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

Should you visit Ao Nang or Ise?

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

Should I visit Ao Nang or Ise? 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's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Ise

Ise is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and overlooked city. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Ao Nang and Ise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ao Nang or Ise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Ao Nang. Although Ao Nang and Ise are both popular with visitors, Ao Nang has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Ao Nang is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and impressive beauty, while Ise is known for its museums & sights and food. Ao Nang is more touristy than Ise and is popular for its easy access to nearby natural beauty. It is also home to the Island Boat Tours. Ise is popular for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.

How is Ao Nang different from Ise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Ise is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Ao Nang is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ise. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

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 Ise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ise is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Ao Nang is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Ise has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

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 Ise Better for Nightlife?

Ao Nang is well known for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Ao Nang is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Ao Nang or Ise Better for Resorts?

Ao Nang is well known for its resorts. However, Ise 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.

Ise is not a resort destination.

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

Ao Nang is well known for its diving and snorkeling. However, Ise 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.

Ise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Ao Nang or Ise Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Ao Nang and Ise are good choices.

Ao Nang is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Many people head to Ise to enjoy the beach. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Is the Shopping Better in Ao Nang or Ise?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Ao Nang and Ise.

Ao Nang has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find some of the best shopping in the province of Krabi along Catalunya Walking Street in Ao Nang.

Ise is a great destination for shopping. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Ao Nang or Ise Better for Families?

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

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 Ise. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Ao Nang or Ise Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ao Nang and Ise make for a good 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.

Ise is a nice destination for couples. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

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

Ao Nang is well known for backpackers. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Ao Nang is a great town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ise. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

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

Visitors will find good public transit in both Ao Nang and Ise.

Ao Nang has some public transit options. Tuk tuks or renting a motorbike are your best bet for reaching places quickly.

You'll find some public transit in Ise, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

Is Ao Nang or Ise a more walkable city?

Ao Nang is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

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

Ise is a somewhat walkable town. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

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

Should I spend more time in Ise or Ao Nang?

How long in Ao Nang or Ise?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ao Nang and Ise. In our opinion, Ao Nang has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Ao Nang than Ise. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ao Nang, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ise.

Families should spend more time in Ao Nang than Ise. 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.

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

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

One day in Ao Nang or Ise?

With nightlife and food around the popular destination of Ao Nang, there's plenty to do. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

In Ise, you'll find museums and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Ao Nang or Ise?

Many people visit Ao Nang for a weekend. With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the lively town of Ao Nang, there's plenty to do. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Ise, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ise has to offer.

Five days in Ao Nang or Ise?

The destination of Ao Nang offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. 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.

Ise is a great place to explore. 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.

A week in Ao Nang or Ise?

Ao Nang, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ise. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Ise. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Ise, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Ise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ise 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 Ise.

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 Ise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Ise?

Ise has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Ise, 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 Ise?

Ise 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 Ise in the Summer?

Both Ise 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. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Ao Nang is generally around the same temperature as Ise. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Ise. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.

Ise 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 Ise. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Ise in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ise because of the shopping scene.

Ao Nang is much warmer than Ise in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Ise during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Ise. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 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 Ise in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Ise in the winter. In the winter, Ao Nang is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ao Nang in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Ise averages at about 5°C (40°F).

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 Ise. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Ise. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 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 Ise in the Spring?

Both Ise 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 Ise for the beaches.

In April, Ao Nang is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 29°C (84°F), and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Ise during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In April, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Ise. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ise and Ao Nang