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

Should you visit Bali or Zurich?

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

Bali

Bali is a lush, frequented, and spiritual island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Zurich

Zurich is a beautiful, historic, and liberal city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bali and Zurich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Zurich?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bali than Zurich. Bali is bigger than Zurich, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bali is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Zurich is more popular for its museums, music, historical sights, and shopping. Bali is more touristy than Zurich and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. Also, Bali is famous for Pura Lempuyang. Zurich is well known for its beautiful setting on Lake Zurich as well as its cafes, restaurants, and high prices.

How is Bali different from Zurich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Many visitors head to Zurich specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bali is a must-visit destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city 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).

Zurich has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Many restaurants have a strong German influence, but you'll also find traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese and chocolate fondue. There are also several Michelin star restaurants in town.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Nightlife?

Bali is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

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.

Zurich has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has some of the best nightlife in Switzerland. There are a high concentration of bars and clubs around town, or you could check out one of the badis, which are pools that also act as bars during the summer months. They're usually located by the lake.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Music?

Zurich is a well-known place for its live music scene. However, Bali is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Zurich is very popular with diverse venues. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.

Bali is not a live music destination.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Resorts?

Bali is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Zurich 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.

Zurich is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is a must-visit destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Zurich 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.

Zurich is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Beaches?

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

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.

Zurich is not a beach destination.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for its Old Town?

Zurich is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Bali does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Zurich can be explored in its historical center. The city has an old town that is split into two parts on each side of the Limmat River. The historic districts are filled with churches, squares, and charming areas that are fun to explore. Walking tours are the best way to explore the old town.

Bali does not have a historic old town.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Hiking?

Bali is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Zurich is not a hiking destination.

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.

Zurich is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Zurich?

Zurich 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 Zurich make it a world-class shopping destination. Visitors often buy chocolate, watches, and jewelry in this city. You'll find brand names and luxury items that are of high quality. Each neighborhood has its own character with stores ranging from traditional to international.

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 Zurich Better for Families?

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

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 Zurich. It's a surprisingly mellow city with a relaxing vibe that makes it easy to explore with kids. Popular family-friendly activities include swimming in the Limmat River, sailing on Lake Zurich, and visiting Josefwiese park, which has a large playground.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Couples?

Bali is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Zurich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. One of the most romantic experiences you can have in town is visiting the Zurich Thermal Baths and Spa. There's an outdoor rooftop thermal pool as well as many ways that you can pamper yourselves.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bali is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Zurich. The city has a number of hostels to choose from, but, like most of Switzerland, the city is expensive in general.

Is Bali or Zurich Better for Students?

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

Students come from all over the world to visit Zurich. The city offers a number of unique experiences for international students. The academics are good and the university campuses are nice.

Bali is not popular with students.

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

Zurich is a well-known place 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.

Public transit in Zurich can get you to some places easily. The system is made up of streetcars 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 Zurich a more walkable city?

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

Zurich is a very walkable city. There are paths that lead along the rivers and the lake connecting the old town areas to other parts of the city.

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 Zurich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Zurich or Bali?

How long in Bali or Zurich?

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

Families should spend more time in Bali than Zurich. 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 Zurich. 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 Zurich 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 Zurich?

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 nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Zurich. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Zurich?

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.

Zurich is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Zurich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bali. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful destination of Zurich. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Zurich?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the cultural 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 liberal city of Zurich offers shopping and museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.

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

Which is Bigger, Bali or Zurich?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Zurich, 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 Zurich?

Zurich 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 Zurich in the Summer?

Both Zurich 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 Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bali is a little warmer than Zurich in the summer. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Zurich fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Zurich. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Zurich during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Zurich. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Bali is April to September.

Should I visit Bali or Zurich in the Autumn?

Both Zurich 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 Zurich because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bali is much warmer than Zurich. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bali in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Zurich averages at about 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Bali. In the autumn, Bali often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 120 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets less rain in October than Zurich. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Zurich in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Zurich in the winter. In January, Bali is generally much warmer than Zurich. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 26°C (79°F), and Zurich fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Bali usually receives more sunshine than Zurich during winter. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Zurich receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bali usually receives more rain than Zurich. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Zurich in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bali as well as Zurich. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Zurich for the natural beauty.

Bali is much warmer than Zurich in the spring. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Zurich fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In the spring, Bali often gets more sunshine than Zurich. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zurich receives 150 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets less rain in April than Zurich. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zurich receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to September in Bali is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Zurich and Bali