

Santorini does not have a historic old town.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Hiking?

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

Many visitors go to Villach for the hiking trails. The surrounding countryside is filled with both short and long hikes. You can take a short stroll or spend hours (or days) exploring the alpine scenery. Breathtaking views and peaceful retreats make this a wonderful area for hiking.

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 Villach?

Santorini is notable for its shopping areas. However, Villach is a mediocre town for shopping.

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.

Villach is a good destination for shopping. There are your standard shopping centers where you can pick up clothes or anything you may have forgotten for your trip.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Families?

Villach is a great town 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, Villach is very family-friendly. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family will enjoy. There's kid-friendly hiking, adventure parks, nature parks, and some swimming areas.

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 Villach Better for Couples?

Santorini is terrific for couples. Also, Villach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

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.

Villach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy outdoor adventures, beautiful hikes, and stunning scenery will appreciate a visit to this area.

Is Santorini or Villach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Villach is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Villach. There are a number of hostels in the area that cater to backpackers who enjoy the outdoor setting and beautiful hikes that are nearby.

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.

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

Santorini is a popular place for its public transit. However, Villach is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Santorini has a few public transit options. 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 Villach. There are buses and trains in the area, but to experience the nearby nature you'll want to have a car.

Is Santorini or Villach a more walkable city?

Santorini is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Villach is a mediocre town 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.

Villach is generally not a very walkable island. Parts of the town are walkable but the surrounding natural areas are most easily accessed with a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Villach or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Villach?

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

Couples should spend more time in Santorini than Villach. 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.

One day in Santorini or Villach?

In Santorini, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find nightlife and museums around the town of Villach. 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 Villach has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Villach?

In Santorini, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Villach. 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 town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Santorini or Villach?

Santorini is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santorini has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the historic town of Villach. 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 Villach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santorini. In Santorini, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Villach 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 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Villach?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Villach. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Villach, 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.