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 $131, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is $60. 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:
$293
-
Cat Valley Ballon Tour In Cappadocia With Free Hotel Transfer:
$279
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour with Private Transfer:
$277
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride with Transfers:
$234
-
Cappadocia Flying Dress Photo Shoot with Transfer:
$216
-
Private Cappadocia Tour with Transfer and Guide:
$193
-
Nevsehir Airport to Cappadocia Hotel Private Transfer:
$182
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Hacibektas Hotels:
$181
-
Private Transfer from Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) to Cappadocia Hotels:
$176
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Nigde City Centre Hotels:
$176
-
Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport NAV Transfers to Guzelyurt Hotels:
$170
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Standart Flight with Transfer:
$157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira
Also for Essaouira, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
private transfer essaouira to casablanca or casablanca-essaouira:
$287
-
Private transfer Essaouira Taroudant.:
$199
-
Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA):
$137
-
Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakesh Menara (RAK) Airport:
$137
-
Private Transfer Essaouira-Agadir:
$129
-
Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport:
$125
-
Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira:
$117
-
Private Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech:
$114
-
Transfert Marrakech to Essaouira Or Essaouira to Marrakech:
$112
-
Private transfer Essaouira Safi.:
$110
-
Private Transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira 1 to 4 people:
$109
-
Transferts Marrakech à Essaouira ou Essaouira à Marrakech:
$98
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 $60
Essaouira $25
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 Show with Dinner and Drinks:
$39
-
Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night Show and Dinner:
$47
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night With Unlimited Drinks And Dinner:
$50
-
Traditional Turkish Cuisine Dinner and Turkish Night Show:
$56
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks:
$59
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show, Dinner & Unlimited Drinks & Pickup:
$63
-
Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks:
$64
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner in a Cave:
$66
-
Romantic Cappadocia Private Sunset Dinner With Wild Food:
$68
-
Turkish Night Show: Unlimited Alcohol, Dinner and Transfer:
$70
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks:
$72
-
Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant:
$76
Typical Food Prices in Essaouira
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:
-
Baklava
$1.52
-
Breakfast Crepes
$0.54
-
Fish for Lunch
$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira
For Essaouira, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Agadir Cooking Class Experience with Local Market Visit:
$30
-
Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class:
$39
-
Cooking class: How To Be a Real Moroccan Chef:
$41
-
Essaouira Sunset Tour: Sidi M’barek Waterfall,Coastal Walk&Dinner:
$48
-
Moroccan cooking class in Essaouira city:
$53
-
Essaouira Moroccan Cooking Class Experience:
$53
-
Essaouira Cooking Class At Home:
$53
-
Al Aaila Farm Moroccan Natural And Healthy Cooking Experience:
$59
-
Essaouira Street Food Tour:
$69
-
Essaouira Walking Food Tour:
$70
-
l'Atelier - Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira:
$70
-
3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp:
$214
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
$0.65
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$12
-
Horseback Riding for Two
$2.47
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour
$2.64
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$0.32
-
Whirling Dervishes Show
$2.15
-
Turkish Bath
$1.51
-
Hot air ballooning
$8.72
-
Goreme open air museum
$0.43
-
Bellydancing Show
$2.80
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
-
1 Day Cappadocia Tour:
$99
-
1 Day History and Nature Cappadocia Red Tour:
$47
-
1, 2 or 3 Days Private Cappadocia Tour Best Seller:
$250
-
2 Days Small Group Cappadocia North and South Tour:
$140
-
2 Hour Sunset Quad Bike(Atv) Tour:
$19
-
2 Hours ATV Tour in Cappadocia:
$41
-
2 Hours Cappadocia Camel Ride Experience:
$100
-
2 Hours Sunset ATV Adventure in Cappadocia:
$32
-
2-Day Cappadocia Highlights Tour (Red & Green Tours Included):
$164
-
2-Day Cappadocia Red Tour Jeep Safari Experience:
$81
-
2-Day Tour in Cappadocia with Pick Up:
$140
-
2-Hour Cappadocia Quad Bike Tour:
$53
Tours and Activities in Essaouira
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Essaouira.
-
1 Day Horseback Riding Tour with Overnight Stay in Berber Tent:
$293
-
1 Hour Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira desert:
$32
-
1-Day Quad Adventure in Essaouira near Marrakech:
$207
-
1-hour buggy tour in Essaouira desert (2 places/buggy):
$77
-
2 – Hours Quad Bike Adventure in Essaouira Desert with Moroccan Tea:
$54
-
2 Hours Dromedary Ride Tour in Essaouira Morocco:
$53
-
2-Hours Buggy Adventure in Essaouira desert (2 places per buggy):
$92
-
2H Buggy Adventure in Essaouira beaches ́Dunes & Forest Ride:
$158
-
3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech:
$199
-
3H Buggy Adventure – Dunes, Ocean & Sunset Ride:
$233
-
Beginners surf experience in Essaouira:
$34
-
Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.:
$75
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
-
Signature Local Wine Tasting in Cappadocia:
$11
-
Guided Bar Crawl with Hotel Pickup and Snack:
$33
-
Cappadocia Wine Tasting Experience:
$41
-
Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey - Introduction of local wines:
$43
-
Cappadocia Vineyard Experience and Wine Tasting:
$54
-
Combo Tour with Wine Tasting and Adventure Tours:
$59
-
Cappadocia - Avanos Clay Workshop and Wine Tour:
$64
-
Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Guided Tour with Local Wine Tasting:
$88
-
SKIP-THE-LINE: Cappadocia Tour w/wine tasting and clay shaping:
$90
-
Private Wine Tasting and Day Tour w/Göreme Museum:
$111
-
Cappadocia Private Tour-Mixed Tour+Home-made Wine Tasting:
$219
-
Half-Day Private Cappadocia Wine Tour Experience:
$276
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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