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

Should you visit Athens or Tartu?

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 Tartu. 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 energetic, historic, and ancient city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Athens travel costs.

Tartu

Tartu is a historical, lively, and intellectual university town. Tartu offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife. See Tartu travel costs.

Athens and Tartu: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Athens or Tartu?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Athens than Tartu. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Athens is more touristy than Tartu and is known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Tartu is famous for its vibrant student population and long running university.

The Acropolis

How is Athens different from Tartu?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. However, Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Tartu does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Tartu is not known for its local cuisine and 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.

Tartu offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The restaurant scene is surprisingly limited because of the large student population. Most students prefer saving their money for a night out drinking over a quiet meal at a restaurant. There are some cafes around town as well as pastry shops and a few good ethnic restaurants to choose between.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for Nightlife?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for nightlife.

Athens has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.

Tartu offers plenty to do in the evening. With its huge student population, there is plenty of activity year round. The nightlife scene includes many bars, dance clubs, and pubs that are popular with students and visitors alike. You'll find large parties and music festivals throughout the year that bring crowds to the city.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for its Old Town?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its historic old town.

Athens offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. 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 Tartu. The old town is where you'll find one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. There is also Town Hall Square and St. John’s Quarter with many historic buildings and beautiful architecture.

Is the Shopping Better in Athens or Tartu?

Athens is a city with good options for its shopping areas. However, Tartu is not known for shopping.

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.

Tartu is a good destination for shopping. While most people don't visit to go shopping, there is an active art scene in town so you can find some creative pieces that are worth checking out.

Is Athens or Tartu More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of nice scenery and beauty in both Athens and Tartu.

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

Tartu is a gorgeous place to visit. It's a beautiful city with a long history and a number of unique historical buildings.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for Families?

Athens is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Athens. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.

Tartu is a family-friendly place to visit. Many of the kid-friendly activities are outdoors, so summer visits are better if you're traveling with children. There are adventure parks, animal parks, and educational museums that you can choose from.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for Couples?

Athens is a city with good options for couples. However, Tartu is not known for romance.

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.

Tartu is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a young population, so you'll find many activities center around a more youthful vibe. There are some great museums that couples will enjoy, as well as a lively nightlife scene. Outside of old town, couples will enjoy wandering through the Karlova and Supilinn districts.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Athens is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Athens, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Tartu. With it's young population and budget friendly entertainment options, there are many things that backpackers will enjoy. It's not nearly as popular with backpackers as some other cities, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Athens or Tartu Better for Students?

Tartu is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Tartu is a very popular place to visit for students. It is a university town and home to one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. The student population is large here, with many activities, museums, and nightlife options to choose from. There always seems to be something going on in this vibrant city.

Athens is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.

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

Athens is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its public transit.

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.

Tartu has a few public transit options. There is a comprehensive bus system around the town.

Is Athens or Tartu a more walkable city?

Athens and Tartu 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.

Tartu is very walkable. The city is compact with most of its sights and restaurants close together along a couple of streets.

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

Should I spend more time in Tartu or Athens?

How long in Athens or Tartu?

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

Families should spend more time in Athens than Tartu. 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 Tartu. 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 Tartu 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 Tartu?

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 nightlife when visiting the destination of Tartu. 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 Tartu?

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.

Tartu 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 Tartu?

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 Tartu. 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 Tartu?

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 nightlife when visiting the historical destination of Tartu. This university 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, and The Best Budget Tours to Estonia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Athens or Tartu?

Athens has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Tartu. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Tartu, 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 Tartu?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Athens or Tartu in the Summer?

Both Tartu and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Tartu because of the family-friendly experiences.

Athens is much warmer than Tartu in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Tartu fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Tartu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Tartu during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Tartu receives 265 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Tartu. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tartu receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Athens or Tartu in the Autumn?

Both Tartu and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. 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. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Tartu this time of year.

In the autumn, Athens is much warmer than Tartu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Tartu averages at about 6°C (43°F).

It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets more sunshine than Tartu. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tartu receives 86 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in October than Tartu. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Tartu receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Athens or Tartu in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Tartu. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Tartu for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Tartu. In January, Athens is generally much warmer than Tartu. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Tartu fluctuates around -7°C (19°F).

Athens usually receives more sunshine than Tartu during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Tartu receives 36 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Tartu. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Tartu receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Athens or Tartu in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Tartu. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Additionally, many visitors come to Tartu in the spring for the natural beauty.

Tartu can get quite cold in the spring. Athens is much warmer than Tartu in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Tartu fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the spring, Athens often gets more sunshine than Tartu. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tartu receives 180 hours of full sun.

Athens usually gets less rain in April than Tartu. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Tartu receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Tartu and Athens