Is Greece cheaper than Italy?

Generally yes — particularly for accommodation and dining. The Greek islands have a reputation for being expensive, and the premium ones (Mykonos, Santorini) are genuinely so. But mainland Greece and less-touristed islands are significantly cheaper than comparable Italian cities or coastal resorts. As a rough rule, Greece outside the top-tier islands costs 15–25% less than equivalent destinations in Italy.

Which country has better food — Greece or Italy?

This is a fierce debate with no correct answer. Italian cuisine is more varied and regionally complex — what you eat in Sicily bears little resemblance to what you eat in Bologna. Greek cuisine is simpler but relies on exceptional raw ingredients: olive oil, feta, fresh seafood, and lamb. Most objective travellers find Italian cuisine more exciting over time, but Greek food is deeply satisfying in a way that doesn't get tired.

Can you visit Greece and Italy together in one trip?

Yes — several ferry routes connect the two countries. The most popular is the Patras (Greece) to Bari or Ancona (Italy) crossing, operated by Superfast Ferries and Anek Lines. The journey takes 14–19 hours overnight and is surprisingly comfortable on a modern ferry with cabin accommodation. You can also fly Athens–Rome or Athens–Naples cheaply (often under €80 return with budget airlines).

Greece vs Italy | The Greece Guides

Greece and Italy are the two anchors of European classical civilisation, and both rank consistently among Europe’s most-visited countries. They share Mediterranean sunshine, ancient ruins, extraordinary food, and a coastline that draws travellers from around the world. What they deliver is quite different.

Quick Verdict

Category	Greece	Italy
Ancient history	★★★★★	★★★★★
Food	★★★★	★★★★★
Art and museums	★★★★	★★★★★
Beach quality	★★★★★	★★★★
Budget value	★★★★	★★★
Island options	★★★★★	★★★
City culture	★★★★	★★★★★

Choose Greece for island beaches, a simpler and more relaxed pace, better value, and an ancient history less trampled by mass tourism. Choose Italy for world-class art cities, greater culinary variety, more diverse landscapes, and an incomparable cultural density.

Ancient History

Both countries contain some of humanity’s most significant ancient sites. The Acropolis in Athens, Delphi, and Olympia in Greece stand alongside Rome’s Forum, Pompeii, and Sicily’s Valley of the Temples in Italy. Knossos on Crete adds Bronze Age Minoan civilisation that predates classical Greece.

Italy has the additional weight of the Roman Empire at its core — not just ruins, but a living city (Rome) built on top of 2,000 years of continuous history. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Forum are within walking distance of each other. For sheer density of monuments, Rome has no rival.

Greece’s sites tend to have more space and less congestion (outside Acropolis peak hours). Many major Greek sites — Delphi, Epidaurus, Olympia — can be visited with modest crowds even in summer.

Verdict: Italy for art history and Roman heritage; Greece for more space and atmosphere around ancient sites.

Food

Greece

Greek food is grounded in the Mediterranean diet: olive oil, legumes, fresh vegetables, fish, and lamb. The greatness is in the ingredients. A fresh fish caught that morning, grilled simply, drizzled with olive oil, and served with horta (wild greens) and bread in a harbour taverna — few meals in Europe match that experience. Mezedes (small shared plates) are a social institution.

Cheese is serious business: feta, graviera, kefalograviera, myzithra. Olive oil is treated with the seriousness Italians give wine. The wines — Assyrtiko from Santorini, Xinomavro from Naoussa, Moschofilero from the Peloponnese — are increasingly recognised internationally.

Italy

Italian food needs no defence. But it’s worth emphasising what makes it exceptional: the radical variation by region. Neapolitan pizza, Roman cacio e pepe, Bolognese ragù, Venetian cicchetti, Sicilian arancini, Ligurian pesto, Florentine bistecca — these are distinct cuisines that happen to share a country. Italy’s pasta tradition alone contains hundreds of shapes and sauce combinations. The gelato, the espresso culture, the wine (Barolo, Brunello, Amarone, Chianti Classico) — all world-class.

Verdict: Italy for culinary depth and variety; Greece for simple perfection and outstanding seafood.

Beaches

Greece has the edge on beaches, principally because of the island factor. The Ionian islands (Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada) have some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. The Cyclades (Milos, Paros, Naxos) have whitewashed villages above turquoise bays. Crete’s south coast has large, wild beaches like Elafonisi and Balos.

Italy’s coastline — the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Sardinia, Sicily — is beautiful but tends toward cliff scenery and small, organised lidos rather than the expansive wild beaches of Greece. Sardinia is the notable exception: the Costa Smeralda’s beaches rival the Cyclades in water clarity and scenery, though at significantly higher prices.

Verdict: Greece for beaches, except Sardinia which matches the Cyclades.

Cost Comparison

Category	Greece (midrange)	Italy (midrange)
Hotel per night	€70–180	€90–220
Dinner per person	€25–45	€30–55
Coffee (espresso)	€1.50–2.50	€1–1.50
Museum entry (major)	€10–20	€15–25
Domestic flight	€40–100	€50–130

Italy’s popular cities (Rome, Florence, Venice) are expensive — comparable to Northern Europe in some respects. Venice in particular is a premium destination. Greece on the non-luxury islands is notably cheaper. See our Greece budget travel guide for detailed cost breakdowns.

Getting Around

Italy has an excellent rail network — the Frecciarossa high-speed trains connect Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Naples quickly and comfortably. Trains are the right way to move between Italian cities.

Greece requires more planning. The island ferry network is extensive but not always fast — getting between islands can mean overnight ferries or short but frequent flights. Read our Greek island ferry guide before booking.

Accommodation

Athens: Hotel Grande Bretagne (5-star, from €300/night), Athens Marriott (from €180/night), Periscope Hotel Kolonaki (boutique, from €120/night).

Rome: Hotel de Russie (5-star, from €500/night), Borghese Palace Art Hotel (from €200/night), The Generator Hostel (from €30/night dorm).

Greek islands: Wide range from budget rooms at €40/night to €1,500/night caldera suites in Santorini.

Amalfi/Positano: Some of Europe’s priciest accommodation — budget hotels from €200/night, luxury hotels from €600+.

Our Verdict

Greece and Italy are different enough that the choice shouldn’t be agonising. Ask yourself what you actually want:

Monument overload + art cities + culinary variety? Italy.
Island beaches + simpler pace + lower cost + Greek history? Greece.
Both? Fly Athens–Rome (often under €80 with budget airlines) or take the overnight ferry Patras–Bari. A 2-week trip covering 5 days Athens + 5 days on an island + 4 days in Rome or the Amalfi Coast is one of Europe’s great itineraries.

For Greece planning, start with our best time to visit Greece and the best Greek islands guide.

Search flights to Greece across multiple airlines in one place. Pick up a Greece eSIM before you fly — keeps you connected without roaming charges. Sort out travel insurance for Greece before you leave.

Plan Your Trip

✈️ Book your flights to Greece 🛡️ Get travel insurance 📱 Stay connected with an eSIM 🚗 Rent a car

Greece vs Italy: Which Mediterranean Country Should You Visit?