A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lesbos vs. Hvar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lesbos or Hvar?

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 Lesbos and Hvar. 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.

Where Should I go: Lesbos or Hvar?

Lesbos

Lesbos, the third-largest Greek island, offers a captivating blend of natural beauty, rich history, and authentic Greek culture. Visiting Lesbos doesn't have to break the bank. Budget accommodations can be found for as low as €25-40 per night in the off-season and €40-60 during peak months. For affordable meals, seek out local tavernas away from tourist hotspots. The villages of Petra and Molyvos offer authentic dining experiences at reasonable prices, and many tavernas provide daily specials ("mezedes") that are both delicious and economical.

Hvar

Hvar is a Croatian island full of mountains, vegetation, beaches, vineyards, shops, restaurants, and also people! Hvar Town is the main city on the island, but there are many other small villages throughout. The best time to visit Hvar is between May and September, although keep in mind it can get busy during this period.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Hvar or Lesbos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lesbos is €276, while the average daily cost in Hvar is €131. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lesbos and Hvar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lesbos 117
    Hvar 38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lesbos 234
    Hvar 76
Compare Hotels in Lesbos and Hvar

Looking for a hotel in Lesbos or Hvar? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Lesbos


Hotels in Hvar


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lesbos Hotel Prices and Hvar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lesbos 61
    Hvar 47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hvar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hvar:

  • Private Transfer to Dubrovnik with Korčula Stopover: $3,394
  • Speedboat Transfer from Hvar Town to Split Airport: $585

Is it cheaper to fly into Lesbos or Hvar?

Prices for flights to both Hvar and Lesbos 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lesbos 119
    Hvar 66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hvar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hvar.

  • Traditional Hvar Cooking Classes, Dinners & 'Poje' Field Tour!: $167
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $205
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Small Group Half Day Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $208
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour with Traditional Dinner/Lunch: $256
  • Hvar Small Group Wine Tour and Authentic Dalmatian Dinner: $298

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lesbos 37
    Hvar 7.51

Tours and Activities in Hvar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hvar are as follows:

  • 50 Shades of Blue: Blue Cave & 5 Islands Boat Tour from Hvar: $12
  • Local Delicacies Tasting Experience in Hvar Town: $24
  • 1-Hour Battle Archery Game in Hvar Adventure Park: $24
  • Private Multi-Activity Experience in Adventure Park Hvar Jelsa: $27
  • Stand Up Paddle school - learn to SUP and make your first SUP tour: $30
  • 1-Hour Private Paintball Adventure in Park Hvar Jelsa: $32
  • Timeless Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guide: $41
  • Pakleni Islands Self-Guided Kayaking Tour: $53
  • Private Half-Day Kayak Experience in Hvar and Pakleni Islands: $54
  • Romantic Sunset Sailing Experience On A Comfort Yacht: $68
  • Red Rocks and Pakleni Islands Boat Tour with Swim: $70
  • Hvar Island Self-Guided E-Bike Tour: $70

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lesbos 23
    Hvar 9.21

Sample the Local Flavors in Hvar

Also in Hvar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wine Tasting Round Trip from Hvar - Family Winery at a Hilltop: $93
  • Hvar Island E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting and Starters: $115
  • Private Hvar Island Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $117
  • Hvar Wine Tasting Experience: $129
  • Hvar Wine tasting small group experience: $131
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour : $173
  • Private Best Beaches Boat Tour with Wine Tasting: $1,001


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

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


Which is Bigger, Lesbos or Hvar?

Hvar has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lesbos. When comparing the sizes of Lesbos and Hvar, 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.