A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ise vs. Melbourne for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Ise or Melbourne?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ise and Melbourne 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.

Ise

Ise is a overlooked, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums. See Ise travel costs.

Melbourne

Melbourne is a cultural, progressive, and livable city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Melbourne travel costs.

Ise and Melbourne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ise or Melbourne?

You'll generally find more things to do in Melbourne than Ise. Melbourne is bigger than Ise, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Ise is well known for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting. Melbourne is well known for its art and cultural scene, its sports history, and its friendly and welcoming population. Also, Melbourne is famous for the Royal Botanic Gardens.

How is Ise different from Melbourne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ise or Melbourne?

Melbourne is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Melbourne. Many of the city's sights center around the art and cultural scene. There's the the National Gallery of Victoria and the Performing Arts Centre Melbourne. There's also Federation Square. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the National Sports Museum and for great views, check out Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ise. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

Is the Food Better in Ise or Melbourne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Ise and Melbourne offer a number of excellent restaurants to choose from.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Ise. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

Melbourne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's an eclectic mix of international restaurants that offer everything from Szechuan dishes to Spanish tapas. You'll find bistros and bars that have a fun and relaxed vibe and locals and tourists alike enjoy dining out.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Nightlife?

Melbourne is well known for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Melbourne is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There are bars and clubs that have a laid back and relaxed atmosphere as well as more party focused nightclubs that stay open late into the night. Whether you're interested in dancing and listening to live music, or chatting with friends at a local brewery, there really is something for everyone.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Beaches?

Melbourne is well known for the beach. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for the beach.

The beaches at Melbourne attract visitors from all over. There are laid back beaches near town that attract locals and tourists alike. You can enjoy coastal trails and great natural beauty. St Kilda Beach and Elwood Beach are among the most popular beaches near the city. Brighton Beach is known for its colorful bathing boxes and Williamstown Beach is very family-friendly.

Ise offers a nice beach destination. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Is the Shopping Better in Ise or Melbourne?

Melbourne is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Melbourne is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has tons of retail options that range from trendy fashion boutiques to outdoor markets. There are local venders that highlight the city's art and cultural scene, but there are also suburban malls with all of the major brands.

Ise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Families?

Melbourne is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Melbourne is a very kid-friendly city. The city has kids museums like the Museum of Play and Art or the Polly Woodside Tall Ship and Museum. There's also the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium and the Scienceworks Museums. If you like quirky, check out the ArtVo 3D Immersive Art Gallery. There's also Legoland, which has a lot for younger children.

Ise offers lots of family activities. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Couples?

Both Ise and Melbourne are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Ise makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

Melbourne is a good city for couples to visit. It's a very livable city with romantic viewpoints like SkyHigh Mount Dandenong. There are also nice gardens to explore such as the Carlton Gardens and the Rippon Lea House and Gardens. Or you could go for a ride on the Melbourne Star or dine at one of the many great restaurants.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ise and Melbourne are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Ise is a good city to visit for backpackers. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

Plenty of backpackers visit Melbourne. Many backpackers breeze through the city, but there is a great music and art scene as well as a number of good restaurants. You'll also find a couple of good hostels in town.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Students?

Melbourne is a must-visit destination for students. However, Ise is not popular with students.

Melbourne is a very popular city for students. Many students think this is among the best student cities in Australia. There's a great creative culture with a good music and art scene. The population is diverse and the restaurants a great.

Ise is not popular with students.

Is Ise or Melbourne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Melbourne is well known for its public transit. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Melbourne has some very good public transit options. The public transit system is among the best in Australia. There are public buses, trains, and trams (also called trolleys or streetcars).

While Ise offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

Is Ise or Melbourne a more walkable city?

Melbourne is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Melbourne is a very walkable city. The city center is very walkable with a compact and grid-like layout.

Ise is a somewhat walkable city. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

For even more information, also check out Is Ise Worth Visiting? and Is Melbourne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Melbourne or Ise?

How long in Ise or Melbourne?

In either Ise or Melbourne, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Melbourne than Ise because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ise, and 2-5 days is enough time in Melbourne.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Melbourne than Ise 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 Melbourne.

One day in Ise or Melbourne?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ise. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ise has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

When visiting Melbourne, people usually allow for lots of time. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Ise or Melbourne?

You'll find museums and food around the overlooked destination of Ise. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many people visit Melbourne for a weekend. When visiting Melbourne, people usually allow for lots of time. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Ise or Melbourne?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the overlooked city of Ise. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

When visiting Melbourne, people usually allow for lots of time. Many people spend five days here. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

A week in Ise or Melbourne?

Ise is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Melbourne, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ise or Melbourne?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Ise and Melbourne, 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 Ise or Melbourne?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Melbourne is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Ise has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Ise or Melbourne in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ise as well as Melbourne. Many travelers come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Melbourne in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Ise is a little warmer than Melbourne in the summer. The daily temperature in Ise averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. In the summer, Ise often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Ise gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.

Ise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ise usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Ise gets 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ise or Melbourne in the Autumn?

Both Melbourne and Ise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ise in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Ise is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ise in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Melbourne averages at about 15°C (60°F)in April.

Ise usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Melbourne during autumn. Ise gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Ise. In October, Ise usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Ise gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ise or Melbourne in the Winter?

Both Melbourne and Ise during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Ise can be very cold during winter. In January, Ise is generally much colder than Melbournein July. Daily temperatures in Ise average around 5°C (40°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Ise often gets more sunshine than Melbournein July. Ise gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.

Ise usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Melbournein July. Ise gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ise or Melbourne in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ise and Melbourne. The spring months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.

Ise is around the same temperature as Melbourne in the spring. The daily temperature in Ise averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. Ise usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Ise gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.

Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ise usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Ise gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Melbourne and Ise