A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Athens vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Athens or Arles?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Arles. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Athens

Athens is a vibrant, energetic, and historic city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Athens travel costs.

Arles

Arles is a quaint, historic, and charming town. With stunning beauty, Arles attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Arles travel costs.

Athens and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Arles?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Arles. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Arles attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Athens is more touristy than Arles and is popular for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Arles and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Athens or Arles?

You'll find a number of first-rate museums and attractions in both Arles and Athens.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Athens has many famous sights for visitors. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Arles that are not to be missed. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

Is the Food Better in Athens or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Athens has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Athens or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Athens is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Athens or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the first-rate old town areas in both Athens and Arles.

With a famous historical old-town, Athens offers plenty to see. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.

The rich history of Arles can be explored in its historical center. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Arles?

If you're looking to go shopping, Athens and Arles both offer plenty of nice spots.

Athens has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Arles is a great destination for shopping. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Athens or Arles More Beautiful?

Arles is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Arles attracts visitors from all around. This small city is famous for inspiring works by Vincent Van Gogh.

Athens is a gorgeous place to visit. With it's stunning archaeological sites, Athens is most beautiful at night, when things light up.

Is Athens or Arles Better for Families?

Athens is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Athens is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Athens or Arles Better for Couples?

Arles is great for couples. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Arles is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Athens is a nice destination for couples. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.

Is Athens or Arles Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Arles is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Athens is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Arles is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels and apartments in the area.

Is Athens or Arles Better for Students?

Athens is well known for students. However, Arles is not popular with students.

Athens is very popular with students. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Arles is not popular with students.

Is Athens or Arles Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Athens is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Athens. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Athens or Arles a more walkable city?

Athens and Arles are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Arles Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arles or Athens?

How long in Athens or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Athens or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Athens than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

Families should spend more time in Athens than Arles. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Athens, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Arles than Athens. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arles that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Arles if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Athens.

One day in Athens or Arles?

Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Athens or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Athens. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Arles is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Athens or Arles?

Athens is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Athens or Arles?

Each neighborhood in Athens has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Arles. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Arles, we can see that Arles is more expensive. And not only is Athens much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Athens would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Athens 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 Arles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arles than you might in Athens.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Arles?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Arles, 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 Athens or Arles?

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 Athens or Arles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Arles. Many travelers come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Arles in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Athens is a little warmer than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the summer, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Arles. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Arles in the Autumn?

Both Arles and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Athens in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Athens is a little warmer than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Arles during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Arles. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Arles. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Athens or Arles in the Winter?

Both Arles and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Arles because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Arles. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in January than Arles. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Arles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Arles. The spring months attract visitors to Athens because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

Athens is a little warmer than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Arles. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Athens