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

Should you visit Surabaya or Queenstown?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Queenstown? 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 authentic, local, and undiscovered city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Surabaya travel costs.

Queenstown

Queenstown is a nature-oriented, spirited, and bustling city. With stunning beauty, Queenstown attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping. See Queenstown travel costs.

Surabaya and Queenstown: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Queenstown?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Queenstown than Surabaya, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Queenstown is better known for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Surabaya is more popular for its beaches and big city activities. Queenstown is more touristy than Surabaya and is known for its world class skiing, adrenaline-filled adventure sports, and stunning mountain scenery. Also, Queenstown is famous for Kawarau Bridge. Surabaya is well known for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Surabaya different from Queenstown?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Surabaya or Queenstown Better for Skiing?

Queenstown is an unbeatable place for winter skiing. However, Surabaya is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Queenstown should be on your list. There are four ski areas that are near the city, and many consider these among the best ski fields in New Zealand. The ski season runs from June until October and the skiing is world class.

Surabaya is not a skiing destination.

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Surabaya or Queenstown.

Surabaya offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. 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.

While most people don't head to Queenstown specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. People head to this city for its amazing outdoor activities, but you won't find much if you're looking for museums. You can check out the Lakes District Museum though.

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

Queenstown 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, Queenstown is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. Located in the heart of the Otago wine region, this city has many award-winning restaurants. Local dishes, vegan cafes, and international flavors all make for a cosmopolitan and world class dining scene.

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 Queenstown Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Queenstown know how to have a good time. This cosmopolitan town has some of the best nightlife in the country. There are laid back pubs, trendy cocktail bars, and live music venues that make for a fun night out.

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 Queenstown Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is a good destination for its beaches. However, Queenstown is not a beach destination.

Surabaya offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Queenstown is not a beach destination.

Is Surabaya or Queenstown Better for Hiking?

Queenstown is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

People visit Queenstown specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The city is ideally located near some of the country's best hiking. There are walks through beech forests, along rugged mountains, and to stunning views. Several of the Great Walks are in the area as well, but if you're looking for something a little simpler, then there are many options also.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Queenstown?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Queenstown 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 Queenstown. It's a bustling city with designer brands and boutique shopping. There are also souvenir shops and retail outlets.

Is Surabaya or Queenstown More Beautiful?

Queenstown is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Queenstown attracts visitors from all around. With its mountains and surrounding beauty, this is a breathtakingly beautiful city.

Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Surabaya or Queenstown Better for Families?

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

Queenstown is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the Queenstown cable car and the Skyline Gondola. After a ride on the gondola, you can even take the luge back down! The city also offers lake cruises, family-friendly farm tours, boat tours, and kayaking.

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 Queenstown Better for Couples?

Queenstown is an unbeatable place for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Queenstown makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The city is known for its adrenaline-filled adventure activities and couples who enjoy a thrill will appreciate the fun. There are also hot springs, boat cruises, and wine tours in the area. One of the most romantic activities is dinner at the Skyline.

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 Queenstown Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Queenstown is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Queenstown is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. With its thrill-seeking activities and nearby skiing, this is a great backpacker destination year round.

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 Queenstown Better for Students?

Queenstown is a great destination for students. However, Surabaya is not popular with students.

Queenstown is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are excellent universities in the area as well as fun activities and a lively energy that students enjoy.

Surabaya is not popular with students.

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

Queenstown 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 Queenstown, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a decent bus system that travels around town.

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 Queenstown a more walkable city?

Surabaya and Queenstown both are superb 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.

Queenstown is very walkable. In town, many of the sights and activities can be reached on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Queenstown or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Queenstown?

Both Surabaya and Queenstown have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Queenstown than in Surabaya. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Surabaya, and 2-7 days is enough time in Queenstown.

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

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

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

One day in Surabaya or Queenstown?

When visiting Surabaya, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Surabaya, one day is sufficent for most.

The beautiful city of Queenstown offers nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Queenstown?

When visiting Surabaya, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Queenstown 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Queenstown, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Queenstown?

Surabaya, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Queenstown is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Queenstown, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Surabaya or Queenstown?

Surabaya is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Queenstown is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Queenstown has to offer. 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 Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand.

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

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Queenstown?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 230 times larger than the population of Queenstown. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Queenstown, 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.