A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ephesus vs. Jakarta for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Ephesus or Jakarta?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Jakarta, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Ephesus

Ephesus is a ancient, world-renowned, and fascinating archeological site. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Ephesus travel costs.

Jakarta

Jakarta is a sprawling, friendly, and diverse city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Jakarta travel costs.

Ephesus and Jakarta: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ephesus or Jakarta?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Jakarta than Ephesus. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Jakarta is very popular for its food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Ephesus attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Ephesus is more touristy than Jakarta and is known for its well-preserved ruins and vast size Jakarta is famous for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. It is also well known for Istiqlal Mosque.

How is Ephesus different from Jakarta?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ephesus or Jakarta?

Ephesus is terrific for its historical sights. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Ephesus from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. Of course, the iconic site is the ruins of Ephesus. There are also several fascinating museums in the area that offer deeper insights into the region's rich history and culture. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk is popular. It has an impressive collection of artifacts excavated from the ancient city, including statues, pottery, and inscriptions. Just outside the museum, the Temple of Artemis section displays remnants of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Selçuk Museum of Ephesus is another excellent spot to explore, with exhibits that highlight both the daily life of ancient Ephesians and their religious practices. A short drive from Ephesus is the House of the Virgin Mary museum, a revered site believed to be the final home of Mary, mother of Jesus, with a chapel and peaceful surroundings. Lastly, the İsa Bey Mosque and Museum in Selçuk adds to the area's historical depth, offering a glimpse into the Seljuk architecture and Islamic heritage of the region.

Jakarta offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a huge number of museums around town like the National Museum, Museum Layang-Layang, and Museum MACAN. There's also Merdeka Square, which is one of the world's biggest public squares and Istiqlal Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Is the Food Better in Ephesus or Jakarta? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Jakarta is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Ephesus is not as popular, but is still a nice archeological site for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Jakarta has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are so many different cultures represented in Indonesian cuisine, and you'll find them all in Jakarta. The food stalls, restaurants, and casual eateries all have their own flavor and style, which makes dining in this mega-city a true adventure.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ephesus area. Most of the food options are found in the nearby town of Selçuk. Popular dishes include kebabs, mezes, and pide (Turkish flatbread pizza). Many restaurants are casual and cater specifically to the tourist crowds.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta Better for Nightlife?

Jakarta is a nice place to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Ephesus is not known for its evening party scene.

If you're looking for night time activities Jakarta has a few options to choose from. It's a huge city, so there's a very active nightlife scene, but it's mostly focused on locals and not tourists like you'll find elsewhere in Indonesia. For the best nightlife district, head to Kemang, which has many bars and clubs.

Most people don't head to Ephesus specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The there are a couple of bars and restaurants with live music in the town of Selçuk, but generally the nightlife is very low key.

Is the Shopping Better in Ephesus or Jakarta?

Jakarta is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ephesus is not as popular, but is still a nice archeological site for its shopping areas.

Jakarta is well-known for its shopping. The city is filled with high end luxury malls where you can buy the latest fashions and many international brands. Around town you'll also find everything from local handicrafts to chic boutiques and grand international chains.

Many visitors go to Ephesus to go shopping. Selçuk has a variety of local shops and markets. Traditional handicrafts such as carpet and kilim weaving, ceramics, and leather goods are popular souvenirs. The Selçuk Market is held on Saturdays and offers fresh produce, spices, and other local products.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta Better for Families?

Ephesus and Jakarta are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Ephesus offers lots of family activities. Kids who are into history or archeology will enjoy a visit to the famed ruins of Ephesus. There's also the Ephesus Archaeological Museum where everyone can learn about ancient Greek and Roman cultures in an interactive setting. The nearby House of the Virgin Mary offers a peaceful stop where kids can learn about its historical and religious significance in a tranquil environment. For an active experience, families can enjoy a short hike to Pamucak Beach, where children can swim, build sandcastles, and enjoy the Mediterranean sun.

Jakarta is a family-friendly place to visit. Most visitors skip out on this huge city, and it's definitely not the first place that comes to mind when you think about family-friendly destinations, but there's actually a very fascinating culture that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There's the Kota area, which has colonial architecture. There's also a puppet museum and several history museums. But for most kids, the highlight is a visit to the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol area, which has amusement parks and even SeaWorld.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta Better for Couples?

Ephesus and Jakarta are both nice to visit as a couple.

Ephesus makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Many couples stop off at these ruins as part of a bigger tour of Turkey. The ruins are well preserved and impressive, but can get crowded if you visit during the peak times.

Jakarta is a good archeological site for couples to visit. Most travelers looking for a romantic destination will head to the many famous honeymoon spots in Indonesia. But for those who make their way to Jakarta, there is sure to be a lot of adventure and culture. The city has many great museums as well as nature parks and amusement parks.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Ephesus and Jakarta are nice places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Ephesus. Many backpackers stay in the nearby town of Selçuk, which has several hostels. This is also where you'll find a number of restaurants and shopping opportunities.

Jakarta is a good archeological site to visit for backpackers. Visitors often have strong feelings about this city, whether they love it or hate it. For those backpackers who spend some time here, they're sure to be treated to a look at true Indonesian culture, which is hard to find in the more touristy areas.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Ephesus is a great archeological site for times when you don't have a car. However, Jakarta is not known for its public transit.

Public transit in Ephesus is fairly effecient and thorough. The town of Selçuk is well-connected by dolmuşes (shared minivans) that run frequently and offer affordable rides to nearby destinations, including Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the Pamucak Beach area.

Public transit is generally limited in Jakarta. Public transportation has improved a lot recently. There's a commuter line as well as buses. The system can be a bit overwhelming and slow though, so tourists often avoid it.

Is Ephesus or Jakarta a more walkable city?

Ephesus is a good destination for its walkability. However, Jakarta is not known for its high level of walkability.

Ephesus is somewhat walkable. The ruins are spread out over a large area, but most of the key sites, like the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater, are within walking distance of each other. From Selçuk, it's about a half hour walk to the entrance of the Ephesus ruins, but most visitors prefer to take a short taxi or dolmuş ride to the site. Within Selçuk, many of the sites can be reached on foot.

Jakarta is generally not very walkable. Central Jakarta is more walkable than most of the city but, in general, the city has a lot of traffic and isn't the best for exploring on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Ephesus Worth Visiting? and Is Jakarta Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Jakarta or Ephesus?

How long in Ephesus or Jakarta?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ephesus and Jakarta. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Jakarta than in Ephesus. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Ephesus, and 1-3 days is enough time in Jakarta.

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

One day in Ephesus or Jakarta?

In Ephesus, you'll find museums and food. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. This archeological site offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Because Jakarta is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city 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 Ephesus or Jakarta?

In Ephesus, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ephesus has to offer.

Because Jakarta is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. 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 Jakarta has to offer.

Five days in Ephesus or Jakarta?

Ephesus 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.

Jakarta 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 Ephesus or Jakarta?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ephesus. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Ephesus. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Jakarta. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Jakarta. 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 Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Jakarta?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Jakarta, 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.