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

Should you visit Ios or Olympos?

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

Should I visit Ios 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: Ios or Olympos?

Ios

Ios is an island in the south of Greece, located in the Cyclades group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a peaceful beach getaway by day, and a lively party scene by night. While its main town is the hub for nightlife, it is also a charming place during the day, typical of a traditional Greek village with shops and cafes against a backdrop of whitewashed buildings and turquoise waters.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best 3-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 Ios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ios is €91, 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 Ios and Olympos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ios 39
    Olympos 40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ios 78
    Olympos 80
Compare Hotels in Ios and Olympos

Looking for a hotel in Ios 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 Ios


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: Ios Hotel Prices and Olympos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ios 16
    Olympos 28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ios

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ios:

  • 1-Way Private Helicopter Transfer to the Greek Islands: $2,417

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos

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

  • Kemer Full Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch and Optional Transfer: $10
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Trip with transfer from Belek: $15
  • Kemer Pirate Boat Trip With Lunch & Free Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Suluada Boat Tour From Antalya (Maldives of Turkey) with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Kemer Mega Star Boat Trip With Hotel Transfer and Lunch : $20
  • Kemer Suluada Boat Tour (Maldives of Turkey) With Hotel Transfer: $20
  • Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
  • Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer with Lunch and Transfer: $22
  • Kemer to Antalya Ariport (AYT) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • Kemer Horse Riding Experience with Transfer: $39
  • Kemer Jeep Safari With Free Hotel Transfer & Lunch: $40
  • Scuba Diving Tour in Kemer with Lunch and Transfer: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Ios or Olympos?

Prices for flights to both Olympos and Ios 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
    Ios 33
    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.
    Ios 26
    Olympos 28

Tours and Activities in Ios

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ios are as follows:

  • 5 -6 Hour Private Chora E-Bike Tours: $131
  • Electric Bike Tour Chora to Diaseli Cheesery: $109
  • Electric Bike Tour Chora to Homer's Tomp: $109
  • From RIB Boat Trip to Sikinos Island and Winery Tour: $84
  • Ios Island Trekking Tours: Discover Ios Unexplored: $27
  • Ios Island: Speedboat Cruise from Mylopotas Beach: $52
  • 4-Hour Cruise of the Best Beaches: $63
  • Private Orienteering Experience in Mylopotas: $163

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
    Ios 33
    Olympos 17

Sample the Local Flavors in Ios

Also in Ios, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bar Crawl Ios Ticket in Cyclades: $38


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