A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Delphi vs. Messina for Attractions, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Delphi or Messina?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Delphi or Messina, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Delphi

Delphi is a historic, fascinating, and world-renowned archeological site. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food and museums.

Messina

Messina is a local, historic, and bustling port city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Delphi and Messina: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Delphi or Messina?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Messina than Delphi. While Delphi is larger than Messina, Messina has more sights and attractions for tourists. Messina is better known for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Delphi is more popular for its museums and impressive beauty. Delphi is more touristy than Messina and is popular for its world renowned archeological ruins and its connection to Greek mythology. Messina is well known for being the entry and departure point to Sicily for those traveling by ferry. Also, Messina is famous for Piazza del Duomo.

How is Delphi different from Messina?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Messina and Delphi. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Delphi or Messina?

Delphi is renowned for its museums and landmarks. Also, Messina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Delphi that are not to be missed. This is one of the most popular archeological sites in Greece. You will find the Temple of Apollo and most of the monuments are dedicated to this God. There is an Ancient Theatre, an Ancient Stadium, as well as an Archaeological Museum. There's also the Sanctuary of Athena Pronea and the Treasury of the Athenians.

Messina offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a number of historic sights around town including the Cathedral and the Piazza del Duomo, the Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock, Santissima Annunziata dei Catalani, and the Regional Museum. There are also many ornate fountains around town.

Is the Food Better in Delphi or Messina? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at notable restaurants in both Delphi and Messina.

Delphi is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are a number of restaurant options in the area, some of them offering spectacular views. There are traditional Greek restaurants as well as modern cafes with international cuisine. You'll find all of the standard Greek staples such as gyros, lamb chops, and seafood.

Messina offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's cuisine is a mix of the cultures that have influenced Sicily over the centuries. The city has a longstanding fishing industry and one of the most popular dishes are swordfish rolls. Also try the pidone (similar to calzones with different fillings), and the focaccia (a local bread).

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Nightlife?

Messina is great for its evening party scene. However, Delphi is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Messina for the nightlife scene. The nightlife scene is mostly centered around the old town and you'll find a mix of locals and tourists hanging out in pubs and bars. During the summer months there are often free outdoor concerts to enjoy.

People don't go to Delphi for the nightlife. This is a quiet town that shuts down in the evening. If you're looking for more of a nightlife scene, head to nearby Arachova, which is just a 10 minute drive away.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Beaches?

Messina is adequate for the beach. However, Delphi is not a beach destination.

The beach in Messina is worth checking out. There are pebbly beaches in the area that are becoming more popular with tourists.

Delphi is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Delphi or Messina?

Messina is a nice place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Delphi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Messina has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The best shopping is around Piazza Cairoli with the main shopping streets being Viale Europa and Viale San Martino. There are many small boutiques that have cheaper prices than some of the more upscale Sicilian towns.

Delphi is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Families?

Messina is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Delphi is not as popular, but is still a nice archeological site for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Messina. There are a number outdoor activities that kids will enjoy including Parco Avventura Dei Peloritani, which has ropes and obstacle courses. There's also the Karting Center, which is fun for the whole family, or a small aquarium in town. If you're looking for an excursion outside of town, head to Cascata Cataolo waterfall, which is very kid-friendly.

Delphi is a family-friendly place to visit. The archeological ruins are world class, and kids who enjoy mythology and history will love this place. It's the perfect place for kids to let their imagination run wild.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Couples?

Delphi and Messina are both notable to visit as a couple.

Delphi is a good archeological site for couples to visit. It's an iconic destination that is a great addition to any couple's itinerary to Greece.

Messina is a nice destination for couples. Most visitors see the city as an arrival or departure point for Sicily, but those couples who linger will appreciate a number of historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Delphi and Messina are notable places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Delphi. There's a hostel or two in the area, and the prices are reasonable for backpackers and budget travelers.

Messina is a good archeological site to visit for backpackers. If you're traveling by train or ferry, you'll likely arrive or depart from this city. There are a number of hostels and cheap guesthouses around town that offer affordable accommodation.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Students?

Messina is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Delphi is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Messina. There are a few study abroad opportunities that bring international students to town. The city also have good transportation connections and a friendly atmosphere that is welcoming to students.

Delphi is not popular with students.

Is Delphi or Messina Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Delphi and Messina both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Delphi offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that travel to Delphi from Greece.

Messina has a few public transit options. If your legs are tired then there's an efficient bus system that you can use.

Is Delphi or Messina a more walkable city?

Delphi and Messina are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Delphi is a very walkable destination. Both the museum are archeological site are within walking distance of the town. The town is also small enough to explore on foot.

Messina is very walkable. Most of the city's attractions can be reached on foot and the port is a ten to fifteen minute walk from Piazza del Duomo.

For even more information, also check out Is Delphi Worth Visiting? and Is Messina Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Messina or Delphi?

How long in Delphi or Messina?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Delphi and Messina. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Messina than in Delphi. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Delphi, and 2-3 days is enough time in Messina.

Families should spend more time in Messina than Delphi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Messina, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Messina than Delphi 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 Messina.

One day in Delphi or Messina?

In Delphi, you'll find food and museums. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This archeological site offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Messina. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Delphi or Messina?

In Delphi, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Delphi has to offer.

Messina 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 Delphi or Messina?

Delphi is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Messina. 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 Delphi or Messina?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Delphi. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Delphi. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Messina. 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 G Adventures Tours to Greece, The Best 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Delphi and Messina, we can see that Messina is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Delphi or Messina?

Delphi has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Messina. When comparing the sizes of Delphi and Messina, 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.