Mykonos and Santorini are horrible

[exer]

Just returned from an island hopping trip around Greece. Started in Santorini and ended in Mykonos. Both are vastly overpriced and overdeveloped islands.

Anyone agree? Other than the view, don’t get what the fuss is about.

In August? Yes probably. But they are both amazing islands that suffer badly from over tourism, especially in summer when the huge cruise ships visit.

Visit them in October and it's completely different.

I guess it depends on why you visited those islands.

I would never go - it’s a known fact they’re overdeveloped, full of Instagram tourists, and in a much different place than 10 years ago, when I might’ve understood the desire to go there.

“The fuss” is exactly about what you mentioned: overpriced trendy destination (even more so in the summer), but cool to post about online.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/30/mayor-of-santorini-warns-of-overtourism-crisis-greece

PS not saying they are not beautiful or worth visiting. I just don’t go to overcrowded, popular destinations if I can avoid it. That’s why I said your motivation might determine the answer.

I haven’t been to Santorini but I agree about Mykonos. Really crowded and I got fed up of the coststant wind after a couple of days.

We spent a week in Santorini this summer. It was heavenly. Our evening in Oia was chaotic but we had a wander around and then found a lovely quiet bar with the perfect sunset view.

We saw a lot of the island and found it to be really lovely.

Everywhere I have been in the last few years is vastly different and more crowded than 10/20/30 years ago. I had either been in the past or knew of it’s great reputation for exclusivity. But then again before we were born they were paradises and more exclusive, but people did not travel as much and certainly the masses didn’t, now I see Indian, Chinese, South American tourists in Europe and worldwide where I go in droves, that never used to happen. Now many more people can go, the world population has doubled, but you and me are part of those crowds.

Unless a country or island puts in restrictions on tourists somehow they will all be overcrowded, it’s just supply and demand.

Go to Malta before it becomes the same!! Way more beautiful.

Disagree that they’re ‘overdeveloped’ or ‘horrible’. Prices and summer crowds were predictable, if out of your budget and / or you dislike crowds you just made a choice you don’t think turned out well for you.

I think Santorini is the most beautiful place I've ever been

I didn't stay in Oia but Imerovigli. Visited Oia twice and thought it lovely but busy, the museum was fantastic as were the churches

It was pretty awful in Santorini 10 years ago even at the start of May and not staying in Oia either. My least favourite Greek destination by far, even though it’s definitely pretty.

It was the place that made me keen to stop going to destinations just because I saw them online or because others went there actually! It really opened my eyes about how damaging overtourism can be for a place and its people. Sorry you had a bad time!

They are just overly touristy, have been for about a decade.

Oh I love Santorini. Stay outside of oía and it’s beautiful.

Mykonos is fun if you want to go to beach clubs/bars etc.

I liked it and had fun but I knew it wasn’t authentic Greece. Definitely not horrible!

Santorini is absolutely rank June-August, if you don’t take careful steps to hide somewhere away from the crowds. couldn’t agree more. gorgeous at other times of the year but i appreciate people want sun in their summer and dont all have the option of popping off for a laye springor mid autumn jaunt.

Have to admit Mykonos always left me a bit cold anyway. Anything you’re looking for in my opinion can be found for a fraction of the cost and the stress on another island. Whether that be food, music, beaches, water or even raves!

Santorini was brilliant in the 80's, there was no airport and it took 9 hours on a ferry to get there, did loads of Greek island hopping then, islands without airports are better. Mykonos was a bit shit even then!

I had lots of fun on both, but I much prefer Antiparos. That’s the best of the Cyclades.

Favourite Greek island overall is probably Crete.

Santorini in particular is an incredibly beautiful place, but it's absolutely packed - especially in August - and I'd avoid like the plague as a result. April or October it's quite different (though you might still get ripped off!). Mykonos isn't quite as packed nor as pretty IMO and I've never really got what the fuss was about there.
The beauty of Greece is that there are islands and towns/villages for everyone - whether that's busy, historic, pretty, or quiet.
If this was your first time in Greece then I urge you to really research destinations to find somewhere that offers you what you want from a holiday.

I hated everything about Santorini.
Oia was literally a different level of hell when the cruise ships were in .

Mykonos has always been a bit of a party island and not somewhere I would go for relaxation

I would never go back to these islands. They were both too touristy 45 years ago!

I go to Sifnos, which is much more low key. Have never been to Greece in July or August though, it always looks too hot. I tend to avoid staying anywhere with an airport for longer than it takes to get a ferry. I do want to see Santorini tho

I have just read a news article saying that these islands are suffering from over tourism, especially from the cruise ships.

They need to scale back the number of visitors.

They’re only horrible in the way that the Canaries are horrible - busy and touristy. Although I’d still prefer Mykonos and Santorini to Lanzarote. I think if you’re very rich with 24/7 private transfers then Mykonos can be a lot of fun. I agree that Greece has much more to offer!!

@exer which of the islands s
were your favourite?