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

Should you visit Bali or Picton?

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 Picton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Bali is a stunning, tropical, and lush island. You'll find world class beauty in Bali as well. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Bali travel costs.

Picton

Picton is a scenic, quaint, and relaxing town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Picton travel costs.

Bali and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Picton?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bali. Although Bali and Picton are both popular with visitors, Bali has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bali is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Picton is known for its museums and attractions and small town charm. Bali is more touristy than Picton and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. It is also home to Pura Lempuyang. Picton is popular for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails.

How is Bali different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Picton is very good for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Picton offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a few local museums around town that are fun to visit with the weather isn't cooperating. Edwin Fox Ship is the world's oldest merchant ship. You can also learn about the town's whaling past at the Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bali is very popular for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eat your way through Bali, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. 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 Picton. The town is filled with restaurants that stay true to New Zealand's culinary traditions. Mussels and salmon are common on menus, and there are many bakeries and waterfront cafes to try.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Nightlife?

Bali is very popular for its evening party scene. However, Picton is not a good town for nightlife.

Bali is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Picton. It's a small town with a quiet and calm atmosphere.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Resorts?

Bali is very popular for its resorts. However, Picton is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Bali for its luxury resorts. 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.

Picton is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is very popular for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Picton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Bali. 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.

Picton is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Beaches?

Bali is very popular for the beach. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its beaches.

Bali offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around 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.

Picton is considered a top beach destination. There are four beaches in the area. Picton Beach is by the town center and near many restaurants and cafes. About a ten minute walk from town is Shelley Beach and if you're up for more walking, Bob's Bay is secluded and nice. If you have a car you can make it to Governer's Bay.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Hiking?

You'll find high quality hiking in both Bali and Picton.

Bali is a popular spot for hiking. 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.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Picton. There are many nice walking paths in the area and this is a great way to explore, reach beaches, and see the surrounding landscapes. If you're up for a longer trip, Queen Charlotte Track is a popular trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Picton?

Bali is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Picton. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Is Bali or Picton More Beautiful?

Bali is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, Picton is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Bali as well. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning countryside. It's also a very cultural island with a lot of spirituality.

Picton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Families?

You'll find high quality kid-friendly activities in either Bali or Picton.

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 Picton. Kids will enjoy taking a boat cruise to Motuara Island. You can see dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. There are also wildlife centers in the area, family-friendly walking trails, museums, aquariums, and kayaking opportunities.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Couples?

Bali is very popular for couples. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

Bali is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. 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.

Picton makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are romantic and quaint bed and breakfasts, beautiful walking paths, wildlife encounters, and many more fun activities for couples. Kayak trips, vineyard tours, and local spas make this a great couple's getaway destination.

Is Bali or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bali is very popular for backpackers. Also, Picton is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bali is a very popular island to visit for backpackers. 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.

Picton is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

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

Both Bali and Picton offer good public transit options.

Bali has a few 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.

Picton has some public transit options. There are water taxis but no buses around town.

Is Bali or Picton a more walkable city?

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

Picton is a very walkable town. It's a quaint and compact town that's easy to explore on foot.

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 Picton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Picton or Bali?

How long in Bali or Picton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bali or Picton to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bali than Picton because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 1-2 days is enough time in Picton.

Families should spend more time in Bali than Picton. 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 Picton. 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 Bali than Picton 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 Bali.

One day in Bali or Picton?

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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Picton. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Bali or Picton?

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.

Picton is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 Picton?

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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint destination of Picton. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bali or Picton?

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 picturesque town of Picton offers museums and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Picton, we can see that Picton 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 Picton is in Pacific, 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 Picton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Picton 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 Picton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bali or Picton?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Picton, 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 Picton?

Picton 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 Picton in the Summer?

Both Picton and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Picton for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Bali is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bali in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Picton averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.

In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Pictonin January. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Bali is April to September.

Should I visit Bali or Picton in the Autumn?

Both Picton and Bali during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Picton because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.

In October, Bali is generally much warmer than Pictonin April. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Picton fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Bali usually gets less rain in October than Pictonin April. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Picton in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Picton. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

Bali is much warmer than Picton in the winter. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F)in July.

Picton receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Bali usually receives less rain than Pictonin July. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Picton in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bali as well as Picton. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Picton for the beaches and the small town charm.

In the spring, Bali is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bali in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Picton averages at about 13°C (55°F)in October.

Bali usually gets less rain in April than Pictonin October. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to September in Bali is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Picton and Bali