Which place is cheaper, Bled or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Bled?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Bled? 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: Thessaloniki or Bled?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Bled
Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Bled €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Bled is €104. 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 Thessaloniki and Bled in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Bled €56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Bled €112
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Bled
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Bled? 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Bled €34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $18
- Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) - Departure Transfer: $21
- Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport to TUI Blue Lagoon Hotels Private Transfer: $93
- Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Hotels Private Transfer: $98
- Thessaloniki Airport to Portes Lithos Luxury Resort Private Transfer: $82
- Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Olivia Hotel Private Transfer: $98
- Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Oceania Hotel Private Transfer: $87
- Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
- Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
- Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Departure Transfer: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled
Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206
- Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Bled?
Prices for flights to both Bled and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €42Bled €28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled
For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Bled €12
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Thessaloniki Jewish Heritage Private Guided Tour: $207
- Archery Odyssey Traditional Archery Experience: $65
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $218
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $192
- Charming pearls of Thessaloniki – Romantic Tour: $153
- City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- Daily Cruise:Discover Thessaloniki in a different way: $1,069
- Daily Sailing Cruise Olympus Riviera Highlights: $122
- Day Tour at Royal Tombs of Aigai and Museum of Pella with pickup: $93
- Dion and Palaios Panteleimon Myth and History Tour: $153
- Dion-Olympus Private Tour from Thessaloniki: $96
- Discover Olympus from Paralia in Jeep Safari Shared Tour: $76
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Rafting€93
Tours and Activities in Bled
For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Scenic Quad Tour in Bled: $153
- 7 Alpine Wonders- Day Tour Bled, Soca valley, Slovenia : $167
- Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
- Bled eBike Tour: $80
- Bled eBike Tour : $108
- Bled lake day tour from Ljubljana: $91
- 3-Hour Exclusive Lake Bled Canyoning Adventure: $159
- 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
- EBike Tour Lake Bled & Triglav National Park Private: $289
- Guided Canyoning Tour with Transport: $96
- Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
- Rafting and Zipline Tour: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Bled €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:
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Bottle of Champagne€18
Sample the Local Flavors in Bled
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:
- Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
- Wine Tasting Bled: $62
- 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
- Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Bled, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Bled much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bled would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bled 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki than you might in Bled.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Bled?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Bled, 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 Thessaloniki or Bled?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Bled in the Summer?
Both Bled and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Thessaloniki is generally around the same temperature as Bled. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), and Bled fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Bled. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Bled during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Bled. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Bled 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Bled in the Autumn?
Both Bled and Thessaloniki during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Bled in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bled. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Bled. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Bled 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Bled in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Bled. The winter months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Bled averages at about 5°C (41°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bled during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Bled. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Bled 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Bled in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Bled. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In April, Thessaloniki is generally around the same temperature as Bled. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Bled fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Bled. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in April than Bled. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Bled 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Bled and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Bled | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.