Which place is cheaper, Varenna or Zagora?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Zagora or Varenna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Zagora or Varenna? 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: Zagora or Varenna?
Zagora
A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.
Varenna
A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.
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Zagora Prices
Morocco PricesVarenna Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZagora $66Varenna $238
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagora is $66, while the average daily cost in Varenna is $238. 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 Zagora and Varenna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagora $40Varenna $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagora $80Varenna $202
Compare Hotels in Zagora and Varenna
Looking for a hotel in Zagora or Varenna? 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: Zagora Hotel Prices and Varenna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagora $1.58Varenna $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Zagora or Varenna?
Prices for flights to both Varenna and Zagora 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
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Food Meals for one dayZagora $25Varenna $107
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagora
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagora.
- Morocco Cooking Class Tour with local market visit : $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zagora $3.16Varenna $39
Tours and Activities in Zagora
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:
- 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $149
- Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $235
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $179
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 and camel ride : $191
Tours and Activities in Varenna
For Varenna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Small Group Lake Como Experience with boat & van, from Milan: $146
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZagora -Varenna $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zagora and Varenna, we can see that Varenna is more expensive. And not only is Zagora much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zagora is in Africa and Varenna is in Europe, 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 Zagora would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagora 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 Varenna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Varenna than you might in Zagora.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagora Expensive? and Is Varenna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagora or Varenna?
Zagora has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Zagora and Varenna, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.