Which city is cheaper, Helsinki or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Helsinki. 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 is a ancient, vibrant, and energetic 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 food, shopping, and museums.
Helsinki is a coastal, environmentally conscious, and waterfront city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Helsinki and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of museums and attractions in both Helsinki and Athens.
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.
Helsinki offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.
Foodies will appreciated the dining options available in Athens a bit more than Helsinki.
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.
Helsinki offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.
Most visitors prefer the nightlife in Athens.
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.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Helsinki. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.
If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Helsinki both offer plenty of spots.
Athens has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.
Helsinki is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.
Both Athens and Helsinki are 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.
Helsinki is a very family-friendly place to visit. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.
Athens and Helsinki both fun 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.
Helsinki is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.
Travelers usually think of Athens as a better destination for backpackers than Helsinki.
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.
Helsinki is a good city to visit for backpackers. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.
For students, both Athens and Helsinki are fairly comparable places to visit.
Many students visit Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.
Helsinki is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.
Athens and Helsinki both offer 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 Helsinki is fairly effecient and thorough. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.
Athens and Helsinki are similar 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.
Helsinki is somewhat walkable. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.
It's fun to spend time in either Athens or Helsinki. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Athens due to the larger number of activities and things to do.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Athens is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Helsinki is 2-4 days.
Athens is a big city with plenty to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Helsinki. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Athens is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Helsinki 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.
Athens is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Athens, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Helsinki. 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.
Athens is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Athens has to offer. This city offers something for everyone.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the waterfront destination of Helsinki. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €103, while the average daily cost in Helsinki is €112. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Helsinki in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Helsinki? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Helsinki and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
When comparing the travel costs between Athens and Helsinki, we can see that Helsinki 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Helsinki. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Athens is generally much warmer than Helsinki. Temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Helsinki stays around 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Helsinki this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Helsinki during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 275 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Helsinki. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Helsinki. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
Athens is much warmer than Helsinki in the autumn. The temperature in Athens is usually 19°C (67°F) in October, and Helsinki stays around 6°C (42°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 Helsinki. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 90 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in October than Helsinki. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Helsinki and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Helsinki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Helsinki. In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Helsinki. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January are around 10°C (51°F), and Helsinki is about -6°C (21°F).
Athens usually receives more sunshine than Helsinki during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Helsinki receives 39 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Helsinki. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Helsinki and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Helsinki in the spring for the natural beauty.
Helsinki can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Athens is generally much warmer than Helsinki. Temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Helsinki stays around 3°C (37°F).
It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Helsinki. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Helsinki receives 183 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in April than Helsinki. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Helsinki receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Athens | Helsinki | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
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