Which place is cheaper, Ephesus or Hydra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hydra or Ephesus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hydra or Ephesus? 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: Hydra or Ephesus?
Hydra
The island of Hydra is located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. Named for its natural springs, the island now has most of its freshwater imported from the mainland. The real gem of the place is the absence of motorized vehicles. Car and scooters are nowhere to be seen by the narrow marble-cobbled lanes, rocks, and sea. Such vehicles have been outlawed and so the way to navigate the island is by donkey, water taxi, or on foot.
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 Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHydra €97Ephesus €134
The average daily cost (per person) in Hydra is €97, 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 Hydra and Ephesus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHydra €51Ephesus €65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHydra €102Ephesus €130
Compare Hotels in Hydra and Ephesus
Looking for a hotel in Hydra 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: Ephesus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hydra €26Ephesus €48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $164
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
- Ephesus Private Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $80
- From-to Izmir AirPort to-from Kusadası Private Airport Transfer: $75
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100
- Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - Kusadasi Centrum (All hotels, home...) transfers: $65
- Kusadasi Boat Trip With Lunch And Hotel Transfer: $40
- Kusadasi Buggy Car Safari With Free Hotel Transfer Service: $40
- Kusadasi Half Day Quad Safari Experience With Free Hotel Transfer: $50
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Kusadasi Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
- Kusadasi International Golf Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Hydra or Ephesus?
Prices for flights to both Ephesus and Hydra 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
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Food Meals for one dayHydra €30Ephesus €31
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches€0.14
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Dessert€0.16
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)€0.55
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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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hydra €11Ephesus €55
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- For Cruisers: Skip-the-line Private Free Ephesus Tour : $0.05
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of The Highlights: $6.53
- Entry Free: Drive by Ephesus and Ancient Wonder Tour: $12
- Self-guided Virtual Tour of the ancient pearl of the Mediterranean: $17
- Kusadasi Traditional Turkish Bath Hamam Experience : $17
- SKIP THE LINE :Best Seller Ephesus Private Tour For Cruiser Guest: $19
- Private & Mini Group Classical Ephesus Tour For Cruisers: $19
- Skip the Line - Best of Ephesus: $19
- Time Travel in Affordable and Spectacular Experience: $20
- Best of Ephesus Guided Tour For Cruise Guest : $20
- Kusadasi Scuba Diving Tour By Local Experts: $20
- Kusadasi Quad Safari Adventure: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHydra €11Ephesus €14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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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 Hydra and Ephesus, we can see that Ephesus is more expensive. And not only is Hydra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hydra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hydra 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 Ephesus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ephesus than you might in Hydra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hydra Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hydra or Ephesus?
Ephesus has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hydra. When comparing the sizes of Hydra 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 Hydra or Ephesus?
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 Hydra or Ephesus in the Summer?
Both Ephesus and Hydra during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Hydra for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Hydra is around the same temperature as Ephesus. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hydra in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Ephesus averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Ephesus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hydra. In the summer, Hydra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus. Hydra gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 378 hours of full sun.
Hydra usually gets more rain in July than Ephesus. Hydra gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHydra 27°C (81°F)Ephesus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hydra or Ephesus in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hydra and Ephesus. Many visitors come to Hydra in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Hydra is generally around the same temperature as Ephesus. Daily temperatures in Hydra average around 19°C (67°F), and Ephesus fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In Hydra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hydra usually receives less sunshine than Ephesus during autumn. Hydra gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 232 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hydra usually receives more rain than Ephesus. Hydra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHydra 19°C (67°F)Ephesus 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Hydra or Ephesus in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hydra as well as Ephesus. Most visitors come to Hydra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Hydra is around the same temperature as Ephesus in the winter. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Ephesus fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, Hydra often gets more sunshine than Ephesus. Hydra gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ephesus receives 131 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ephesus. Hydra usually gets less rain in January than Ephesus. Hydra gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHydra 10°C (51°F)Ephesus 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Hydra or Ephesus in the Spring?
Both Ephesus and Hydra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Hydra because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Hydra is around the same temperature as Ephesus. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hydra in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Ephesus averages at about 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hydra. Hydra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ephesus during spring. Hydra gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Ephesus receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Hydra usually receives less rain than Ephesus. Hydra gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Ephesus receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHydra 16°C (60°F)Ephesus 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Ephesus and Hydra
| Hydra | Ephesus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 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.