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

Should you visit Santorini or Dublin?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Dublin, 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. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. The famous beauty of Santorini is one of the main draws. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Santorini travel costs.

Dublin

Dublin is a laid-back, friendly, and welcoming city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and live music. See Dublin travel costs.

Santorini and Dublin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Dublin?

You'll generally find more things to do in Dublin than Santorini. Dublin is bigger than Santorini, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Dublin is better known for its museums and attractions, nightlife, music, historical sights, and big city activities, while Santorini is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Santorini is more touristy than Dublin and is popular for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. Dublin is well known for its friendly and social nightlife, its local pubs, and its role as the birthplace of Guinness. Also, Dublin is famous for The Guinness Storehouse.

How is Santorini different from Dublin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Dublin 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 Dublin can be an interesting and educational experience. There are a number of museums around town including the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland.

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 Dublin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Santorini and Dublin can be an enjoyable experience.

Santorini has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

Dining out in Dublin is an experience not to be missed. Seafood has become popular around town, but you can also try traditional favorites like stew, pancakes, or coddle.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Nightlife?

Dublin is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Dublin is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Temple Bar is where you'll find the greatest concentration of pubs and nightlife. The city is among the friendliest and most welcoming, and this is seen even in the vibe around town at night.

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 Dublin Better for Music?

Dublin is a great city for its live music scene. However, Santorini is not a live music destination.

Dublin has a thriving music scene. The best places to hear live music around town are the back street pubs that feature local groups.

Santorini is not a live music destination.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Resorts?

Santorini is terrific for its resorts. However, Dublin is not a resort destination.

Santorini offers an unforgettable resort vacation. 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.

Dublin is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Dublin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santorini has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Dublin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Beaches?

Santorini is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Dublin is not a beach destination.

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.

Dublin is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for its Old Town?

Dublin is a great city for its old town. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its historic old town charm.

Many visitors go to Dublin to see the historical old town. On the south side of the River Liffey are three different historic parts to the city. The Medieval Quarter is the oldest. To the east is Temple Bar, and further east is the Georgian Quarter.

Santorini offers a nice historic old town area. 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.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Dublin is not a hiking destination.

Santorini has hiking trails worth exploring. 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.

Dublin is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Dublin?

If you're looking to go shopping, Santorini and Dublin both offer plenty of superb 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 Dublin. Head to Grafton Street to see a number of brand name and local shops. It's a pedestrian street that is fun to wander around.

Is Santorini or Dublin More Beautiful?

Santorini is terrific for its scenery and beauty. However, Dublin is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Santorini is one of the main draws. It has striking blue water and contrasting white buildings. It is the place many travelers dream of visiting for its picturesque setting.

Dublin is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Families?

Dublin 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, Dublin is very family-friendly. Explore the waterways with the viking splash, learn about the vikings at the museum Dublina, or visit any of the other kid-friendly museums around town, or see a show at The Gaiety.

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 Dublin Better for Couples?

Santorini is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Santorini has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Dublin is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. It's laid-back vibe and countless pubs make it a fun weekend getaway for couples.

Is Santorini or Dublin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers visit Dublin. There are a number of popular backpacker hostels around town. The pub scene is also popular with the young crowd.

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 Dublin Better for Students?

Dublin 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 Dublin. While student accommodation can be a bit expensive in town, the nightlife and social aspect of living in the city center makes it well worth it.

Santorini is not popular with students.

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

Santorini and Dublin 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.

Dublin has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Santorini or Dublin a more walkable city?

Dublin is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

Dublin is a very easy city to get around on foot. Because it is so compact and flat, it is easy to explore the city center 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 Dublin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dublin or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Dublin?

In either Santorini or Dublin, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santorini than Dublin because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 2-5 days is enough time in Dublin.

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

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

One day in Santorini or Dublin?

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 nightlife and live music around the city of Dublin. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Dublin?

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 live music and food around the fun destination of Dublin. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Dublin?

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.

You'll find food and shopping around the fun city of Dublin. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Santorini or Dublin?

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.

Dublin is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Walking Tours in Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Dublin?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 71% larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Dublin, 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.