A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Malang vs. Adelaide for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Hiking

Should you visit Malang or Adelaide?

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

Should I visit Malang or Adelaide? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Malang

Malang is a under-rated, authentic, and cultural city. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and hiking. See Malang travel costs.

Adelaide

Adelaide is a friendly, under-rated, and elegant city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Adelaide travel costs.

Malang and Adelaide: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malang or Adelaide?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Adelaide than Malang, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Adelaide is more popular for its beaches and shopping, while Malang is known for its food. Malang is popular for its many nearby natural attractions. Adelaide is popular for its wine scene, vibrant festivals, green spaces, and local sporting events. It is also home to the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

How is Malang different from Adelaide?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Malang or Adelaide?

Both Malang and Adelaide have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Malang is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a handful of museums around town that provide information on the city's culture and history. There are also mosques, temples, and the famous Rainbow Village.

Adelaide offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some interesting buildings along North Terrace such as the Parliament House, the State Library of South Australia, and the South Australian Museum. At the Botanic Garden there's the Santos Museum of Economic Botany. Also make sure you check out the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Is the Food Better in Malang or Adelaide? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Malang is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Malang have been singled out for their culinary prowess. This is a top foodie destination and you'll find plenty of amazing street food. It's also the credited with being the birthplace of bakso (meatballs). Many of the dishes around town are sweet, spicy, and served with peanut sauce. It's been influenced by many different cuisines such as Chinese, Javanese, Madurese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Adelaide. There's great wine, local restaurants, and charming cafes. You'll find local dishes as well as international flavors around town. The local produce is good and the restaurants offer fresh and delicious recipes.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Malang and Adelaide.

Malang has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The universities around town mean that there's a youthful vibe to the nightlife scene. You'll also find a mix of cultural activities as well as modern and trendy venues. There are dance clubs, upscale lounges, and everything in between.

If you're looking for night time activities Adelaide has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with rooftop bars, live music venues, and boutique wine bars. Whether you're looking for trendy and luxury or casual and laid back, there are many places to spend a night out.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Beaches?

Adelaide is well known for its beaches. However, Malang is not a beach destination.

Adelaide is considered a top beach destination. Part of what makes the city's beaches so great is how accessible they are. You don't have to go far to be at some of the area's best beaches. Glenelg is a family-friendly beach near town. It's also the most popular and most accessible. Brighton is relaxed with cafes and small restaurants nearby. And for seafood, head to Henley.

Malang is not a beach destination.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Malang and Adelaide both have good trails.

Malang is a good destination for hiking. Many visitors use this city as a base for hiking Mount Bromo. It's popular to hire a jeep tour from town, or you can hire a private driver or motorbike. Near town you'll also find one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Indonesia - Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. It's possible to hike to the base of the waterfall, but it's a very challenging route.

Many people include a hike when visiting Adelaide. Outside of town there are national parks and reserves with hiking trails. You don't have to go far to explore the coastline or bushland in the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Malang or Adelaide?

Adelaide is well known for shopping. Also, Malang is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Adelaide is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Rundle Mall is the most well known shopping area in town. You'll find boutique shops as well as large department stores. Whether you're looking for international fashion brands or something more local, there are many places to explore.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Malang. You'll find places to pick up many local items. The region is known for its ceramics, wood, and rattan (palms).

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Malang or Adelaide.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Malang. If you're willing to head just outside of town, you'll find theme parks and waterparks. Some of the favorites are Batu Secret Zoo, Jatim Park, Selecta Park, and Batu Night Spectacular.

Adelaide offers lots of family activities. There are kids museums, water parks, playgrounds, and beaches that are fun to explore with children. The city has a family-friendly vibe with kid-friendly restaurants and a welcoming personality.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Malang and Adelaide make for a good place to visit.

Malang is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy culture, museums, temples, and great food will have a good time visiting this city. It is also a bit cooler than much of Indonesia, which can make a nice escape from the heat.

Adelaide makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. A great date activity is a night at the opera. There are also boat rides, hot air balloon rides, and nice restaurants that make for a fun evening out.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malang and Adelaide are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Malang. Most backpackers pass through town when they're headed to climb Mount Bromo. There are plenty of hostels and cheap places to stay as well as some sights that are worth checking out.

Adelaide is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's not high on the list for many backpackers, but those who venture here will enjoy a great wine scene, beautiful beaches, and lively festivals.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Students?

Malang and Adelaide are good places to visit for students.

Malang is popular with students. The university means that there's a large student population in town.

It's common for students to visit Adelaide. It's a friendly and affordable city that has a nice student culture. It's very livable and accessible to other interesting places.

Is Malang or Adelaide Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Adelaide is well known for its public transit. However, Malang is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Adelaide can move around easily with public transportation. There are bus, trains, and trams throughout the city center.

Public transit is mostly limited in Malang. Angkot or mikrolet are small buses or modified cars that carry passengers around town. Many visitors also hire a motor scooter or driver to get around.

Is Malang or Adelaide a more walkable city?

Adelaide is well known for its walkability. Also, Malang is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Adelaide is very walkable. The city is compact and laid out in a grid pattern, so it's easy to explore on foot.

Malang is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is relatively walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Malang Worth Visiting? and Is Adelaide Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Adelaide or Malang?

How long in Malang or Adelaide?

It's fun to spend time in either Malang or Adelaide. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Adelaide due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Malang, and 2-4 days is enough time in Adelaide.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Adelaide than Malang 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 Adelaide.

One day in Malang or Adelaide?

The city of Malang 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.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Adelaide. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Malang or Adelaide?

Malang 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 Malang, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Adelaide is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Malang or Adelaide?

Malang is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that food 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Adelaide. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Malang or Adelaide?

Malang is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Adelaide. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Malang or Adelaide?

Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Malang. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Adelaide, 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.