Should you visit Cappadocia or Olympos?
Should I visit Cappadocia or Olympos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Olympos
Olympos was an ancient city in Lycia, situated in a river valley near the coast. Its ruins are located south of the modern town Cirali in the Kumluca district of Antalya Province, Turkey. An important Lycian city in the 2nd century BC, Olympos is more famous these days for being the beach resort of choice for backpackers. Staying in an Olympos 'tree house' at one of the dozen-or-so camps that line the path to the ruins and beach has long been the stuff of travel legend. The former hippy-trail hot-spot has been considerably renovated in past years and during summer can be pretty overcrowded. Olympos offers good value and an up-for-it party atmosphere in a lovely setting.
Which city is cheaper, Olympos or Cappadocia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $35, while the average daily cost in Olympos is $57. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cappadocia and Olympos in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $24 in Cappadocia For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $50 in Olympos For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Cappadocia costs travelers about $14 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Olympos food costs typically run travelers around $22 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cappadocia $14
Olympos $22
Typical Food prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
Local Transportation
To get around in Cappadocia, the average visitor spends $11 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
To get around in Olympos, the average visitor spends $9.08 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Cappadocia Private Airport Transfers:
$24
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Shared Airport Transfer Service:
$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Olympos
Also for Olympos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Antalya Olympos Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers:
$100
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Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Olympos Hotels:
$100
Entertainment
In Cappadocia, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $17 per person, per day.
In Olympos, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $20 per person, per day.
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
$3.51
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Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
$68
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Horseback Riding for Two
$13
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Cappadocia Driving Tour
$14
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Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
$1.75
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Whirling Dervishes Show
$12
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Turkish Bath
$8.18
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Hot air ballooning
$47
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Goreme open air museum
$2.34
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Bellydancing Show
$15
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
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Cappadocia Day Tour:
$61
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Cappadocia Heritage 1 Day Private Tour:
$545
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Cappadocia Highlights Small-Group Tour by Minibus:
$61
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Cappadocia Highlights Tour with Lunch:
$18
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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight and Full-Day Tour:
$184
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Cappadocia Tour: 2-Day Discovery Tour from Istanbul:
$387
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Cappadocia Tour: Underground City, Caravanserai & Salt Lake:
$72
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Customizable Private Tour in a Minivan:
$205
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Full Day Private Tour with Japanese Guide:
$53
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Full-Day Highlights Tour:
$28
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Full-Day Private Custom Tour:
$58
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Full-Day Private Discovery of Anatolian Art Tour:
$69
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Cappadocia, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $12.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Olympos, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $12.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
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Private Half-Day Vineyards & Wine Tasting Tour:
$79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Olympos, we can see that Olympos 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 Olympos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Olympos than you might in Cappadocia.
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