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

Should you visit Athens or Phoenix?

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 Phoenix. 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 energetic, historic, and ancient 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a laid back, sprawling, and desert city. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping.

Athens and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Phoenix?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Athens than Phoenix. While Phoenix is larger than Athens, Athens has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Athens is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phoenix attracts visitors for its hiking. Athens is more touristy than Phoenix 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. Phoenix is famous for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

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.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

Phoenix offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Phoenix does not have a 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.

Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a good destination for hiking. However, Athens is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix offers some nice hiking trails. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Athens is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Phoenix?

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

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Families?

Athens is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Athens and Phoenix both nice 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.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Phoenix is not known 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.

Phoenix is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel or two around town for budget travelers.

Is Athens or Phoenix Better for Students?

Athens is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Phoenix is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Phoenix is not popular with students.

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

Athens is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Phoenix is not known for its public transit.

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 is generally limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Athens or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Athens is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Phoenix is not known for its 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.

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Athens?

How long in Athens or Phoenix?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Phoenix. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Phoenix. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-3 days is enough time in Phoenix.

Families should spend more time in Athens than Phoenix. 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 Athens than Phoenix. 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

Because Athens is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Phoenix. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Phoenix?

Because Athens is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

Athens is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Athens has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. Because Athens is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the desert destination of Phoenix. 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 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Phoenix is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix 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 Phoenix Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Athens or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Phoenix, 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 Phoenix?

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 Phoenix in the Summer?

Both Phoenix and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

The heat can be very extreme in Phoenix. Athens is cooler than Phoenix in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Phoenix fluctuates around 98°F (36°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Phoenix during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Phoenix. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Phoenix in the Autumn?

Both Phoenix and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. 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. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.

In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Phoenix averages at about 79°F (26°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets more rain in October than Phoenix. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Phoenix in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Phoenix. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Phoenix for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Athens is generally cooler than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Phoenix in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Phoenix. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Athens is cooler than Phoenix in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Phoenix fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the spring, Athens often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets more rain in April than Phoenix. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Athens