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

Should you visit Athens or Nantes?

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 Nantes. 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.

Nantes

Nantes is a beautiful, vibrant, and welcoming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Nantes?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Nantes. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Nantes attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Athens is more touristy than Nantes and is known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Nantes is famous for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Nantes. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Nantes 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, Nantes is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

Is Athens or Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

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.

Nantes is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

Is Athens or Nantes Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

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.

Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Nantes?

Nantes 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 Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

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 Nantes Better for Families?

Both Athens and Nantes are great 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.

Nantes is a very family-friendly place to visit. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Is Athens or Nantes Better for Couples?

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

Nantes is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

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 Nantes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options 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.

Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.

Is Athens or Nantes Better for Students?

Athens is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Athens is a great city to visit as a student. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Nantes is popular with students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

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

Athens and Nantes both offer great 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 Nantes is fairly effecient and thorough. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Is Athens or Nantes a more walkable city?

Athens and Nantes 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.

Nantes is very walkable. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

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

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Athens?

How long in Athens or Nantes?

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

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

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

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 museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Nantes. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Athens or Nantes?

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.

Nantes is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Nantes?

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 Nantes. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Nantes?

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 friendly destination of Nantes. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Nantes, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Nantes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nantes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nantes 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Nantes.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Nantes?

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

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 Nantes in the Summer?

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

Athens is a little warmer than Nantes in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Nantes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nantes this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Nantes during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Nantes. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Nantes. 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. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Nantes because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Athens is a little warmer than Nantes. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Nantes averages at about 13°C (56°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 Nantes. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Nantes. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Nantes in the Winter?

Both Nantes 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 museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Nantes. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Nantes during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives less rain than Nantes. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes 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. Also, many travelers come to Nantes for the natural beauty.

Athens is a little warmer than Nantes in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Nantes fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Nantes. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Nantes. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Athens