A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Beijing for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Ao Nang or Beijing?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Beijing? 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.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is a beachfront, lively, and accessible town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Beijing

Beijing is a jam-packed, cultural, and fascinating city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Ao Nang and Beijing: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ao Nang or Beijing?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing. Although Ao Nang and Beijing are popular destinations, Beijing has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beijing is very popular for its museums, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Ao Nang attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Beijing is more touristy than Ao Nang and is popular for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also well known for The Forbidden City. Ao Nang is famous for its easy access to nearby natural beauty.

How is Ao Nang different from Beijing?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ao Nang or Beijing?

Beijing is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. However, Ao Nang is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Beijing has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

Ao Nang offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Most of the fun of this town is the beach setting and easy access to natural beauty. If you're looking for a temple, you can check out nearby Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cavee Temple).

Is the Food Better in Ao Nang or Beijing? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Ao Nang is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, Beijing is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

Ao Nang offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are plenty of restaurants that are vying for your business. The food is the typical Thai cuisine as well as international options like pizza and burgers.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Nightlife?

The excellent nightlife scene is relatively similar in Ao Nang and Beijing.

Ao Nang has a large number of nightlife venues. It has some of the best nightlife in the province of Krabi. There are many bars and restaurants where you can grab a drink and enjoy a fun night out.

Beijing is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Resorts?

Ao Nang is a great destination for its resorts. However, Beijing is not a resort destination.

In Ao Nang, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. It's a resort town with many diverse places to choose from, including budget-friendly and more upscale.

Beijing is not a resort destination.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Ao Nang is a great destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Beijing is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Ao Nang is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are plenty of dive shops that offer both snorkeling and dive excursions to nearby areas.

Beijing is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Beaches?

Ao Nang is a town with good options for the beach. However, Beijing is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Ao Nang. Ao Nang Beach is the most popular beach near town. It is lined with longtail boats and there's often a crowd that keeps things busy and chaotic. Noppharat Thara Beach is popular with the locals and sees less tourists than Ao Nang Beach. It has golden sand and a beautiful setting.

Beijing is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ao Nang or Beijing?

Beijing is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Ao Nang is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Ao Nang is a great destination for shopping. You'll find some of the best shopping in the province of Krabi along Catalunya Walking Street in Ao Nang.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ao Nang or Beijing.

Ao Nang is a family-friendly town. The sandy beaches are great for kids. This is also a nice base if you want to take day trips to Railay Beach and other nearby areas.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Beijing. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ao Nang and Beijing make for a nice place to visit.

Ao Nang is a good town for couples to visit. The area is filled with amazing natural beauty and stunning beaches. You can use Ao Nang as a base for exploring the many impressive areas that aren't far away.

Beijing is a nice destination for couples. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ao Nang and Beijing are both excellent destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Ao Nang. There are hostels and budget accommodation in abundance in the area. Ao Nang also has some of the best nightlife in Krabi, which attracts a younger crowd.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Beijing. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Students?

Beijing is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Ao Nang is not popular with students.

Beijing is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Ao Nang is not popular with students.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beijing is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Ao Nang is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Beijing. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

You'll find some public transit in Ao Nang, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Tuk tuks or renting a motorbike are your best bet for reaching places quickly.

Is Ao Nang or Beijing a more walkable city?

Ao Nang is a great destination for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Ao Nang is a very walkable destination. It's a small town, so most places can be reached on foot.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable town. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Ao Nang Worth Visiting? and Is Beijing Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beijing or Ao Nang?

How long in Ao Nang or Beijing?

Both Ao Nang and Beijing have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in Ao Nang. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ao Nang, and 3-7 days is enough time in Beijing.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Ao Nang 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 Beijing.

One day in Ao Nang or Beijing?

In Ao Nang, you'll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Ao Nang or Beijing?

In Ao Nang, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ao Nang has to offer.

Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Ao Nang or Beijing?

Ao Nang is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Beijing is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Beijing has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Ao Nang or Beijing?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ao Nang. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Ao Nang. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beijing. Because Beijing is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Beijing?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 940 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Beijing, 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 Ao Nang or Beijing?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Beijing in the Summer?

Both Beijing and Ao Nang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun.

Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Beijing in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Beijing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Ao Nang is much warmer than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ao Nang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Beijing in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Beijing. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.

It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In January, Ao Nang is generally much warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Beijing in the Spring?

Both Beijing and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Ao Nang is much warmer than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beijing during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In April, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Beijing. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Beijing and Ao Nang