A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Sendai for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Bandung or Sendai?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Sendai? 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 scenic, laidback, and cultural city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Bandung travel costs.

Sendai

Sendai is a lively, high energy, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Sendai travel costs.

Bandung and Sendai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bandung or Sendai?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Sendai than Bandung. While Bandung is larger than Sendai, Sendai has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Sendai is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Bandung attracts visitors for its food, hiking, and shopping. Bandung is famous for its fashion and shopping outlets, its local street food, and its cooler temperatures. Sendai is famous for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also well known for the statue of Lord Masamune.

How is Bandung different from Sendai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the very good sights and museums in either Bandung or Sendai.

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 Sendai specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

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

Bandung is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Bandung is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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).

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sendai area. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Bandung or Sendai Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Sendai has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

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 Sendai Better for Beaches?

Sendai is a popular place for its beaches. However, Bandung is not a beach destination.

Sendai is a good option for a beach vacation. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Bandung is not a beach destination.

Is Bandung or Sendai Better for Hiking?

Bandung is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

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.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bandung or Sendai?

Bandung is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Bandung draws large crowds to its stores. 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.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Sendai. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Is Bandung or Sendai Better for Families?

Sendai is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Bandung is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Sendai is a very family-friendly destination. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

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 Sendai Better for Couples?

Bandung is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Bandung makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Sendai is a good city for couples to visit. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Is Bandung or Sendai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bandung is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

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

Sendai is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

Is Bandung or Sendai Better for Students?

Bandung is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Sendai is not popular with students.

Plenty of students 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.

Sendai is not popular with students.

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

Sendai 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 Sendai can move around easily with public transportation. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

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 Sendai a more walkable city?

Bandung and Sendai are very good when it comes to walkability.

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

Sendai is a very walkable city. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

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

Should I spend more time in Sendai or Bandung?

How long in Bandung or Sendai?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bandung and Sendai. In our opinion, Bandung has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bandung than Sendai. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Bandung or Sendai?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bandung. 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.

In Sendai, you'll find nightlife and food. This city 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 Sendai?

Bandung is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

In Sendai, 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 Sendai has to offer.

Five days in Bandung or Sendai?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bandung. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Sendai 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 Bandung or Sendai?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Bandung. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sendai. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sendai. 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 Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Sendai, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bandung or Sendai?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 64% larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Sendai, 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.