A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hobart vs. Sado for Attractions, Food, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Hobart or Sado?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hobart and Sado 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.

Hobart

Hobart is a quaint, historical, and charming city. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food.

Hobart and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hobart or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hobart. Although Hobart and Sado are popular destinations, Hobart has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hobart is more touristy than Sado and is popular for its quaint historical center, fresh seafood, and nearby hiking and biking trails. It is also well known for Battery Point. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Hobart different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hobart or Sado?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Hobart and Sado.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Hobart. The town has many landmarks and museums such as Port Arthur, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A highlight of the city is Battery Point, which is like an open-air museum. Make sure you explore the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sado. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

Is the Food Better in Hobart or Sado? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at excellent restaurants in both Hobart and Sado.

Hobart has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town has seen a surge in its culinary scene in recent years. Local chefs like to highlight the regional flavors and ingredients such as octopus, kingfish, abalone, and leatherwood honey.

Dining out in Sado is an experience not to be missed. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Hobart is a popular place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hobart. While it's a smaller city, there is still a good mix of local bars, trendy lounges, and elegant wine bars. you'll also find some great venues for live music.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Hiking?

Both Hobart and Sado are destinations which offer excellent hiking.

Many visitors go to Hobart for the hiking trails. The city is surrounded by bushland reserves as well as nearby Mount Wellington. The area offers many diverse hiking and walking trails and there are a wide range to choose from so whatever your hiking level, you'll find something of interest.

Sado is a popular spot for hiking. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Is the Shopping Better in Hobart or Sado?

Hobart is notable for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its shopping opportunities.

Hobart is an extremely popular place for shoppers. It has some of the best shopping in Tasmania. You'll find a great shopping experience along Elizabeth Street, which is lined with boutiques and quirky shops. The city also has a couple of outdoor flea markets that offers a unique shopping experience.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Families?

Hobart is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Hobart is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are also fruit farms to visit and vineyards to explore in the area, as well as great hiking. For an interactive museum, head to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has some toddler-friendly displays.

Sado is a family-friendly city. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Couples?

Hobart is notable for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Hobart is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples will enjoy exploring the waterfront and Sullivans Cove. There are also outdoor markets and breweries around town. Botanical gardens and quaint neighborhoods also make this a lovely town to visit.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Hobart and Sado are nice places to visit.

Hobart is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels around town and many great hiking trails.

Plenty of backpackers visit Sado. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

Is Hobart or Sado Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hobart is a popular place for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

Hobart has a few public transit options. There's a public bus system and many of the buses leave from Elizabeth Street (between Macquarie and Collins Streets) or Franklin Square.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Hobart or Sado a more walkable city?

Hobart is notable for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

Hobart is very walkable. It has a compact city center that many people enjoy exploring on foot.

Sado is not a very walkable city. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

For even more information, also check out Is Hobart Worth Visiting? and Is Sado Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sado or Hobart?

How long in Hobart or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Hobart and Sado. In our opinion, Hobart has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Hobart than Sado. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hobart than Sado 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 Hobart.

One day in Hobart or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Hobart. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Sado. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Hobart or Sado?

Hobart is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Sado 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.

Five days in Hobart or Sado?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the fascinating destination of Hobart. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sado. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

A week in Hobart or Sado?

The historical city of Hobart offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the off-the-beaten-path destination of Sado. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Hobart or Sado?

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

Should I visit Hobart or Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado and Hobart during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Hobart for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Sado in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Hobart is generally cooler than Sadoin July. Daily temperatures in Hobart average around 17°C (63°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Hobart. In the summer, Hobart often gets more sunshine than Sadoin July. Hobart gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hobart usually gets less rain in January than Sadoin July. Hobart gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hobart or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hobart and Sado. Many visitors come to Hobart in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

Hobart is cooler than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hobart averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F)in October.

Hobart usually receives more sunshine than Sado during autumn. Hobart gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Hobart usually receives less rain than Sadoin October. Hobart gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Hobart or Sado in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hobart as well as Sado. Most visitors come to Hobart for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sado because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Sado can be very cold. In the winter, Hobart is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hobart in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F)in January.

In the winter, Hobart often gets more sunshine than Sadoin January. Hobart gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Hobart usually gets less rain in July than Sadoin January. Hobart gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hobart or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado and Hobart are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In October, Hobart is generally a little warmer than Sadoin April. Daily temperatures in Hobart average around 13°C (55°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hobart. Hobart usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during spring. Hobart gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In October, Hobart usually receives less rain than Sadoin April. Hobart gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Hobart