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

Should you visit Surabaya or Nagoya?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Nagoya? 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 undiscovered, authentic, and local city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Surabaya travel costs.

Nagoya

Nagoya is a often overlooked, under-the-radar, and under-rated city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Nagoya travel costs.

Surabaya and Nagoya: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nagoya. Although Surabaya and Nagoya are popular destinations, Nagoya has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nagoya is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, and nightlife, while Surabaya attracts visitors for its beaches. Nagoya is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for its local cuisine, historic shrines, and long running shipping industry. It is also well known for the Nagoya Castle. Surabaya is famous for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Surabaya different from Nagoya?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Nagoya is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Nagoya offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are shrines, temples, and other interesting sights in the city. Atsuta Jingu is an important Shinto shrine. Nagoya Castle is another interesting place to visit. If you're willing to head out of the city center a bit, the Meiji-mura Village Museum is an open air museum that has interesting Japanese architecture. There are also interesting museums in town such as the Nagoya City Art Museums and the Toyota Techno and Toyota Automobile Museums.

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 Nagoya? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nagoya is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

For foodies, Nagoya is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a strong food culture that's referred to as Nagoya meshi. It's a popular destination for foodies to Japan, even though the city itself is often overlooked by tourists. The city's food uses a lot of local vegetables and its influenced by several international flavors. Important ingredients in the dishes include unagi (freshwater eel), Nagoya cochin (chicken), tamari (soy sauce), and mame miso.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Surabaya. 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.

Is Surabaya or Nagoya Better for Nightlife?

Nagoya is a great destination for its evening party scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The people in Nagoya know how to have a good time. There are many bars around town, many of which have an international theme. Later in the evening, many people head out to a nightclubs, most of which are concentrated in either Sakae and Shin-sakae.

If you're looking for night time activities Surabaya has a few options to choose from. 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.

Is Surabaya or Nagoya Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is a popular place for the beach. However, Nagoya is not a beach destination.

Surabaya is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Nagoya is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Nagoya and Surabaya.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Surabaya. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Nagoya. You'll find everything from large shopping malls to street markets and local vendors. Many people head to Nagoya Station for shopping, but Osu Shotengai is another interesting shopping area in the city's old town.

Is Surabaya or Nagoya Better for Families?

Nagoya is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Nagoya is a very family-friendly destination. There are a large number of attractions for families in the area. This city is where you'll find Legoland Japan, which is one of the most popular activities to do with kids. The city also has the Sea Life Aquarium, which is located in the Legoland Hotel. Next to Legoland you'll find the SCMaglev and Railway Park. Another great activity is a visit to the Nagoya Public Aquarium, which is one of the biggest aquariums in Japan. There are dolphins, orcas, and many different ecosystems to explore. Nearby is the Sea Train Land amusement park.

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 Nagoya Better for Couples?

Nagoya is a popular place for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Nagoya is a good city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy visiting the Nagoya Castle or checking out the dolphin and orca shows at the Nagoya Public Aquarium. Noritake Garden is a nice place to explore. There are also many coffee shops in town as well as museums and temples.

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 Nagoya Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Nagoya. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a limited number of hostels in town, so they fill up quickly. You should make reservations well in advance if budget is a priority.

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 Nagoya Better for Students?

Nagoya is a popular place for students. However, Surabaya is not popular with students.

Nagoya is popular with students. Nagoya University has been working to grow its international population. This is a fun and dynamic city that makes a great place to study.

Surabaya is not popular with students.

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

Nagoya is a great destination for its public transit. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Nagoya can get you to most places easily. The city has both a subway and public buses. The main bus stations are at Nagoya Station and Sakae Station and there are six subway lines throughout the city.

Public transit is mostly 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.

Is Surabaya or Nagoya a more walkable city?

Surabaya and Nagoya both are high quality when exploring on foot.

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

Nagoya is very walkable. The downtown area, where you'll find many of the sights, is walkable. The distances vary, but many sights can be reached on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Nagoya or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Surabaya and Nagoya. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nagoya than in Surabaya. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Surabaya, and 2-3 days is enough time in Nagoya.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nagoya 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 Nagoya.

One day in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Surabaya is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The city of Nagoya offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Surabaya 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.

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

Five days in Surabaya or Nagoya?

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

Nagoya 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.

A week in Surabaya or Nagoya?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the undiscovered big city of Surabaya. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Nagoya 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best Luxury Tours to Japan, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Japan.

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

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Nagoya?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Nagoya. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Nagoya, 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.