Should you visit Cape Sounion or Thessaloniki?
Should I visit Cape Sounion or Thessaloniki? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Cape Sounion
Cape Sounion encompasses the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula of Greece with views of the sea wherever you go. The land of the mythological god Poseidon, Sounion's striking promontory houses his temple that still stands today. It overlooks the Aegean Sea, which was named for King Aegeus of Athens. Aegeus had leapt off of these very cliffs thinking his son Theseus had been killed by the Minotaur of Crete. The promontory and temple are very significant to Greek mythology and history, and was even referenced in Homer's poem, the Odyssey.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Which city is cheaper, Thessaloniki or Cape Sounion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cape Sounion is €126, while the average daily cost in Thessaloniki is €107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cape Sounion and Thessaloniki in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €158 in Cape Sounion For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €126 in Thessaloniki For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Cape Sounion can vary, the average travelers spends about €33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Cape Sounion should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cape Sounion is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about €33 per day in Thessaloniki for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cape Sounion €33
Thessaloniki €33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Thessaloniki City Morning Walking Food Tour:
$58
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Dinner with a view in the historic center of Thessaloniki:
$79
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Thessaloniki Food Tour - Gastronomy Experience - 4 hrs:
$137
Local Transportation
Cape Sounion's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €21 per person, per day on transportation in Cape Sounion.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Thessaloniki than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €11 on transportation in Thessaloniki on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer up to 8 People to Paralia - Katerini - Litochoro - Platamonas - Neoi Poroi:
$166
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Transfer up to 8 People to Kavala and Keramoti:
$252
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Transfer up to 8 People from Thessaloniki to Parga - Sivota - Igoumenitsa:
$664
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Transfer services from Thessaloniki(SKG) to Vourvourou Sithonia Halkidiki:
$193
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Transfer services from Thessaloniki to Ouranoupoli (Agion Oros):
$193
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Transfer services from Thessaloniki to Marmaras Halkidiki up to 8 passengers:
$193
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Transfer services from Thessaloniki to Katerini Pieria up to 8 passengers:
$168
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Transfer services from Thesaloniki to Sani Resort Halidiki up to 8 passengers:
$137
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Transfer service from Thessaloniki to Corfu, Ioannina, Parga, Syvota:
$616
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Transfer from airport Thessaloniki (SKG) to Kalithea chalkidiki:
$187
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Transfer from Thessaloniki to Peukochori:
$311
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Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Olivia:
$224
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Cape Sounion can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Thessaloniki, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €21 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Athos Peninsula Day Cruise from Thessaloniki:
$73
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Authentic Balkan experience:
$523
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City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$16
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City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$24
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Day Tour of Philippi, Amphipolis, and Kavala:
$137
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Dion and Mount Olympus Full Day Tour from Thessaloniki:
$112
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Ecobike tour in Thessaloniki:
$4,479
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From Ancient Pella & Vergina Small Group Tour:
$156
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From Dion and Mount Olympus Day Tour:
$248
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Full Day Meteora Tour by Train from Thessaloniki:
$116
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Full Day Tour to Edessa - Loutra Pozar from Thessaloniki:
$93
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Full Day Tour to Meteora from Thessaloniki:
$93
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Cape Sounion spend on average €18 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Thessaloniki spend on average €12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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From Full-Day Private Group Wine Tour:
$478
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Private tour: Full day Wine tasting Naousa & Ag. Nikolaos:
$535
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cape Sounion and Thessaloniki, we can see that Cape Sounion is more expensive. And not only is Thessaloniki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Thessaloniki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Thessaloniki 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 Cape Sounion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cape Sounion than you might in Thessaloniki.
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