A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. Rotterdam for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Rotterdam? 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.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a youthful, cultural, and historical city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Yogyakarta travel costs.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a trendy, high energy, and modern port 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 food, shopping, and museums. See Rotterdam travel costs.

Yogyakarta and Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rotterdam. Although Yogyakarta and Rotterdam are both popular with visitors, Rotterdam has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Rotterdam is more popular for its big city activities, while Yogyakarta is known for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and shopping. Yogyakarta is more touristy than Rotterdam and is known for its beautiful temples, divine food, and lively dance shows. Rotterdam is popular for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also home to The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Yogyakarta different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Yogyakarta is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Yogyakarta has many famous sights for visitors. The city is known for it's cultural sights and temples. Kraton Yogyakarta is the palace where the Sultan lives. You should also visit Taman Sari Water Castle and Prambanan Temple. But for many visitors, Yogyakarta is seen as the gateway to the famed Borobudur Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It offers spectacular views and is best visited at sunrise.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

Is the Food Better in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at superb restaurants in both Yogyakarta and Rotterdam.

Yogyakarta has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's filled with street food stalls and cheap eateries where you can fill up on local Indonesian classics for a cheap price. Gudeg (stewed jackfruit), Satay, and Bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles) are just some of the dishes that you must try.

Dining out in Rotterdam is an experience not to be missed. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains. The city is also known for its food halls, which provide a variety of gourmet flavors from around the globe.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

The superb nightlife scene is relatively similar in Yogyakarta and Rotterdam.

Yogyakarta has a large number of nightlife venues. With a large student population, you'll find many bars and live music venues around town. You'll also find night markets and plenty of theaters and live shows that you can enjoy.

Rotterdam is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for its Old Town?

Yogyakarta is great for its historic old town charm. However, Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Yogyakarta. Kota Gede is the city's old town. It's filled with silver shops, religious sites, and traditional architecture. You'll also find a traditional market in the heart of the old town where you can buy coconut, dry fish, and tofu, or simply browse the unique items.

Rotterdam does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Yogyakarta is an amazing city to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many people travel to Yogyakarta specifically to go shopping. The city is filled with craftsmen and a local art scene that makes it a wonderful shopping destination. There are countless markets and shops where you can pick up local handicrafts that highlight the city's culture.

Rotterdam is an extremely popular place for shoppers. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Families?

Rotterdam is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Rotterdam is very family-friendly. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Yogyakarta. It's often overlooked by families, but the temples, culture, art scene, and friendly people all make this a surprisingly fun destination for those traveling with kids. You'll also find a number of adventure activities in the area as well.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Yogyakarta and Rotterdam make for a good place to visit.

Yogyakarta makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with fun activities for couples such as a visit to Taman Pelangi at night, taking a walk along Jalan Malioboro, and taking in a traditional dance performance.

Rotterdam is a good city for couples to visit. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yogyakarta is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Yogyakarta. Backpackers who want to experience Indonesia's culture and friendly population will love a visit to this lively city. There are plenty of hostels and other travelers to meet, but there's also a uniquely Indonesian vibe to the city.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Students?

Rotterdam is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Rotterdam is a very popular port city for students and younger travelers. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Yogyakarta is popular with students. There's a large number of students in the city, which makes this a fun place to study abroad.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rotterdam is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Yogyakarta is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Rotterdam has some very good public transit options. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Public transit is generally limited in Yogyakarta. There's a public bus system known as Trans Jogja, which is used by both tourists and locals. You can also hire motorbikes, becak, or Ojek.

Is Yogyakarta or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

Rotterdam is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Rotterdam is a very walkable port city. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

Yogyakarta is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the main sights are accessible on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Yogyakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Yogyakarta?

How long in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Yogyakarta and Rotterdam. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Yogyakarta than in Rotterdam. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Yogyakarta, and 1-3 days is enough time in Rotterdam.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yogyakarta than Rotterdam 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 Yogyakarta.

One day in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Yogyakarta. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

When visiting Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Yogyakarta. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

When visiting Rotterdam, 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 port city.

Five days in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historical city of Yogyakarta. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rotterdam, a popular port 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.

A week in Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Yogyakarta is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Rotterdam 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Rotterdam?

Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Rotterdam, 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.