A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Matsue vs. Milford Sound for Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Matsue or Milford Sound?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Matsue and Milford Sound 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.

Matsue

Matsue is a peaceful, pretty, and serene town. With stunning beauty, Matsue attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Matsue travel costs.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a remote, iconic, and breathtaking fiord. The famous beauty of Milford Sound is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the skiing and hiking. See Milford Sound travel costs.

Matsue and Milford Sound: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Matsue. Although Matsue and Milford Sound are both popular with visitors, Matsue has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Matsue is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Milford Sound is known for its skiing, hiking, and impressive beauty. Matsue is more touristy than Milford Sound and is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. It is also home to the Matsue Castle. Milford Sound is popular for its iconic hiking trails, stunning boat tours, and dramatic mountains.

How is Matsue different from Milford Sound?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Skiing?

Milford Sound is a great destination for winter skiing. However, Matsue is not a skiing destination.

People head to Milford Sound specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. Many locals head to the snow-capped peaks to enjoy skiing, but if you're unfamiliar with the area, a ski tour is your best option.

Matsue is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Milford Sound does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

Milford Sound does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Matsue or Milford Sound? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Matsue has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

While Milford Sound is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. You'll find a restaurant or two in the small town of Milford Sound. Your best option is the Milford Sound Lodge. In the park you'll want to come prepared with your own food. Many organized tours include a picnic lunch.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Nightlife?

Matsue is a decent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for nightlife.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Matsue. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Milford Sound. Things get quiet at night and there's little in the form of nightlife.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Milford Sound does not have a historic old town.

Matsue has an old town worth visiting. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Milford Sound does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Hiking?

Milford Sound is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Around Milford Sound visitors will find world-class hiking trails. The Milford Track has long been considered one of the world's best hikes. It's also, arguably, the most famous hike in New Zealand. The 53 kilometer trek takes you from Lake Te Anau through stunning scenery, alpine settings, and across spectacular suspension bridges.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Matsue is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Milford Sound is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Milford Sound is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound More Beautiful?

Milford Sound is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Milford Sound is one of the main draws. This is one of the most spectacular natural settings in New Zealand. The remoteness, combined with the mountains, waterfalls, and stunning views make this a true bucket list destination.

With stunning beauty, Matsue attracts visitors from all around. This is a pretty town with a peaceful atmosphere, beautiful gardens, and a lakefront setting.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Families?

Milford Sound is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Milford Sound is a very kid-friendly fiord. The outdoor wonders will impress the kids as much as the adults. There are shorter walks that are family-friendly and the boat rides are also fun for the whole family. You can take a scenic flight or visit the stunning Mirror Lakes. This really is a playground for both kids and adults.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Couples?

Milford Sound is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Milford Sound frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This is one of the most stunning natural areas in the world, and the romance comes from the spectacular beauty, world class hikes, and breathtaking surroundings that will leave you awed and inspired.

Matsue is a good town for couples to visit. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue and Milford Sound are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Matsue is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Milford Sound. The area's remoteness and high price tag make it a bit challenging for backpackers and budget travelers. If you have plenty of time and enough money, it is truly a not to be missed destination.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its public transit.

Matsue offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

Public transit is generally limited in Milford Sound. There are buses in the area, but private vehicles or organized tours are your best option for getting around.

Is Matsue or Milford Sound a more walkable city?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Milford Sound is lacking in options for its walkability.

Matsue is a very walkable destination. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Milford Sound is not a walkable town. This is one of the most remote places in New Zealand so you really must have a car or organized transportation to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Milford Sound Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Milford Sound or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Matsue and Milford Sound both offer a nice selection of activities for visitors. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Milford Sound than Matsue because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 2-6 days is enough time in Milford Sound.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Matsue than Milford Sound 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 Matsue.

One day in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the serene destination of Matsue. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the skiing when visiting the destination of Milford Sound. 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 Matsue or Milford Sound?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Milford Sound is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Matsue or Milford Sound?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quiet destination of Matsue. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Milford Sound. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Matsue or Milford Sound?

You'll find museums and food around the beautiful town of Matsue. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Travelers enjoy the skiing when visiting the remote destination of Milford Sound. This fiord 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 Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Milford Sound?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Milford Sound. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Milford Sound, 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.