A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator including a piezoelectric device and a vibration plate, and a friction member, wherein the vibrator and the friction member are pressurized to contact each other, and the vibrator is vibrated by the piezoelectric device to be moved relative to the friction member. The motor further includes a guide member that guides relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member, a fixing member that fixes the guide member at a first position and a second position in a direction of the relative movement between the vibrator and the friction member, and an attenuation member held between the friction member and the guide member in a pressure direction in which the vibrator and the friction member are pressurized to contact each other at a location between the first position and the second position.