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

Should you visit Athens or Rotterdam?

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 Rotterdam. 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.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a high energy, modern, and trendy port 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 Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Rotterdam?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Rotterdam. 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 impressive beauty, while Rotterdam attracts visitors for its shopping. Athens is more touristy than Rotterdam 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. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port 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.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Rotterdam makes for a great culinary experience. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains. The city is also known for its food halls, which provide a variety of gourmet flavors from around the globe.

Is Athens or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Rotterdam has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

Is Athens or Rotterdam Better for its Old Town?

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

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

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 Rotterdam Better for Families?

Both Athens and Rotterdam are excellent 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.

Rotterdam is a very family-friendly place to visit. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Is Athens or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Athens and Rotterdam 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.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Athens or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Athens or Rotterdam Better for Students?

For students, both Athens and Rotterdam are excellent places to visit.

Many students visit Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Rotterdam is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

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

Athens and Rotterdam both offer excellent 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 Rotterdam is fairly effecient and thorough. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Is Athens or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

Athens and Rotterdam are excellent 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.

Rotterdam is very walkable. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Athens?

How long in Athens or Rotterdam?

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

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

People visit Athens because there is so much to do. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Athens or Rotterdam?

People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?

People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

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

Athens is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Athens, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the modern big city of Rotterdam. This port 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 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Athens or Rotterdam?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?

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 Rotterdam in the Summer?

Both Rotterdam and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

Athens is much warmer than Rotterdam in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Rotterdam. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Athens is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 11°C (51°F).

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Rotterdam. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Rotterdam in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Rotterdam. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Rotterdam in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Rotterdam can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Rotterdam. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city during these months.

Athens is much warmer than Rotterdam in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Rotterdam. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Athens