A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Can Tho vs. Surabaya for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Can Tho or Surabaya?

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 Can Tho and Surabaya can help you decide which place is right for you.

Can Tho

Can Tho is a fascinating, vibrant, and friendly city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Can Tho travel costs.

Surabaya

Surabaya is a local, undiscovered, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Surabaya travel costs.

Can Tho and Surabaya: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Can Tho or Surabaya?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Can Tho than Surabaya. While Surabaya is larger than Can Tho, Can Tho has more sights and attractions for tourists. Can Tho is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, and shopping, while Surabaya is known for its beaches and big city activities. Can Tho is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for its colorful floating markets, fresh produce, friendly people, and intricate waterways. It is also home to Cai Rang Floating Market. Surabaya is popular for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Can Tho different from Surabaya?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Can Tho or Surabaya?

Can Tho is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Can Tho offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The main attraction nearby is Cai Rang Floating Market, but visitors also enjoy seeing Binh Thuy Ancient House, the Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory, Ong pagoda, and Nam Nha Pagoda.

While most people don't head to Surabaya specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. You'll likely pass through town on your way somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out Suramadu Bridge, the House of Sampoerna, Cheng Hoo Mosque, Sanggar Agung Temple, and Ampel Mosque. It's also worth a visit to the Submarine Museum and the Heroes Monument.

Is the Food Better in Can Tho or Surabaya? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Can Tho is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Can Tho is an experience not to be missed. It's the largest city in the Mekong Delta, and there are many restaurants with rooftop views and lively atmospheres. The food is local and fresh. Grilled meats, noodle soup, and local produce are all popular. Many visitors come to Cantho specifically to experience the nearby floating markets. You really must sample the many dishes available at the markets, which are unique to the area and offer a whole new approach to street food.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Surabaya. It's a port city, and the cuisine reflexs this. You'll find a mix of different flavors that combine Javanese, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian cuisines. Dishes include a lot of vegetables as well as tofu and tempeh. Many dishes are also sweet in flavor or incredibly spicy.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Can Tho and Surabaya.

If you're looking for night time activities Can Tho has a few options to choose from. The city is very beautiful at night with many colorful lights. There are a number of bars and places for tourists to hang out and socialize.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Surabaya. Like the rest of the city, the nightlife scene has a local vibe. There are night markets, fascinating neighborhoods, and some lively clubs and bars.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is very good for the beach. However, Can Tho is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Surabaya to enjoy the beach. You'll find a few beaches within a short drive of the city center. Some of the popular ones include Ria Kenjeran Beach, Bentar Beach, and Delegan Beach.

Can Tho is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Can Tho or Surabaya?

Can Tho is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Can Tho is a world class destination for shoppers. The city is large with malls and a central market, but most visitors come specifically for the nearby floating markets. These unique markets are best visited by boat. Goods and food are sold out of vendor boats and popular food dishes include noodle soup and local fruits. Each boat has a tall bamboo stick displaying the items that it sells.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Surabaya. The city has a great mix of air-conditioned mega-malls and colorful street markets. Bratang Market has become a favorite but it's also worth checking out Tugu Pahlawan Market and Ampel Market.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Families?

Can Tho is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Can Tho is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the floating markets and the beautiful Mekong Delta. Most visitors use this growing city as a base for exploring the area, which has a fascinating culture and interesting sights.

For families, Surabaya is not always the best place to visit. You'll like be passing through this city enroute to somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out the Submarine Museum. You can also wander through the market area of Qubah or explore Chinatown.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Couples?

Can Tho is a great destination for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Couples visit Can Tho frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples can take a romantic evening boat ride on the Mekong Delta. During the morning hours, the floating markets are one of Vietnam's most interesting destinations. You can sample local dishes and experience a completely different way of life.

Surabaya is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some sights an museums that you can visit while you're in town.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Can Tho is a great destination for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Can Tho is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. This is a large city with a number of hostels and many backpackers who pass through during their trip to the floating markets and through the Mekong Delta.

Surabaya is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town but most backpackers don't spend more than a night in town.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Can Tho and Surabaya both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Can Tho. There are local buses, but many visitors come to this area as part of an organized tour because transportation can be a bit a tricky.

Public transit is generally limited in Surabaya. There's a bus system, but it's mostly used by locals. There are two types of buses - normal buses and patas buses, which are express.

Is Can Tho or Surabaya a more walkable city?

Surabaya is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Can Tho is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Surabaya is a very walkable city. It's one of the more walkable cities in Indonesia and it has the feel of a bunch of neighborhoods combined together.

Can Tho is a somewhat walkable city. The city center is relatively walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Can Tho Worth Visiting? and Is Surabaya Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Surabaya or Can Tho?

How long in Can Tho or Surabaya?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Can Tho or Surabaya to fill your time. In our opinion, Can Tho has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Can Tho than Surabaya. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Can Tho than Surabaya 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 Can Tho.

One day in Can Tho or Surabaya?

The city of Can Tho offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Because Surabaya is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Can Tho or Surabaya?

Can Tho is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Can Tho, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Because Surabaya is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Surabaya has to offer.

Five days in Can Tho or Surabaya?

Can Tho is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Surabaya is a great place to explore. 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 Can Tho or Surabaya?

Can Tho is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that shopping is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Surabaya. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Surabaya. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia.

When comparing the travel costs between Can Tho and Surabaya, we can see that Surabaya is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Can Tho or Surabaya?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Can Tho. When comparing the sizes of Can Tho and Surabaya, 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.