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

Should you visit Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

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

Should I visit Malang or Dewa Sanzan? 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 authentic, cultural, and under-rated city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Malang travel costs.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan is a remote, traditional, and religious religious site. It's also known for hiking and museums. See Dewa Sanzan travel costs.

Malang and Dewa Sanzan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Malang. Although Malang and Dewa Sanzan are popular destinations, Malang has more sights and attractions for tourists. Malang is very popular for its food, nightlife, and shopping, while Dewa Sanzan attracts visitors for its hiking. Malang is more touristy than Dewa Sanzan and is popular for its many nearby natural attractions. It is also well known for the Rainbow Village. Dewa Sanzan is famous for its traditional religion, three sacred mountains, and the Shukubo Pilgrim Lodges.

How is Malang different from Dewa Sanzan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Malang and Dewa Sanzan have nice 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.

Dewa Sanzan offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. This is a sacred religious site that is at the heart of the Shugendo folk religion. The religion combines Buddhist and Shinto traditions and there are several temples in the area including the most sacred sights at Yudono-san, Haguro-san, and Gas-san, as well as the Churenji and Dainichibo Temples.

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

Malang is an unbeatable place for its restaurants. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Malang has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

Dewa Sanzan may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. In your guesthouse you'll be given "Shojin cuisine", which is the traditional cuisine that has been handed down through the generations. It is strictly vegetarian and is heavily influenced by whatever vegetable is currently in season in the area. Traditionally, the cuisine focused on sustenance and not taste, but for the purposes of hospitality, the dishes are more flavorful than is typical in the traditional cuisine.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Nightlife?

Malang is very good for nightlife and partying. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Malang. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Dewa Sanzan. This is a religious site that is remote and focused on mountain worship and devotion. Nightlife is non-existent in the area.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Hiking?

Dewa Sanzan is well known for its hiking experiences. Also, Malang is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Dewa Sanzan. Experienced hikers can climb Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono in one day and do Mt. Haguro separately. For Mt. Gassan, you'll want to take the bus to the 8th station and climb from there.

Many people include a hike when visiting Malang. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

Malang is very good for its shopping opportunities. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its shopping areas.

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).

Dewa Sanzan has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. This is a sacred sight that is devoted to worship and a simple life. As such, shopping in not available in the area with the exception of a couple of convenience stores.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Families?

Malang is very good for its kid-friendly activities. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Malang is a family-friendly city. 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.

Dewa Sanzan is not such a family-friendly city. The remote location make this a challenging place to access. It's a religious destination and its sacred and historic past is often lost to children. Out of respect for the strict religion, this site is best visited as an adult.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Malang and Dewa Sanzan make for a nice 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.

Dewa Sanzan makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who want to do something that's a bit different from mainstream Japan will appreciate a visit to this religious site.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malang and Dewa Sanzan are nice 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.

Dewa Sanzan is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. This is an off-the-beaten-path destination for backpackers, and it can be difficult to reach by public transit. Once you're there, if you want a traditional experience, you can stay at a Shukubo Pilgrim Lodge.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan Better for Students?

Malang is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Dewa Sanzan is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Malang. The university means that there's a large student population in town.

Dewa Sanzan is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Malang and Dewa Sanzan.

Public transit is generally 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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Dewa Sanzan. There is public transit from Tsuruoka Station to Mt. Haguro and the accommodation in the area. There are also buses to the top of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Yudono, and Mt. Gassan 8th Station.

Is Malang or Dewa Sanzan a more walkable city?

Malang is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Dewa Sanzan is lacking in options for its ease of walking around.

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

Dewa Sanzan is generally not very walkable. Everything is very spread out so walking can be challenging. Experienced hikers will enjoy hiking to each of the three shrines.

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

Should I spend more time in Dewa Sanzan or Malang?

How long in Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Malang and Dewa Sanzan. In our opinion, Malang has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Malang than Dewa Sanzan. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Malang, and 2-3 days is enough time in Dewa Sanzan.

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

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

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

One day in Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Malang. Most people visit for the food. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Dewa Sanzan. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Malang or Dewa Sanzan?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the under-rated destination of Malang. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan?

The authentic city of Malang offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dewa Sanzan. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Dewa Sanzan?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Malang. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the food. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the religious destination of Dewa Sanzan. This religious site offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in 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 Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Malang and Dewa Sanzan, we can see that Dewa Sanzan 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 Malang Expensive? and Is Dewa Sanzan Expensive?.