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

Should you visit Santorini or Imperia?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Imperia, 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 beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Santorini travel costs.

Imperia

Imperia is a charming, undiscovered, and authentic town. Imperia is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Imperia travel costs.

Santorini and Imperia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Imperia?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santorini. Although Santorini and Imperia are both popular with visitors, Santorini has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santorini is more touristy than Imperia 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. Imperia is popular for its access to the Ligurian coastline.

How is Santorini different from Imperia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Imperia. There are several interesting buildings of importance around town.

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

Santorini is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town 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 Imperia. Food ranges from typical Italian dishes to local recipes that use local ingredients. Unique ingredients in the area include trumpet zucchini, flat breads, and anchovies.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Imperia. There are some bars and lively restaurants around town where you can spend an enjoyable evening.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Resorts?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Imperia 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.

Imperia is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

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

Imperia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Beaches?

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

Imperia is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for its Old Town?

Santorini is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Imperia does not have a historic old town.

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.

Imperia does not have a historic old town.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Hiking?

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

Imperia is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Imperia?

Santorini is notable for its shopping areas. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Imperia. There are some shopping streets in town that have a mix of local brands and standard clothing shops.

Is Santorini or Imperia More Beautiful?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its scenery and 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.

Imperia is a gorgeous place to visit. There are beautiful views and breathtaking countryside in the area.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Families?

Santorini and Imperia are both good destinations for the whole family.

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.

Imperia is a family-friendly place to visit. There's some nice walking trails in the countryside that the kids will enjoy.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Couples?

Santorini is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Imperia 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.

Imperia is a nice destination for couples. It's a beautiful town with a nice atmosphere that offers a nice break from the tourist crowds.

Is Santorini or Imperia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Santorini and Imperia 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.

Imperia is a good island to visit for backpackers. Accommodation tends to be affordable and there's an off-the-beaten-path vibe that some backpackers will appreciate.

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

Santorini and Imperia 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.

Imperia has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to different areas.

Is Santorini or Imperia a more walkable city?

Santorini and Imperia are good when it comes to walkability.

Santorini is a somewhat walkable place. Many towns on the island are walkable, including Fira, but the actual island is too large to explore on foot.

Imperia is a somewhat walkable island. Parts of the town are convenient to walk around.

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

Should I spend more time in Imperia or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Imperia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Santorini or Imperia to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Santorini than Imperia because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 1-2 days is enough time in Imperia.

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

Santorini is a small town with plenty to do. 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 shopping and museums around the town of Imperia. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Imperia has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Santorini or Imperia?

Santorini might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 undiscovered destination of Imperia. 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 Imperia?

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 food when visiting the charming town of Imperia. 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 Imperia?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santorini. Santorini is a small town where visitors enjoy the 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.

Imperia 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 Walking Tours in Italy, and The Best Luxury Tours to Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Imperia?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Imperia. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Imperia, 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.