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

Should you visit Surabaya or Newcastle?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Newcastle? 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches. See Surabaya travel costs.

Newcastle

Newcastle is a vibrant, high energy, and trendy city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Newcastle travel costs.

Surabaya and Newcastle: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Newcastle?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Newcastle than Surabaya. While Surabaya is larger than Newcastle, Newcastle has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Newcastle is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Surabaya attracts visitors for its big city activities. Newcastle is more touristy than Surabaya and is known for its bustling harbor, sandy beaches, and coastal walks. It is also well known for the Bathers Way. Surabaya is famous for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Surabaya different from Newcastle?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Newcastle offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are some interesting sights around town such as Nobbys Lighthouse. There's also the popular Ocean Baths. These pools offer a nice break from the surf. You can also check out the sights along the Newcastle Memorial Walk. For a history lesson, head to Fort Scratchley.

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 Newcastle? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Newcastle is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Newcastle is an experience not to be missed. It's a moderately sized city, so you'll find a good mix of restaurants. Head to the beachfront if you want fine dining and good seafood. There are also some good breweries and cafes, as well as brunch places and international flavors around town.

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 Newcastle Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Newcastle know how to have a good time. It's a vibrant city, and the best nightlife can be found in the Honeysuckle Precinct. This is where you'll find the largest number of bars and pubs. Hunter Street is also a cool hangout area where you'll find the hidden gems where the locals hang out. Civic Theatre is the place to see a show.

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 Newcastle Better for Beaches?

Newcastle is a great destination for the beach. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Newcastle is considered a top beach destination. There are a number of beaches in and near the city. Nobbys Beach is the most popular and you'll find families, surfers, and locals hanging out here. Newcastle Beach is also popular with its many restaurants and cafes.

Many people head to Surabaya to enjoy the beach. 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.

Is Surabaya or Newcastle Better for Hiking?

Newcastle is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Newcastle is a good destination for hiking. There are many places to enjoy a stroll or hike near town. The most famous walk is the Bathers Way Walk, which runs along the coastline and offers spectacular views. It's particularly nice during the winter whale watching season.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Newcastle?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Newcastle 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 Newcastle. It's gained popularity for its trendy fashions and chic style. You'll find great shopping around town that highlight both local and international brands.

Is Surabaya or Newcastle Better for Families?

Newcastle is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Newcastle. Kids will enjoy the long sandy beaches, but there's also a working harbor that you can explore. You can also visit the Newcastle Museum or try one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

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 Newcastle Better for Couples?

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

Newcastle is a good city for couples to visit. The city has some great restaurants as well as many coastal walks and a vibrant nightlife scene that couples enjoy.

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 Newcastle Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Newcastle. While it's not Australia's most popular backpacker destination, there are some hostels and a good nightlife scene that are worth checking out.

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 Newcastle Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Newcastle is a popular place for its public transit. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Newcastle, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's both a light rail system and a bus system.

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 Newcastle a more walkable city?

Surabaya is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Newcastle is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

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.

Newcastle is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Newcastle or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Newcastle?

It's fun to spend time in either Surabaya or Newcastle. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Newcastle due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Surabaya, and 2-4 days is enough time in Newcastle.

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

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

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

One day in Surabaya or Newcastle?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Surabaya has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Newcastle offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Newcastle?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Newcastle 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. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Newcastle, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Newcastle?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the local city of Surabaya. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Newcastle 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 Newcastle?

Surabaya is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Newcastle is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Newcastle, we can see that Newcastle 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 Newcastle 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 Newcastle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Newcastle 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 Newcastle Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Newcastle?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Newcastle. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Newcastle, 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.