A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. Tulum for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Beijing or Tulum?

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 Tulum 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 historic, massive, and jam-packed city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Beijing is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Beijing travel costs.

Tulum

Tulum is a archeological, tropical, and active town. With stunning beauty, Tulum attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Tulum travel costs.

Beijing and Tulum: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or Tulum?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Beijing than Tulum, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Beijing is better known for its food and big city activities, while Tulum is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Beijing is well known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. Also, Beijing is famous for The Forbidden City. Tulum is well known for its archeological sights, beautiful beaches, and dramatic cenotes.

How is Beijing different from Tulum?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Tulum 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 Tulum?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Beijing or Tulum.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Beijing on the map. 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.

Travelers visit Tulum from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. It's famous for its world-renowned archeological ruins. The Tulum Archeological Site is very popular for its Mayan temples and castles. You can also travel a bit further to see the Cobá Ruins.

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

Beijing is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Tulum is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Many restaurants in Beijing have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.

Tulum has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Despite being well established as a top tourist destination in Mexico, you'll still find authentic and delicious local cuisine. Favorite dishes around town include the ceviche, tacos al pastor, and sopa de lima (chicken soup).

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Nightlife?

Tulum is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Tulum is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. It's world renowned for its wild nightlife scene and you'll find iconic beach parties, jungle raves, and trendy Tuluminati parties. Most of the local places that are a bit more affordable are in town, and the more touristy and expensive places are around the Middle Beach Zone.

The nightlife in Beijing has something for everybody. 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.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Resorts?

Tulum is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Beijing is not a resort destination.

Tulum is a world class resort vacation destination. If you're on a budget, you can stay in town for a more reasonable price, but if you want a classic beach vacation, head to the Zona Hotelera stretch along the coast. There are luxury hotels as well as resorts with beachfront pools and luxury restaurants.

Beijing is not a resort destination.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tulum is an unbeatable place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Beijing is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Tulum is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The water along the coast is shallow and clear, which is perfect for snorkeling. There are also dive trips that take you a short distance out to diverse and beautiful reefs.

Beijing is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Beaches?

Tulum is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Beijing is not a beach destination.

Tulum is considered to be a world-class beach destination. World class beaches with turquoise water and long stretches of sand make this a true beach-lovers paradise. Playa Paraíso is a favorite beach in the area and many consider it among the most beautiful beaches in Mexico.

Beijing is not a beach destination.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Hiking?

Tulum 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 Tulum. There are coastal walks and routes that take you through the jungle or by archeological ruins. There are many places where you can enjoy a stroll through nature.

Beijing is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or Tulum?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Tulum and Beijing.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Tulum. Quirky souvenir shops, local artisan boutiques, and colorful bazaars make shopping a fun experience. Make sure you check out Mercado Maya or the Tulum Bazaar while you're in town.

Is Beijing or Tulum More Beautiful?

Tulum is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Tulum attracts visitors from all around. Clear blue water, sandy beaches, jungle covered archeological ruins, and hidden cenotes make this a stunningly beautiful place to visit.

Beijing is a gorgeous place to visit. 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.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Families?

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

Tulum is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the beaches and archeological sights as much as adults. You can also visit a cenote or see the sea turtles at Akumal Bay. If you're open to getting out of town, there are many adventure parks in the area as well.

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 Tulum Better for Couples?

Tulum is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Tulum is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Beautiful beaches, world famous archeological sights, and a wild nightlife scene make this a great honeymoon or couple's destination. There are also spas, cenotes, and even cooking classes that you can take together.

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 Tulum Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing and Tulum are great places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Beijing is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

Tulum is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's no longer an undiscovered backpacker paradise, but there are still affordable options in the area and there's a great nightlife scene.

Is Beijing or Tulum Better for Students?

Beijing is a well-known place for students. However, Tulum is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in 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.

Tulum is not popular with students.

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

Beijing is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Tulum is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Beijing can move around easily with public transportation. 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.

Tulum has some public transit options. There are shared vans, Collectivos, that provide transportation through the area. The Tiburon is also a local bus that runs along the coastline.

Is Beijing or Tulum a more walkable city?

Tulum is a great destination for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Tulum is a very walkable destination. It's easy to walk around downtown Tulum and explore on foot.

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 Tulum Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Tulum or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or Tulum?

In either Beijing or Tulum, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than Tulum because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 3-5 days is enough time in Tulum.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tulum than Beijing if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Tulum.

One day in Beijing or Tulum?

Each neighborhood in Beijing has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

In Tulum, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 Tulum?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beijing. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

In Tulum, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Beijing or Tulum?

Beijing is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Beijing has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Tulum is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Tulum has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Beijing or Tulum?

Each neighborhood in Beijing has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tulum. Many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting Tulum. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Tulum, we can see that Tulum 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 Tulum is in North 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Beijing or Tulum?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 890 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and Tulum, 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 Beijing or Tulum?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Beijing or Tulum in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Tulum. The summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tulum this time of year.

In the summer, Beijing is around the same temperature as Tulum. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Tulum averages at about 28°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum during summer. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 232 hours of full sun in the summer.

Tulum receives a lot of rain in the summer. Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Tulum. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Beijing or Tulum in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Tulum. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Tulum for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Beijing is generally much colder than Tulum. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Tulum fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the autumn, Beijing often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 216 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Tulum. Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Tulum. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Tulum is the dry season. June to October in Tulum is the rainy season. Also, June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Beijing or Tulum in the Winter?

Both Tulum and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Tulum in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. Beijing is much colder than Tulum in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Tulum fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Tulum. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tulum during winter. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Tulum receives 213 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Beijing usually receives less rain than Tulum. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Beijing or Tulum in the Spring?

Both Tulum and Beijing during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Beijing is much colder than Tulum. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Tulum averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the spring, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Tulum. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tulum receives 273 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Tulum. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Tulum receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Tulum. June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. Also, the hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.

Typical Weather for Tulum and Beijing