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

Should you visit Athens or Marseille?

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 Marseille. 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.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. 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 shopping, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Marseille: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Marseille?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Athens. Although Athens and Marseille are popular destinations, Athens has more sights and attractions for tourists. Athens is very popular for its museums & sights and big city activities, while Marseille attracts visitors for its beaches, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Athens is famous for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Marseille is famous for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Marseille?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have 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.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Marseille can be an enjoyable experience.

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.

For foodies, Marseille is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is world-class in both Athens and Marseille.

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.

Marseille is a world class party destination. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a good destination for the beach. However, Athens is not a beach destination.

Marseille offers a nice beach destination. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Athens is not a beach destination.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the world-class old town areas in both Athens and Marseille.

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 Marseille can be explored in its historical center. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Marseille?

Marseille 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 Marseille. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

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 Marseille Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a good destination for visiting Christmas markets. However, Athens does not offer Christmas markets.

Visiting the Christmas markets is popular in Marseille. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Athens does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for Families?

Athens is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for Couples?

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

Marseille is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

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 Marseille Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marseille 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.

Marseille is a good city to visit for backpackers. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Is Athens or Marseille Better for Students?

For students, both Athens and Marseille are great places to visit.

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

Marseille is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

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

Athens is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

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

You'll find some public transit in Marseille, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Athens or Marseille a more walkable city?

Athens and Marseille are great 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.

Marseille is very walkable. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Marseille or Athens?

How long in Athens or Marseille?

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

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

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

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 food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Marseille. 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 Marseille?

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.

Marseille 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 Marseille?

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 Marseille. 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 Marseille?

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 food and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Marseille. 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 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Athens.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Marseille?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Marseille, 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 Marseille?

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 Marseille in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Marseille. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Athens is a little warmer than Marseille in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Marseille. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Marseille in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Marseille. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Athens is a little warmer than Marseille. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Marseille averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the autumn, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Marseille. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Marseille in the Winter?

Both Marseille and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.

In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives around the same amount of rain as Marseille. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Marseille in the Spring?

Both Marseille and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Athens is a little warmer than Marseille in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Marseille. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Marseille and Athens