Travel Budget for Athens Visit Athens on a Budget or Travel in Style

Athens, Attica, Greece

How much does it cost to travel to Athens?

You should plan to spend around $137 (€127) per day on your vacation in Athens. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $40 (€37) on meals
  • $29 (€27) on local transportation
  • $137 (€126) on hotels

A one week trip to Athens for two people costs, on average, $1,924 (€1,778). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $137
    127
  • One Week Per person
    $962
    889
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,924
    1,778
  • One Month Per person
    $4,123
    3,810
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,924
    1,778
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,848
    3,556
  • One Month For a couple
    $8,246
    7,620
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Athens cost?

A one week trip to Athens usually costs around $962 (€889) for one person and $1,924 (€1,778) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Athens on average costs around $1,924 (€1,778) for one person and $3,848 (€3,556) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Athens will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Athens on average costs around $4,123 (€3,810) for one person and $8,246 (€7,620) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Athens has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Athens expensive to visit?

Prices in Athens are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Athens is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bamberg.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Athens Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Athens?

The average Athens trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Athens travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) 126 ($137)
Local Transportation 1 27 ($29)
Food 2 37 ($40)
Entertainment 1 36 ($39)
Tips and Handouts 1 2 - 5 ($2 - 5)
Alcohol 2 11 - 34 ($12 - 37)
Accommodation Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Athens is $68 (€63). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Athens is $137 (€126). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $68
    63
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $137
    126

Hotel Prices in Athens

Looking for a hotel in Athens? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Athens based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $69. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Athens is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $29 (€27) per person, per day, on local transportation in Athens.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $29
    27

Recommended Services


Flights to Athens
How much does it cost to go to Athens? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Athens
The price of renting a car in Athens will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Athens?

Typical prices for Transportation in Athens are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Athens, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Airport Bus for Two
    6.40
  • Metro
    1.50
  • Metro
    2.00
  • Metro from Airport to City Center
    8.00
  • Taxi from Airport
    35


Food Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Athens can vary, the average cost of food in Athens is $40 (€37) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Athens should cost around $16 (€15) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Athens is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $40
    37

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Athens?

Typical prices for Food in Athens are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Athens, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Ice cream
    3.00
  • Souvlaki
    2.20


Entertainment Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Athens typically cost an average of $39 (€36) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $39
    36

Recommended Activities


Tips and Handouts Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Athens is $3.62 (€3.34) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Athens is 5% - 15%.


  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    $3.62
    3.34


Alcohol Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $24 (€23) on alcoholic beverages in Athens per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $24
    23

Recommended


Water Budget in Athens
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $2.71 (€2.51) on bottled water in Athens per day. The public water in Athens is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $2.71
    2.51


Last Updated: May 26, 2023
Athens On a Budget
Athens The Acropolis, Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.

The city hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games which led to major renovation to the transportation infrastructure and historical center. During this time the city's most famous classical era ruins and monuments were connected through a network of pedestrian streets, making for a wonderful tourist attraction.

Like many of the touristy cities in Europe, spring and fall are the best times to visit. The summer is incredibly hot and dry and the winter occasionally sees rain or even snow. If you're tight on money though, the low season of winter can offer you many opportunities to save while avoiding the peak season crowds.
Sights
There are countless historical sights spread throughout Athens. Major landmarks include the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Kerameikos, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathinako Stadium, and Lycabettus Hill.

In addition to the obvious famed sights, there are also many interesting Neoclassical buildings, interesting winding streets, and small Greek Orthodox churches that are fun to find and explore. Don't just check sights off in your guidebook, but make a point of looking around and wondering into the unexplored gems.
Neighborhoods
Athens is a sprawling city that is enclosed by Mt Ymettos, Mt Parnitha and Mt Pendeli. There are also twelve hills, including the seven historical hills, within the city. In general, the tourist attractions are found in a small area around the city center and Syntagma Square. Spreading out from this square are the districts of Plaka to the south, Monastiraki and Thissio to the west, Kolonaki to the northeast and Omonia to the northwest.

Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are all charming and interesting historic areas that sit at the foot of the Acropolis. The houses in these areas are from the 19th century and are restored to their original neoclassical style. Each of these districts has pedestrian streets, interesting shops, outdoor cafes, and historical ruins that date back to the city's Roman era. Kolonaki is an upscale, residential area that offers some upscale, boutique shops, interesting art galleries, and plenty of cafes. Omonia has undergone a gentrification since the arrival of the metro and now there are many students that live in this area. It is also where you will find the National Archeaological Museum.

Activities
There are plenty of activities and festivals in Athens, particularly when the weather is pleasant. The Athens and Epidaurus Festival is held during the summer and there are a diversity of events that range from theater to performing arts and music. Another unique activity in Athens is to attend a basketball game. There are two major teams and tickets can be purchased at the stadiums.
Food and Dining
There are some very affordable and delicious meal options available in Athens. If you're looking for something quick and cheap, try the souvlaki. This is made with grilled meat, usually pork or chicken, vegetables, and Greek tzatsiki sauce. These ingredients are wrapped in a thin piece of pita bread and served with French fries. There is often an extra charge to sit at a table, so get the food to go and you can save a little money.

Plaka has many different restaurants. Many of these cater to tourists and can be more expensive than those found elsewhere, but you'll likely end up having at least one meal here during your sightseeing. There are plenty of souvlaki shops. You can also head to Adrianou, which is on the north side of the Acropolis from Thissio. Here you will find many different tavernas. These are also touristy and a little expensive, particularly if you find one with views of the Acropolis.

Transportation
Public transportation in Athens continues to be renovated following the Olympic Games in 2004. It's very affordable and one ticket will let you travel on all modes of transport including the metro, suburban trains, trams, trolleybuses, and buses for about an hour. There are also full day and weekly passes available. Public transportation in the city is prone to strikes, in which case traffic can become frustratingly congested.

The metro system is relatively new, opened in 2001, and the stations are quite impressive. There are three lines that currently make up the system. Line 1 connects the city center with the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Line 2 connects the city center with the coastal zone, and Line 3 runs along the coastal zone.There are also buses and trolley buses that run throughout the city. This buses are convenient and generally reliable, and are a good and affordable option to visit parts of the city that are not accessible by metro.

Greek Island Ferry Tickets

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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.