A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Cromwell for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Surabaya or Cromwell?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Cromwell? 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.

Surabaya

Surabaya is a local, undiscovered, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Surabaya travel costs.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a outdoorsy, historical, and cultural town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping. See Cromwell travel costs.

Surabaya and Cromwell: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Surabaya. Although Surabaya and Cromwell are both popular with visitors, Surabaya has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Surabaya is more popular for its beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Cromwell is known for its skiing, museums and attractions, hiking, and small town charm. Cromwell is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for its fruit farms, orchards, and vineyards. Surabaya is popular for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution. It is also home to the Submarine Monument.

How is Surabaya different from Cromwell?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Skiing?

Cromwell is a popular place for winter skiing. However, Surabaya is not a skiing destination.

Head to Cromwell for some great skiing and other winter activities. The town isn't far from several ski fields, so it attracts winter sports enthusiasts when the weather gets cold.

Surabaya is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Cromwell is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Cromwell. There are some interesting historical activities around town like Goldfields Mining Centre.

While most people don't head to Surabaya specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. You'll likely pass through town on your way somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out Suramadu Bridge, the House of Sampoerna, Cheng Hoo Mosque, Sanggar Agung Temple, and Ampel Mosque. It's also worth a visit to the Submarine Museum and the Heroes Monument.

Is the Food Better in Surabaya or Cromwell? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Surabaya and Cromwell can be an enjoyable experience.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Surabaya area. It's a port city, and the cuisine reflexs this. You'll find a mix of different flavors that combine Javanese, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian cuisines. Dishes include a lot of vegetables as well as tofu and tempeh. Many dishes are also sweet in flavor or incredibly spicy.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Cromwell. There are charming cafes and bakeries where you can grab a light meal or snack. There are also quaint restaurants and wineries with nice meals available.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Surabaya or Cromwell has a better nightlife scene.

Surabaya has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Like the rest of the city, the nightlife scene has a local vibe. There are night markets, fascinating neighborhoods, and some lively clubs and bars.

If you're looking for night time activities Cromwell has a few options to choose from. There are a few breweries and a number of wineries around town where you can have a relaxing night out.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is a city with good options for the beach. However, Cromwell is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Surabaya. You'll find a few beaches within a short drive of the city center. Some of the popular ones include Ria Kenjeran Beach, Bentar Beach, and Delegan Beach.

Cromwell is not a beach destination.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Hiking?

Cromwell is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Cromwell. There are many beautiful walks in the area that take you through diverse landscapes and to impressive views.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Surabaya is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping areas.

Surabaya is well-known for its shopping. The city has a great mix of air-conditioned mega-malls and colorful street markets. Bratang Market has become a favorite but it's also worth checking out Tugu Pahlawan Market and Ampel Market.

Many visitors go to Cromwell to go shopping. There's a farmers market in town as well as several local vendors and cute shops.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Families?

Cromwell is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Cromwell is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The lakefront setting means that there are water activities during the warmer months. There are also ski fields nearby for the winter months. Biking and walking are also popular in the area.

For families, Surabaya is not always the best place to visit. You'll like be passing through this city enroute to somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out the Submarine Museum. You can also wander through the market area of Qubah or explore Chinatown.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Couples?

Cromwell is a great destination for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Couples visit Cromwell frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Cycling, walking, kayaking, and skiing all make this a romantic a charming town to visit as a couple. There are also wineries in the area with beautiful vineyards.

Surabaya is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some sights an museums that you can visit while you're in town.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cromwell is a popular place for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cromwell. There are a handful of great hostels in the area and plenty of things to keep backpackers entertained.

Surabaya is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town but most backpackers don't spend more than a night in town.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Surabaya and Cromwell.

Public transit is generally limited in Surabaya. There's a bus system, but it's mostly used by locals. There are two types of buses - normal buses and patas buses, which are express.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cromwell. Public transit around town is limited to a couple of buses.

Is Surabaya or Cromwell a more walkable city?

Surabaya is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its ease of walking around.

Surabaya is a very walkable city. It's one of the more walkable cities in Indonesia and it has the feel of a bunch of neighborhoods combined together.

Cromwell is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Surabaya Worth Visiting? and Is Cromwell Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cromwell or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Cromwell?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Surabaya or Cromwell to fill your time. In our opinion, Cromwell has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Cromwell than Surabaya. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cromwell than Surabaya 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 Cromwell.

One day in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Surabaya is a big city with plenty to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The town of Cromwell offers museums and skiing. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Surabaya or Cromwell?

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

Cromwell is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cromwell, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Surabaya is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Cromwell is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

A week in Surabaya or Cromwell?

Surabaya is a great place to explore. 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.

Cromwell is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

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