A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dubai vs. Ise for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Dubai or Ise?

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 Dubai and Ise can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dubai

Dubai is a glamorous, opulent, and modern city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Ise

Ise is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and overlooked city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and beaches.

Dubai and Ise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dubai or Ise?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dubai than Ise, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dubai is more touristy than Ise and is popular for its luxury shopping, glamorous resorts, city beaches, and ultramodern development style. It is also home to Burj Khalifa. Ise is popular for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting.

Burj Khalifa

How is Dubai different from Ise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Skiing?

Dubai is a city with a few options for winter skiing. However, Ise is not a skiing destination.

Dubai is a fun local destination for snow skiers. Despite being a desert city, Dubai became famous for its massive indoor ski complex that covers 22,500 square meters. It is located in the Mall of the Emirates.

Ise is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dubai or Ise?

Dubai is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Dubai. The city's most famous landmark is the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. Head to the observation deck for stunning views.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ise. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

Is the Food Better in Dubai or Ise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Dubai and Ise both to be superb destinations.

Dubai has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The national dish in the area is khuzi, or ghuzi, which is a meal of roasted lamb or mutton, prepared with rice vegetables and nuts.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Ise makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Nightlife?

Dubai is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Dubai is a world class party destination. Frequented by the wealthy and opulent, the city has world class night clubs and DJs that travel from around to world to perform.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Music?

Dubai is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Ise is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Dubai The city attracts world famous international DJs and musicians giving it one of the world's best music scenes.

Ise is not a live music destination.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Resorts?

Dubai is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Ise is not a resort destination.

Dubai is a world class resort vacation destination. Some of the most famous include Atlantis - The Palm, The Four Seasons, and Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

Ise is not a resort destination.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Dubai is a city with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Ise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Dubai. One of the best scuba diving spots is Jumeirah Beach.

Ise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Beaches?

Dubai and Ise are good choices for a beach vacation.

Many people head to Dubai to enjoy the beach. There are a number of both private and public beaches in the city. They are almost all man-made, so they are large, flat, and have soft sand. It's also generally safe to swim at most beaches.

Ise has a beach worth visiting. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Is the Shopping Better in Dubai or Ise?

Dubai is a must-visit destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Dubai make it a world-class shopping destination. With its many malls, souks, and shopping areas, this is the place to go for luxury shopping. Popular items to purchase include gold and diamond jewelry, shawls, and Persian rugs.

Ise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Families?

Dubai is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Dubai is a very kid-friendly city. This city has family-friendly resorts, skyscrapers with spectacular views, and amusement parks that are fun for the whole family. There are also plenty of fountains that the kids can splash around in.

Ise offers lots of family activities. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Couples?

Both Dubai and Ise are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Dubai is a good city for couples to visit. From the spectacular views to the high end resorts, couples can enjoy a romantic retreat to the city.

Ise is a nice destination for couples. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ise is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Dubai is not known for backpackers.

Ise is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

Dubai is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It is known to be an expensive and not so backpacker friendly city, but there are some hostels around that you can stay at.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Students?

Dubai is a must-visit destination for students. However, Ise is not popular with students.

Dubai is a very popular city for students. Many major universities from around the world have campuses in this city, making this a top destination for international students.

Ise is not popular with students.

Is Dubai or Ise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Dubai and Ise both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Dubai offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city's public transportation system includes buses, water buses, a monorail system, and a metro.

Ise has a few public transit options. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

Is Dubai or Ise a more walkable city?

Ise is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Dubai is not known for its walkability.

Ise is a somewhat walkable city. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

Dubai is generally not very walkable. It is one of the less pedestrian-friendly cities around the world. There is lots of road work, even in the more walkable areas, so getting around on foot can be challenging.

For even more information, also check out Is Dubai Worth Visiting? and Is Ise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ise or Dubai?

How long in Dubai or Ise?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dubai and Ise. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dubai than in Ise. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Dubai, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dubai than Ise 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 Dubai.

One day in Dubai or Ise?

When visiting Dubai, people usually allow for lots of time. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

In Ise, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this authentic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Dubai or Ise?

Many people visit Dubai for a weekend. When visiting Dubai, people usually allow for lots of time. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ise. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Dubai or Ise?

When visiting Dubai, people usually allow for lots of time. Many people spend five days here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

Ise is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Ise. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dubai or Ise?

Dubai, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for one week. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find food and shopping around the off-the-beaten-path destination of Ise. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dubai or Ise?

Dubai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Ise, 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 Dubai or Ise?

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

Should I visit Dubai or Ise in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Ise. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Ise in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Dubai can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 35°C (95°F), and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

It's quite rainy in Ise. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Ise. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Dubai is the dry season.

Should I visit Dubai or Ise in the Autumn?

Both Ise and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the shopping scene during these months.

Dubai is much warmer than Ise in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Ise fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Ise. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dubai or Ise in the Winter?

Both Ise and Dubai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Ise because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Ise can be very cold. In the winter, Dubai is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubai in January average around 19°C (66°F), and Ise averages at about 5°C (40°F).

Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Ise. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. January to March is the rainy season in Dubai.

Should I visit Dubai or Ise in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to Ise this time of year.

In April, Dubai is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 26°C (79°F), and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Ise receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Ise. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Ise and Dubai