A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Thessaloniki vs. Chefchaouen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen?

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

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen? 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: Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen?

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Chefchaouen

To feel like you've really stepped back in time to the glory days of Morocco, you're going to want to spend time in Chefchaouen. This town's beautiful medina is filled with white washed buildings with blue highlights. The wandering alleyways provide a fairy tale setting where you can relax for a few days. This mountainous region is a humble example of the classic picture of this area. Set against the backdrop of the Rif Mountains, the white and powder blue accented buildings and call to calls to prayer throughout the day let every visitor know they've arrived in a relaxing spot of peace and serenity.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Morocco, and The Best Luxury Tours to Morocco.


Which place is cheaper, Chefchaouen or Thessaloniki?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Chefchaouen is €54. 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 Thessaloniki and Chefchaouen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Thessaloniki 79
    Chefchaouen 23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Thessaloniki 158
    Chefchaouen 46
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Chefchaouen

Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen? 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 Thessaloniki


Hotels in Chefchaouen


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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Chefchaouen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Thessaloniki 13
    Chefchaouen 14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki

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

  • From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
  • Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
  • Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
  • Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
  • Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
  • Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
  • Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
  • Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
  • Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
  • Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
  • Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chefchaouen

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


  • Taxi Ride
    0.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chefchaouen

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

  • transfers from Chefchaouen to Fez (Door to Door): $107
  • Vip Private Transfer from Chefchaouen to Fes Vice Versa: $175
  • Vice versa transfer to chefchaouen with optional tour guide: $64
  • Transfer to/from Tangier and Chefchaouen: $191
  • Transfer to/from Tangier and Chefchaouen: $113
  • Transfer from Fez to Chefchaouen go and back (Both ways): $196
  • Transfer Private From Chefchaouen To Tangier: $74
  • Transfer Private From Chefchaouen To Rabat: $174
  • Transfer Private From Chefchaouen To Merrakash: $297
  • Transfer Private From Chefchaouen To Casablanca: $191
  • Tangier to Chefchaouen private transfer: $82
  • Private Transfers from Chefchaouen to Fez (one way): $99

Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen?

Prices for flights to both Chefchaouen and Thessaloniki 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
    Thessaloniki 42
    Chefchaouen 17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki

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

  • Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
  • Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
  • Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
  • Guided Food Tour: $70
  • Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
  • Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
  • Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
  • Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
  • Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
  • Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
  • Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
  • Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97

Typical Food Prices in Chefchaouen

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


  • Lunch for Two
    8.41
  • Dinner for Two
    9.34
  • Cupcake
    0.28
  • Nutella and Yogurt
    1.87

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chefchaouen

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

  • Funny Family Cooking Class in Blue City: $28
  • Cooking Class in Mountain From Chefchaouen: $44
  • 3-Hour Cooking Class overlooking the Blue City: $55
  • 4 hours Private Cooking Class With Family in Chefchaouen: $60
  • Chefchaouen Food Tour: $66
  • Chefchaouen Food Tour: $68
  • Guided Food Tour with over 6 Tasting Stops: $69
  • Discovery more Chefchaouen evening food tour with locals: $70
  • Make Your Own Tajine and Pastilla Cooking Class: $76
  • Discovery more Chefchaouen evening food tour with locals: $90
  • Private Tagine Cooking Class in Chefchaouen with Lunch: $100
  • Chaouen: 4- Hour Moroccan Cooking Class: $122

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Thessaloniki 26
    Chefchaouen 16

Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki

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

  • 4-Hour Thessaloniki Jewish Heritage Private Guided Tour: $207
  • Archery Odyssey Traditional Archery Experience: $65
  • Best of Private Guided Tour: $218
  • Best of Private Guided Tour: $192
  • Charming pearls of Thessaloniki – Romantic Tour: $153
  • City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
  • Daily Cruise:Discover Thessaloniki in a different way: $1,069
  • Daily Sailing Cruise Olympus Riviera Highlights: $122
  • Day Tour at Royal Tombs of Aigai and Museum of Pella with pickup: $93
  • Dion and Palaios Panteleimon Myth and History Tour: $153
  • Dion-Olympus Private Tour from Thessaloniki: $96
  • Discover Olympus from Paralia in Jeep Safari Shared Tour: $76

Tours and Activities in Chefchaouen

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

  • 2 Hours Private Chefchaouen Walking Tour: $40
  • Walking Tour in Chefchaouen: $14
  • 2 days Guided tour Rabat and Chechouen from Casablanca: $391
  • 9-day/8 nights Tour from Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Marrakech: $1,391
  • Akchour waterfalls tours : $87
  • Best Experience Fes to Chefchaouen Day Tour multi languages: $34
  • Bleu city walking Tasting Tour : $60
  • Chefchaouen : Traditional Hammam Experience As A Local: $75
  • Chefchaouen Day Tour: $51
  • Chefchaouen Photography tour: $46
  • Chefchaouen tour guide: $22
  • Chefchaouen with Local Eyes Guided Walking Tour: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Thessaloniki 15
    Chefchaouen 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki

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

  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
  • From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
  • Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
  • Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
  • Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
  • Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
  • Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207


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

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


Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen?

Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chefchaouen. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Chefchaouen, 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.


When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen?

Thessaloniki has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chefchaouen experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Chefchaouen. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Chefchaouen attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Chefchaouen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Thessaloniki in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Chefchaouen averages at about 24°C (74°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chefchaouen this time of the year. In Thessaloniki, it's very sunny this time of the year. Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chefchaouen during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Chefchaouen receives 346 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Chefchaouen receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Thessaloniki 25°C (77°F) 
    Chefchaouen 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Chefchaouen. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chefchaouen throughout the year.

In October, Thessaloniki is generally cooler than Chefchaouen. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 16°C (61°F), and Chefchaouen fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chefchaouen. In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chefchaouen receives 235 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Chefchaouen receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Thessaloniki 16°C (61°F) 
    Chefchaouen 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen in the Winter?

Both Chefchaouen and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Chefchaouen because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Thessaloniki is much colder than Chefchaouen in the winter. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Chefchaouen fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Chefchaouen during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Chefchaouen receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chefchaouen. In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Chefchaouen receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Thessaloniki 5°C (41°F) 
    Chefchaouen 13°C (55°F)

Should I visit Thessaloniki or Chefchaouen in the Spring?

Both Chefchaouen and Thessaloniki during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chefchaouen year-round.

In the spring, Thessaloniki is cooler than Chefchaouen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Thessaloniki in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Chefchaouen averages at about 15°C (60°F).

In Chefchaouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chefchaouen receives 251 hours of full sun.

Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in April than Chefchaouen. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Chefchaouen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Thessaloniki 13°C (56°F) 
    Chefchaouen 15°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Chefchaouen and Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki Chefchaouen
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 13°C (55°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Feb 7°C (44°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 13°C (56°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
Mar 9°C (49°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Apr 13°C (56°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 15°C (60°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
May 18°C (65°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 21°C (69°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 26 mm (1 in) 24°C (74°F) 1 mm (0 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 24°C (75°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 26 mm (1 in) 23°C (73°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 20°C (68°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Nov 11°C (52°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 113 mm (4.4 in)
Dec 7°C (44°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 13°C (56°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)