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

Should you visit Lesbos or Zadar?

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 Zadar. 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 Zadar?

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.

Zadar

You'll find Zadar in northern Dalmatia, Croatia. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is the center of Zadar County. It is both the historic center for the region and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar. There are a handful of sights around town, most of which can be explored on foot.

The climate for the city is a mix between humid subtropical and a Mediterranean climate. The winters are usually mild and wet, and the summers are humid and warm. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Average yearly rainfall usually exceeds 917 mm. Fall months often remain warm and temperatures are often around 30 degrees Celsius as well. In general, the temperatures rarely drop below freezing, even during the coldest month of January. The rainiest months are October and November, although winter is considered the wet season. July is usually the driest month. Water temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius in July and August and it may be possible to swim any time between May and October.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Greece, The Best Tours for Seniors to Croatia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Zadar 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 Zadar is €110. 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 Zadar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lesbos 117
    Zadar 51
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lesbos 234
    Zadar 102
Compare Hotels in Lesbos and Zadar

Looking for a hotel in Lesbos or Zadar? 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 Zadar


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 Zadar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lesbos 61
    Zadar 9.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zadar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zadar:

  • Hiking experience on the Krupa River : incl. transfer & lunch: $154
  • Modern bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Zadar: $40
  • Privat transfer to Novalja: $157
  • Private Transfer from Biograd Na Moru to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $106
  • Private Transfer from Borik Zadar to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $67
  • Private Transfer from Starigrad Paklenica to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $199
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Šibenik: $286
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Biograd Na Moru: $74
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Borik Zadar: $67
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Murter: $286
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Novalja: $299
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Pag Island: $239

Is it cheaper to fly into Lesbos or Zadar?

Prices for flights to both Zadar 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
    Zadar 49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zadar

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

  • Morning Zadar Food Tour: $142
  • Preko Cooking Class and Shellfishing Experience with a Local: $190
  • Gourmet Sunset dinner on board: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lesbos 37
    Zadar 19

Tours and Activities in Zadar

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

  • Local Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $12
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Zadar's Medieval Heart: $12
  • Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour: $18
  • Zadar Old Town Walking Tour: $18
  • Zadar Walking Tour sponsored by Gligora Cheese and deli.: $18
  • Look Around Zadar - Don't Look Up: Cinematic and Musical Sunset Walking Tour: $19
  • Islands Tour in Zadar by Speedboat: $23
  • Sunset boat Tour in Zadar: $24
  • Half Day Island Hopping Tour With Snorkeling : $24
  • The Ultimate Zadar Walking Tour: $24
  • 3 Island Tour Swim and Snorkel with Drinks on Traditional Boat: $24
  • Island half day tour : $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lesbos 23
    Zadar 12

Sample the Local Flavors in Zadar

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

  • Brlog Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting : $30
  • Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting: $42
  • Craft Gin and exclusive brandies in unique distillery: $78
  • City Tour with Educational Beer Tour in Brlog Brewery: $94
  • City and Wine Tour in Zadar with Eco Tuk Tuk: $107


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

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


Which is Bigger, Lesbos or Zadar?

Zadar has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Lesbos. When comparing the sizes of Lesbos and Zadar, 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.