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

Should you visit Athens or Girona?

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 Girona. 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 historic, ancient, and vibrant 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 nightlife, food, and shopping.

Girona

Girona is a ancient, charming, and beautiful city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Athens and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Girona?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Athens than Girona, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Athens is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Girona is known for its shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Athens is more touristy than Girona and 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. Girona is popular for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its sights and museums. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Girona offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

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.

Girona has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Is Athens or Girona Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Athens or Girona Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Girona can be explored in its historical center. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Girona?

Girona 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 Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

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 Girona Better for Families?

Athens is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city 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.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Athens or Girona Better for Couples?

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

Girona is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

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 Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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 visit Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Athens or Girona Better for Students?

Athens is a well-known place for students. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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

Plenty of students visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

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

Athens is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

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

Girona has some public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Athens or Girona a more walkable city?

Girona 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.

Girona is a very easy city to get around on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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 Girona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Girona or Athens?

How long in Athens or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Athens or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Athens than Girona because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-2 days is enough time in Girona.

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

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

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 shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Girona. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Girona?

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.

Girona 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 Girona?

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 Girona. 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 Girona?

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 colorful destination of Girona. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Girona, we can see that Girona 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 Girona Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Athens or Girona?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Girona. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Girona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Girona. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Girona. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Girona. 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. Furthermore, many travelers come to Girona for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Athens is a little warmer than Girona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Girona during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Girona. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Girona in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Girona. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Girona in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Athens is a little warmer than Girona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Girona averages at about 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Girona. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Girona. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Girona for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Athens is generally a little warmer than Girona. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Girona 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 Girona during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Girona. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Athens