Should you visit Cappadocia or Essaouira?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Essaouira? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cappadocia or Essaouira?
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
Essaouira
Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.
Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Cappadocia?
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 Cappadocia is $147, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $62. 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 Cappadocia and Essaouira in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia or Essaouira? 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.
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:
Cappadocia Hotel Prices and
Essaouira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour With Transfer :
$237
-
Private Cappadocia Tour with Transfer and Guide:
$231
-
Private Transfer from Cappadocia to Antalya with Konya tour :
$220
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cat Valley with Transfers:
$179
-
Private Transfer from Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) to Cappadocia Hotels:
$179
-
Cappadocia Private Transfer round trip NAV&ASR Airports to Hotels:
$170
-
Cappadocia Airport Private Transfer:
$143
-
Nevsehir Airport: Private Transfer to Cappadocia:
$143
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Nevsehir City Centre Hotels:
$131
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Goreme) Hotels:
$131
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Cavusin) Hotels:
$131
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Kapadokya (Urgup) Hotels:
$131
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport transfer from Essaouira to Agadir:
$256
-
Private transfer Essaouira Ouarzazate.:
$240
-
Transfer from Essaouira to your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech:
$179
-
Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport:
$143
-
Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport:
$128
-
Airport transfer, Departure : Essaouira, Arrival : Agadir:
$128
-
Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport:
$127
-
Private transfer Essaouira to Marrakech or Marrakech / essaouira :
$119
-
Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech :
$114
-
Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech :
$114
-
Private transfer Essaouira Safi.:
$112
-
Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people:
$109
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Essaouira?
Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Cappadocia 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
Cappadocia $67
Essaouira $26
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night With Unlimited Drinks And Dinner:
$40
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show: Dinner and Entertainment:
$47
-
Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks:
$54
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks:
$59
-
Turkish Nights in Cappadocia Dinner & Cultural Show in a Cave:
$65
-
Turkish night show with dinner and unlimited free alcohol:
$69
-
Romantic Cappadocia Private Sunset Dinner With Wild Food :
$69
-
Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner :
$70
-
Turkish Night Show: Unlimited Alcohol, Dinner and Transfer:
$70
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with dinner, unlimited alcohol:
$77
-
Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant:
$78
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments:
$79
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
-
Baklava
$1.55
-
Breakfast Crepes
$0.55
-
Fish for Lunch
$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class:
$39
-
Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience:
$42
-
Essaouira Sunset Experience, Waterfall Walk & Romantic Dinner:
$43
-
Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience:
$54
-
l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira:
$72
-
Essaouira Food Tour:
$88
-
Berber Cooking Class at a Farm in the Countryside & shopping at a rural Souk.:
$106
-
3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp:
$219
-
3 Hours Horse Riding with Dinner and Overnight Berber Camp:
$220
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Underground City Entrance for Two
$0.73
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$14
-
Horseback Riding for Two
$2.78
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour
$2.96
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$0.36
-
Whirling Dervishes Show
$2.42
-
Turkish Bath
$1.69
-
Hot air ballooning
$9.80
-
Goreme open air museum
$0.48
-
Bellydancing Show
$3.15
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
-
"Cappadocia ATV Sunrise or Sunset Adventure":
$50
-
ATV (Quad) Tour in Cappadocia-2 Hours:
$50
-
Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group:
$95
-
Highlights of Cappadocia (Mix of Red and Green Private Tour):
$169
-
Highlights of Cappadocia Tour (Red Tour + Underground City):
$42
-
Luxury Private Green Tour in Cappadocia:
$189
-
North Cappadocia ( Red Tour ):
$89
-
Private Cappadocia Tour with Underground City (Guide & Driver):
$22
-
Private Full Day Guided Tour Visit to Cappadocia:
$169
-
Ski Tour in Cappadocia with full stuff:
$173
-
1 Day Tour (Cappadocia Red Tour Museum Tickets,Lunch Inculed):
$43
-
1 Hour Cappadocia ATV Tour:
$36
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
-
Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.:
$76
-
1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent:
$298
-
1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Forest Beach:
$42
-
1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech:
$211
-
2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience:
$59
-
2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco:
$54
-
3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech :
$227
-
3-Hour Quad Biking Adventure in Essaouira:
$89
-
Authentic Berber Tour near Essaouira – Fishing,Tagine & Waterfall:
$72
-
Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS:
$62
-
Day Tour on Dromedary and Overnight Stay Near Essaouira Morocco:
$298
-
Discovery Tour around Essaouira by Electric Motorcycle:
$116
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
-
Guided Bar Crawl with Hotel Pickup and Snack:
$33
-
Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines:
$35
-
Cappadocia Wine Tasting Experience:
$41
-
Combo Tour with Wine Tasting and Adventure Tours:
$59
-
Private Wine Tasting and Day Tour w/Göreme Museum:
$113
-
Cappadocia Private Wine Tasting Tour :
$119
-
Half-Day Private Cappadocia Wine Tour Experience:
$282
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Essaouira, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Essaouira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia is in Europe and Essaouira is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Essaouira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Essaouira 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia than you might in Essaouira.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Essaouira Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Essaouira?
Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia and Essaouira, 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.
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