A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tartu vs. Phuket for Nightlife, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Tartu or Phuket?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tartu and Phuket 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.

Tartu

Tartu is a student-oriented, cultural, and historical university town. Tartu is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife. See Tartu travel costs.

Phuket

Phuket is a energetic, party-hard, and stunning resort island. Phuket offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Phuket travel costs.

Tartu and Phuket: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tartu or Phuket?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Phuket. Although Tartu and Phuket are both popular with visitors, Phuket has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Phuket is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Tartu is known for its historical sights. Phuket is more touristy than Tartu and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. It is also home to The Seated Maravija Buddha Statue (Big Buddha). Tartu is popular for its vibrant student population and long running university.

How is Tartu different from Phuket?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is the Food Better in Tartu or Phuket? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Phuket is a great resort island for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Tartu is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Phuket has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Tartu offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The restaurant scene is surprisingly limited because of the large student population. Most students prefer saving their money for a night out drinking over a quiet meal at a restaurant. There are some cafes around town as well as pastry shops and a few good ethnic restaurants to choose between.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is an amazing resort island to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Tartu is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for nightlife.

Phuket has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Tartu offers plenty to do in the evening. With its huge student population, there is plenty of activity year round. The nightlife scene includes many bars, dance clubs, and pubs that are popular with students and visitors alike. You'll find large parties and music festivals throughout the year that bring crowds to the city.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Resorts?

Phuket is an amazing resort island to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Tartu is not a resort destination.

Phuket is a world class resort vacation destination. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Tartu is not a resort destination.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is a great resort island for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Tartu is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Phuket is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Tartu is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Beaches?

Phuket is an amazing resort island to visit for the beach. However, Tartu is not a beach destination.

Phuket is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Tartu is not a beach destination.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for its Old Town?

Tartu is a great destination for its old town. However, Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Tartu to see the historical old town. The old town is where you'll find one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. There is also Town Hall Square and St. John’s Quarter with many historic buildings and beautiful architecture.

Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Tartu or Phuket?

Phuket is a resort island with good options for its shopping areas. However, Tartu is not known for shopping.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Tartu is a good destination for shopping. While most people don't visit to go shopping, there is an active art scene in town so you can find some creative pieces that are worth checking out.

Is Tartu or Phuket More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of good scenery and beauty in both Tartu and Phuket.

Tartu offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's a beautiful city with a long history and a number of unique historical buildings.

Phuket is a gorgeous place to visit. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Families?

Both Tartu and Phuket are good to visit with kids.

Tartu offers lots of family activities. Many of the kid-friendly activities are outdoors, so summer visits are better if you're traveling with children. There are adventure parks, animal parks, and educational museums that you can choose from.

Phuket is a family-friendly place to visit. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Couples?

Phuket is a great resort island for couples. However, Tartu is not known for romance.

Phuket is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Tartu is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a young population, so you'll find many activities center around a more youthful vibe. There are some great museums that couples will enjoy, as well as a lively nightlife scene. Outside of old town, couples will enjoy wandering through the Karlova and Supilinn districts.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tartu is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Tartu is a great university town to visit for backpackers. With it's young population and budget friendly entertainment options, there are many things that backpackers will enjoy. It's not nearly as popular with backpackers as some other cities, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot to offer.

Phuket is a good university town to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Students?

Tartu is an amazing university town to visit for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Tartu is a great destination for students. It is a university town and home to one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. The student population is large here, with many activities, museums, and nightlife options to choose from. There always seems to be something going on in this vibrant city.

Phuket is not popular with students.

Is Tartu or Phuket Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Tartu and Phuket both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Tartu offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a comprehensive bus system around the town.

Phuket has a few public transit options. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Tartu or Phuket a more walkable city?

Tartu is a great destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Tartu is a very walkable university town. The city is compact with most of its sights and restaurants close together along a couple of streets.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable university town. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Tartu Worth Visiting? and Is Phuket Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Phuket or Tartu?

How long in Tartu or Phuket?

Both Tartu and Phuket have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Phuket than in Tartu. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Tartu, and 3-7 days is enough time in Phuket.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tartu than Phuket 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 Tartu.

One day in Tartu or Phuket?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Tartu. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Phuket, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this energetic destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tartu or Phuket?

Tartu 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tartu or Phuket?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tartu. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Phuket is a fun place to experience. In Phuket, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Tartu or Phuket?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the lively destination of Tartu. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

In Phuket, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this party-hard destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Estonia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Tartu and Phuket, we can see that Tartu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Tartu is in Europe and Phuket is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Tartu or Phuket?

Tartu has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Tartu and Phuket, 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.

When is the best time to visit Tartu or Phuket?

Tartu has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Phuket in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tartu as well as Phuket. Most visitors come to Tartu for the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.

In July, Tartu is generally much colder than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Tartu average around 17°C (62°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tartu this time of the year. In the summer, Tartu often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Tartu gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Phuket. Tartu usually gets less rain in July than Phuket. Tartu gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tartu or Phuket in the Autumn?

Both Phuket and Tartu are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Tartu because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Tartu is much colder than Phuket in the autumn. The daily temperature in Tartu averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Phuket fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Tartu usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during autumn. Tartu gets 86 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. In October, Tartu usually receives less rain than Phuket. Tartu gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Should I visit Tartu or Phuket in the Winter?

Both Phuket and Tartu during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Tartu this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.

It's quite cold in Tartu in the winter. In the winter, Tartu is much colder than Phuket. Typically, the winter temperatures in Tartu in January average around -7°C (19°F), and Phuket averages at about 28°C (82°F).

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Tartu often gets less sunshine than Phuket. Tartu gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun.

Tartu usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Phuket. Tartu gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.

Should I visit Tartu or Phuket in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tartu and Phuket. Many travelers come to Tartu for the natural beauty. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Tartu. In April, Tartu is generally much colder than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Tartu average around 5°C (41°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. Tartu usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during spring. Tartu gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Tartu usually receives less rain than Phuket. Tartu gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Phuket and Tartu