Athens vs Rome
Athens leads Rome by 5 points on the CIRA Index, 63 to 58. Athens grades better on 6 measures, Rome on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Athens 63, Rome 58
- OECD: Athens 58, Rome 58
- UN Tourism: Athens 62, Rome 62
- UNDRR: Athens 60, Rome 58
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Athens 67, Rome 65
- Economy and jobs: Athens 56, Rome 81
- Climate and hazards: Athens 40, Rome 45
- Water and environment: Athens 50, Rome 50
- Community and housing: Athens 63, Rome 42
- Access and continuity: Athens 79, Rome 67
Where Athens is stronger
- Average length of stay: 5.4 nights per visitor (region figure) (Bank of Greece, Developments in the balance of travel services: 2024, 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
- Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 519 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA), Country Profile: Waste Management – Greece, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
- Rent growth: 4.8 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Spitogatos Property Index (SPI), Q4 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (UN Tourism (UNWTO) & European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 2023). Grade 2/4.
- Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
Where Rome is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 35.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 35 and 40: grade 2/4.
- Domestic share of nights: 19.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (Roma Capitale, Piano Integrato di Attività e Organizzazione 2025–2027 (dati Ente Bilaterale Turismo del Lazio), 2023). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
- Unemployment rate: 5.9 % of the labour force (metro figure) (Roma Capitale (Direzione Generale - Ufficio di Statistica) / ISTAT, Struttura e dinamiche del mercato del lavoro nell'area romana, 2024). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
- Income per head: 62,803 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
- Economic diversity: 77.5 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (Confcommercio Roma / Istat Datawarehouse, Osservatorio Economico, 2024). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
- Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 70.7 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: SDG Indicators Database by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs), 2024). Between 70 and 85: grade 2/4.
- Green space: 35.7 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Roma Capitale / ISTAT via ANSA and Italy Rome Tour, 2020). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Italy: #10 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
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