A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. Darwin for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Beijing or Darwin?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Darwin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Beijing

Beijing is a fascinating, historic, and massive city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Darwin

Darwin is a authentic, local, and tropical town. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Beijing and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beijing or Darwin?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing than Darwin, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Beijing is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Darwin is known for its beaches and hiking. Beijing is more touristy than Darwin and is known for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also home to The Forbidden City. Darwin is popular for its outdoor markets and tropical weather.

How is Beijing different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing is terrific for its sights and museums. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Beijing are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Darwin. You can check out the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, explore the city's Waterfront Precinct, and spend some time at the Darwin Military Museum.

Is the Food Better in Beijing or Darwin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Beijing is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

Darwin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are plenty of local restaurants that serve seafood or local twists on international flavors. Many restaurants offer Barramundi that is prepared in unique ways. You can try the Barramundi Bibimbap or the Crispy Baby Barramundi.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

Beijing is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Beijing has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Darwin. You'll find the most bars along Mitchell Street or in the Waterfront Precinct area. There are also some popular nightclubs and music venues in town.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Beaches?

Darwin is a town with good options for the beach. However, Beijing is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Darwin. Most people don't swim at the beaches because of the saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish. You can hang out in the sand though and Mindil Beach is a favorite spot for locals.

Beijing is not a beach destination.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Beijing is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Darwin. In addition to city walks, there are many national parks that make great day trips from town. Litchfield National Park has many hikes as does Mary River National Park. The town is also known as the gateway to Kakadu National Park.

Beijing is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

Beijing is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Darwin has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are shopping malls, art galleries, and trendy boutiques around town.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Families?

Darwin is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Darwin is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the many outdoor activities in town and in the surrounding areas. There are wildlife parks and several national parks in the area like Litchfield National Park. For many families, this is a stop off on there way to Kakadu National Park.

Beijing offers lots of family activities. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Couples?

Both Beijing and Darwin are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Beijing is a good city for couples to visit. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Darwin is a nice destination for couples. The beautiful weather means that you can spend most of your time outdoors. Sunset picnics are popular, but for many visitors, it's all about the day trips to nearby parks.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing is notable for backpackers. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Beijing is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Darwin is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels in town that make this an easy place to spend a night or two for backpackers.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Students?

Beijing is notable for students. However, Darwin is not popular with students.

Beijing is a great city to visit as a student. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Darwin is not popular with students.

Is Beijing or Darwin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beijing is notable for its public transit. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Beijing can get you around easily. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Darwin has some public transit options. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

Is Beijing or Darwin a more walkable city?

Darwin is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Beijing is a city with minimal options for its walkability.

Darwin is a somewhat walkable town. There are biking and walking paths around town.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Beijing Worth Visiting? and Is Darwin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Beijing?

How long in Beijing or Darwin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Beijing and Darwin. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in Darwin. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Beijing, and 2-3 days is enough time in Darwin.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Darwin 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 Beijing.

One day in Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Darwin, you'll find nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing 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.

In Darwin, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Darwin has to offer.

Five days in Beijing or Darwin?

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

Darwin is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Darwin. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Darwin. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Beijing or Darwin?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and Darwin, 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 Beijing or Darwin?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Darwin is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Beijing has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Beijing or Darwin in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Darwin. Most visitors come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Darwin because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Beijing is generally around the same temperature as Darwinin January. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 27°C (80°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Darwin during summer. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun in the summer.

Darwin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Beijing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Beijing usually receives less rain than Darwinin January. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Beijing or Darwin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Darwin. The autumn months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.

Beijing is much colder than Darwin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Darwin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the autumn, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Darwinin April. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 267 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Darwinin April. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or Darwin in the Winter?

Both Darwin and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Darwin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Beijing in the winter. In the winter, Beijing is much colder than Darwin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Beijing in January average around -4°C (26°F), and Darwin averages at about 25°C (77°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Darwin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives less sunshine than Darwin during winter. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 312 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Beijing usually receives more rain than Darwinin July. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Beijing or Darwin in the Spring?

Both Darwin and Beijing during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Beijing for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Darwin in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Beijing is generally much colder than Darwinin October. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (57°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the spring, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Darwinin October. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 291 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Darwinin October. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Darwin and Beijing