Should you visit Thiva (Thebes) or Heraklion?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Thiva (Thebes) and Heraklion can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Thiva (Thebes)
The City of Thiva (Thebes in ancient times) is a place built on top of history. Dating back to its powerful city-state status in the 4th Century BC, the city was home to legends like Hercules and Dionysus, and laid basis to the famous story of Oedipus as well. Following the Trojan War, Thiva had reached its golden age as a dominant city of the Boeotia region. The glory however was short to last. Around 335 BC, Thiva was all but destroyed by Alexander the Great for siding with the Persians under Xerxes against Athens.
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern — a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
Which city is cheaper, Heraklion or Thiva (Thebes)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Thiva (Thebes) is €102, while the average daily cost in Heraklion is €126. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Thiva (Thebes) and Heraklion in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Thiva (Thebes) is €98. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Travelers usually pay around €130 for a double occupancy room in Heraklion If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Thiva (Thebes) can vary, the average travelers spends about €33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Thiva (Thebes) should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Thiva (Thebes) is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about €41 per day in Heraklion for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Thiva (Thebes) €33
Heraklion €41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Live from Heraklion - Cheese Making and Vegeterian Pie Online Cooking class:
$39
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Cretan Cooking Class Gouves (Free Transfer Included):
$86
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5-Hour Cooking Class:
$97
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Private Cooking Class Gouves (Free Transfer Included):
$123
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Heraklion Private Cretan Cooking Class at a Traditional Village:
$218
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Private Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Heraklion:
$440
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Thiva (Thebes) is €30 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Heraklion than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €25 on transportation in Heraklion on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Transfer Heraklion Area:
$13
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agia Marina:
$311
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agia Pelagia:
$68
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Agios Nikolaos:
$129
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Ammoudara:
$42
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Analipsis:
$61
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Anissaras:
$65
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Bali:
$108
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Chania:
$291
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Eloúnda:
$146
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Fodele:
$73
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Creta Private Transfer from Heraklion (HER) Airport to Georgioupoli:
$214
Is it cheaper to fly into Thiva (Thebes) or Heraklion?
Prices for flights to both Heraklion and Thiva (Thebes) 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.
Entertainment
Thiva (Thebes)'s costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €21 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing expenses in Heraklion, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €30 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Heraklion Archaeological Museum Entrance Ticket:
$12
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Skip the Line: Knossos Palace and Archaeological Site Entrance Ticket:
$15
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Heraklion Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$19
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Royalty Heraklion City Tour-Market-Creta Aquarium:
$25
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Heraklion City Tour-Market-Creta Aquarium:
$32
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From Spinalonga Island ,Elounda Barbeque and Agios Nikolaos Tour:
$45
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From Heraklio: Full-Day Knossos & Heraklion Tour Guided English and German:
$45
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Chrissi Island Cruise from Heraklion:
$61
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Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay Full-Day Tour from Heraklion:
$61
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Royalty Cretan Folklore Night Tour:
$65
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Cretan Folklore Night Tour TR:
$66
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West Crete Day Tour: Chania, Rethymno, Lake Kournas - from Heraklion region:
$76
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Thiva (Thebes) may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Heraklion spend on average €21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area:
$187
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thiva (Thebes) and Heraklion, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Thiva (Thebes) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Thiva (Thebes) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Thiva (Thebes) 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Thiva (Thebes).
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