I'm starting to plan a trip to Greece which is a part of a larger to trip to Italy and possibly one other Mediterranean destination. I am traveling alone and I would like to go to (I think?) Santorini and or Mykonos for three or four days. I know virtually nothing about the Greek Isles, but the pictures I have seen of Santorini over the years have blown me away. I am not a fan of sitting around by a pool doing nothing, and I can also get tired of a place after a few days. I am also concerned about traveling alone in what seems to be a very couple-y kind of place.

I would love any suggestions or advice. What are the differences between Santorini and Mykonos? Should I visit both islands or just one. Is three days in Santorini a good amount of time? What kinds of things are there to do other than chill by the pool.

Thank you.

Santorini has much to offer for singles, and enough to do to keep you very busy if you're only there for a few days. While Santorini is all about the scenery, Mykonos has good beaches, a beautiful chora (main town), and easy access to the wonderful archaeological site on Delos. In high season Mykonos gets busy, and prices are higher than on other islands.

You might also consider Naxos or Paros, both on the same ferry route as Santorini. These islands are a little less touristy than Mykonos, have even better beaches, and some interesting inland villages showing a more traditional side of Greek life.

It would be helpful to know what month you plan to be on the islands, and how many days in total you have to spare.

Thank you for the response. I am looking at the first week in October. I am fairly flexible at this point, but I was thinking 3 or four days. Santorini looks spectacular, but it seems very small, and I wonder if even three days is too much for me there, whether I would start to get a little bored or stir crazy...does Mykonos have more to do and see? Maybe I could do two or three nights in Mykonos and ferry to Santorini for one day or a night?

Both islands are small, but I think you will find more to do on Santorini. Brotherleelove is our Santorini expert, and he can give you a rundown on what to do while there.

The summer party scene on Mykonos will be over, but there should still be some pleasant beach weather. Apart from beaches, Mykonos has a beautiful town and easy access to the ancient site at Delos (closed Mondays).

One day or night is not much use on any island, so if you have only 3 or 4 days suggest you stick to one island. Hopefully you will save some time for Athens before you leave Greece.

You could also combine Mykonos with Syros, where you could stay in Ermoupolis, the capital of all the cyclades islands.
It's a fascinating very alive city, with many things tom do.
The city is split is 2 neighbourhoos, the greek orthodox,and the greek catholic one, where you can walk walk for hours admiring the neoclassical but also the typical whitewashed houses. Syrosmis very well connected to both Athens and Mykonos.

To balance off the high tourism of Santorini, we spent most of our time on Sifnos and Milos. Parts of Santorini felt like a destination created for tourists, but I wouldn't have missed it. We rented a car for a 3-day stay in July and explored all the pretty villages on the island. Check to see if Akortiri, Minoan site, is open (closed when we were there). Plus, you can see the ruins of Ancient Thira. There are cool black beachs on Santorini. Sunsets are beautiful. Eating breakfast on the rim of a volcano is an amazing experience.

If Santorini is a must-see on your list of places to visit in the world, I'd go. I agree with others who suggest considering different islands. Depending on how you like to spend your time, another island may offer more to explore and a bit more Greek culture than you'll find in Santorini. There are so many wonderful places in Greece and don't miss Athens. Have a great time!