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

Should you visit Athens or Graz?

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 Graz. 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. 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. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz

Graz is a medieval, cultural, and historical city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Graz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Graz?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Athens than Graz, 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 Graz is known for its 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. Graz is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Graz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is renowned for its historical sights. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in Athens are world-renowned. 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.

Many visitors head to Graz specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

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

Athens is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Athens is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

Dining out in Graz is an experience not to be missed. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

Is Athens or Graz Better for Nightlife?

Athens is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Athens is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

Graz has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

Is Athens or Graz Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the amazing old town areas in both Athens and Graz.

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 Graz can be explored in its historical center. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Graz?

Graz 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 Graz. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

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 Graz Better for Families?

Both Athens and Graz are superb 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.

Graz is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

Is Athens or Graz Better for Couples?

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

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

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 Graz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Athens is extremely popular for backpackers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Athens or Graz Better for Students?

For students, both Athens and Graz are superb places to visit.

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

Graz is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

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

Athens and Graz both offer superb public transit to get you around.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Athens. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

Public transit in Graz is fairly effecient and thorough. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Is Athens or Graz a more walkable city?

Graz 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.

Graz is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore 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 Graz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Graz or Athens?

How long in Athens or Graz?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Graz. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Graz. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-3 days is enough time in Graz.

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

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

Athens is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

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

Athens is a fun place to experience. 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 a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Graz 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 Graz?

Athens is a energetic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

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

Athens is a ancient city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical destination of Graz. 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 Christmas Market Tours in Austria, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria.

When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Graz, 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 Graz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Athens or Graz?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Graz, 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 Graz?

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 Graz in the Summer?

Both Graz and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Graz. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Graz fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Graz. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Graz during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Graz receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Graz. In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Graz. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Graz receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Graz in the Autumn?

Both Graz and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Graz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

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

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Graz. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Graz receives 139 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Graz. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Graz receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Graz in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Graz. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Graz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Graz can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Graz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Graz averages at about 1°C (34°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Graz during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Graz receives 95 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Graz. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Graz receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Graz in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Graz. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Graz because of the natural beauty.

In April, Athens is generally a little warmer than Graz. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Graz fluctuates around 13°C (55°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 Graz. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Graz receives 158 hours of full sun.

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

Typical Weather for Graz and Athens