A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Munich for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bali or Munich?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Munich can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Bali is a stunning, tropical, and lush island. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Munich

Munich is a multicultural, economically thriving, and bustling city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bali and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Munich?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Munich than Bali, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Munich is more popular for its museums & sights, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Bali is known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Bali is more touristy than Munich and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. Munich is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also home to The Nymphenburg Palace.

How is Bali different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bali or Munich?

Munich is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Munich specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bali or Munich? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bali is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Bali is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The food is rich and diverse with a lot of spices and complex flavors. Turmeric is a common spice and many dishes use coconut milk. Popular local dishes include Nasi Ayam (a chicken dish), Satay (grilled chicken), and Babi Guling (a pork dish).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Both Bali and Munich are terrific when it comes to partying.

Bali is a world class party destination. The island is known for its crazy raves and all night pool parties. There are multi-story dance clubs as well as upscale bars and beach clubs that host parties late into the night. The best nightlife areas are around Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.

Munich is a must-see party destination. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Bali is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Munich The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Bali is not a live music destination.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Resorts?

Bali is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Munich is not a resort destination.

Bali offers an unforgettable resort vacation. The island has resorts as well as private villas that cater to everyone from celebrities to families or even budget travelers. Private villas offer a more secluded vacation while resorts usually have more amenities and the opportunity to socialize with other guests. There are also many family-friendly resorts around the island.

Munich is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is a must-visit destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Munich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Bali specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is abundant making scuba diving and snorkeling popular around the island. There are many snorkeling day trips that you can arrange and there are also dive shops that will take you out on the water.

Munich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Beaches?

Bali is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Munich is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Bali are among the best in the world. The island is large enough that it has a diversity of beach styles. There are popular beaches with water sports as well as secluded bays where you can enjoy a more peaceful setting. Some beaches are dramatic with limestone cliffs while others are lined with palm trees.

Munich is not a beach destination.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Hiking?

Bali is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Munich is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Bali. Walking on the island is beautiful and with its varied landscapes you can explore scenic rice paddies or pristine rainforests. You'll find the most challenging hikes in West Bali National Park, where a guide is recommended, but there are many other shorter hikes on the island that can be explored independently.

Munich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Munich?

Munich is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bali is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Munich make it a world-class shopping destination. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bali. A big appeal of shopping on the island is the affordability. There are many local items that are fun to bring home including jewelry, handicrafts, furniture, and clothing.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Families?

You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Bali or Munich.

Bali is a very kid-friendly island. The island has countless activities that kids can enjoy. There are watersports, snorkeling, surfing lessons and beautiful beaches. You can also expose your kids to the spiritual side of the island with kid-friendly yoga classes. Animals lovers will enjoy getting to see the monkeys up close and for a unique culinary experience, you can take a family cooking class.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Munich. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Couples?

Bali is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Bali has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. This beautiful island offers stunning beaches, adventure sports, and world class snorkeling. There are beautiful resorts with spas as well as couples yoga classes impressive natural areas.

Munich is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Bali and Munich are terrific destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Bali. Backpackers flock to this beautiful island for its stunning setting and affordable accommodation. There are many nice places where backpackers can hang out and get to know other travelers. If you want to get off the beaten path, it's best to head into the countryside and away from the main tourist hubs.

A large number of backpackers visit Munich, as it is a very popular island for budget travelers. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is a must-visit destination for students. However, Bali is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Bali is not popular with students.

Is Bali or Munich Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Munich is a must-visit destination for its public transit. Also, Bali is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Munich has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Bali has some public transit options. There are minibuses and tourist shuttle buses around the island. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car, scooter, or bicycle.

Is Bali or Munich a more walkable city?

Munich is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Bali is not a good island for its ease of walking around.

Munich is a very walkable city. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

Bali is generally not a very walkable island. There are some walkable towns and cities on the island, but many areas can be challenging to navigate on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bali Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Munich or Bali?

How long in Bali or Munich?

In either Bali or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Bali than Munich because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Bali 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 Munich.

One day in Bali or Munich?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bali. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Munich is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bali or Munich?

Bali is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Munich is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bali or Munich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bali. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With so much to do, five days is probably not enough time to see everything. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Munich is a economically thriving big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Bali or Munich?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the frequented destination of Bali. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The economically thriving city of Munich offers shopping and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in Germany, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Germany.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bali or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Munich, 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 Bali or Munich?

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

Should I visit Bali or Munich in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Munich. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Also, many travelers come to Munich for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bali is a little warmer than Munich. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bali in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Munich averages at about 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Munich this time of the year. In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bali usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Munich during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Munich. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. April to September in Bali is the dry season.

Should I visit Bali or Munich in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bali as well as Munich. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Bali is generally much warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In the autumn, Bali often gets more sunshine than Munich. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets more rain in October than Munich. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Bali is the rainy season.

Should I visit Bali or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Munich can be very cold during winter. Bali is much warmer than Munich in the winter. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

Bali usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bali usually receives more rain than Munich. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Bali is October to March.

Should I visit Bali or Munich in the Spring?

Both Munich and Bali during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Munich because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Bali is much warmer than Munich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bali in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (53°F).

It's quite sunny in Bali. In the spring, Bali often gets more sunshine than Munich. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets more rain in April than Munich. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year. April to September is the dry season in Bali.

Typical Weather for Munich and Bali