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

Should you visit Athens or Hue?

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 Hue. 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 historic, ancient, and vibrant 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 nightlife, food, and shopping. See Athens travel costs.

Hue

Hue is a authentic, ancient, and imperial city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Hue travel costs.

Athens and Hue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Hue?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Hue. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Hue attracts visitors for its shopping. Athens is famous for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Hue is famous for its imperial buildings and political history as the country's historic capital.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Hue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hue 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 Hue?

Athens is terrific for its sights and museums. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Athens on the map. 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 can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Hue. It's an ancient city that is filled with many sights from its imperial past. The Imperial City in Hue is the city's most important attraction. Other sights include the Thai Hoa Palace, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Royal Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.

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

Athens is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Many restaurants in Athens have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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 Hue. Local dishes were once served to the city's emperors, but today you'll find them in restaurants and food stalls. Dishes are either sweet or spicy with lemongrass, basil, chilies, and mint herbs mixed in. Soups and grilled meats are popular such as bun bo hue and nem lui.

Is Athens or Hue Better for Nightlife?

Athens is terrific for its evening party scene. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Athens is a must-see party destination. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Hue. For the best nightlife, many visitors head to the Western Area, particularly around the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An and Vo Thi Sau. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street is another popular area for nightlife in Hue.

Is Athens or Hue Better for its Old Town?

Athens is terrific for its historic old town charm. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town.

Athens has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. 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.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Hue. As the former imperial capital, you'll see many temples and historical sites in the city.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Hue?

Hue is great for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Hue. The city has many local markets where you can find traditional and authentic handicrafts. Some of the most interesting things to purchase at the markets include silk paintings, antiques, and lacquerware.

Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.

Is Athens or Hue More Beautiful?

Athens is a city with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Hue is not a destination known for its beauty.

Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With it's stunning archaeological sites, Athens is most beautiful at night, when things light up.

Hue is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Athens or Hue Better for Families?

Athens is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Hue is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy exploring the Imperial City, visiting Ho Quyen Arena and Long Chau Temple, or wandering through the city's local markets. The Demilitarized Zone is also an interesting side trip.

Is Athens or Hue Better for Couples?

Athens and Hue both nice destinations for a couple.

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

Hue is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy boat rides or sunset cruises along Perfume River. There are also interesting temples and fascinating day trips that you can take from the city.

Is Athens or Hue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is terrific for backpackers. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit 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.

Hue is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It is a popular stop over in central Vietnam. There are plenty of hostels and budget guesthouses to accommodate the backpacker crowds. There are also cheap restaurants and interesting activities relating to the city's long history.

Is Athens or Hue Better for Students?

Athens is a well-known place for students. However, Hue is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Athens. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

Hue is not popular with students.

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

Athens is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Athens offers a very effecient public transportation network. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.

Hue has some public transit options. Cyclos, motorbikes, and local bus are the most common ways to get around the city.

Is Athens or Hue a more walkable city?

Athens and Hue are very good 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.

Hue is very walkable. Many of the sights can be reached on foot and the city is relatively compact.

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

Should I spend more time in Hue or Athens?

How long in Athens or Hue?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Hue. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Hue. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 1-3 days is enough time in Hue.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Hue 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 Hue?

When visiting Athens, people usually allow for lots of time. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Hue. 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 Hue?

Many people visit Athens for a weekend. When visiting Athens, people usually allow for lots of time. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Hue is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. 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 Hue?

When visiting Athens, people usually allow for lots of time. Many people spend five days here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hue. 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 Hue?

Athens, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Visiting the old town is also a must. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the imperial destination of Hue. This city 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 Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Hue, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Hue is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Hue.

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Hue?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Hue, 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 Hue?

Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hue experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Hue in the Summer?

Both Hue and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hue year-round.

Athens is around the same temperature as Hue in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Hue fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

In Hue, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Hue. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hue receives 242 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in July than Hue. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Hue receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the dry season in Hue. September to December is the rainy season in Hue.

Should I visit Athens or Hue in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Hue. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Hue attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Hue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Hue averages at about 25°C (78°F).

In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Hue during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Hue receives 158 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Hue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Hue. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Hue receives 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, September to December is the rainy season in Hue.

Should I visit Athens or Hue in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Hue. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hue throughout the year.

In January, Athens is generally much colder than Hue. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Hue fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

In the winter, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hue. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hue receives 136 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Hue. Athens usually gets less rain in January than Hue. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Hue receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, March to August in Hue is the dry season.

Should I visit Athens or Hue in the Spring?

Both Hue and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Hue because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Athens is much colder than Hue in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Hue fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).

It's quite sunny in Hue. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hue during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Hue receives 210 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Hue. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Hue receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hue and Athens