A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aegina vs. Pompeii for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Aegina or Pompeii?

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

Should I visit Aegina or Pompeii? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Aegina

Aegina is a vibrant, fun, and active island. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a iconic, one-of-a-kind, and ancient archeological site. Other popular activities here include museums.

Aegina and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Pompeii?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Pompeii. Although Aegina and Pompeii are popular destinations, Pompeii has more sights and attractions for tourists. Pompeii is very popular for its museums, while Aegina attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and small town charm. Pompeii is more touristy than Aegina and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It is also well known for the Pompeii Archaeological Ruins. Aegina is famous for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens.

The Pompeii Archaeological Ruins

How is Aegina different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pompeii and Aegina. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aegina or Pompeii?

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Pompeii on the map. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

Many visitors head to Aegina specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

Is the Food Better in Aegina or Pompeii? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Aegina is very good for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Aegina is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Aegina is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

Aegina has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Beaches?

Aegina is very good for the beach. However, Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Aegina to enjoy the beach. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Pompeii?

Aegina is very good for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

Aegina has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Families?

Pompeii is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Pompeii is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

Aegina offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Aegina and Pompeii make for a nice place to visit.

Aegina is a good island for couples to visit. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aegina and Pompeii are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Aegina. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Pompeii is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Students?

Pompeii is a popular place for students. However, Aegina is not popular with students.

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

Aegina is not popular with students.

Is Aegina or Pompeii Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Aegina and Pompeii.

You'll find some public transit in Aegina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

While Pompeii offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Aegina or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii is an amazing archeological site to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Pompeii on foot is easy. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

Aegina is somewhat walkable. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Aegina Worth Visiting? and Is Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Aegina or Pompeii to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Aegina than Pompeii. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Aegina that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Aegina than Pompeii 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 Aegina.

One day in Aegina or Pompeii?

In Aegina, you'll find nightlife and food. This island offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Pompeii. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Aegina or Pompeii?

In Aegina, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Aegina has to offer.

Pompeii is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Aegina or Pompeii?

Aegina is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pompeii. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Aegina or Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aegina. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Aegina. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the one-of-a-kind destination of Pompeii. This archeological site offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii is more expensive. And not only is Aegina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aegina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aegina 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 Pompeii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pompeii than you might in Aegina.

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

When is the best time to visit Aegina or Pompeii?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aegina or Pompeii in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Pompeii. The beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Pompeii for the family-friendly experiences.

Aegina is a little warmer than Pompeii in the summer. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aegina this time of the year. In the summer, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in July than Pompeii. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Pompeii in the Autumn?

Both Pompeii and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Aegina for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Aegina is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aegina in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Pompeii averages at about 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aegina. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pompeii. In October, Aegina usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aegina or Pompeii in the Winter?

Both Pompeii and Aegina during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Aegina in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Pompeii for the museums during these months.

In January, Aegina is generally a little warmer than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 10°C (51°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

Pompeii gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aegina usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Pompeii in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Pompeii. Most visitors come to Aegina for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

Aegina is a little warmer than Pompeii in the spring. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Aegina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Aegina usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Aegina