Are you stuck trying to decide between holidays in Greece and Turkey? Understandably so, as both countries offer such a wealth of history, culture and beautiful nature that it’s really hard to choose. So how about we try to help you with that? We’ll go over which of the two countries is usually warmer, cheaper, has more interesting tourist attractions, better beaches and is more suitable for families with children.
Naturally, we can only try to sway you slightly one way or the other, because both destinations are fantastic and tastes are subjective. Our evaluation is certainly very subjective too, but we hope that it will at least help you with your choice a tiny bit.
Greece or Turkey: which one is warmer?
Temperatures in Greece and Turkey
We’ll go over only the temperatures in high season and in the most popular areas with tourists, i.e. islands of Greece and south and west of Turkey. So which one is warmer? Though both places will be pleasantly warm, the Turkish Riviera is the clear winner here, especially the south, around Side and Antalya. Compared to the likes of Crete, for instance, Antalya can be 6-10 degrees warmer in the same period. Though often the difference is smaller and not as noticeable, so both destinations are perfectly fine. Still, if we had to pick one, then Turkey wins here.
Greece or Turkey: which one has better beaches?
Beaches in Greece and Turkey
Naturally, this is where we delve into subjectivity, a matter of taste. We would, personally, choose Greek beaches for their variety, quantity and quality. The Turkish beaches are great too, very varied, wide, sandy and unique, but there are fewer of them and you have much less of a choice when planning your holidays. We especially recommend checking out the beaches on Lefkada, Kefalonia and Crete. Here, we’d choose Greece.
Still, if you want to also give Turkey a chance, here’s our list of the best beaches in Turkey.
Greece or Turkey: which one is better for children?
Holidays for families with children in Greece and Turkey
This one is a debatable issue, as, if you’re choosing a hotel as part of an organised trip, then all that matters is the infrastructure next to the hotel rather than the country itself. If you’re planning a holiday yourself from scratch, we’d probably choose Greece. Though, given that most people just use a travel agent of some kind, then it doesn’t really matter. Just check the beaches near your to-be-hotel, whether they’ve got the necessary infrastructure for you. You can also look up the hotel and see whether they have some fun activities for the younglings. 🙂
Greece or Turkey: which one is cheaper?
Budget holidays in Greece and Turkey
Which one is cheaper, Turkey or Greece? Here, thankfully, we don’t need to delve into subjectives. Turkey is certainly cheaper because of the exchange rate of Turkish Liras. So if you want to save some money and get comparable quality for less, we’d say choose Turkey. Math doesn’t lie, so Turkey gets a point. 🙂
Greece or Turkey: which one has better tourist attractions?
What to see in Greece and Turkey?
Though you can find a lot of fun activities in Turkey, be they pirate ship cruises, waterparks, beautiful beaches and lots of Muslim history and ancient ruins to see, Greece will always outpace others in regards to beautiful spots with incredible history behind them. Each island in Greece has its own variety to offer, including loads of monuments and National Parks. You can easily hop between the islands using ferries, which are a fun activity in themselves. Though we can certainly leave this as a matter of taste too, we’d say there’s no winning against Greece here.
Greece or Turkey?
Where should you go?
Greece is sometimes referred to as a wonderland, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s home to beautiful beaches, loads of ancient ruins with incredibly rich history and some great people. The Aegean Sea is home to hundreds upon hundreds of islands and islets, so you’ll no doubt have plenty to see and admire. If you’re a fan of olives, feta cheese and wine – you’ll be in heaven in Greece.
Turkey, on the other hand, is a true cultural powerhouse. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it has been influenced by both cultural sides for centuries now. The result is an incredibly unique blend that can be seen in everything: from Turkish cuisine (a delicious mix of Ottoman and Central Asian flavours) to architecture (a mix of Byzantine and Ottoman styles). If this cultural mix and aesthetic speaks to you more and you’re also on a tighter budget, then Turkey is your place.
Of course, we would recommend both if you can manage, though we know that’s not always so easy. We hope this list has helped you at least a bit with that choice, but if you’re still struggling then know this: in reality, it does not matter too much. Both places are so magical and special that you’ll invariably find equally beautiful experiences and memories in whichever place you end up. Whether that’s Greece or Turkey this year, we hope it’ll be a great one either way.
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