A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Granada vs. Ouarzazate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Granada or Ouarzazate?

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

Should I visit Granada or Ouarzazate? 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: Granada or Ouarzazate?

Granada

Granada is a city of southern Spain located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the autonomous community of Andalucia. Perhaps the most notable feature of the city is its medieval architecture that dates to the Moorish occupation of Spain. Each example stands from another time and place, strong fortresses and castles against the backdrop of lumbering mountains. Yet they are surrounded by a city thriving with modern day quirks. From castles and fortresses to bars, restaurants, and cafes, Granada is a unique setting for an otherworldly getaway.

Ouarzazate

Morocco can be quite an energetic country, but if you're looking for more of a quiet getaway, consider Ouarzazate. Small by Moroccan standards, this town is built up mostly around a main street – the Avenue Mohammad V. Ouarzazate. The name "Ouarzazate" comes from the Berber language meaning "without noise" or "without confusion." It was once a crossroad for a African traders traveling to northern cities in Morocco and Europe. Today, Ouarzazate is the largest town in the Moroccan Sahara, and its central location serves as a good home base touring the rest of Morocco.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Morocco, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Ouarzazate or Granada?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is €123, while the average daily cost in Ouarzazate is €40. 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 Granada and Ouarzazate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Granada 59
    Ouarzazate 20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Granada 118
    Ouarzazate 40
Compare Hotels in Granada and Ouarzazate

Looking for a hotel in Granada or Ouarzazate? 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 Granada


Hotels in Ouarzazate


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: Granada Hotel Prices and Ouarzazate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Granada 22
    Ouarzazate 3.17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Granada are as follows:


  • 7 Trip Bus Pass
    5.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

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

  • Cordoba and its Mosque from Granada with Private Transfer: $262
  • From Transfer to Seville with Cordoba Guided Tour: $749
  • From Granada; Private transfer to Sierra Nevada (all hotels): $171
  • Granada - Jaén Airport Transfers in a VIP coach: $235
  • Granada Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $45
  • Granada Luxury Private Airport Transfer: $214
  • Granada Private Intercity Transfer to Malaga: $175
  • Granada Private Transfer from the city centre to Granada Airport: $55
  • Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes Sedan: $142
  • Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes minivan: $218
  • Granada to Cordoba Private Transfer: $265
  • Granada to Malaga Airport Private Transfer: $229

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ouarzazate

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ouarzazate are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    1.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ouarzazate

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ouarzazate:

  • Private Transfer from Marrakech to Dades Gorges: $187
  • Private Transfer between Ouarzazate & Marrakech: $309
  • Ouarzazate Airport: Private Transfer: $41
  • "Ouarzazate to Marrakech: Your Comfortable Private Transfer": $107

Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Ouarzazate?

Prices for flights to both Ouarzazate and Granada 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
    Granada 37
    Ouarzazate 15
Typical Food Prices in Granada

For Granada, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Sangria
    2.50
  • Sandwich to go
    3.00
  • Bocadillo & Drink
    6.25

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Granada

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

  • Sacromonte Caves Flamenco Show with Dinner: $62
  • Dinner and Show flamenco in the Albayzin Granada: $62
  • Walking Food Tour: $75
  • 2-Day Geopark Desert, Ancient Culture and Food Tour: $169

Typical Food Prices in Ouarzazate

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ouarzazate:


  • Dinner for Two
    10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ouarzazate

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

  • Oases Fint Tour With Dinner: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Granada 28
    Ouarzazate 9.88

Tours and Activities in Granada

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

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
  • Sacromonte Caves Museum Admission Ticket: $5.35
  • Granada City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
  • Sacromonte Abbey Entry Ticket with Audio Guide: $6.42
  • Granada Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • Granada City Train 1 or 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket: $7.49
  • Self-Guided City Exploration Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
  • Granada (Alhambra): Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
  • Albaicín and Sacromonte’s Iconic Sights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
  • Historic Center and Lower Albaicin Walking Tour: $9.62

Tours and Activities in Ouarzazate

Here are a few actual costs in Ouarzazate for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Hour Horse Riding Adventure in Ait Ben Haddou: $26
  • 3 days group tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert: $125
  • 3-Day Desert Adventure: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: $100
  • 4 day Fantastic Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech via desert: $464
  • 7 night 8 day Casablanca morocco tour via merzouga: $1,508
  • Ait-Ben-Haddou - City Tour: $22
  • Casablanca: 6 Days Tour Blue City, Fes, Desert & Marrakech: $1,082
  • Desert by Quad: 5 Days of Pure Adventure from Ouarzazate: $2,884
  • Experience of kasbah ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate city: $131
  • Fez to Merzouga & Marrakech Combined 3 Day Desert Tour: $213
  • From Agadir : 4-Day Private Desert Tour To Zagora & Merzouga: $571
  • From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $382

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Granada 24
    Ouarzazate -

Sample the Local Flavors in Granada

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Granada:

  • Granada Traditional Tapas and Wine Tour - by Oh My Good Guide!: $77
  • BEST OF Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: $100


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

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


Which is Bigger, Granada or Ouarzazate?

Granada has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ouarzazate. When comparing the sizes of Granada and Ouarzazate, 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.