Which place is cheaper, Ephesus or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Heraklion or Ephesus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Ephesus can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Heraklion or Ephesus?
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHeraklion €158Ephesus €134
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, while the average daily cost in Ephesus is €134. 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 Heraklion and Ephesus in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeraklion €81Ephesus €65
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeraklion €162Ephesus €130
Compare Hotels in Heraklion and Ephesus
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion or Ephesus? 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.
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: Heraklion Hotel Prices and Ephesus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heraklion €31Ephesus €48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Helicopter Transfer to Greek Islands: $4,021
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to SITIA area up to 7 customers: $280
- Private Transfer Port/Airport to/from Ierapetra: $273
- Knossos and Arch Museum of Heraklion (Guide+Transfer+Ticket) : $229
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to Makris Gialos area up to 7 : $228
- KNOSSOS PALACE private tour ( with Transfer from Heraklion Prefecture ): $196
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to IERAPETRA area up to 7 customers: $184
- Private Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Makrygialos: $175
- Semi Private Wine and Olive Oil tour (Transfer & Lunch Incl.): $163
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to RETHIMNO CITY area up to 7 : $157
- Private Wine | Food Pairing at Titakis Winery with Free Transfer: $153
- Transfer Heraklion Airport to MATALA area up to 7 customers: $149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Transfer izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Davutlar: $98
- Scuba Diving Experience in Kusadasi with Instructor and Transfer: $60
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Kusadasi Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Kusadasi Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Kusadasi Cruise Port to Izmir Airport (ADB): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Heraklion or Ephesus?
Prices for flights to both Ephesus and Heraklion 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 dayHeraklion €52Ephesus €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Troy Dinner-Show: $33
- Spectacular Dinner-Show: $44
- From Village Cretan Night, Live Dancers & dinner: $48
- Cretan Night with Dinner & Live Show: $49
- Crete: Olive Oil Festival, Farm Dinner, Live Show & Pickup: $59
- Cretan Farm with scenic view: Olive Mill Festival & dinner: $64
- Amazing Sunset Safari Route with Dinner: $84
- Cook with Locals | Cretan cooking Class at Archanes (transfer - lunch included): $86
- Crete: Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine: $90
- Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson: $97
- Food tour tasting walking tour: $123
- E-bike Food Tour Tasting in Heraklion : $125
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
-
Sandwiches€0.14
-
Dessert€0.16
-
Lunch at Beach (for 2)€0.55
-
Snacks€0.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heraklion €38Ephesus €55
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4x4 Safari tour Southern Crete Tripitis Gorge: $108
- Adventure Safari Tour Secrets of the southern Crete : $100
- Ηeraklion Walking Tour with Archaeological Museum: $82
- 3-Hour Trekking Mount Karfi Adventure with pickup from Heraklion: $118
- 4-Hour Giouchtas Trekking Hiking Experience from Heraklion: $90
- 4x4 self drive adventure_Cretan mainland: $87
- Adventure Jeep Safari Amazing sunset : $85
- Agios Nikolaos-Spinalonga-Elounda Tour TR: $47
- All Year Tour to Knossos Palace & Heraklion: $618
- All-Day Knossos Palace Tour & Olive Mill Visit: $695
- Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Tour: $86
- Archaeological Museum of Guided Walking Tour: $86
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $76
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
- "private Ephesus tours "" wholesaler Shop Tours ""from cruise port Kusadasi ": $51
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHeraklion €26Ephesus €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $95
- Ecobike Wine Tasting Tour in Heraklion: $115
- Ecobike Tour with Wine Tasting: $118
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Experience in Haralabakis Winery: $119
- Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with wine Tastings: $125
- Half Day Semi Private Wine Tour with Tastings: $134
- Semi Private Heraklion Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $159
- The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $180
- Private SUV Wine Tour with Lunch: $183
- Full Day Private Crete Wine Tour Experience from Heraklion : $190
- Full day Knossos Palace, Local Distillery, Lunch @ Archanes: $192
- Knossos, Olive Mill, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch : $196
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
-
Beer€0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Ephesus, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Ephesus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ephesus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ephesus 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Ephesus.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heraklion Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Ephesus?
Heraklion has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion and Ephesus, 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 Heraklion or Ephesus?
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 Heraklion or Ephesus in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Ephesus. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Heraklion is around the same temperature as Ephesus in the summer. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Ephesus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In Heraklion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heraklion usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus during summer. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 378 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Heraklion usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ephesus. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyHeraklion 25°C (78°F)Ephesus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Ephesus in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Ephesus. The autumn months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Heraklion is around the same temperature as Ephesus. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Heraklion in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Ephesus averages at about 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. In the autumn, Heraklion often gets less sunshine than Ephesus. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 232 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets more rain in October than Ephesus. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHeraklion 20°C (68°F)Ephesus 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Ephesus in the Winter?
Both Ephesus and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year.
In January, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Ephesus. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 12°C (54°F), and Ephesus fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Heraklion usually receives less sunshine than Ephesus during winter. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 131 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. In January, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHeraklion 12°C (54°F)Ephesus 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Ephesus in the Spring?
Both Ephesus and Heraklion during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Heraklion is around the same temperature as Ephesus in the spring. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Ephesus fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the spring, Heraklion often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 231 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Ephesus. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilHeraklion 16°C (61°F)Ephesus 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Ephesus and Heraklion
| Heraklion | Ephesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.