Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Barcelona. 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.
Athens is a historic, ancient, and vibrant city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.
Barcelona is a laid-back, historic, and cultural city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and live music.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Barcelona and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of museums and attractions in both Barcelona and Athens.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Athens has many famous sights for visitors. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Barcelona that are not to be missed. Architecture and history all contribute to the city's impressive sights and museums. Famous landmarks include the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Casa Milà, and the Palace of Catalan Music.
Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Barcelona can be an enjoyable experience.
Eat your way through Athens, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.
For foodies, Barcelona is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. With easy access to fresh produce, there are many food markets around town. You'll also find great fresh local dishes at the many restaurants. Make sure you try the paella, croquettes, and Jamon Iberico.
The vibe at night is comparable in Athens and Barcelona.
The nightlife in Athens is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.
Barcelona is a world class party destination. The city offers an amazing nightlife at a much more affordable price than many places in Europe. There are beach parties, boat parties, and bars that stay packed late into the night. The city also hosts many street fiestas and music festivals.
Barcelona is generally considered to be a more popular shopping destination.
Many people travel to Barcelona specifically to go shopping. Head to Portal De L’Angel, Rambla de Catalunya, or Passeig De Gracia for some of the city's best shopping districts.
Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.
Both Athens and Barcelona are family-friendly destinations.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Athens. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.
Barcelona is a very family-friendly place to visit. Check out the Magic Fountains Show near Plaça d’Espanya, wander through the aquarium, or sample some chocolate at the Chocolate Museum. There are also many great parks and playgrounds around town.
For backpackers, both Athens and Barcelona are fairly comparable places to visit.
A large number of backpackers visit Athens, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.
Barcelona is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are many hostels around town, each with its own personality. Many of the hostels also organize activities or dinners for guests so it's easy to meet other travelers.
For students, both Athens and Barcelona are fairly comparable places to visit.
Many students visit Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.
Many students frequent Barcelona. This is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find international students from around the world. It's a beautiful city with plenty to see and do.
Athens and Barcelona both offer public transit to get you around.
Many visitors use the public transit system in Athens. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.
Barcelona has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There's a metro, bus, and tram system that navigates the city.
Athens and Barcelona are similar when it comes to walkability.
Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.
Barcelona is very walkable. The city is more spread out than some other major European cities, but there are many plazas and outdoor areas that are fun to explore on foot. The city has designed "superilles," which are areas where car traffic has been directed around pedestrian-friendly plazas so visitors can explore, relax, or play.
Both Athens and Barcelona have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Athens is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Barcelona is 3-7 days.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the big city destination of Barcelona. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Barcelona is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Barcelona. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Athens is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Athens, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the historic big city of Barcelona. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €103, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is €123. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Barcelona in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Barcelona? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
Prices for flights to both Barcelona 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona than you might in Athens.
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.
Both Barcelona and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Athens is a little warmer than Barcelona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July are around 27°C (81°F), and Barcelona is about 23°C (73°F).
In Barcelona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Barcelona. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 308 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Barcelona. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Barcelona. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year.
In October, Athens is generally a little warmer than Barcelona. Temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Barcelona stays around 17°C (63°F).
In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Barcelona during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Barcelona. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Barcelona. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Barcelona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Athens is a little warmer than Barcelona in the winter. The temperature in Athens is usually 10°C (51°F) in January, and Barcelona stays around 9°C (48°F).
In the winter, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Barcelona. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 146 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Barcelona. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Barcelona and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Barcelona in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Athens is a little warmer than Barcelona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April are around 16°C (60°F), and Barcelona is about 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Barcelona. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Barcelona during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Barcelona. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Athens | Barcelona | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
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