A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marrakech vs. Hermanus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Marrakech or Hermanus?

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

Should I visit Marrakech or Hermanus? 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: Marrakech or Hermanus?

Marrakech

Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.

Hermanus

Hermanus is located on the southern coast of the Western Cape region of South Africa, situated right on the Atlantic Ocean. The area is famous for being the summer home to the Southern Right Whales who migrate there from the Antarctic every September. Hermanus offers incredible natural scenery and great opportunities for adventure seekers. The best time to visit is during their winter and spring, which runs from April through October. This is the driest time of year, meaning wildlife is easier to spot and the heat is much more bearable!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Budget Safaris in South Africa, and The Best Luxury Tours to South Africa.


Which place is cheaper, Hermanus or Marrakech?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Marrakech is $69, while the average daily cost in Hermanus is $67. 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 Marrakech and Hermanus in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Marrakech $46
    Hermanus $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Marrakech $92
    Hermanus $50
Compare Hotels in Marrakech and Hermanus

Looking for a hotel in Marrakech or Hermanus? 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 Marrakech


Hotels in Hermanus


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: Marrakech Hotel Prices and Hermanus Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Marrakech $6.30
    Hermanus $8.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech

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

  • Marrakech Airport Transfer: $5.01
  • Marrakech Airport Transfer (ONE WAY pick-up OR/OU ONE WAY drop-off): $6.56
  • Private transfer from or to the airport: $6.93
  • Marrakech : Transfer privé vers ou depuis l'aéroport de Rak: $6.94
  • Marrakesh: 1-Way Private Transfer to Menara Airport: $7.46
  • Marrakech : Private Transfer to/from RAK Airport: $8.10
  • Private Transfer: from Marrakech Airport to your hotel: $8.16
  • Transfer from Marrakech Airport to Marrakech City Centre: $8.74
  • Private Airport Transfers Home and Way: $9.22
  • Private Transfer From or To Marrakesh Menara Airport RAK: $9.83
  • Private Transfer Marrakech Menara Airport: $10
  • Private Transfer to or from RAK Airport: $11

Is it cheaper to fly into Marrakech or Hermanus?

Prices for flights to both Hermanus and Marrakech 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
    Marrakech $13
    Hermanus $38
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech

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


  • Orange Juice on the Square
    $0.30
  • Breakfast
    $1.20
  • Dates
    $0.60
  • Olives
    $0.90
  • Sandwich
    $1.29
  • Souvenir Spices
    $6.18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech

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

  • Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride and Dinner from Marrakech: $15
  • Online Moroccan Cooking Class: $17
  • Cooking Lesson at the Ouirgane Ecolodge with Lunch: $19
  • Magical dinner in agafay desert with camel ride: $19
  • Marrakech desert: Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner Show: $20
  • Restaurant Dinner Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
  • Sunset in Agafay: Dinner, Camel, Quad-Book Adventure with Viator: $22
  • Typical Moroccan Dinner at the inhabitant in Marrakech: $22
  • Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner with a Show and Transfers : $22
  • Dinner Show Under stars in Agafay Desert with Sunset Camel Ride: $22
  • Dinner Show in Agafay Desert with Quad Bike & Camels: $22
  • Desert Dinner, Camel Ride, Sunset & Show: $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Marrakech $7.01
    Hermanus -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Palace Tickets
    $1.99
  • Golf at Atlas Golf
    $56

Tours and Activities in Marrakech

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

  • 3-Hour Colorful Souks Tour: $5.00
  • Marrakesh: Cactus Thiemann Entry Ticket: $8.20
  • Atlas Mountains Tour with Camel Ride: $9.00
  • Camel ride experience at the palm grove of Marrakech: $12
  • Marrakech:Quad Tour in Palmeraie: $14
  • Historical Marrakech Walking Tour: $15
  • Full Day Hiking Tour to Atlas Mountains from Marrakech: $15
  • Full Day Tour to Atlas Mountains in Imlil Valley: $15
  • Marrakech Sightseeing Tour: $15
  • Marrakech activities: Camel ride tour Marrakech: $15
  • Anima Garden Admission Ticket: $16
  • Essaouira 1 Day Tour From Marrakech: $16

Tours and Activities in Hermanus

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hermanus are as follows:

  • Half-Day Private Tour to Cape Peninsula with Local Guide: $268
  • Hermanus Food and Culture Tour: $73
  • Hermanus Land based Whale Walking Tour with Dave de Beer: $69
  • Hermanus Whale Watching Day Tour: $24
  • Boat Based Whale Watching Experience: $71
  • Shark Cage Diving - Adventure Meets Conservation!: $134
  • Whale Watching Walking Tours (Land-Based) - from JUNE 2024: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Marrakech $15
    Hermanus -

Sample the Local Flavors in Marrakech

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marrakech:

  • Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $28

Sample the Local Flavors in Hermanus

Also in Hermanus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Vineyard Safari and Wine Tasting in Hermanus with Guide : $24
  • Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Tour: $80
  • Private Family Vineyard Safari and Wine Tasting: $146
  • Whale Watching Boat Trip and Wine tasting ,Penguin: $162


When comparing the travel costs between Marrakech and Hermanus, we can see that Marrakech is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Africa, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Marrakech or Hermanus?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hermanus. When comparing the sizes of Marrakech and Hermanus, 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.