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

Should you visit Athens or Dublin?

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 Dublin. 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.

Dublin

Dublin is a laid-back, friendly, and welcoming city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping.

Athens and Dublin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Dublin?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Athens than Dublin. While Dublin is larger than Athens, Athens has more sights and attractions for tourists. Athens is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Dublin is known for its music and shopping. 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. Dublin is popular for its friendly and social nightlife, its local pubs, and its role as the birthplace of Guinness.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Dublin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is terrific for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dublin 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Dublin. There are a number of museums around town including the National Museum of Ireland, the Little Museum of Dublin, and the National Gallery of Ireland.

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

Athens is terrific for its restaurant scene. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Athens is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

Dublin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Seafood has become popular around town, but you can also try traditional favorites like stew, pancakes, or coddle.

Is Athens or Dublin Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is world-class in both Athens and Dublin.

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.

Dublin is a world class party destination. Temple Bar is where you'll find the greatest concentration of pubs and nightlife. The city is among the friendliest and most welcoming, and this is seen even in the vibe around town at night.

Is Athens or Dublin Better for Music?

Dublin is great for its music scene. However, Athens is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Dublin draws a good crowd. The best places to hear live music around town are the back street pubs that feature local groups.

Athens is not a live music destination.

Is Athens or Dublin Better for its Old Town?

Athens is terrific for its old town. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

Athens has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. 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.

Dublin is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. On the south side of the River Liffey are three different historic parts to the city. The Medieval Quarter is the oldest. To the east is Temple Bar, and further east is the Georgian Quarter.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Dublin?

Dublin 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 Dublin. Head to Grafton Street to see a number of brand name and local shops. It's a pedestrian street that is fun to wander around.

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 Dublin Better for Families?

Both Athens and Dublin are great 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.

Dublin is a very family-friendly place to visit. Explore the waterways with the viking splash, learn about the vikings at the museum Dublina, or visit any of the other kid-friendly museums around town, or see a show at The Gaiety.

Is Athens or Dublin Better for Couples?

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

Dublin is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's laid-back vibe and countless pubs make it a fun weekend getaway for couples.

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 Dublin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is terrific for backpackers. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Dublin. There are a number of popular backpacker hostels around town. The pub scene is also popular with the young crowd.

Is Athens or Dublin Better for Students?

Athens is a great destination for students. Also, Dublin is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Athens is a great city to visit as a student. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

It's common for students to visit Dublin. While student accommodation can be a bit expensive in town, the nightlife and social aspect of living in the city center makes it well worth it.

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

Athens is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Dublin 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 Dublin offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Athens or Dublin a more walkable city?

Dublin 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.

Dublin is a very easy city to get around on foot. Because it is so compact and flat, it is easy to explore the city center on foot.

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 Dublin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dublin or Athens?

How long in Athens or Dublin?

In either Athens or Dublin, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than Dublin because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-5 days is enough time in Dublin.

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

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

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 food and shopping when visiting the destination of Dublin. 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 Dublin?

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.

Dublin is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the nightlife, 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 Dublin?

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 Dublin. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. 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.

A week in Athens or Dublin?

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 nightlife and live music when visiting the laid-back destination of Dublin. This city 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 Walking Tours in Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Dublin, we can see that Dublin 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.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Dublin?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 40% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Dublin, 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 Dublin?

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 Dublin in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Dublin. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Dublin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Athens is generally much warmer than Dublin. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Dublin fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Dublin. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 166 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Dublin. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Dublin in the Autumn?

Both Dublin and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Dublin because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Athens is much warmer than Dublin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Dublin fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Dublin during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Dublin receives 97 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Dublin. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Dublin in the Winter?

Both Dublin and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dublin this time of year.

In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Dublin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Dublin averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Dublin. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dublin receives 56 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Dublin. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Dublin in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Dublin. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Dublin for the activities around the city.

In April, Athens is generally much warmer than Dublin. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Dublin fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Dublin during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Dublin receives 157 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Dublin. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dublin and Athens