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

Should you visit Thessaloniki or Plzen?

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

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Plzen? 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 Plzen?

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.

Plzen

Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.


Which place is cheaper, Plzen 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 Plzen is €95. 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 Plzen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Thessaloniki 79
    Plzen 57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Thessaloniki 158
    Plzen 114
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Plzen

Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Plzen? 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 Plzen


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 Plzen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Thessaloniki 13
    Plzen 7.75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki

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

  • Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $18
  • Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Thessaloniki - Arrival Transfer: $21
  • Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) - Departure Transfer: $21
  • One Way Private Transfer SKG Airport to / from Thessaloniki City Center: $24
  • Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $32
  • Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki Port: $41
  • Private Transfer from Thessaloniki hotels to Thessaloniki Port: $41
  • Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Departure Transfer: $44
  • Thessaloniki Airport - Sani Transfer: $81
  • Thessaloniki Airport to Portes Lithos Luxury Resort Private Transfer: $82
  • Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Oceania Hotel Private Transfer: $87
  • Private transfer to IKOS OLIVIA: $87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:

  • Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $271
  • Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $116
  • Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $87

Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Plzen?

Prices for flights to both Plzen 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
    Plzen 29

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
    Plzen 20

Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki

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

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
  • White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.54
  • Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $11
  • Selfie Museum Entry Ticket: $11
  • Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
  • Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $12
  • Thessaloniki Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
  • Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $13
  • E-ticket to Museum of Byzantine Culture with Audio Tour : $13
  • Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $17

Tours and Activities in Plzen

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

  • Experience Best Prague Tandem Skydiving : $250
  • Pilsen Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.74
  • Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $201
  • Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $8.56
  • Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $32
  • Private Tour to Pilsner Urquell from Prague: $272

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Thessaloniki 15
    Plzen 22

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Plzen

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:

  • Brewery Museum Entrance including a Glass of Beer: $6.55
  • Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
  • Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $17
  • Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $108
  • Pilsner brewery tour incl beer tasting & Czech town Pilsen: $140
  • Day trip to Pilsner Urquell brewery and Bohemian glassworks: $207


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

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


Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Plzen?

Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Plzen, 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 Plzen?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Plzen in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Plzen. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Plzen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Thessaloniki this time of the year. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 212 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in July than Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Thessaloniki 25°C (77°F) 
    Plzen 20°C (67°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Plzen in the Autumn?

Both Plzen and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Plzen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Thessaloniki 16°C (61°F) 
    Plzen 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Plzen in the Winter?

Both Plzen and Thessaloniki during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Plzen in the winter. In the winter, Thessaloniki is much warmer than Plzen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Plzen averages at about -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plzen receives 45 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in January than Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Thessaloniki 5°C (41°F) 
    Plzen -1°C (31°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Plzen in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Plzen. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.

In April, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Plzen during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Plzen receives 164 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of rain as Plzen. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Thessaloniki 13°C (56°F) 
    Plzen 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Plzen and Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki Plzen
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) -1°C (31°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Feb 7°C (44°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 2°C (35°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Mar 9°C (49°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 6°C (42°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Apr 13°C (56°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
May 18°C (65°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 26 mm (1 in) 20°C (67°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 19°C (67°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 26 mm (1 in) 16°C (61°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Nov 11°C (52°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 1°C (34°F) 23 mm (0.9 in)