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

Should you visit Santorini or Bergen?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Bergen, 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. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty in Santorini as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Santorini travel costs.

Bergen

Bergen is a laid back, nostalgic, and friendly city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Bergen travel costs.

Santorini and Bergen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Bergen?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santorini than Bergen, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Santorini is more touristy than Bergen 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. Bergen is popular for its breathtaking fjords, classic wooden houses, and surrounding mountain beauty.

How is Santorini different from Bergen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Bergen. There are some interesting local museums such as the Hanseatic Museum, the Edvard Grieg Museum, and the KODE Museums.

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

Santorini is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Santorini is an experience not to be missed. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bergen. The city's economy has long been centered around the fish trade and even today you'll find cod, shellfish, trout, and salmon on most menus. Sheep and mutton are also popular. Desserts and coffee are also a big part of the local culture.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Bergen. It's a small city without a huge nightlife district, but there are bars and clubs in Bryggen and Old Bulls Plass. The city has enough students to keep things lively and fun.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Resorts?

Santorini is very popular for its resorts. However, Bergen 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.

Bergen is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

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

Bergen is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Beaches?

Santorini is a popular place for the beach. However, Bergen 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.

Bergen is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for its Old Town?

Santorini and Bergen both have good historical old towns that attract visitors.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Santorini. The historic towns of Fira and Oia are the two most popular with visitors, although they have become more built up and less historic over the past few decades. Historical areas are still found within these towns mixed in with restaurants, shops, and hotels set among the beautiful cliff-side views.

Bergen offers a nice historic old town area. The wooden buildings and compact streets have a quaint and nostalgic atmosphere.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bergen 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.

Bergen is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Bergen?

If you're looking to go shopping, Santorini and Bergen both offer plenty of very good spots.

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.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Bergen. The city center is filled with specialty boutiques as well as larger department stores. Shopping has long been a large part of the economy and you'll enjoy exploring the diversity of retail options.

Is Santorini or Bergen More Beautiful?

Santorini is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, Bergen is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Santorini as well. It has striking blue water and contrasting white buildings. It is the place many travelers dream of visiting for its picturesque setting.

Bergen is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Families?

Bergen 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, Bergen is very family-friendly. There are some interesting educational opportunities for kids including the Bergen Aquarium, VilVite Science Centre, and Experience Bryggen. Other fun activities include Vannkanten Waterworld and the Fløibanen Funicular.

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 Bergen Better for Couples?

Santorini is very popular for couples. Also, Bergen is not as famous, but is still a good city 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.

Bergen makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many romantic activities near town like swimming in the fjords and walking through the parks. There are also spas and music concerts to enjoy.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Santorini and Bergen are good 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.

Bergen is a good island to visit for backpackers. There are a few hostels and guesthouses around town where backpackers can meet other travelers.

Is Santorini or Bergen Better for Students?

Bergen 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 Bergen. It's a very student-friendly city with many activities and a laid back atmosphere. The university facilities are spread out around town and the locals are welcoming and helpful.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Bergen is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its public transit.

The public transit in Bergen can get you around easily. For the areas that are outside of the city center, you can take a local bus or the light rail to access them. These services are operated by Skyss.

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.

Is Santorini or Bergen a more walkable city?

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

Bergen is a very walkable city. The city center is flat and compact enough that it's fun to explore on foot.

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 Bergen Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bergen or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Bergen?

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

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

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

Santorini might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 shopping and museums around the city of Bergen. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bergen has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Bergen?

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 museums and nightlife around the laid back destination of Bergen. 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 Bergen?

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 nightlife and food when visiting the friendly city of Bergen. 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 Bergen?

Santorini is a small town with plenty to do. 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.

Bergen 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 10-Day Tours in Norway, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Bergen?

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