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

Should you visit Dubai or Matsue?

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 Matsue 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 food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Matsue

Matsue is a serene, historic, and quiet town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Dubai and Matsue: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dubai or Matsue?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dubai than Matsue, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dubai is more popular for its skiing, nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Matsue is known for its historical sights. Dubai is popular for its luxury shopping, glamorous resorts, city beaches, and ultramodern development style. It is also home to Burj Khalifa. Matsue is popular for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere.

Burj Khalifa

How is Dubai different from Matsue?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Skiing?

Dubai is a city with a few options for winter skiing. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not a skiing destination.

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

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Matsue and Dubai.

Many visitors head to Dubai specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Matsue can be an interesting and educational experience. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

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

Foodies will find both Dubai and Matsue 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, Matsue makes for a great culinary experience. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Nightlife?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Dubai is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Frequented by the wealthy and opulent, the city has world class night clubs and DJs that travel from around to world to perform.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Music?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for its live music scene. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not a live music destination.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Resorts?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not a resort destination.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Dubai is a city with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Beaches?

Dubai is a city with good options for the beache. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Dubai. 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.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Dubai does not have a historic old town.

Matsue has an old town worth visiting. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Dubai does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Dubai or Matsue?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Matsue 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.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Families?

Dubai is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue 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.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Couples?

Both Dubai and Matsue 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.

Matsue is a nice destination for couples. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Dubai or Matsue Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Matsue is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

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 Matsue Better for Students?

Dubai is an unbeatable place for students. However, Matsue 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.

Matsue is not popular with students.

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

Matsue is a great town for times when you don't have a car. Also, Dubai is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Matsue offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

Dubai has a few public transit options. The city's public transportation system includes buses, water buses, a monorail system, and a metro.

Is Dubai or Matsue a more walkable city?

Matsue is a great town for its ease of walking around. However, Dubai is not known for its walkability.

Matsue is a very walkable destination. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

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 Matsue Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Matsue or Dubai?

How long in Dubai or Matsue?

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

Families should spend more time in Dubai than Matsue. 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 Matsue. 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.

One day in Dubai or Matsue?

Dubai is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Matsue, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this pretty destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Dubai or Matsue?

Dubai 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. 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 Matsue?

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

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

A week in Dubai or Matsue?

Dubai is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the peaceful destination of Matsue. 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 Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Matsue, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Matsue 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 Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue 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 Matsue.

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

Which is Bigger, Dubai or Matsue?

Dubai has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Dubai and Matsue, 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 Matsue?

Matsue 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 Matsue in the Summer?

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

Dubai can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 35°C (95°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Matsue. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Dubai is the dry season.

Should I visit Dubai or Matsue in the Autumn?

Both Matsue 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 Matsue for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Dubai is much warmer than Matsue in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Matsue fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Matsue. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dubai or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue 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. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Matsue because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Matsue can be very cold. In the winter, Dubai is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubai in January average around 19°C (66°F), and Matsue averages at about 4°C (39°F).

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Matsue. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year. January to March is the rainy season in Dubai.

Should I visit Dubai or Matsue in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Matsue this time of year.

In April, Dubai is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 26°C (79°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Matsue. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Dubai