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

Should you visit Athens or Vienna?

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 Vienna. 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. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Vienna

Vienna is a classical, traditional, and artistic city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping.

Athens and Vienna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Vienna?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Athens than Vienna. While Vienna is larger than Athens, Athens has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Athens is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Vienna is known for its music, shopping, and impressive beauty. Vienna is more touristy than Athens and is known for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Athens is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also home to The Acropolis.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Vienna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Athens are world-renowned. 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 Vienna. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

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

Athens is an unbeatable place for its restaurants. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

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.

Dining out in Vienna is an experience not to be missed. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

Is Athens or Vienna Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

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.

Vienna has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

Is Athens or Vienna Better for Music?

Vienna is an unbeatable place for its music scene. However, Athens is not a live music destination.

Vienna has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

Athens is not a live music destination.

Is Athens or Vienna Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the world-class old town areas in both Athens and Vienna.

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.

The rich history of Vienna can be explored in its historical center. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Vienna?

Vienna 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 Vienna specifically to go shopping. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

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 Vienna Better for Families?

Athens is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

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

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vienna. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

Is Athens or Vienna Better for Couples?

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

Vienna is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

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 Vienna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Athens is extremely popular for backpackers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Vienna is a good city to visit for backpackers. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

Is Athens or Vienna Better for Students?

Vienna is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Vienna is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

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.

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

Vienna 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 Vienna can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

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 Vienna a more walkable city?

Vienna 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.

Vienna is a very easy city to get around on foot. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

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 Vienna Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vienna or Athens?

How long in Athens or Vienna?

In either Athens or Vienna, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than Vienna because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-5 days is enough time in Vienna.

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

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

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. 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 one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Vienna. 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 one day exploring.

A weekend in Athens or Vienna?

Athens 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.

Vienna 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 Vienna?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vienna. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Vienna?

Athens is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the traditional destination of Vienna. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town 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 Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Vienna?

Vienna has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Vienna, 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 Vienna?

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 Vienna in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Vienna. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Vienna for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Vienna. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vienna this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Vienna during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Vienna. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Vienna in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Athens as well as Vienna. 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. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Vienna because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Athens is much warmer than Vienna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Vienna fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets more rain in October than Vienna. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Vienna in the Winter?

Both Vienna and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. 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 Vienna this time of year.

It's quite cold in Vienna in the winter. In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Vienna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Vienna averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Vienna during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Vienna. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Vienna in the Spring?

Both Vienna and Athens during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Vienna for the natural beauty.

In April, Athens is generally a little warmer than Vienna. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In Vienna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Vienna. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Vienna and Athens