Which place is cheaper, Lake Garda or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cappadocia or Lake Garda?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cappadocia 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: Cappadocia or Lake Garda?
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.
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 from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, and The Best Contiki Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCappadocia $151Lake Garda $178
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $151, 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 Cappadocia and Lake Garda in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCappadocia $53Lake Garda $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCappadocia $106Lake Garda $180
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Lake Garda
Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cappadocia $51Lake Garda $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whirling Dervishes Show in Cappadocia w/ Free Hotel Transfer: $20
- Transfer from Kayseri Airport to Cappadocia Hotels (Small Group): $16
- Shuttle Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to "Kayseri Erkilet Airport": $22
- Shared Shuttle Airport or Hotel Transfer in Cappadocia: $16
- Shared Airport Transfer to Nevsehir Airport From Cappadocia: $22
- Shared Airport Transfer from Nevsehir Airport to Cappadocia: $22
- Shared Airport Transfer From Nevsehir/Kayseri Airports to Hotels: $15
- Private Transfers Nevşehir Apt to/from Kaymaklı or Özkonak Underground Cities: $131
- Private Transfers Kayseri Erkılet Airport to/from Cappadocia Region: $131
- Private Transfers Kayseri Apt to/from Kaymaklı or Özkonak Underground Cities: $131
- Private Transfer from Nevşehir (NAV) Airport to Cappadocia Hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to Nevşehir(NAV) Airport: $82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Garda
Also for Lake Garda, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Verona Opera Arena: Transfer from Lake Garda & Opera Ticket: $128
- Private Transfer from Verona VRN Airport to Lake Garda: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Lake Garda?
Prices for flights to both Lake Garda 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
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Food Meals for one dayCappadocia $50Lake Garda $45
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
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Cookies$0.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Turkish Night Show in Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Transfer: $44
- Cappadocia Turkish Night in Avanos Dinner Included: $48
- Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night with Dinner (in Authentic Cave Restaurant): $53
- Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $55
- Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner : $60
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments: $62
- Cappadocian cooking - hands-on class with pickup: $64
- Romantic Cappadocia Sunset Dinner and Wine : $65
- Turkish night show with dinner and unlimited free alcohol: $69
- Cappadocia Cave Restaurant for Dinner and Turkish Entertainments: $71
- Half-Day Private Food Tour in Kayseri: $75
- Romantic Cappadocia Private Sunset Dinner With Wild Food : $78
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cappadocia $95Lake Garda $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Underground City Entrance for Two$0.93
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two$18
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Horseback Riding for Two$3.55
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Cappadocia Driving Tour$3.78
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee$0.46
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Whirling Dervishes Show$3.09
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Turkish Bath$2.16
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Hot air ballooning$13
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Goreme open air museum$0.62
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Bellydancing Show$4.02
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
- 2 Days Cappadocia Red & Erciyes Ski Tour: $220
- 2 days Cappadocia Full Turkish night Show, Atv & Red Tour: $175
- Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group: $98
- Cappadocia relax tour car and driver: $131
- Private Day Tour Natural Beauties of Cappadocia and Underground Caves: $283
- 1-Hour Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia Goreme Valley: $250
- 2 Days Private Guided Cappadocia Tour with Pick Up: $225
- 2 Days Red and Green tour: $163
- 2 Hour Cappadocia Atv Experience : $40
- 2 Hour Cappadocia Jeep Safari Tour: $101
- 2 Hour Cappadocia Private Classic Car Tour: $128
- 2 Hour Sunset Quad Bike (ATV) Tour in Cappadocia: $22
Tours and Activities in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience in Lazise: $43
- 2 Hours Walking and Boat Tour in Sirmione Highlights: $53
- Bardolino: Vineyard Tour with Wine, Olive Oil & Food Tasting: $37
- Best of Sirmione with Boat Tour and Grotte di Catullo : $97
- Boat Tour of the Islands of Lake Garda with Aperitif: $76
- Canyoning "Vione" - advanced tour, for sportive beginner: $106
- Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda: $75
- Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda: $76
- Experience in Sirmione Lake Garda: $98
- Fabulous Heritage of Sirmione - Walking Tour: $185
- From Garda/Bardolino: 4-hour Guided Boat Cruise to Sirmione: $49
- From Dolomites Bus Tour: $73
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCappadocia $18Lake Garda $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
- Cappadocia Nightlife Experience: Bar and Pub Crawl Tour: $32
- Wine tasting in Cappadocia: $64
- Cappadocia Wine Cellar and Wine Yard with Wine Tasting: $79
- Full-day Cappadocia Tour with wine tasting and clay shaping : $90
- Wine Tasting and Sunset in Cappadocia: $196
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 Cappadocia and Lake Garda, we can see that Lake Garda is more expensive. And not only is Cappadocia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cappadocia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cappadocia 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 Cappadocia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Lake Garda Expensive?.
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.