A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Paros vs. Plovdiv for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Paros or Plovdiv?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Paros and Plovdiv. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Paros or Plovdiv?

Paros

A popular vacation destination for visitors to the Greek islands, Paros is the second largest island of the Cyclades group. It is characterized by beautiful Mediterranean beaches and charming seaside villages.

Plovdiv

Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Greece, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Greece, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, and The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Plovdiv or Paros?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Paros is €122, while the average daily cost in Plovdiv is €75. 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 Paros and Plovdiv in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paros 53
    Plovdiv 41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paros 106
    Plovdiv 82
Compare Hotels in Paros and Plovdiv

Looking for a hotel in Paros or Plovdiv? 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 Paros


Hotels in Plovdiv


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: Paros Hotel Prices and Plovdiv Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paros 37
    Plovdiv 21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paros

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

  • Private Transfer From Naxos Port-Airport To All Destinations: $54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv

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

  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $103
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $190
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Borovets: $103
  • Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98

Is it cheaper to fly into Paros or Plovdiv?

Prices for flights to both Plovdiv and Paros 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
    Paros 45
    Plovdiv 20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paros

For Paros, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Naxos Town Food Tour : $91
  • 4 Hour Traditional Cooking Class for Small Group: $96
  • Naxos Perivoli Farm Experience & Wood-fire Cooking Class: $103
  • Naxos:Half-day cooking class at Basiliko : $105
  • Greek Cooking Class with Full Meal: $113
  • Food Tasting and Cooking Class on Naxos with Local Market Visit: $114
  • Paros Cooking Class: $115
  • Naxos Old Town Private Food Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $152
  • Naxos Villages Food Tour : $161
  • Cooking Class with 6-Course Menu and Drinks: $638

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paros 22
    Plovdiv 14

Tours and Activities in Paros

For Paros, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Full One-Day Tour Naxos & Heraklia: $174
  • 5 Hours Private Guided Tour Around Santorini : $125
  • All inclusive day sailing tour from Naxos to the small cyclades: $152
  • All-Inclusive Catamaran Day Cruise: $163
  • Antiparos & Despotiko full day cruise from Paros: $98
  • Catamaran Full-Day Cruise around Naxos or Paros with Lunch: $152
  • Cruise from Naxos to Santorini: $81
  • Cruises to Delos-Mykonos, Santorini and Koufonisi by Alexander : $49
  • DAY CRUISE Koufonisi traditional Kaiki from Paros : $119
  • Daily Cruise - Koufonissia & Rina Cave: $87
  • Daily Cruise from Paros to Santorini: $105
  • Delos and Mykonos One Day Cruise from Naxos: $79

Tours and Activities in Plovdiv

For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 5-Day Guided Tour to Sofia, Plovdiv and Istanbul: $485
  • Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's Fortress - day tour from Plovdiv: $81
  • Communist Heritage Tour- Buzludzha and The Might of the East Block Aviation: $98
  • Day Tour from Plovdiv full with History, Nature & Forgotten Village Experiences: $144
  • Exclusive Private Tour in the Thracian Valley from Sofia: $93
  • Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
  • From Bachkovo Monastery & Asen’s Fortress Tour: $81
  • From Musala Peak Full-Day Trekking Tour: $130
  • From Sofia - A Story of an Ancient State Day Tour: $95
  • Full Day Archeological tour of Plovdiv and the Region: $97
  • Full Day Eco Private Tour in Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv: $134
  • Full Day Eco Private Tour in Plovdiv: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paros 25
    Plovdiv 8.99

Sample the Local Flavors in Paros

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

  • Wine Tasting and Tour in Saint Anna Winery in Naxos: $60
  • Citron Tasting and Distillery 1-Hour Guided Tour in Naxos: $65
  • 3 Hour Tour in Paros Wine Tasting: $163
  • Paros wine tour and tasting: $165

Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:

  • Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
  • Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
  • Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $91
  • Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $107
  • From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $120


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paros and Plovdiv, we can see that Paros is more expensive. And not only is Plovdiv much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plovdiv would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plovdiv 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 Paros would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paros than you might in Plovdiv.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paros Expensive? and Is Plovdiv Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Paros or Plovdiv?

Plovdiv has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Paros. When comparing the sizes of Paros and Plovdiv, 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.