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

Should you visit Hydra or Olympos?

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

Should I visit Hydra 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: Hydra or Olympos?

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.

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


Which place is cheaper, Olympos or Hydra?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hydra is €97, 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 Hydra and Olympos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hydra 51
    Olympos 40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hydra 102
    Olympos 80
Compare Hotels in Hydra and Olympos

Looking for a hotel in Hydra 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 Hydra


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: Olympos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hydra 26
    Olympos 28

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 Hydra or Olympos?

Prices for flights to both Olympos 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hydra 30
    Olympos 28

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.
    Hydra 11
    Olympos 28

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
    Hydra 11
    Olympos 17


When comparing the travel costs between Hydra and Olympos, we can see that Hydra 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 Hydra Expensive? and Is Olympos Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Hydra 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 Hydra or Olympos in the Summer?

Both Olympos and Hydra during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Hydra because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Hydra is around the same temperature as Olympos in the summer. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Olympos fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Olympos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hydra. In the summer, Hydra often gets less sunshine than Olympos. Hydra gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 385 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets less rain in July than Olympos. Hydra gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hydra 27°C (81°F) 
    Olympos 27°C (80°F)

Should I visit Hydra or Olympos in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hydra and Olympos. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Hydra this time of year.

In the autumn, Hydra is around the same temperature as Olympos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hydra in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Olympos averages at about 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Olympos this time of the year. In Hydra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hydra usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during autumn. Hydra gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 249 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Hydra usually receives more rain than Olympos. Hydra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hydra 19°C (67°F) 
    Olympos 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Hydra or Olympos in the Winter?

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

In January, Hydra is generally around the same temperature as Olympos. Daily temperatures in Hydra average around 10°C (51°F), and Olympos fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the winter, Hydra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Olympos. Hydra gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympos receives 147 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets more rain in January than Olympos. Hydra gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hydra 10°C (51°F) 
    Olympos 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Hydra or Olympos in the Spring?

Both Olympos and Hydra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Hydra in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Hydra is around the same temperature as Olympos in the spring. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Olympos fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Olympos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hydra. Hydra usually receives less sunshine than Olympos during spring. Hydra gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Olympos receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Hydra usually receives more rain than Olympos. Hydra gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Olympos receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hydra 16°C (60°F) 
    Olympos 16°C (61°F)

Typical Weather for Olympos and Hydra

Hydra Olympos
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (51°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 11°C (52°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 11°C (53°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 13°C (56°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 25 mm (1 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jun 24°C (76°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Sep 24°C (76°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 16°C (60°F) 51 mm (2 in) 16°C (61°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 13°C (55°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)