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

Should you visit Athens or Oslo?

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 Oslo. 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 historic, ancient, and vibrant city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Oslo

Oslo is a progressive, park-filled, and green city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Athens and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Oslo?

You'll generally find more things to do in Athens than Oslo. Athens is bigger than Oslo, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. 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. Oslo is well known for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Athens that are not to be missed. 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 Oslo. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Athens is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

Oslo has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Athens or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Athens has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Oslo. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Is Athens or Oslo Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Athens offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. 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.

Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Oslo?

Athens is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city for its shopping opportunities.

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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Oslo has some nice offerings. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Is Athens or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Oslo is very family-friendly. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

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

Is Athens or Oslo Better for Couples?

Athens and Oslo both notable 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.

Oslo is a nice destination for couples. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Athens or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Athens is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Oslo is a good city to visit for backpackers. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Athens or Oslo Better for Students?

For students, both Athens and Oslo 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.

Oslo is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

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

Oslo is an unbeatable place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Visitors in Oslo can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

Public transit in Athens is fairly effecient and thorough. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

Is Athens or Oslo a more walkable city?

Athens and Oslo 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.

Oslo is very walkable. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Athens?

How long in Athens or Oslo?

In either Athens or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than Oslo because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

Families should spend more time in Oslo than Athens. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Oslo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

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

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 food and museums when visiting the big city destination of Oslo. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Oslo?

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.

Oslo 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 Oslo?

Athens is a historic 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 Oslo. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Athens or Oslo?

Athens is a vibrant 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 food and museums when visiting the clean big city of Oslo. 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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Oslo?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Oslo. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Oslo, 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 Oslo?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Athens or Oslo in the Summer?

Both Oslo and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Oslo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Athens is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Oslo averages at about 18°C (64°F).

In Oslo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Oslo. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Oslo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Oslo. 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 Oslo because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Athens is generally much warmer than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Oslo fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Oslo. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Oslo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Oslo. 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 Oslo this time of year.

It's quite cold in Oslo in the winter. Athens is much warmer than Oslo in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Oslo fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Oslo. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Oslo in the Spring?

Both Oslo and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Oslo for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Athens is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Oslo averages at about 6°C (42°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Oslo. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Athens