A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Gold Coast for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Bandung or Gold Coast?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Gold Coast? 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.

Bandung

Bandung is a laidback, cultural, and scenic city. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a colorful, high energy, and fun-filled coastline. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Bandung and Gold Coast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bandung or Gold Coast?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Gold Coast than Bandung. While Bandung is larger than Gold Coast, Gold Coast has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Gold Coast is better known for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Bandung is more popular for its food and shopping. Gold Coast is more touristy than Bandung and is known for its colorful theme parks, thrilling water sports, and nearby rainforests. Also, Gold Coast is famous for the long sandy beaches. Bandung is well known for its fashion and shopping outlets, its local street food, and its cooler temperatures.

How is Bandung different from Gold Coast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bandung or Gold Coast?

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Bandung or Gold Coast.

Bandung offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with museums and landmarks like the Sri Baduga Museum, which displays prehistoric artifacts. There's also the Asian African Conference Museum, a geology museum, and the Indonesia Postal Museum. The Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum shows items relating to Indonesian wars and weapons while the Virajati Seskoad Museum has information on the Indonesian Army school.

Many visitors head to Gold Coast specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The views from the observation deck at the Q1 Resort and Spa are a not-to-be-missed experience. You'll also find many amusement parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the area.

Is the Food Better in Bandung or Gold Coast? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bandung is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Gold Coast is not as popular, but is still a nice coastline for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Bandung is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city is a wonderful foodie destination with tons of street food and local options. The population is predominantly Sundanese, and the cuisine reflects that. The dishes involve a lot of raw vegetables and fresh ingredients. Make sure you try the batagor (fried tofu), soto Bandung (meat soup), and siomay (fish or chicken dumplings).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Gold Coast makes for a great culinary experience. The coastline is filled with modern Australian restaurants that serve locally caught seafood and modern twists on traditional dishes. There are wine bars, fine dining restaurants, and more casual options. You'll also find plenty of international eateries as well.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Nightlife?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Gold Coast is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is filled with ritz and glam, but you'll also find wild beach parties and lively nightclubs. There are backpackers and students that keep the parties going until the morning hours.

Bandung has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a large student population and a number of bars around town. The nightlife has a laidback vibe and many people enjoy hanging out with friends a local pub.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Resorts?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for its luxury resorts. However, Bandung is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Gold Coast is a great choice. Resorts range from family-friendly to backpacker-focused with everything in between. There are many high rise resorts that have luxury pools and beachfront views.

Bandung is not a resort destination.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bandung is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Gold Coast. There are many dive shops and snorkeling excursions. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, there are excursions that will not disappoint. There are also many places that offer certification courses.

Bandung is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Beaches?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Bandung is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Gold Coast. This stretch of beachline is perfect for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. There are miles of coastline that are sandy and beautiful and some of the most popular beaches include the Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach.

Bandung is not a beach destination.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Bandung and Gold Coast both have high quality trails.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Bandung. There are tons of great hiking trails just outside of town. Some are undiscovered while others are more popular. The trails will take you through forests, by volcanoes, and to dramatic craters.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk connects the area's diverse and lush rainforests through the Numinbah Valley. It's a World Heritage Area with subtropical rainforest as well as warm temperate rainforest, and Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.

Is the Shopping Better in Bandung or Gold Coast?

Bandung is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Gold Coast is not as popular, but is still a nice coastline for shopping.

Many people travel to Bandung specifically to go shopping. This is the ultimate shopping destination in Indonesia. Visitors come from throughout the country and abroad to buy designer goods and name brands, often at a discount price. You'll find both knock-offs and authentic merchandise, so be aware when you're purchasing something, which you might be buying.

Gold Coast is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are large outlet malls, outdoor markets, and designer shopping centers. You'll find trendy fashion designers as well as the typical souvenir shops.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Families?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Gold Coast is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with popular theme parks and other adrenaline-filled activities. There are surfing lessons, wildlife sanctuaries, ropes courses, and water sports. Kids of all ages will appreciate this fun-filled setting with its many family-friendly resorts and restaurants.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Bandung. Kids will enjoy taking in a cultural show with traditional dance and music. Near the city you can also get outside and enjoy the stunning scenery at White Crater or Gunung Tangkuban Perahu. There's also the Bandung Geological Museum and Trans Studio amusement park.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Couples?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Gold Coast makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Couples that energy high energy activities, water sports, theme parks, and parties that last into the morning, will love a stay at this vibrant coast. There's no shortage of great restaurants, entertaining shows, and fun activities that you can experience.

Couples visit Bandung frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. While most honeymooners make their way to a beautiful Indonesian beach, if you're looking for a break from the heat then this city makes a good stopover. The city is near many beautiful outdoor settings such as the White Crater. There are also many nice luxury resorts and hotels.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Gold Coast is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Gold Coast. Backpackers flock to this vibrant coastline. There are hostels and budget-friendly places to stay, and there's a huge nightlife scene. The many activities and long sandy beaches make this a well established stop on Australia's backpacker circuit.

Bandung is a great city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers love Indonesia and this city is no exception. There are plenty of hostels around town and many great activities to enjoy.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Students?

Bandung is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Gold Coast is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Bandung. Many of the expats in town are students, so you'll have a number of people to hang out with. This is also an affordable town for study abroad.

Gold Coast is not popular with students.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Visitors to Gold Coast can move around easily with public transportation. There's a bus, train, and tram network that's operated by TransLink and runs along the coast.

You'll find some public transit in Bandung, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are both public buses and a public van service (Angkutan Kota) that operates on set routes.

Is Bandung or Gold Coast a more walkable city?

Bandung is a great city for its ease of walking around. Also, Gold Coast is not as popular, but is still a nice coastline for its walkability.

Bandung is a very walkable destination. There are a number of walkable neighborhoods around town.

Gold Coast is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the area that can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bandung Worth Visiting? and Is Gold Coast Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Gold Coast or Bandung?

How long in Bandung or Gold Coast?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gold Coast than Bandung 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 Gold Coast.

One day in Bandung or Gold Coast?

With museums and nightlife around the scenic city of Bandung, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Gold Coast, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastline offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Bandung or Gold Coast?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Bandung, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

In Gold Coast, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Bandung or Gold Coast?

Bandung, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Gold Coast is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Gold Coast has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Bandung or Gold Coast?

Bandung is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gold Coast. In Gold Coast, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bandung or Gold Coast?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Gold Coast. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Gold Coast, 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.