A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. Santa Elena for Food, Backpackers, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Beijing or Santa Elena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Santa Elena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Beijing

Beijing is a massive, jam-packed, and cultural city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Beijing offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Beijing travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Beijing and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing. Although Beijing and Santa Elena are popular destinations, Beijing has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beijing is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Santa Elena attracts visitors for its hiking. Beijing is more touristy than Santa Elena and is popular for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also well known for The Forbidden City. Santa Elena is famous for its birdwatching and environmental conservation.

How is Beijing different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Beijing has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Beijing or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is a must-visit destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Beijing, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Beijing is great for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Beijing for the nightlife scene. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Beijing is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Beijing is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is great for its shopping areas. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Santa Elena is a great destination for shopping. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of nice scenery and beauty in both Beijing and Santa Elena.

Beijing offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The parks, gardens, palaces, and temples all offer a glimpse into the past, while also letting you enjoy the city and culture that exists today.

Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Santa Elena is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Elena is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Beijing offers lots of family activities. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Santa Elena is a great destination for couples. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Santa Elena frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Beijing is a nice destination for couples. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Elena is a very popular town to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Beijing is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Students?

Beijing is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Santa Elena is not popular with students.

Many students visit Beijing. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Santa Elena is not popular with students.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beijing is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Beijing. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Santa Elena has a few public transit options. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Beijing or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Santa Elena is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Santa Elena is a somewhat walkable town. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Beijing Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Beijing or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beijing due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

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

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

One day in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is a jam-packed city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Santa Elena, you'll find shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is a jam-packed big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

In Santa Elena, you'll find shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Elena has to offer.

Five days in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is a fascinating city where you can fill many days. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Santa Elena is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Beijing or Santa Elena?

Beijing is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Elena. Many people enjoy the shopping when visiting Santa Elena. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Beijing or Santa Elena?

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

Should I visit Beijing or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Beijing during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Beijing is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the summer, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Santa Elena. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Santa Elena. Many travelers come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Beijing is much colder than Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beijing in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Beijing or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Santa Elena. Many visitors come to Beijing in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

Beijing can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Beijing is generally much colder than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around -4°C (26°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the winter, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Santa Elena. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Beijing or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Beijing is much colder than Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Beijing usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Elena. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Beijing