A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Thessaloniki vs. Gothenburg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Thessaloniki or Gothenburg?

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

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Gothenburg? 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 Gothenburg?

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.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden.


Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Thessaloniki?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is €91. 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 Gothenburg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Thessaloniki 79
    Gothenburg 37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Thessaloniki 158
    Gothenburg 74
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Gothenburg

Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Gothenburg? 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 Thessaloniki


Hotels in Gothenburg


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 Gothenburg Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Thessaloniki 13
    Gothenburg 17

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 Gothenburg

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

  • Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $145
  • Umea Private Transfer from Umea (UME) Airport to City centre: $145
  • Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
  • Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $505
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Gothenburg?

Prices for flights to both Gothenburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Thessaloniki 42
    Gothenburg 36

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Thessaloniki 26
    Gothenburg 14

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

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

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

  • 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
  • After Dark in A Guided Nightlife Tour: $263
  • Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
  • Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
  • City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
  • Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
  • Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $918
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
  • Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $64
  • Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $113
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in Gothenburg from Gothenburg Port: $283

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Thessaloniki 15
    Gothenburg 19

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Gothenburg, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.

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


Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Gothenburg?

Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Thessaloniki. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Gothenburg, 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 Gothenburg?

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 Gothenburg in the Summer?

Both Gothenburg and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Thessaloniki is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Thessaloniki in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Thessaloniki 25°C (77°F) 
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Gothenburg in the Autumn?

Both Gothenburg and Thessaloniki during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.

In October, Thessaloniki is generally much warmer than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 16°C (61°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Thessaloniki 16°C (61°F) 
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Gothenburg in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Gothenburg. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. Thessaloniki is much warmer than Gothenburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Gothenburg during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Thessaloniki 5°C (41°F) 
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Gothenburg in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Gothenburg. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Thessaloniki is much warmer than Gothenburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Thessaloniki in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in April than Gothenburg. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Thessaloniki 13°C (56°F) 
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)

Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki Gothenburg
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 7°C (44°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Mar 9°C (49°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Apr 13°C (56°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
May 18°C (65°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 26 mm (1 in) 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 26 mm (1 in) 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Nov 11°C (52°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in)