Should you visit Cappadocia or Beijing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Beijing? 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 Beijing?
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.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
Which place is cheaper, Beijing 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 $126, while the average daily cost in Beijing is $96. 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 Beijing in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia or Beijing? 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
Beijing Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
ATV Quad Bike Tour in Cappadocia (Sunrise/sunset + transfer):
$27
-
Airport Transfer (Kayseri - Nevsehir ) to Cappadocia Hotels:
$17
-
All-Inclusive Cappadocia Day Tour with Hotel & Airport Transfers:
$105
-
Cappadocia 2-Hours Sunset ATV Quad Tour w/ Hotel Transfer:
$50
-
Cappadocia ATV Quad Tour with Transfer:
$11
-
Cappadocia Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$15
-
Cappadocia Airport Transfer:
$118
-
Cappadocia Airport Transfer Private Service NAV ASR:
$17
-
Cappadocia Airport Transfer to/from Kayseri/Nevsehir (ASR or NAV):
$14
-
Cappadocia Dervishes Ceremony with Transfers:
$18
-
Cappadocia Flying Dress Photo Shoot with Transfer:
$218
-
Cappadocia Half-Day Jeep Safari with hotel Transfer:
$80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
-
Pivate Transfer To Datong Yungang Grottoes From Beijing:
$598
-
Beijing Great Wall and Imperial Palace Private Tour with Airport Transfer:
$299
-
Beijing Acrobatics Show And Peking Opera Tour With Transfer:
$299
-
Beijing Layover of Comprehensive City Tour With Airport Transfer:
$290
-
Private Day Tour of Beijing City Overview with Airport Transfer:
$285
-
Beijing Hutong Culture Experience with Airport Transfer:
$276
-
Private Transfer to Beidaihe Summer Resort from Beijing:
$272
-
Private Transfer To Guyaju Ancient Cave(With Options):
$269
-
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Private Tour With Airport Transfer:
$249
-
Great Wall With Beijing Capital Airport/Hotel Round-Way Transfer:
$233
-
Jinshanling Great Wall Private Day Tour with Tickets and Transfer:
$229
-
Explore Great Wall and Forbidden City by VIP Airport Transfers:
$228
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Beijing?
Prices for flights to both Beijing 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 $58
Beijing $36
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 Traditional Turkish Night Show and Dinner:
$47
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Drinks:
$53
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner:
$60
-
Turkish Night Show In Cappadocia (with Dinner):
$64
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show, Dinner & Unlimited Drinks & Pickup:
$64
-
Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks:
$65
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner in a Cave:
$66
-
Romantic Cappadocia Private Sunset Dinner With Wild Food:
$68
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks:
$72
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show With Dinner and Transfer:
$72
-
Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant:
$77
-
Dinner with traditional dance shows in cave restaurants:
$78
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
-
Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li:
$20
-
Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken:
$25
-
Beijing Food Tour:
$40
-
Hutong Breakfast Food Tour:
$45
-
Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer:
$48
-
Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner:
$54
-
Experience Beijing Walking Food Tour Private:
$55
-
Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend:
$60
-
Authentic Local Food Tour in Center Beijing:
$70
-
Beijing Hidden Hutong Bike & Food Tour - Pro Photos Included:
$71
-
Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour:
$72
-
Hidden Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings:
$75
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
$0.62
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$12
-
Horseback Riding for Two
$2.39
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour
$2.55
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$0.31
-
Whirling Dervishes Show
$2.08
-
Turkish Bath
$1.46
-
Hot air ballooning
$8.43
-
Goreme open air museum
$0.42
-
Bellydancing Show
$2.71
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
-
Cappadocia Quad (ATV) Safari Tour with Hotel Pickup & Helmet:
$3.53
-
Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour - Göreme Experience:
$3.53
-
Cappadocia Red Tour Lunch + Guide + Museum Tickets /Small Group:
$3.53
-
Skip the Line: Guray Museum Admission Ticket:
$4.72
-
Cappadocia Daily Tour Red&Green & Tour with Opt. Languages Guide:
$5.90
-
Private Guided Tour : Best of Cappadocia:
$7.20
-
Cappadocia Private Day Tour:
$8.00
-
Cappadocia Sunset Horseback Ride Two Hour Fairy Chimneys Tour:
$8.50
-
Cappadocia Private Tour - Cappadocia's All Highlights in 1 Day:
$9.00
-
Cappadocia Artisan & Local Craft Experience:
$9.00
-
Private Full Day Cappadocia Tour With Luxury Van and Guide:
$9.00
-
Private Pottery Workshop Experience and Guiding:
$9.45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Summer Palace for Two
$8.89
-
Two Opera Tickets
$63
-
Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
$10
-
Forbidden City (for 2)
$18
-
Forbidden City Tickets
$18
-
Audio Guides at Forbidden City
$12
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1 Day Romantic Tour in Oriental Provence Lavender Manor and Mutianyu Great Wall:
$208
-
1-Day Beijing Private Tour to Lama Temple,Summer Palace and Hutong Rickshaw:
$120
-
1-Day Beijing Private tour: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace:
$267
-
1-Day Beijing tour to Temple of Heaven,Hutong Tour,Lama Temple & Summer Palace:
$240
-
1-Day Great Wall of China Tours from Beijing Capital Airport to Mutianyu:
$269
-
1-Day Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System Tour:
$175
-
1-Day Mutianyu Great Wall and Beijing Airport Drop off Tour:
$235
-
1-Day Private Tour: Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking with the lunch from Beijing:
$213
-
1-Day Private Tour: Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour from Beijing:
$256
-
1-Day Self-Guided Simatai and Gubei Town Night Tour from Beijing:
$149
-
1-Day Simatai Great Wall Hiking Tour with a Visit to Gubei Water Town:
$249
-
1Day Beijing Badaling Great Wall City Park Tour:
$157
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
-
Signature Local Wine Tasting in Cappadocia:
$13
-
Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines:
$64
-
Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Guided Tour with Local Wine Tasting:
$89
-
Cappadocia Tour with Wine Tasting and Clay Shaping:
$90
-
Cappadocia Private Tour-Mixed Tour+Home-made Wine Tasting:
$219
-
Ancient Cappadocia's Wine Tasting - Private Tour:
$275
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Beijing, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia is in Europe and Beijing is in Asia, 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Beijing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Beijing?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 1180 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia and Beijing, 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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