A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Peniche vs. Essaouira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Peniche or Essaouira?

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 Peniche and Essaouira can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Peniche or Essaouira?

Peniche

Peniche is a beach destination with many attractions for travelers. First, the raging sea and the lay of the land make this a popular surfing destination. The best of many supreme beaches is Praia dos Supertubos, which has a tubular wave fit for big time international events. Peniche has also been a port since the Early Modern Age, when a fort was constructed to defend it. This monument has an absorbing history, first as a maritime defense and then a prison during the Estado Novo regime in the 20th century. The walled historic center makes for pleasant strolling, and the seaside fort where Salazar's regime detained political prisoners is a must-see for anyone interested in Portuguese history. Artisan lovers will enjoy Peniche's specialty, handmade lace, and it is even possible to see the lace-work in action. And on top of everything, Peniche also has the Berlingas Islands, a natural reserve off the coast, which are well worth a visit.

Essaouira

Essaouira is a beautiful beach town on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The city has a pleasant medina that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is interesting to explore. It's an 18th century fortified town with a lot of character and charm. The city is rich and culture and you'll find a handful of art galleries throughout the town. The city is also a gathering place for artists and musicians, particularly during the Gnaoua Festival of World Music, which takes place the last week of June. This event attracts about 450,000 visitors yearly.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Essaouira or Peniche?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Peniche is €122, while the average daily cost in Essaouira is €43. 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 Peniche and Essaouira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Peniche 50
    Essaouira 24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Peniche 100
    Essaouira 48
Compare Hotels in Peniche and Essaouira

Looking for a hotel in Peniche or Essaouira? 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 Peniche


Hotels in Essaouira


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: Peniche Hotel Prices and Essaouira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Peniche 53
    Essaouira 1.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Peniche

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

  • Lisbon: Transfer from/to Peniche (Wave Capital): $128

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Essaouira

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

  • From Private Transfer to Casablanca: $321
  • Private Transfer Essaouira - Rabat: $262
  • Essaouira : Private Transfer from or to Agafay Desert: $160
  • From Private Transfer to Taghazout or Agadir: $150
  • Essaouira private transfer from Essaouira city to Agadir airport (AGA): $138
  • From Private Transfer to Marrakech: $123
  • Private transfer Marrakech to Essaouira or Essaouira toMarrakech : $102
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
  • Transfer from Essaouira to Marrakech city or Marrakech airport: $93
  • Transfert Marrakech to Agafay-Private Agafay to Marrakech : $87
  • Private transfer Marrakech airpot - Essaouira : $87
  • Scenic Hinterland Quad Ride with Transfer: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Peniche or Essaouira?

Prices for flights to both Essaouira and Peniche 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
    Peniche 41
    Essaouira 13

Typical Food Prices in Essaouira

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Essaouira:


  • Baklava
    1.31
  • Breakfast Crepes
    0.47
  • Fish for Lunch
    14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Essaouira

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

  • Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class: $39
  • L'Atelier Madada Moroccan Cooking Workshop in Essaouira: $55
  • Traditional Family Style Moroccan Cooking Class: $67
  • 3 hours Camel Ride in Essaouira with Dinner and Overnight in Berber Camp: $170

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Peniche 19
    Essaouira 11

Tours and Activities in Peniche

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

  • From Lisbon: Berlenga Grande Sightseeing Tour: $134
  • From 1-Hour Cabo Carvoeiro Boat Tour: $16
  • From Round-Trip Boat Tour of Berlengas Archipelago: $24
  • Lisbon: Private Full Day Tour to Berlengas Island: $235
  • Peniche : Walking Tour: $37
  • Berlenga Island and Cave Tour: $33
  • Berlengas Island Caves Tour and Snorkeling: $44
  • Berlengas Island Trip, Hiking and Cave Tour: $36
  • Berlengas Roundtrip and Glass-Bottom Boat Cave Tour: $33
  • Mountain Bike Tour: $53
  • Private Jeep Tour + Tasting Offer: $53
  • Private Walking Tour - Footsteps of Our People: $21

Tours and Activities in Essaouira

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

  • Big Cap Sim dunes and forest 3 hours tour.: $70
  • 2 Hour Quad & ATV Experience: $58
  • Big dunes and atlantic coast tour 2 HOURS: $57
  • Essaouira : 1H quad bike tour and 1H camel ride: $57
  • Essaouira : Half-day E-Experience from Mountains to Sea: $129
  • Essaouira Guided Tour: 3 on 1 - Nightlife tour, Live like a local & Street food: $65
  • Essaouira Sand Dunes: Half Day Quad Bike Tour: $65
  • 3-Hour Camel Tour: $40
  • 3-Hour Quad Bike Tour: $87
  • Area Highlights 3 hours E-Bike Tour: $61
  • Atlantic Dune Buggy Adventure: $206
  • Cultural & Historical Sightseeing Tour - half day: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Peniche 12
    Essaouira 8.58


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

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


Which is Bigger, Peniche or Essaouira?

Essaouira has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Peniche. When comparing the sizes of Peniche and Essaouira, 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.