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

Should you visit Da Nang or Picton?

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

Should I visit Da Nang or Picton? 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.

Da Nang

Da Nang is a coastal, accessible, and authentic city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches. See Da Nang 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 hiking, shopping, and museums. See Picton travel costs.

Da Nang and Picton: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Da Nang or Picton?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Picton. Although Da Nang and Picton are both popular with visitors, Picton has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Picton is more popular for its beaches, hiking, shopping, and small town charm, while Da Nang is known for its nightlife and resorts. Picton is more touristy than Da Nang and is known for its picturesque scenery, laid back setting, and beautiful walking trails. It is also home to the Queen Charlotte Track. Da Nang is popular for its traditional pagodas, nearby beaches, and high end resorts.

How is Da Nang different from Picton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Da Nang or Picton?

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Da Nang and Picton.

Da Nang offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Some people use this city as a base for exploring other nearby towns. While it has some interesting sights, there aren't nearly as much history as in the surrounding area. The Golden Bridge Hands has become a popular tourist attraction and the nearby Marble Mountains are also a highlight. You can also check out the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Picton. 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.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Da Nang and Picton.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Da Nang. The city's local cuisine is authentic and traditional. There are many local dishes to try such as Mi Quang (rice noodles and chicken), Bun Cha Ca (rice noodles and fish cakes), and Banh Trang Cuon Thit Heo (pork belly wrapped in rice paper).

Picton has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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 Da Nang or Picton Better for Nightlife?

Da Nang is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Picton is not a good town for nightlife.

Da Nang offers plenty to do in the evening. There are rooftop cafes, lounges, and local bars that are cheap and stay open late. You'll find a good number of places along Bach Dang Street, which turns into a walking street at 7 pm.

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 Da Nang or Picton Better for Resorts?

Da Nang is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Picton is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Da Nang to choose from. The city has a good number of luxury, international brand hotels that are along the beaches.

Picton is not a resort destination.

Is Da Nang or Picton Better for Beaches?

Picton is a well-known place for the beach. Also, Da Nang is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for the beach.

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.

Many people head to Da Nang to enjoy the beach. There are beaches within a 10 minute drive of the city, which can get crowded on weekends and holidays. If you want a more peaceful experience, you'll need to go to Son Tra Peninsula, which is where you'll find most of the luxury resorts.

Is Da Nang or Picton Better for Hiking?

Picton is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Da Nang is not a hiking destination.

Picton is a popular spot for hiking. 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.

Da Nang is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Da Nang or Picton?

Picton is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Da Nang is not a good city for its shopping areas.

Picton offers some nice shopping areas. There are a few galleries and local shops around town.

Da Nang has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are some shopping malls and local shops that make for interesting shopping experiences, but nothing compared to some of the more popular cities.

Is Da Nang or Picton Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Da Nang or Picton.

Da Nang is a very kid-friendly city. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities in the area. Amusement parks like Asia Park Da Nang and nearby Ba Na Hills Fantasy Park are fun for everyone. There are also beaches and beachfront resorts that aren't far from town.

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 Da Nang or Picton Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Da Nang and Picton make for a superb place to visit.

Da Nang is a very popular place to visit for couples. The surrounding area has luxury resorts and nice beaches that make for a romantic getaway.

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 Da Nang or Picton Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Picton is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Da Nang is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Picton is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels in the area as well as great transportation links, making this a great spot for backpackers.

Da Nang is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's often skipped by backpackers and other tourists, but those who hang out for a day or two will appreciate an authentic city with genuine Vietnamese culture.

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

Both Da Nang and Picton offer good public transit options.

Da Nang has a few public transit options. There are 14 bus routes in the city.

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

Is Da Nang or Picton a more walkable city?

Picton is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Da Nang is not a good city 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.

Da Nang is not a very walkable city. The city is very spread out and very difficult to explore on foot. There are some beachfront promenades that are pedestrian-friendly, but most of the city is not.

For even more information, also check out Is Da Nang Worth Visiting? and Is Picton Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Picton or Da Nang?

How long in Da Nang or Picton?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Da Nang or Picton to fill your time. In our opinion, Picton has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Picton than Da Nang. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Picton than Da Nang 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 Picton.

One day in Da Nang or Picton?

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Da Nang. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Picton, you'll find museums and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Da Nang or Picton?

Da Nang 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 Picton, 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 Picton has to offer.

Five days in Da Nang or Picton?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Da Nang. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

Picton is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the 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 Da Nang or Picton?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Da Nang. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 Picton. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Picton. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Hanoi, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, 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 Da Nang and Picton, we can see that Picton is more expensive. And not only is Da Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Da Nang 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 Da Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Da Nang 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 Da Nang.

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

Which is Bigger, Da Nang or Picton?

Da Nang has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Da Nang 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 Da Nang or Picton?

Picton has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Da Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Da Nang or Picton in the Summer?

Both Picton and Da Nang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Da Nang throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Picton because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Da Nang is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the summer temperatures in Da Nang in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Picton averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.

In July, Da Nang usually receives more rain than Pictonin January. Da Nang gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Da Nang is January to July. The rainy season in Da Nang is August to December.

Should I visit Da Nang or Picton in the Autumn?

Both Picton and Da Nang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Da Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Picton this time of year.

In October, Da Nang is generally much warmer than Pictonin April. Daily temperatures in Da Nang average around 25°C (78°F), and Picton fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Da Nang. Da Nang usually gets more rain in October than Pictonin April. Da Nang gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year. August to December is the rainy season in Da Nang.

Should I visit Da Nang or Picton in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Da Nang and Picton. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Da Nang year-round. Also, many travelers come to Picton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Da Nang is much warmer than Picton in the winter. The daily temperature in Da Nang averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F)in July.

Picton receives a lot of rain in the winter. Da Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Da Nang usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pictonin July. Da Nang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. January to July in Da Nang is the dry season.

Should I visit Da Nang or Picton in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Da Nang is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the spring temperatures in Da Nang in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Picton averages at about 13°C (55°F)in October.

Da Nang usually gets less rain in April than Pictonin October. Da Nang gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Picton and Da Nang