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

Should you visit Athens or Birmingham?

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 Birmingham. 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 energetic, historic, and ancient city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a fun-filled, bustling, and historic city. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music.

Athens and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Birmingham?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Athens than Birmingham. While Birmingham is larger than Athens, Athens has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Athens is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Birmingham is more popular for its theatre productions, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere. Athens is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. Also, Athens is famous for The Acropolis. Birmingham is well known for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Birmingham 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 Birmingham?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Athens from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is great for its shows and theatre. However, Athens is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham offers many theater and performance venues for visitors. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Athens is not a theatre destination.

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Athens has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Athens has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

Birmingham has plenty to do after the sun goes down. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Athens is not a live music destination.

Birmingham has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Athens is not a live music destination.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Athens offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. 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.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Birmingham?

Birmingham is great for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

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.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Families?

Both Athens and Birmingham are high quality 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.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Birmingham is great for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Birmingham is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

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 Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Athens. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Athens or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for students. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Athens is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

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

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

Visitors to Athens can move around easily with public transportation. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Athens or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Athens and Birmingham are high quality 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.

Birmingham is very walkable. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Athens?

How long in Athens or Birmingham?

In either Athens or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than Birmingham because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Birmingham 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 Birmingham?

When visiting Athens, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of Birmingham. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Birmingham?

When visiting Athens, people usually allow for lots of time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Birmingham is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, 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 Birmingham?

Athens, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Athens or Birmingham?

Athens is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the vibrant destination of Birmingham. This city 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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Birmingham, 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 Birmingham?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Athens or Birmingham in the Summer?

Both Birmingham and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Birmingham in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Athens is much warmer than Birmingham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Birmingham averages at about 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 196 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Birmingham. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Birmingham in the Autumn?

Both Birmingham and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Birmingham for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months.

In October, Athens is generally much warmer than Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Birmingham. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 103 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Birmingham. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Birmingham in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Birmingham. Most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in Birmingham can be very cold. Athens is much warmer than Birmingham in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Birmingham fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 58 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives less rain than Birmingham. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Birmingham in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Birmingham. The spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Athens is much warmer than Birmingham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Birmingham averages at about 9°C (48°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Birmingham. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 136 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Birmingham. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Birmingham and Athens