Which place is cheaper, Rome or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Rome. 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 is a vibrant, energetic, and historic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Rome is a archeological, bustling, and fun-filled city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Rome than Athens. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Rome is very popular for its music, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Athens attracts visitors for its historical sights. Rome is more touristy than Athens and is popular for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. It is also well known for The Colosseum. Athens is famous for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rome and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of fantastic museums and attractions in both Rome and Athens.
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.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Rome that are not to be missed. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.
Dining out at restaurants in both Athens and Rome 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, Rome is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.
The vibe at night is fantastic in both Athens and Rome.
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.
Rome is a world class party destination. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.
Rome is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Athens is not a live music destination.
Rome has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.
Athens is not a live music destination.
Athens is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Rome 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.
Rome does not have a historic old town.
Rome is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.
Many people travel to Rome specifically to go shopping. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.
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.
Both Athens and Rome are very good 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.
Rome is a very family-friendly place to visit. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.
Rome is great for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.
Rome is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic 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.
For backpackers, both Athens and Rome are fantastic places to visit.
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.
Rome is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).
Rome is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.
Rome is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.
Athens is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.
Rome 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 Rome can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.
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.
Rome 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.
Rome is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.
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 Rome Worth Visiting?.
Both Athens and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Rome has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Rome than Athens. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Couples should spend more time in Rome than Athens. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Rome that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rome than Athens 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 Rome.
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 shopping when visiting the big city destination of Rome. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
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.
Rome 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.
Athens is a ancient 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 Rome. 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.
Athens is a ancient 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.
Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the popular big city of Rome. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Rome is €170. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Rome in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Rome? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
Prices for flights to both Rome and Athens change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Rome has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Rome, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Rome. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Athens is around the same temperature as Rome in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rome. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Rome. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Rome and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In the autumn, Athens is a little warmer than Rome. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Rome averages at about 17°C (63°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rome during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Rome. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Rome and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Athens is generally a little warmer than Rome. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Athens often gets more sunshine than Rome. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Rome. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Athens is a little warmer than Rome in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Rome during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Rome. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Athens | Rome | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |