A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan 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.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a waterfront, active, and nature-focused city. The famous beauty of Helsinki is one of the main draws. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Helsinki travel costs.

Koh Pha Ngan

Koh Pha Ngan is a party-oriented, high energy, and funky party island. The beauty of Koh Pha Ngan is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Koh Pha Ngan travel costs.

Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Koh Pha Ngan. Although Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan are popular destinations, Koh Pha Ngan has more sights and attractions for tourists. Koh Pha Ngan is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Helsinki attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and impressive beauty. Koh Pha Ngan is more touristy than Helsinki and is popular for its wild Full Moon Parties, large backpacker crowds, and strikingly beautiful beaches. It is also well known for the Full Moon Parties. Helsinki is famous for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene.

How is Helsinki different from Koh Pha Ngan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Koh Pha Ngan and Helsinki. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Pha Ngan is not particularly known for its historical sights.

Many visitors head to Helsinki specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.

While most people don't head to Koh Pha Ngan specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Visitors come of the natural beauty, outdoor sports, and hardcore parties more than the sights and museums. Kuan Yin Temple is worth visiting, as is Wat Pho and Wat Phu Khao Noi.

Is the Food Better in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Helsinki is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Koh Pha Ngan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Helsinki makes for a great culinary experience. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.

Koh Pha Ngan has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There is frequent turnover in the restaurant scene around town, but there are a few mainstay restaurants that offer consistent and reliable Thai or international cuisine. In general, the food is fresh and the typical Thai favorites are available most places. Also make sure you check out the Thong Sala Night Market, which offers unique snacks and local dishes.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Nightlife?

Koh Pha Ngan is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

People head to Koh Pha Ngan just to party. The island's famous Full Moon Parties have landed it on many lists for top party destinations around the world. These parties are held every month on the night of the full moon, with the biggest crowds between November and March. The parties are traditionally held at the beach in Haad Rin. If you miss the Full Moon Party, you can check out the Half Moon Festival on Baan Ti. During other times, you'll find a variety of different parties that capitalize on the party reputation of the island, so whenever you visit, you can enjoy some level of festivities.

Helsinki has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Resorts?

Koh Pha Ngan is a party island with good options for its luxury resorts. However, Helsinki is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Koh Pha Ngan makes a nice vacation spot. Much of the island caters to the backpacker crowd, but there are some luxury resorts to choose from as well. Many resorts take advantage of the beautiful nature on the island or intentionally prioritize a serene environment where you can relax by the pool.

Helsinki is not a resort destination.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Pha Ngan is a party island with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Helsinki is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Koh Pha Ngan. The island has its share of dive shops and a nice underwater setting where you can see coral and a variety of marine life. The island doesn't draw the huge diving crowds like some of the other islands, but that isn't always a bad thing.

Helsinki is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Beaches?

Koh Pha Ngan is a world-class destination for the beach. However, Helsinki is not a beach destination.

Koh Pha Ngan is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The white sand beaches with turquoise blue waters make this island a truly beautiful destination. While most people think of beach parties and Full Moon Parties, the island also has some quieter beaches where you can relax in a peaceful paradise. The parties are mostly concentrated around Sunrise Beach in Haad Rin. This beach also has cheap bungalows that are popular with the backpacker crowd. For the quieter beaches, head to the northern side of the island around Hat Khuat and Hat Thian.

Helsinki is not a beach destination.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Hiking?

Koh Pha Ngan is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Helsinki is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Koh Pha Ngan. In its interior, the island has beautiful jungle and impressive hikes. Some of the best hikes are found in Than Sadet National Park, but come prepared because they can often be challenging. They usually end with a breathtaking viewpoint, secluded beach, or stunning waterfall though.

Helsinki is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki is well known for shopping. However, Koh Pha Ngan is not particularly known for its shopping opportunities.

Helsinki is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.

If you're looking to go shopping, Koh Pha Ngan has some nice offerings. Although shopping isn't particularly popular on the island, it does offer a unique opportunity to support individual shop owners as there are more independently owned vendors on this island than in many other areas. Head to the markets and you'll find the most independent shops to support.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan More Beautiful?

Helsinki is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Koh Pha Ngan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Helsinki is one of the main draws. The city's location on the tip of a peninsula means that the water has a huge influence over daily life. There are more than 300 islands in the area and plenty of nature and parkland. The city is filled with striking color and tons of beauty.

The beauty of Koh Pha Ngan is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. The island is more than just Full Moon Parties. There are beautiful hikes to waterfalls as well as stunning beaches and eclectic yoga retreats.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Families?

Helsinki is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Koh Pha Ngan is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Helsinki is a very family-friendly place to visit. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.

For families, Koh Pha Ngan is not always the best place to visit. Most people think of Full Moon Parties and backpacker crowds when they think of this island. There are actually some quieter areas on the eastern and northern sides of the island that are good for families. The activities are best suited for older kids and include hiking, windsurfing, yoga, and shopping.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Couples?

Helsinki is well known for romance. Also, Koh Pha Ngan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Helsinki frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.

Koh Pha Ngan makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy partying, yoga retreats, and outdoor exploration will find something for them on this island. There are beautiful hikes to waterfalls as well as nice beaches and, of course, the wild parties.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Pha Ngan is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Koh Pha Ngan is extremely popular for backpackers. This island is synonymous with backpacker vibes and full moon parties. Head to the southern side of the island around Haad Rin and Ban Tai for the highest concentration of backpacker crowds. Like much of Thailand, there is frequent turnover in hostel ownership, so most reviews that you read online will be out of date. It's best to talk to people on the road to get the most up-to-date perspective.

Plenty of backpackers visit Helsinki. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Students?

Helsinki is well known for students. However, Koh Pha Ngan is not popular with students.

Helsinki is very popular with students. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.

Koh Pha Ngan is not popular with students.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Helsinki is well known for its public transit. However, Koh Pha Ngan is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Helsinki. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

Public transit is mostly limited in Koh Pha Ngan. Your best bet for getting around the island without a private vehicle is Songthaew taxi, longtail boats, and rental mopeds.

Is Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan a more walkable city?

Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan are nice when it comes to walkability.

Helsinki is a somewhat walkable place. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.

Koh Pha Ngan is a somewhat walkable city. It's possible, and even enjoyable, to walk from place to place around the island but allow yourself a lot of time and bring water because temperatures can be very warm.

For even more information, also check out Is Helsinki Worth Visiting? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Koh Pha Ngan or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

In either Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Koh Pha Ngan than Helsinki because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Helsinki, and 3-5 days is enough time in Koh Pha Ngan.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Koh Pha Ngan than Helsinki 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 Koh Pha Ngan.

One day in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

In Helsinki, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this coastal city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The beautiful party island of Koh Pha Ngan offers nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Koh Pha Ngan is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the nature-focused destination of Helsinki. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Koh Pha Ngan is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Koh Pha Ngan, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Koh Pha Ngan is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This party island offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan?

Helsinki has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Helsinki during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.

In July, Helsinki is generally cooler than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 17°C (62°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Helsinki usually gets less rain in July than Koh Pha Ngan. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Koh Pha Ngan. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Helsinki is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan.

Should I visit Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.

The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. In the winter, Helsinki is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Helsinki in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).

Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Koh Pha Ngan. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season.

Should I visit Helsinki or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In April, Helsinki is generally much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 3°C (37°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Helsinki