You are probably trying to figure out which Greek island is better for you to visit, right? Being Greek, I have visited almost all Greek islands, so this is my comparison guide for Santorini vs Milos this year.
What are the differences and similarities, and which one is better, depending on your situation or the time of the year you plan to visit (winter, summer, or shoulder season)? I can only tell you this: they are both volcanic islands with lots of history, geography, and fascinating landscapes, but Santorini is not the quiet island you might be looking for.BEST HOTEL IN SANTORINI:San Antonio
BEST HOTEL IN MILOS:Noma Milos
For Luxury:
- Santorini: San Antonio
- Milos: Civitas Milos
For Couples:
- Santorini: Canaves Oia
- Milos: White Pebble
For Families:
- Santorini: Nissia
- Milos: Milos Breeze
For Private Pool:
- Santorini: Katikies
- Milos: Milos Sea Resort
Cave Hotel:
- Santorini: Divine Cave
- Milos: Vasealis & Seafis
For Beach:
- Santorini: Petri Suites
- Milos: Captain Zeppos
Budget:
- Santorini: Stelios Place
- Milos: Kapetan Tasos
- Detailed Comparison, differences, and similarities
- Best For Attractions & Sightseeing
- Best For Beaches
- Most Romantic
- Best For Nightlife
- Best For Families
- Best For Wineries
- Best For Shopping
- Best For Foodies
- Best For Seniors
- Alternative Greek islands
As you may know, Greece has no shortage of amazing islands to visit. Did you know that there are more than 2,000 Greek islands?
However, only about 200 of them are inhabited by people, which narrows it down a bit. Still… I know how hard it can be to pick one to visit on your next trip to Greece.
Santorini and Milos are two Greek islands that share many similarities. However, Milos is far quieter than Santorini, which makes it ideal for relaxing holidays. On the other hand, Santorini has lots to do and more impressive hotels and restaurants.READ ALSO:
But what happens if you have to pick one?Which one should it be?Santorini or Milos
If there is only one Greek island you can visit in your life, make it Santorini. You won’t regret it, and as I say to all of my friends “Santorini is literally the picture of Greece you may have in your head”.HOWEVER, Santorini can feel like a tourist trap these days with millions of people visiting every year and it can get extremely crowded in the summer months of June, July, August and September, so if you are looking for a quiet Greek island, with impressive geology, long sandy (and rocky) beaches, a few cute fishing villages and overall relaxing vibes then go to Milos.
You also need to understand that Santorini is a relatively small Greek island, while Milos is double its size, with many more areas and beaches to explore and visit. There are more than 15 different beaches in Milos, while Santorini is super tiny.
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| SANTORINI | MILOS | |
| Size | Santorini is half the size of Milos. | Milos has an impressive history and is one of the most industrialized Greek islands because of its mineral-rich underground. However, in general, it has fewer attractions than Santorini. However, a day cruise in Milos is one of the best things to do in the Cyclades. |
| Easier to Get To | Santorini has an international airport with plenty of ferry options from Athens (5-8 hours) | Milos never gets too crowded, and the busiest month is probably August, when Greeks visit. It would feel empty compared to Santorini. |
| Most Crowded | Milos has an impressive history and is one of the most industrialized Greek islands because of its mineral-rich underground. However, in general, it has fewer attractions than Santorini. However, a day cruise in Milos is one of the best things to do in the Cyclades. | Santorini is the busiest and most crowded Greek island, and it will always feel crowded and packed no matter the time of year. Unfortunately, these days… |
| More attractions and sights | Santorini has plenty of attractions for an island of its size, and things like the volcano views, sunsets, Oia village, Akrotiri ruins, and the Red Beach cannot be found elsewhere in Greece. | Milos would feel incredibly empty in winter, and I do not recommend visiting outside of June, July, August, and September. |
| Best Beaches | Santorini’s beaches are not that great (by Greek standards) and are mostly covered with black and red pebbles, but you can certainly have some fun days on them (like a hike to the Red Beach). | Milos has very limited nightlife, only in Plaka and Adamantas. Compared to Santorini or Mykonos, it’s pretty much non-existent. In the summer, though, you can definitely find a place to have a drink. |
| Hotels | Milos is currently undergoing a surge in the development of beautiful modern hotels, but Santorini has many more available and more impressive hotels overall. | Santorini is one of the most romantic destinations in the world, with its stunning views and sunset tours. |
| Most Romantic | Santorini is one of the most romantic destinations in the world, with its stunning views and sunset tours. | Santorini also has some good beach bars and clubs with a less premium feeling but with excellent services. |
| Best Nightlife | Milos would feel extremely empty in winter, and I do not recommend visiting outside of June, July, August, and September. | Santorini is also great to visit off-season and in the winter, as there are still many things to do and see apart from the beaches (such as wineries, the volcano, Akrotiri, etc.), but there is nothing on the beaches. |
| Best Beach Clubs | Santorini is Greece’s winery capital, with more than 16 wineries on the island that have been producing wine for more than 200 years. | Milos is less expensive than Santorini, and everything would generally feel cheaper on the island. |
| More wineries | Santorini is Greece’s winery capital, with more than 16 wineries on the island that have been producing wine for more than 200 years. | Enjoy the dramatic views, the wineries, and the sunset volcano cruises. |
| Ideal for | Couples, solo trips, first timers in Greece | Couples, solo trips, first-timers in Greece, quiet island |
| More Expensive | Milosis less expensive than Santorini, and everything would generally feel cheaper on the island. | Milos is less expensive than Santorini, and everything would generally feel cheaper on the island. |
| Best thing you can do: | Santorini is ideal if it is your first time in Greece. The combination of a live volcano in a sea lagoon with dramatic views and sunsets is a natural marvel you have to see once in your lifetime. In my opinion, you don’t have to revisit it (unless you really want to…). | Take a day cruise around the island, which allows you to swim alone in incredible waters in volcanic sea caves, such as Kleftiko or Papafragkas rocks. |
| Best for off-season visit (or winter November to April) | Santorini is ideal if it is your first time in Greece. The combination of a live volcano in a sea lagoon with dramatic views and sunsets is a natural marvel you have to see once in your lifetime. In my opinion, you don’t have to revisit it (unless you want to…). | Best for off-season visit (or winter, November to April) |
| Best tip you can give me: | Rent a car to move around. | Rent a car to move around. |
| Santorini is ideal if it is your first time in Greece. The combination of a live volcano in a sea lagoon with dramatic views and sunsets is a natural marvel you have to see once in your lifetime. You don’t have to visit it again, in my opinion (unless you want to…). | Santorini can be perfect for a family with kids. Still, you must stay close to the beach (Perissa or Kamari areas) because Fira, Imerovigli, or Oia might be tricky with smaller kids, especially. | Milos is a quiet island ideal for family holidays. Still, it’s probably more suitable for older kids and teenagers because the island lacks some amenities you might expect to have very close to a baby or a toddler. |
| Best for Families: | Best island for first-timers in Greece: | Milos can be perfect for a honeymoon if you want a quiet island with a beautiful natural landscape and are not too worried about fancy hotels and pretentious restaurants with views. |
| Best For Honeymoon: | Milos can be perfect for a honeymoon if you want a quiet island with a beautiful natural landscape and are not too worried about fancy hotels and pretentious restaurants with views. | Santorini is one of the best destinations in the world for a honeymoon, and it has some of the most romantic hotels in Greece. |
So, let’s see which island is better in every case, shall we?
Best Island for Attractions, Museums & Sightseeing: Santorini
Detailed Comparison:
- Santorini is diverse with many things to do, while Milos has more limited options but still quite a lot of things, as it’s a bigger island overall.
- Santorini is a small island that offers everything, including watersports, museums, 16 wineries, hiking trails, and cute and picturesque villages.
- In Santorini, you can do wine tasting in one of the 16 wineries of the island, which is an impressive number for the size of Santorini, whereas in Milos, there is only one winery.
- Milos has the following Museums and cultural sites: the Archaeological Museum, the Mining Museum, the War Museum of Milos, and the Folklore Museum.
- Santorini has more than 10 amazing museums or archaeological sites (including Akrotiri Prehistoric Site, a Tomato Industrial Museum, Museum of Prehistoric Thera, Archaeological Museum, Folklore Museum, Santozeum, Gyzi Mansion, Wine Museum, Art Space Gallery, Maritime Museum, Ancient Thera Site, and a Museum of Fossils at Perissa)
- Santorini has some amazing traditional Cycladic villages, like Fira, Pyrgos, Megalochori, Emporio, and, of course, the incredible Oia town (which can easily be the only reason to visit Santorini anyway…).
- Milos has only one typical Cycladic and picturesque town, Plaka. Adamantas is mainly the port, and Pollonia is a small fishing village.
- Santorini has an active volcano with one of the largest craters in the world, which you can actually take a tour of (!). You don’t get to see that every day, and it is the characteristic that makes Santorini’s landscape so dramatic and impressive.
- Milos is also a volcanic island with a unique geology and landscape, which is evident on the north-east side of the island on beaches such as Sarakiniko and the Sulfur Mines beach.
Best Island for Beaches: Milos
Detailed Comparison:
- Santorini has only volcanic pebble beaches (red, black, and white beaches). These are very impressive, to be honest, but you won’t find any fine sand beaches in Santorini due to the volcanic stones scattered all over the island.
- Milos has more than 30 amazing beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters. You can find quiet beaches, beaches for families, and even moon-like rock beaches such as Sarakiniko or Papafragkas. Some of them can only be reached by boat, so I believe taking a day cruise around the island (like this one) is one of the best things you can do in Milos.
- Santorini’s sea waters can be quite deep. It is the sea where you take one step, two steps… and you are in! No time to think about it.
- Milos’ sea waters can be quite shallow and are perfect for kids or seniors on most beaches (like Achivadolimni or Firiplaka). But there are so many beaches all over the island, with pebbles, golden or white sand, rocks, or thick sand.
Read more:Best Beaches in Santorini – Best Beaches in Milos
Most Romantic Island: Santorini
Detailed Comparison:
- Santorini is considered one of the most romantic destinations in the world and one of the top destinations for honeymooners. For many good reasons: sunsets, views, food, cute villages…what else do you need?
- Milos is also considered a romantic destination with a wilder feeling and vibe. If you are not worried about fancy restaurants or even looking for a more affordable destination, then Milos is an excellent destination.
Best Island for Partying & Nightlife: Santorini
If you are really looking for the best nightlife during your holidays, then you shouldn’t look at any of these two islands, in my opinion. Santorini has a few nightclubs and bars nowadays, while Milos’s nightlife is not even existent, to be honest, other than a few tavernas and bars in Adamantas and Plaka towns. If you are worried about nightlife, you should look at other Greek islands.
Best island for wine lovers: Santorini
If you want to combine your holidays with wine tasting or anything wine-related, go to Santorini. Santorini is one of the best wine destinations in Europe and home to the oldest vineyard you will find on the continent. Milos is home to only one winery, but it’s a very good.
Detailed Comparison:
- Santorini is considered the most unique (and underrated, I have to say…) wine destination in the world.
- Santorini has more than 16 Wineries and Wine Tours you can take. The wine tasting experience usually includes amazing views, refreshing local wine, and Greek meze/nibbles.
- Milos only has one very good winery: Konstantakis Cave Winery
- Santorini’s wineries are top world venues for weddings because of their romantic settings and the stunning views
- Santorini has the only wine museum in Greece.
- Santorini’s most famous local wine is the “Assyrtiko” variety, which has received hundreds of awards worldwide. You can also taste the sweet port-like wine of Santorini called “Vinsanto”
Best island for foodies: Santorini
In my honest opinion, Santorini is a great family destination. There is no shortage of incredible family hotels with many things for kids to do and explore, especially if you stay as close to the beaches of Perissa and Kamari as possible. Milos can be great for much quieter holidays. In my opinion, the best place for a family in Milos would be Pollonia, a small fishing village with nice and cute tavernas on top of a beautiful beach that is very family-oriented.
Best island for shopping: Santorini
Santorini does have some interesting art galleries and boutiques to shop around (which can be quite expensive), while Milos has very few shops overall. If shopping is vital to you, then Santorini is your destination.
Best island for seniors or people with disabilities: Milos
Santorini’s difficult terrain and the thousand-stair villages are not the best for people with disabilities or seniors… Conversely, Milos has a few fairly flat villages, such as Adamantas or Pollonia, but generally fewer amenities for seniors. I wouldn’t recommend either of the islands to any senior or older people, to be honest.
Which one is finally the best island: Santorini or Milos?
In my opinion, both islands have their charm but differ slightly in what they offer. On the one hand, Santorini is the most viral, famous, and crowded Greek island, whereas Milos is a quiet and naturally gifted island with more chill and calm vibes.
Read Also: How Many Days Do You Really Need in Santorini?
If I had to choose just one island between the two, I would probably go to Santorini for a quick trip (especially if it’s my first time in Greece). Still, I would also make sure to spend a few days in Milos to enjoy the beautiful landscape and some of the most interesting beaches in Greece.
Besides Santorini and Milos?
The great thing about Greece is that there is no shortage of amazing islands to choose from, and if I had to pick somewhere else, I would probably choose the Paros or Naxos islands. They are ideal for families, have amazing beaches, and are larger than Santorini and Milos.
Conclusion
I hope this comparison helped you out. As I said in this article, if it’s your first time in Greece, you should visit Santorini for a few days, but if you are looking for a quiet Greek island, then Milos is your destination.
The other thing about both islands is that unless you stay locked in your hotel (which something I hate personally) you would probably need a car. Yes, there are some very good bus services on both islands, but a car will always allow you to explore the island much better and more flexibly.
