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

Should you visit Athens or Frankfurt?

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 Frankfurt. 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 ancient, vibrant, and energetic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a diverse, accessible, and modern city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Frankfurt: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Frankfurt?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens. Although Athens and Frankfurt are about the same size, Athens has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Frankfurt attracts visitors for its shopping. Athens is more touristy than Frankfurt and is known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Frankfurt is famous for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Frankfurt?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Frankfurt can be an interesting and educational experience. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its restaurants. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Frankfurt makes for a great culinary experience. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

Is Athens or Frankfurt Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

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.

The people in Frankfurt know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

Is Athens or Frankfurt Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

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.

Many visitors go to Frankfurt to see the historical old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Frankfurt?

Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

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 Frankfurt Better for Families?

Both Athens and Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt is a very family-friendly place to visit. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Is Athens or Frankfurt Better for Couples?

Athens and Frankfurt both nice destinations for a couple.

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

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Athens or Frankfurt Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

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.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Frankfurt. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Is Athens or Frankfurt Better for Students?

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

Frankfurt is a very popular place to visit for students. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

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 Frankfurt Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

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

Visitors in Frankfurt can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Public transit in Athens is fairly effecient and thorough. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

Is Athens or Frankfurt a more walkable city?

Athens and Frankfurt 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.

Frankfurt is very walkable. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Frankfurt or Athens?

How long in Athens or Frankfurt?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Frankfurt. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Frankfurt. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-3 days is enough time in Frankfurt.

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

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

People visit Athens because there is so much to do. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 museums and nightlife when visiting the big city destination of Frankfurt. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Frankfurt?

People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

Frankfurt is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. 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 Frankfurt?

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. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Frankfurt. 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 Frankfurt?

Athens is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the accessible big city of Frankfurt. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Frankfurt, 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.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Frankfurt?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Frankfurt. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Frankfurt, 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 Frankfurt?

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 Frankfurt in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Frankfurt. Many travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Frankfurt in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Athens is a little warmer than Frankfurt in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Frankfurt this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 225 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Frankfurt. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Frankfurt in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Frankfurt. 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 Frankfurt for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Athens is much warmer than Frankfurt. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Frankfurt averages at about 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 103 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Frankfurt. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Frankfurt in the Winter?

Both Frankfurt and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Frankfurt can be very cold. In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Frankfurt. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Frankfurt fluctuates around 1°C (34°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Frankfurt during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Frankfurt receives 41 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives around the same amount of rain as Frankfurt. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Frankfurt in the Spring?

Both Frankfurt and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.

Athens is much warmer than Frankfurt in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Frankfurt fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Frankfurt. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Frankfurt receives 163 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Frankfurt. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Frankfurt receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Frankfurt and Athens