A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Athens vs. Beaune for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Athens or Beaune?

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 Beaune. 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

Athens is a vibrant, energetic, and historic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a culinary, quaint, and vineyard-filled town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Beaune?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens. Although Athens and Beaune are both popular with visitors, Athens has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Athens is more popular for its museums, nightlife, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Beaune is known for its small town charm. Athens is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also home to The Acropolis. Beaune is popular for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Athens or Beaune?

Athens is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Athens are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.

Beaune offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

Is the Food Better in Athens or Beaune? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Beaune 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, Beaune is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Nightlife?

Athens is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Athens is a must-see party destination. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

If you're looking for night time activities Beaune has a few options to choose from. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the terrific old town areas in both Athens and Beaune.

With a famous historical old-town, Athens offers plenty to see. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.

The rich history of Beaune can be explored in its historical center. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Beaune?

If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Beaune both offer plenty of good spots.

Athens has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Beaune is a great destination for shopping. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Families?

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

Athens is a very kid-friendly city. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

Beaune offers lots of family activities. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Beaune is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Athens is a nice destination for couples. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is terrific for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Athens. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Students?

Athens is a great destination for students. However, Beaune is not popular with students.

Many students visit Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Beaune is not popular with students.

Is Athens or Beaune Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Athens is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Beaune is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Athens can get you around easily. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

While Beaune offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Athens or Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Beaune is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

Athens is very walkable. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Beaune Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Athens?

How long in Athens or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Athens or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Athens due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Beaune 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 Athens.

One day in Athens or Beaune?

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Beaune. 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.

A weekend in Athens or Beaune?

Athens 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.

Beaune is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, 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 Athens or Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beaune. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Athens or Beaune?

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Beaune. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Beaune, we can see that Beaune 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 Beaune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaune than you might in Athens.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Beaune?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Beaune, 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 along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Athens or Beaune?

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 Athens or Beaune in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Beaune. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Beaune. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beaune. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Beaune. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Beaune. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Beaune in the Autumn?

Both Beaune and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Beaune for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

Athens is much warmer than Beaune in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Beaune fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Beaune during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Beaune. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beaune in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Beaune can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Beaune. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Beaune averages at about 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Beaune. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Beaune. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Beaune in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Beaune. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beaune for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Athens is generally a little warmer than Beaune. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Beaune during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Beaune. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Athens