A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marrakech vs. Oslo for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Marrakech or Oslo?

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

Should I visit Marrakech or Oslo? 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.

Marrakech

Marrakech is a ancient, cultural, and high-energy city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Oslo

Oslo is a green, clean, and progressive city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Marrakech and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marrakech or Oslo?

You'll generally find more things to do in Marrakech than Oslo. Marrakech is bigger than Oslo, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Marrakech is more touristy than Oslo and is popular for its colorful medina, festive night market, and beautiful palaces. Also, Marrakech is famous for Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Oslo is well known for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports.

How is Marrakech different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Oslo and Marrakech. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Marrakech or Oslo?

You'll find a number of very good museums and attractions in both Oslo and Marrakech.

Marrakech offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While wandering the medina is an attraction in and of itself, there are also several sights that you should specifically check out. The iconic Djemaa el-Fnaa, or the city's main square, is best visited as the sun goes down. Other notable landmarks include Koutoubia Mosque, Majorelle Gardens, and Medersa Ben Youssef.

Many visitors head to Oslo specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

Is the Food Better in Marrakech or Oslo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Marrakech is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Marrakech makes for a great culinary experience. Moroccan food is amazing and you'll enjoy grilled meats, tagines, couscous, and more. The city is more touristy than some parts of Morocco so you'll find the quality of the food can vary a bit, but it's still a culinary delight. Marrakesh is also a great city for taking a cooking class.

Oslo has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Both Marrakech and Oslo have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Marrakech. Although alcohol is hard to come by, you'll find it in most western style restaurants and high end hotel chains. The city has more bars and nightclubs than you'd expect. There's also a great nighttime energy with many locals heading outside in the evening. Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square, comes to life with street vendors, performers, and people during the nighttime hours.

Oslo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for its Old Town?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Marrakech offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The historic medina is filled with spices, antiques, art, and pottery. The culture and experience of wandering the medina will have you feeling like you stepped back in time.

Oslo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city for its shopping opportunities.

Marrakech is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shop your way through the street stalls and sample perfumes, spices, produce, and more. You'll find everything from souvenir trinkets to local items and authentic antiques.

If you're looking to go shopping, Oslo has some nice offerings. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Marrakech is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Oslo is a very family-friendly destination. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

Marrakech is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy exploring a new culture and wandering through the medina. The food is very kid-friendly and during the evening the main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, comes to life with street performers, vendors, and entertainment. Families can also take cooking classes or head into the desert for a camel trek.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Couples?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for romance. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Marrakech has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. There are many wonderful restaurants and fascinating places for couples to explores. Wandering the medina or visiting the gardens make for a romantic and adventurous getaway.

Oslo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Marrakech is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. The city is very affordable and there are countless riads that are budget-friendly. There are enough backpackers around town that it's not hard to meet fellow travelers.

Oslo is a good city to visit for backpackers. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Students?

Oslo is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Marrakech is not popular with students.

Oslo is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

Marrakech is not popular with students.

Is Marrakech or Oslo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oslo is an unbeatable place for times when you don't have a car. However, Marrakech is lacking in options for its public transit.

Visitors in Oslo can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Marrakech. While there are local buses, most people take taxis around town when they can't walk. Taxis are affordable and convenient.

Is Marrakech or Oslo a more walkable city?

Marrakech and Oslo are very good when it comes to walkability.

Marrakech is a very walkable destination. The medina is the best area to walk around but it's very easy to get lost. Outside of the medina you'll want to keep your eyes open for motorbikes and the occasional donkey.

Oslo is very walkable. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Marrakech Worth Visiting? and Is Oslo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Marrakech?

How long in Marrakech or Oslo?

In either Marrakech or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Marrakech than Oslo because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Marrakech, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

Families should spend more time in Oslo than Marrakech. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Oslo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Marrakech than Oslo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Marrakech that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marrakech than Oslo if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Marrakech.

One day in Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and museums around the city of Oslo. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Oslo has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the park-filled big city of Oslo. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech is a ancient big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find nightlife and food around the park-filled city of Oslo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech is a fascinating city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Oslo is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Marrakech or Oslo?

Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Oslo. When comparing the sizes of Marrakech and Oslo, 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.