Greek hotels now add a climate resilience fee of €5 to €10 a night at mid-range hotels from April to October. Acropolis tickets, the airport metro, day trips and tips are what push most Athens trips over budget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels near the Acropolis →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,240) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($659, about 20% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,899 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
6 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $1,000 per traveler | Our estimate of a typical round-trip economy fare to Athens from a major US airport. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $160 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Athens, such as Plaka or Syntagma. Rates rise in summer. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $60 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for casual tavernas and street food, about $60 per person a day. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $36 for the trip | The airport metro return ticket is €16 per person, about $36 for two; a day taxi is a flat €50 each way. Source |
| Climate resilience fee | $8 a night | Hotels charge €5 a night at 3 stars and €10 at 4 stars from April to October. Source |
| Acropolis and museum tickets | $55 per traveler | The Acropolis is €30 and the Acropolis Museum is a separate ticket; $55 is our estimate for both plus the Agora. Source |
| Metro and bus passes | $10 per traveler | A 5-day ticket costs €9, about $10, and covers the metro, buses and trams except airport services. Source |
| Excursions to Delphi or Cape Sounion Off by default | $90 per traveler | A day trip from Athens with transport and a guide. Our estimate |
| Tips | $5 per traveler, per day | Our estimate based on leaving 5 to 10% at restaurants and rounding up taxi fares. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees on credit cards are usually around 3% of each purchase. Source |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
With flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,250. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the hotel climate fee, Acropolis and museum tickets, the airport metro and tips, it's closer to $3,900. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Greek hotels add it per room, per night. From April to October it's €5 at 3-star hotels, €10 at 4-star hotels and €15 at 5-star hotels. From November to March it drops to €1.50, €3 and €4. Source
The metro costs €9 per person one way or €16 round trip. The X95 bus to Syntagma Square costs €5.50 and runs all night. Taxis charge a flat €50 to the center by day and €65 from midnight to 5am. Source
A standard timed ticket costs €30. Visitors from outside the EU under 18 get in free. Book online for an early slot to avoid the heat and the biggest crowds. The Acropolis Museum needs its own ticket. Source
A 90-minute ticket costs €1.40 and a 5-day ticket costs €9, but neither covers the airport. The 3-day tourist ticket costs €22 and includes one round trip to the airport, so it can pay off on a short stay. Source