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

Should you visit Athens or Mainz?

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 Mainz. 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. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mainz

Mainz is a historic, quaint, and charming town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Athens and Mainz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Mainz?

You'll generally find more things to do in Athens than Mainz. Athens is bigger than Mainz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Athens is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Mainz is more popular for its impressive beauty. Athens is well known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. Also, Athens is famous for The Acropolis. Mainz is well known for its quaint old town, Roman heritage, and beautiful town squares.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Mainz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is terrific for its museums and history. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Athens from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

Mainz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's an old university town with a number of historical sights. Check out the Church of St. Stephan, Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Seafaring.

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

Athens is terrific for its restaurants. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Athens have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Mainz. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes that serve local food. There are also wine taverns where you can sample the local wines and dine of regional specialties.

Is Athens or Mainz Better for Nightlife?

Athens is terrific for nightlife. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Athens is a must-see party destination. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Mainz. It's a sleepy little town, so even locals often head to bigger cities for better nightlife.

Is Athens or Mainz Better for its Old Town?

Athens is terrific for its historic old town. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

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.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Mainz. Filled with beautiful squares and cobblestone streets, this is a nice old town in a pleasant city.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Mainz?

If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Mainz both offer plenty of notable 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.

Mainz is a great destination for shopping. Head to the boulevard of Am Brand near the cathedral for some of the town's best shopping. There are shops that line the street and it's a nice area to walk around.

Is Athens or Mainz Better for Families?

Athens is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Mainz is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Athens is a very family-friendly destination. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

Mainz doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids will enjoy the Gutenburg Museum and the outdoor spaces where they can run around. There's also a nice old town that everyone will have fun exploring.

Is Athens or Mainz Better for Couples?

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

Mainz is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Located on the Rhine River, this scenic setting is popular for river cruises. The town is nice to explore on its own, or you can hop around and take in several of the German river towns. You can also sit at outdoor cafes and sip local wine.

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 Mainz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is terrific for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Mainz is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Athens. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Plenty of backpackers visit Mainz. The town is popular with river cruises but you'll also find a hostel or two where budget travelers can save some money and meet other backpackers.

Is Athens or Mainz Better for Students?

For students, both Athens and Mainz are very good places to visit.

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

Mainz is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a university town with a pleasant atmosphere and a beautiful setting.

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

Athens and Mainz both offer very good 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 Mainz is fairly effecient and thorough. There are regional trains that make it easy to use Mainz as a base to explore the area, or you could visit Mainz as a day trip from another nearby town.

Is Athens or Mainz a more walkable city?

Mainz 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.

Mainz is a very easy town to get around on foot. The town is easily explored 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 Mainz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mainz or Athens?

How long in Athens or Mainz?

It's fun to spend time in either Athens or Mainz. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Athens due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-4 days is enough time in Mainz.

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

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

Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Mainz. 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 Mainz?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Mainz 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 Mainz?

Athens is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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

Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Mainz. This town 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Mainz?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mainz. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Mainz, 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 Mainz?

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 Mainz in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Mainz. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Mainz because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Athens is a little warmer than Mainz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Mainz averages at about 19°C (66°F).

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

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

Should I visit Athens or Mainz in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Mainz. 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 Mainz this time of year.

In October, Athens is generally much warmer than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 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 Mainz. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 103 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Athens or Mainz in the Winter?

Both Mainz 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 Mainz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Mainz. Athens is much warmer than Mainz in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Mainz fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

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

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

Should I visit Athens or Mainz in the Spring?

Both Mainz 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 Mainz in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Athens is a little warmer than Mainz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Mainz averages at about 11°C (51°F).

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

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

Typical Weather for Mainz and Athens