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

Should you visit Athens or Rotorua?

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 Rotorua. 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. Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Athens travel costs.

Rotorua

Rotorua is a world-renowned, diverse, and cultural town. With stunning beauty, Rotorua attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Rotorua travel costs.

Athens and Rotorua: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Rotorua?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Rotorua. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and big city activities, while Rotorua attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. 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. Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity, Maori cultural influence, and its role in the famous Lord of the Rings movies.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Rotorua?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its museums and history. Also, Rotorua 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.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Rotorua. The area is filled with opportunities to learn about the Maori culture. The Maori village of Whakarewarewa is a highlight and you should also visit Te Wairoa. Fans of Lord of the Rings won't want to miss Hobbiton either. Finally, Rotorua Museum well worth a visit.

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its restaurants. Also, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Rotorua makes for a great culinary experience. There's a wide selection of culinary options in the area that include steambox (food prepared with the geothermal heat), and hāngī, which is a traditional Maori cooking technique. Many restaurants also make use of the local fruit, vegetables, and meats.

Is Athens or Rotorua Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

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.

Rotorua has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find the best concentration of bars and restaurants around Tutankei Street, which is often referred to as "Eat Street".

Is Athens or Rotorua Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Rotorua 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.

Rotorua does not have a historic old town.

Is Athens or Rotorua Better for Hiking?

Rotorua is great for hiking. However, Athens is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Rotorua for the hiking trails. The area is filled with beautiful walking trails that take you by lakes, volcanoes, and geothermal hot springs. A favorite route in the area is Tarawera Trail, which is 15 kilometers long and ends at a natural hot water beach.

Athens is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Rotorua?

If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Rotorua 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.

Rotorua is a great destination for shopping. You'll find stores and galleries selling art and crafts around the main town center.

Is Athens or Rotorua More Beautiful?

Rotorua is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Rotorua attracts visitors from all around. It's surrounded by striking volcanoes, beautiful lakes, and surreal geothermal springs, giving it an exotic and beautiful atmosphere.

Athens is a gorgeous place to visit. With it's stunning archaeological sites, Athens is most beautiful at night, when things light up.

Is Athens or Rotorua Better for Families?

Rotorua 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, Rotorua is very family-friendly. The geothermal activity is fascinating for kids and adults alike. There are also many activities that will teach kids about the Maori culture and for animal lovers, there are farms and wildlife tours. Lord of the Rings fans won't want to miss Hobbiton, and there are many thrilling activities in the area such as white water rafting.

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 Rotorua Better for Couples?

Rotorua is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Rotorua is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The unique environment and beautiful natural setting make this a wonderful honeymoon destination. Couples will appreciate the geothermal activity, beautiful walking trails, and diverse outdoor activities. There's also horseback riding, hot springs, and helicopter rides.

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 Rotorua Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Athens and Rotorua 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.

Rotorua is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Well established on the backpacker trail, there are plenty of hostels in the area and tons of activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Is Athens or Rotorua Better for Students?

Athens is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Rotorua 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.

Rotorua is not popular with students.

Is Athens or Rotorua 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, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

You'll find some public transit in Rotorua, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses and shuttles that travel around town and through the area.

Is Athens or Rotorua a more walkable city?

Athens is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Rotorua is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Rotorua is somewhat walkable. The town itself is fairly walkable but if you want to get into the surrounding areas, having a vehicle provides the most flexibility.

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

Should I spend more time in Rotorua or Athens?

How long in Athens or Rotorua?

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

Couples should spend more time in Athens than Rotorua. 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 Rotorua 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 Rotorua?

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 Rotorua. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Athens or Rotorua?

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.

Rotorua 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 Rotorua?

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 Rotorua. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Rotorua?

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 natural destination of Rotorua. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Rotorua, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Rotorua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Rotorua is in Pacific, 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 Rotorua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotorua 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 Rotorua.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Rotorua?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Rotorua. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Rotorua, 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 Rotorua?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rotorua is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Athens has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Athens or Rotorua in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Rotorua. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rotorua because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Athens is much warmer than Rotorua in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Rotorua fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in January.

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

Should I visit Athens or Rotorua in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Rotorua. 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 hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rotorua this time of year.

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

Athens usually gets more rain in October than Rotoruain April. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Rotorua in the Winter?

Both Rotorua and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rotorua for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Athens is generally much colder than Rotoruain July. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Rotorua fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Rotoruain July. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Rotorua in the Spring?

Both Rotorua and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rotorua in the spring for the natural beauty.

Athens is cooler than Rotorua in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Rotorua fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in October.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Rotoruain October. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rotorua receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rotorua and Athens