A Travel Price Comparison for Turkey Pamukkale vs. Ankara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pamukkale or Ankara?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pamukkale and Ankara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Pamukkale or Ankara?

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is in southeastern Aegean Turkey and is historically a spa town that has been in existence since the 2nd century BC. It is popular with tourists for its beautiful hot springs and travertines, or pools that are coated in a very unique calcium covering. The area is very rich in mineral content and the water, which has been flowing for thousands of years, has deposited calcium in each pool. This unique whiteness creates an unworldly beauty that draws visitors from around the world. If you're visiting during the summer months when the sun is out in full force, don't forget the sunscreen, as the white reflects the light and you can end up with a sunburn quite quickly. You'll also want to make sure you have sunglasses available because the glare can be quite extreme.

Ankara

Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.

Which place is cheaper, Ankara or Pamukkale?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Pamukkale is $158, while the average daily cost in Ankara is $118. 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 Pamukkale and Ankara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pamukkale $56
    Ankara $57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pamukkale $112
    Ankara $114
Compare Hotels in Pamukkale and Ankara

Looking for a hotel in Pamukkale or Ankara? 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 Pamukkale


Hotels in Ankara


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: Pamukkale Hotel Prices and Ankara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pamukkale $36
    Ankara $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamukkale

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

  • Antalya: Guided Pamukkale Tour w/Lunch/Transfer: $86
  • Antalya: Private Airport Transfer to/from Pamukkale/Denizli: $155
  • Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Denizli City Hotels: $105
  • Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels: $83
  • Denizli City Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $138
  • From Istanbul: Pamukkale Day Trip with Flights and Transfers: $698
  • Laodicea-Kaklik Cave-Salda Lake Private Full Day Transfer : $195
  • Pamukkale - Karahayit Transfer from Denizli Cardak Airport: $100
  • Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon w/Flight Certificates,Champagne Toast & Hotel Transfer: $90
  • Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $110
  • Pamukkale to Antalya Centre Hotels Transfer: $165
  • Private Denizli Pamukkale Airport Transfer Service: $99

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.04
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:

  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
  • Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
  • Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $110
  • Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $110
  • Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $77
  • Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $72
  • Ankara Esenboga Airport to Ankara City Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $65
  • Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $60
  • Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Pamukkale or Ankara?

Prices for flights to both Ankara and Pamukkale 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
    Pamukkale $70
    Ankara $33

Typical Food Prices in Ankara

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


  • A Quick Lunch
    $0.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pamukkale $55
    Ankara $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pamukkale

For Pamukkale, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entrance fees Travertines & Pool
    $2.03

Tours and Activities in Pamukkale

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pamukkale.

  • Pamukkale Paragliding Experience By Local Expert Pilots: $20
  • Antalya: Pamukkale Guided Tour With Optional Balloon Flight: $30
  • From Antalya; Daily Pamukkale Tour with hot air Balloon: $37
  • Pamukkale City Highlights Small Group Guided Tour with Lunch: $40
  • Full Day Pamukkale City Tour From Pamukkale And Karahayit Hotels: $45
  • Pamukkale Paragliding Experience By Local Expert Pilots: $48
  • From Antalya: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour with Lunch: $49
  • Tandem Paragliding Experience: $49
  • Shared Pamukkale Group Tour from Pamukkale: $57
  • Antalya to Pamukkale Hierapolis Daily Tour with Lunch: $60
  • Pamukkale Paragliding Tour : $65
  • Kusadasi or Selcuk: Pamukkale Guided Group Tour: $68

Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara

Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Underground City
    $0.25

Tours and Activities in Ankara

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

  • Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $31
  • Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $33
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour: $271
  • Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $221
  • Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide: $6.00
  • Private Tour with a Local: $38
  • Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $33
  • Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara: $6.00
  • Full-Day Highlights of Cappadocia Tour: $446
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
  • Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pamukkale $15
    Ankara $15


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

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


Which is Bigger, Pamukkale or Ankara?

Ankara has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Pamukkale. When comparing the sizes of Pamukkale and Ankara, 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.