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

Should you visit Eilat or Olympos?

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

Should I visit Eilat 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: Eilat or Olympos?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Turkey, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Eilat?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Olympos is $95. 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 Eilat and Olympos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $93
    Olympos $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $186
    Olympos $86
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Olympos

Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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 Eilat


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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Olympos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $13
    Olympos $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $3.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

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

  • From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos

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

  • Two Days Tour to Cappadocia with HB Hotel & Transfer from Kemer: $192
  • Suluada Boat Tour From Antalya (Maldives of Turkey) with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer with Lunch and Transfer: $22
  • Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer with Lunch and Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfers Between Antalya Airport - Kiriş & Çamyuva & Tekirova Resorts: $240
  • Private Transfers Between Antalya Airport - Beldibi & Göynük & Kemer Resorts: $240
  • Private Transfers Between Antalya Airport - Çıralı & Olympos & Adrasan Resorts: $299
  • Private Transfer From Beldibi / Göynük / Kemer / Kiriş To Antalya Airport: $91
  • Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
  • Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Kemer Suluada Boat Tour (Maldives of Turkey) With Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Kemer Scuba Diving Experience with BBQ Lunch and Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Olympos?

Prices for flights to both Olympos and Eilat 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
    Eilat $35
    Olympos $30

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.
    Eilat $16
    Olympos $29

Tours and Activities in Eilat

For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
  • 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
  • Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
  • From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $65
  • Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat: $289
  • Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
  • Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
  • Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
  • Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
  • Petra 2-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Authentic Lunch: $290
  • Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat: $299
  • Private Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation and Guide : $220

Tours and Activities in Olympos

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

  • Day Tour to Suluada by Boat : $18
  • 2 Days Cappadocia Tour From Kemer With Cave Hotel Overnight: $60
  • 2 Hour Olympos Cable Car Tour to Tahtali Mountains from Kemer: $66
  • 2-in-1 Canyoning and White Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch From Kemer: $25
  • 9 Hours Rafting, Buggy Safari and Zipline Adventure from Kemer: $38
  • Antalya Full-Day City Tour From Kemer With Cable Car : $30
  • Buggy Safari and Rafting Adventure from Kemer: $38
  • Canyoning and Rafting Tours from Kemer: $33
  • Cappadocia 2 Day Tour from Kemer: $99
  • Demre Myra Tour with Kekova Sunken City Boat Trip From Kemer: $36
  • Full Day Phaselis and Tahtali Mountain Tour from Kemer: $93
  • Full-day Boat Tour from Kemer with Lunch and Foam Party: $33

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $27
    Olympos $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Olympos, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Olympos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Olympos is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Olympos Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Eilat or Olympos?

Olympos has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Eilat experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Eilat or Olympos in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Olympos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Olympos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Olympos averages at about 27°C (80°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Olympos this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Olympos during summer. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 385 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Eilat usually receives less rain than Olympos. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Eilat 33°C (91°F) 
    Olympos 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Olympos in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Olympos. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Olympos. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Olympos fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Olympos. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the autumn, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Olympos. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 249 hours of full sun.

Eilat usually gets less rain in October than Olympos. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Eilat 26°C (79°F) 
    Olympos 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Olympos in the Winter?

Both Olympos and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year.

Eilat is a little warmer than Olympos in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Olympos fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Olympos during winter. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 147 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Eilat usually receives less rain than Olympos. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Eilat 14°C (57°F) 
    Olympos 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Olympos in the Spring?

Both Olympos and Eilat during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Eilat is a little warmer than Olympos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Olympos averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In Olympos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the spring, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Olympos. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 250 hours of full sun.

Eilat usually gets less rain in April than Olympos. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Eilat 24°C (75°F) 
    Olympos 16°C (61°F)

Typical Weather for Olympos and Eilat

Eilat Olympos
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 16°C (61°F) 1 mm (0 in) 11°C (53°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 19°C (66°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 13°C (56°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 24°C (75°F) 0 mm (0 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Aug 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Sep 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 1 mm (0 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 0 mm (0 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)