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

Should you visit Malang or Kobe?

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

Should I visit Malang or Kobe? 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 cultural, under-rated, and authentic city. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Malang travel costs.

Kobe

Kobe is a subdued, under-rated, and multicultural city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Kobe travel costs.

Malang and Kobe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malang or Kobe?

You'll generally find more things to do in Kobe than Malang. Kobe is bigger than Malang, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Kobe is better known for its shopping and big city activities, while Malang is more popular for its food and hiking. Malang is more touristy than Kobe and is popular for its many nearby natural attractions. Kobe is well known for its world renowned Kobe beef and its hot spring resorts. Also, Kobe is famous for Kobe Harborland.

How is Malang different from Kobe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Malang and Kobe have notable 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.

Kobe offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the view from the top of the Kobe Port Tower and visit the high energy area of Kobe Harborland. The Disaster Reduction Museum and the nearby Human Renovation Museum are both fascinating to visit as well. Also check out the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art and Rokko Island.

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

Malang is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Kobe is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Malang, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Kobe makes for a great culinary experience. Most people immediately think of Kobe beef when they think of this city, but there are also many other specialties around town. You'll find good sushi as well as akashiyaki, which are octopus dumplings. The city long served as a major port for Japan, so there is a strong Chinese influence over the cuisine. In particular, you should try the chuka ryori (a Chinese dumpling).

Is Malang or Kobe Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Kobe has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is a bit subdued, but that doesn't mean you won't find local bars, karaoke, and live music venues where you can hang out. Many visitors enjoy having a chill night out with a drink in a laid back setting.

Is Malang or Kobe Better for Hiking?

Malang is a good destination for hiking. However, Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Malang offers some nice hiking trails. 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.

Kobe is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Malang or Kobe?

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

Kobe is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It's fun and convenient to shop here, as the best shopping districts are easy to access from the train stations. Sannomiya is a hub of transportation and shopping in the city, but also check out Kobe Harborland for its diverse stores and high energy.

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 Kobe Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Malang or Kobe.

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.

Kobe offers lots of family activities. There are a number of kid-friendly attractions around Kobe Harborland including a ferris wheel, Anpanman Museum, and the Kobe Maritime Museum. Kids will also enjoy running around Meriken Park or Mount Rokko. Kids who like animals will enjoy a visit to Kobe Animal Kingdom.

Is Malang or Kobe Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Malang and Kobe make for a notable 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.

Kobe makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's a romantic view from the top of the Kobe Port Tower. There are also many parks and a waterfront promenade where you can take a stroll. If you enjoy hiking, you can take the Maya View Line Kikuseidai, which is particularly nice in the evening.

Is Malang or Kobe Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malang and Kobe are notable 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.

Kobe is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Although many tourists and backpackers don't put Kobe on their itinerary, there are still a handful of hostels around the city.

Is Malang or Kobe Better for Students?

Malang is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Kobe is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Malang. The university means that there's a large student population in town.

Kobe is not popular with students.

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

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

You'll find some public transit in Kobe, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While there is a subway system, it's not particularly useful to tourists. There is a bus service that operates a line that targets tourists.

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 Kobe a more walkable city?

Malang and Kobe both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

Kobe is a somewhat walkable place. It's relatively easy to walk around many parts of the city, although some areas are quite hilly. You can walk from Shin-Kobe Bullet Train Station to the water in about half an hour.

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

Should I spend more time in Kobe or Malang?

How long in Malang or Kobe?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Malang or Kobe to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Malang than Kobe because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Malang, and 1-2 days is enough time in Kobe.

Families should spend more time in Malang than Kobe. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Malang than Kobe 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 Kobe?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Malang. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kobe. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Malang or Kobe?

Malang is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Kobe 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 Kobe?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of Malang. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kobe. 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 Kobe?

The cultural city of Malang offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the multicultural destination of Kobe. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malang and Kobe, we can see that Kobe is more expensive. And not only is Malang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Kobe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kobe 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 Kobe Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Malang or Kobe?

Kobe has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Malang. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Kobe, 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.