Should you visit Athens or Ankara?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Ankara. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Ankara?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
Which place is cheaper, Ankara or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Ankara is €120. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Ankara in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Ankara? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here:
Athens Hotel Prices and
Ankara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Athens Airport To Piraeus Port / Hotel Private Luxury Transfer :
$44
-
Athens to Piraeus (Athens) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer:
$33
-
Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi:
$220
-
3 Islands 1 Day from Athens (Hydra - Poros - Aegina) - Hotel Transfer Included:
$170
-
3 Islands 1 Day from Hydra - Poros - Aegina, No Transfer:
$155
-
A mini Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers from airport / port.:
$261
-
AIRPORT TRANSFER in Athens :
$29
-
Accessible Private Transfer WAV from Athens Airport to Port Rafina:
$43
-
Airport Transfer:
$110
-
Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece:
$29
-
Airport pick up taxi and minivans transfers ,tours and trips :
$66
-
Airport to Nafplio by Mercedes E Class Wagon Private Transfer:
$389
Typical Local Transportation prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
-
Metro Ride
€0.04
-
Short Taxi Ride
€0.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Amasra Town:
$401
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Safranbolu Town:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Cappadocia Region:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Konya City:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Eskişehir City:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Hattusa Ancient City:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Abant National Park:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kartalkaya Ski Resort:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Ilgaz National Park:
$335
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town:
$185
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town:
$185
-
Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City:
$185
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Ankara?
Prices for flights to both Ankara and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food
Meals for one day
Athens €37
Ankara €34
Typical Food prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
-
Ice cream
€3.00
-
Souvlaki
€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner:
$22
-
Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner:
$23
-
Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens:
$42
-
Foodies’ Favorite Food tour:
$46
-
Greek Street Food Tour:
$49
-
Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries:
$49
-
Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens:
$50
-
Oriental Kitchen Cooking Classes in Athina:
$53
-
Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina:
$53
-
Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina:
$54
-
Oriental Kitchen Cooking Classes in Athina:
$54
-
Sights and Food Tour on an Electric Bicycle:
$57
Typical Food prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
-
Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour:
$3.27
-
Escape Game and Tour:
$3.27
-
Hadrian's Library Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$4.39
-
Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket:
$5.44
-
Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens:
$5.48
-
A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.50
-
360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens:
$6.00
-
Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.00
-
Roman Agora of Athens Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$6.04
-
Temple of Olympian Zeus Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$6.04
-
Plaka Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.20
-
Self-guided Virtual Tour of Ancient Agora: The Highlights:
$6.57
Typical Entertainment prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
20-Day St.Paul Missionary Tour:
$4,352
-
8-Day EcoTourism Turkey Tour:
$1,090
-
Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide:
$220
-
Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide:
$6.00
-
Private Tour with a Local:
$38
-
Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara:
$6.00
-
Cappadocia and Central Anatolia Tour with Professional Tour Guide:
$785
-
Daily Ankara Tour:
$471
-
Daily Hattusas / Boğazköy Tour:
$358
-
From Private Cappadocia & Underground City Tour:
$343
-
Full Day Cappadocia Private Tour:
$450
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
-
Polykala Distillery showroom. A125 years of history along with liqueur tasting.:
$15
-
Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens:
$18
-
The NightCrawlers | Athens Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Wine Tasting in Athens:
$20
-
The Original Athens Pub Crawl - Athens Drunk Tour:
$21
-
Greek Wine Tasting:
$23
-
The Original Athens Pub Crawl - Athens Drunk Tour:
$26
-
Wine Tasting:
$35
-
Athens Wine Tasting:
$35
-
Athens Speakeasy & Alternative Bar Crawl: Discover Hidden Gems:
$38
-
Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier:
$43
-
Organic and Vegan Indigenous Wine Tasting Private Experience:
$44
When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Ankara, we can see that Athens is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Ankara?
Ankara is bigger, and its population is about 4.8 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the population of Athens vs. Ankara, 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 and the activities that interest you.
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