A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cologne vs. Olympos for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cologne or Olympos?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Cologne or Olympos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Cologne or Olympos?

Cologne

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.

Olympos

Olympos was an ancient city in Lycia, situated in a river valley near the coast. Its ruins are located south of the modern town Cirali in the Kumluca district of Antalya Province, Turkey. An important Lycian city in the 2nd century BC, Olympos is more famous these days for being the beach resort of choice for backpackers. Staying in an Olympos 'tree house' at one of the dozen-or-so camps that line the path to the ruins and beach has long been the stuff of travel legend. The former hippy-trail hot-spot has been considerably renovated in past years and during summer can be pretty overcrowded. Olympos offers good value and an up-for-it party atmosphere in a lovely setting.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Turkey, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Cologne?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Olympos is €89. 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 Cologne and Olympos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cologne 91
    Olympos 40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cologne 182
    Olympos 80
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Olympos

Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Olympos? 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.

Hotels in Cologne


Hotels in Olympos


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Cologne Hotel Prices and Olympos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cologne 19
    Olympos 28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:

  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
  • Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
  • Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos

Also for Olympos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Camyuva Hotels: $98
  • Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Kiris Hotels: $82
  • Antalya Beldibi Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $65
  • Antalya Camyuva Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $82
  • Antalya Kiris Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $82
  • Kemer Full Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch and Optional Transfer: $10
  • Kemer Horse Riding Experience with Transfer: $39
  • Kemer Horse Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
  • Kemer Jeep Safari With Free Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $40
  • Kemer Mega Star Boat Trip With Hotel Transfer and Lunch : $20
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch & Roundtrip Transfer: $47
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Trip With Lunch & Free Hotel Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Olympos?

Prices for flights to both Olympos and Cologne 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cologne 50
    Olympos 28
Typical Food Prices in Cologne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:


  • Dinner
    14
  • Donner Kebab
    4.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.

  • Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
  • Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Olympos

For Olympos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Olympos, Cirali, Chimera Night Tour with Dinner at Ulupinar : $33
  • Kemer Olympos & Yanartas Sunset Jeep Tour with Dinner: $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cologne 20
    Olympos 28

Tours and Activities in Cologne

Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
  • 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
  • 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
  • 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
  • Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
  • Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
  • Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
  • Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
  • Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
  • Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438

Tours and Activities in Olympos

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Olympos.

  • Spa Experience in Kemer with Pickup: $18
  • Turkish Bath Experience in Kemer: $20
  • Goynuk Canyon Tour with Entrance Ticket: $25
  • 2-in-1 Canyoning and White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch From Kemer: $25
  • Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer Turkey with Two Dives and Lunch: $26
  • Pirate Boat Tour on the Beautiful Bays of Kemer: $27
  • Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: $27
  • Kemer Scuba Diving Experience: Two Dives with Lunch : $30
  • Antalya Full-Day City Tour From Kemer With Cable Car : $30
  • Safari Adventure in the mountains from Kemer: $32
  • Full-day Boat Tour from Kemer with Lunch and Foam Party: $33
  • Demre Myra Tour with Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip From Kemer: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cologne 23
    Olympos 17

Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:

  • Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
  • Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
  • Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
  • Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
  • Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
  • Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
  • South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
  • Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
  • Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
  • Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Olympos, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Olympos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Olympos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Olympos 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Olympos.

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



When is the best time to visit Cologne or Olympos?

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.

Should I visit Cologne or Olympos in the Summer?

Both Olympos and Cologne during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Cologne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cologne is cooler than Olympos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cologne in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Olympos averages at about 27°C (80°F).

In Olympos, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Olympos. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 385 hours of full sun.

Cologne usually gets more rain in July than Olympos. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Cologne 19°C (66°F) 
    Olympos 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Olympos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Olympos. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.

In October, Cologne is generally much colder than Olympos. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 12°C (54°F), and Olympos fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Olympos this time of the year. Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during autumn. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 249 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cologne usually receives more rain than Olympos. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Cologne 12°C (54°F) 
    Olympos 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Olympos in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Olympos. Many travelers come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cologne. Cologne is much colder than Olympos in the winter. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Olympos fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the winter, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Olympos. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 147 hours of full sun.

Cologne usually gets more rain in January than Olympos. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Cologne 3°C (37°F) 
    Olympos 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Cologne or Olympos in the Spring?

Both Olympos and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cologne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Cologne is much colder than Olympos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cologne in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Olympos averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Olympos. Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during spring. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cologne usually receives more rain than Olympos. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Cologne 10°C (50°F) 
    Olympos 16°C (61°F)

Typical Weather for Olympos and Cologne

Cologne Olympos
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 11°C (52°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 4°C (39°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 11°C (53°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 13°C (56°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jun 17°C (63°F) 76 mm (3 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Sep 16°C (61°F) 62 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)