A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Lake Garda for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Lake Garda?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aswan or Lake Garda? 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: Aswan or Lake Garda?

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

Lake Garda

As a gentle Mediterranean wind touches your skin, the aromatic fragrances of olive and lemon trees fill the air. Surrounded by lush gardens and Italian architecture in its ancient tans and beiges, you look to the horizon and find a paradise before your eyes: a shimmering lake, misty mountaintops, and a clear blue sky. Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for locals of the Lombardy region and tourists alike. It has been shown that about 7% of Italy's tourists head straight for these gleaming blue shores. The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is located about halfway in between Brescia and Verona and between Venezia and Milano. Because it is surrounded by several different districts - Lombardy, Trentino, Alto, and the Veneto - Lake Garda is a culmination of culture that attracts cosmopolitan crowds. The lake is an ancient natural treasure Italy holds dear, with documents referring to Lake Garda dating as far back as the eighteenth century. The name "Garda" comes from the Germanic word "warda," which means "place of guard." Whether you are staying at one of the many luxurious resorts in Riva del Garda or are simply getting a pedicure in spa town Sirmione, Lake Garda continues to preserve its elegance and sophistication throughout the years.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Garda or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $16, while the average daily cost in Lake Garda is $178. 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 Aswan and Lake Garda in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $6.75
    Lake Garda $90
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $14
    Lake Garda $180
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Lake Garda

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Lake Garda? 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.

Hotels in Aswan


Hotels in Lake Garda


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: Aswan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $4.34
    Lake Garda $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • VIP Aswan Airport Transfer to Luxury Retreats: $35
  • Transfer to Luxor from Aswan and visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples: $64
  • Transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $79
  • Transfer from Aswan Train Station to your hotel or the opposite : $30
  • Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Sunset Departure Evening Aswan Airport Transfer: $32
  • Station Aswan Transfer To hotel: $8.00
  • Shared Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels : $20
  • Private transfer from aswan to luxor with visits: $93
  • Private transfer from anywhere Aswan to Aswan Airport: $13
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $10
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $6.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Garda

Also for Lake Garda, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Verona VRN Airport to Lake Garda: $109
  • Verona Opera Arena: Transfer from Lake Garda & Opera Ticket: $128

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Lake Garda?

Prices for flights to both Lake Garda and Aswan 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
    Aswan $5.73
    Lake Garda $45

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Dinner at Soleih restaurant by vehicle: $33
  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Nubian lunch Or Dinner at Nubian village : $75
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • Dinner In Nile Cruise in Aswan: $150

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lake Garda

For Lake Garda, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3 Hour Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Private Cooking Class with Meal : $65
  • Valpolicella Wine and Food Tour: $75
  • Cusina - Cooking Class: Fresh Pasta with wine tasting: $86
  • Dining Experience at a local's Home in Cecina with Show Cooking: $93

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $6.11
    Lake Garda $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • Abu Simbel Private Tour from Aswan : $110
  • Abu Simbel Temples Full Day Tour From Aswan With Entry Tickets : $99
  • Aswan : Full Day Private Guided Tour to the Legend of Abu Simbel Temples: $125
  • Full Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan by Car: $200
  • Philae Temple Night Experience (Sound and Light show). : $65
  • Philae Temple and Aswan High Dam Tour: $44
  • Private Abu Simbel Temple tour : $123
  • Private Day Tour to Luxor from Aswan: $65
  • Private Luxor Day Tour from Aswan: $140
  • Sharing Tour To Abu Simbel From Aswan with Tour Guide : $50
  • 1 Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor: $128
  • 2 Days Luxor Private Guided Tour From Aswan: $110

Tours and Activities in Lake Garda

For Lake Garda, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Gardaland SEA LIFE Aquarium: Open Date Entry Ticket: $9.62
  • Lake Garda Mini Cruise: Sirmione Peninsula: $13
  • Hotel Villa Cariola Pool Entry Ticket: $20
  • From San Felice del Benaco: Islands Boat Tour: $27
  • Sunset Tour in Sirmione : $27
  • Tour in the Winery and tasting: $32
  • Bardolino: Vineyard Tour with Wine, Olive Oil & Food Tasting: $37
  • Lazise: Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience: $42
  • Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience in Lazise: $43
  • Winery Tour and Tasting of Garda Wines in Lazise: $44
  • Guided Boat Cruise to Sirmione from Garda/Bardolino: $48
  • From Garda/Bardolino: 4-hour Guided Boat Cruise to Sirmione: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.24
    Lake Garda $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Lake Garda

Also in Lake Garda, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bardolino: Wine tasting at Cantina Valetti: $26
  • Wine Tasting and Tour of Lugana Wines in Sirmione: $32
  • Wine Tasting with Local Food in Lazise Countryside: $32
  • Vineyards Tour and Wine Tasting: $42
  • Garda Hills Wine Tour and Tasting: $42
  • Wine Tasting in Historical Center of Lazise: $44
  • Art Experience with Food and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $55
  • E-Bike Tour and wine tasting in Lazise Countryside: $87
  • E-Bike Tour and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $87
  • Lazise: Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $90
  • Castles boat tour with Bardolino wine tasting and nibbles: $98


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Lake Garda, we can see that Lake Garda is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Lake Garda 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 Aswan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aswan 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 Lake Garda would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Garda than you might in Aswan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Lake Garda Expensive?.