Which place is cheaper, Sofia or Nafplio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nafplio or Sofia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nafplio or Sofia? 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: Nafplio or Sofia?
Nafplio
The destination of Nafplio exists as a historic seaport town on the Peloponnese peninsula. From prevailing as a major port under royal succession in the Middle Ages to standing under the Republic of Venice, Ottoman Empire, and finally becoming capital of the First Hellenic Republic and then the Kingdom of Greece, this place has seen it all. Nafplio is now the capital of the region of Argolis.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNafplio €112Sofia €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Nafplio is €112, while the average daily cost in Sofia is €60. 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 Nafplio and Sofia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNafplio €50Sofia €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNafplio €100Sofia €76
Compare Hotels in Nafplio and Sofia
Looking for a hotel in Nafplio or Sofia? 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: Nafplio Hotel Prices and Sofia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nafplio €46Sofia €7.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nafplio
Also for Nafplio, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens: Bus Transfer to/from Nafplio: $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from the Sofia Airport to your hotel in Sofia by VIP Mercedes V class: $65
- Transfer from Sofia to Burgas: $266
- Transfer from Sofia to Borovets: $82
- Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $130
- Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $194
- Transfer Services in Bulgaria: Sofia Airport and Hotel Transfers: $80
- Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $685
- Sofia City Private Transfer to Sofia Airport SOF in Business Car: $53
- Sofia Airport Transfers: $49
- Private transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv or vice versa: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Nafplio or Sofia?
Prices for flights to both Sofia and Nafplio 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 dayNafplio €34Sofia €17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $48
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $96
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $105
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $107
- Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $117
- Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $117
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nafplio €22Sofia €5.56
Tours and Activities in Nafplio
For Nafplio, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ancient corinth and beautiful Nafplio day family tour: $437
- Argolis: Full-Day Private Peloponnese Tour from Athens: $425
- Athens: Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Nafplio Day Tour: $522
- From Athens: Peloponnese Full Day Private Tour & Audio Tour: $501
- From Athens: Private Tour Mycenae Nafplio Epidaurus & Audio: $501
- From Hydra Island Private-Tour to Nafplio, Epidaurus&Mycenae: $384
- From Nafplion: Mycenae, Corinth Canal and Epidavros Day Tour: $181
- Mycenae Epidavrous Nafplio Isthmus Canal Full Day Tour 8 H: $198
- Mycenae-Nafplio-Epidaurus Private Full Day Tour with Sedan: $91
- Nafplio Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: $11
- City Walking Tour: $85
- Highlights Walking Tour: $59
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $98
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $108
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $86
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $92
- 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $98
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $107
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $75
- Archaeological tour-From the Neolithic to Modern times in Augusta Trayana: $107
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNafplio €6.86Sofia €7.88
Sample the Local Flavors in Nafplio
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Nafplio:
- Nafplion: Nemea Vineyards Wine Tour: $170
- "Wine tasting Tour in Nemea and Visit tour in Nafplio": $294
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $16
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $19
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $53
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
- 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $86
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $107
- Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $114
- Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $119
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nafplio and Sofia, we can see that Nafplio is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sofia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sofia 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 Nafplio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nafplio than you might in Sofia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nafplio Expensive? and Is Sofia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nafplio or Sofia?
Sofia has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Nafplio. When comparing the sizes of Nafplio and Sofia, 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.
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.