A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. Te Anau for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Hue or Te Anau?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Te Anau 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.

Hue

Hue is a imperial, cultural, and authentic city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Hue travel costs.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a stunning, pristine, and breathtaking town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. You'll find world class beauty in Te Anau as well. Other popular activities here include food and hiking. See Te Anau travel costs.

Hue and Te Anau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hue or Te Anau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hue. Although Hue and Te Anau are both popular with visitors, Hue has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Hue is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Te Anau is known for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Hue is popular for its imperial buildings and political history as the country's historic capital. It is also home to Imperial City. Te Anau is popular for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

How is Hue different from Te Anau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Hue or Te Anau?

Hue is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Hue. It's an ancient city that is filled with many sights from its imperial past. The Imperial City in Hue is the city's most important attraction. Other sights include the Thai Hoa Palace, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Royal Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.

Te Anau offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The town is about the surrounding outdoor activities but you will find the Te Anau Vintage Machinery Museum and the Te Anau Trout Observatory in town.

Is the Food Better in Hue or Te Anau? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Hue and Te Anau.

Dining out in Hue is an experience not to be missed. Local dishes were once served to the city's emperors, but today you'll find them in restaurants and food stalls. Dishes are either sweet or spicy with lemongrass, basil, chilies, and mint herbs mixed in. Soups and grilled meats are popular such as bun bo hue and nem lui.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Te Anau. The town makes a great spot to refuel after all of your hiking and outdoor adventures. There are plenty of cafes and food trucks around town where you can enjoy local dishes and a friendly atmosphere.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Nightlife?

Hue is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Hue. For the best nightlife, many visitors head to the Western Area, particularly around the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An and Vo Thi Sau. Nguyen Dinh Chieu Walking Street is another popular area for nightlife in Hue.

Te Anau is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. This is a small town that's focused on outdoor activities, but it does receive a number of tourists, so you'll find a few bars around town where you can hang out.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for its Old Town?

Hue is a very popular place for its old town. However, Te Anau does not have a historic old town.

Hue is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. As the former imperial capital, you'll see many temples and historical sites in the city.

Te Anau does not have a historic old town.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Hiking?

Te Anau is terrific for the nearby hiking options. However, Hue is not a hiking destination.

Around Te Anau visitors will find world-class hiking trails. The town serves as basecamp for Fiordland National Park so there are many amazing hikes and walks in the area. Many of the hikes begin at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and range in length and the required skill level.

Hue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hue or Te Anau?

Hue is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Hue is well-known for its shopping. The city has many local markets where you can find traditional and authentic handicrafts. Some of the most interesting things to purchase at the markets include silk paintings, antiques, and lacquerware.

Te Anau has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are shops where you can pick up any outdoor supplies and food items that you may need.

Is Hue or Te Anau More Beautiful?

Te Anau is terrific for its scenery and beauty. However, Hue is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Te Anau as well. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, world class national parks, and spectacular views.

Hue is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Families?

Te Anau is terrific for its family-friendly activities. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Te Anau is an extremely popular town to visit for families. The town's proximity to the Milford Sound make it a nice base for families who enjoy spending time outdoors. Kayaking or exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves are favorite activities in the area. There's also the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and many hikes nearby.

Hue is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy exploring the Imperial City, visiting Ho Quyen Arena and Long Chau Temple, or wandering through the city's local markets. The Demilitarized Zone is also an interesting side trip.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Couples?

Te Anau is terrific for couples. Also, Hue is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Te Anau is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The stunning scenery in the area, combined with small town charm, make this is a top couple's destination and a wonderful honeymoon spot. Couples who appreciate nature and outdoor adventure will fall in love with this amazing area.

Hue is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy boat rides or sunset cruises along Perfume River. There are also interesting temples and fascinating day trips that you can take from the city.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Hue and Te Anau are great destinations for backpackers.

Hue is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. It is a popular stop over in central Vietnam. There are plenty of hostels and budget guesthouses to accommodate the backpacker crowds. There are also cheap restaurants and interesting activities relating to the city's long history.

Te Anau is very popular with the backpacker crowd. For such a small town, there are a decent number of hostels and budget accommodation options in the area. The town makes a good base for exploring the region's stunning scenery.

Is Hue or Te Anau Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hue is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Hue has some public transit options. Cyclos, motorbikes, and local bus are the most common ways to get around the city.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Te Anau. Public transit in the area is limited and most visitors have their own car or join one of the many tours in the area.

Is Hue or Te Anau a more walkable city?

Hue is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

Hue is a very walkable city. Many of the sights can be reached on foot and the city is relatively compact.

Te Anau is generally not very walkable. Exploring the area requires a vehicle and, while there are many hikes in the area, it's not easy to walk to many places. There are tours available for those that don't have a vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Hue Worth Visiting? and Is Te Anau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Te Anau or Hue?

How long in Hue or Te Anau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Hue and Te Anau. In our opinion, Hue has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Hue than Te Anau. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hue than Te Anau 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 Hue.

One day in Hue or Te Anau?

In Hue, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Te Anau is a small town with plenty to do. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A weekend in Hue or Te Anau?

In Hue, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hue has to offer.

Many people visit Te Anau for a weekend. Te Anau might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Hue or Te Anau?

Hue is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

Because Te Anau is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Five days 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.

A week in Hue or Te Anau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hue. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Hue. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Te Anau, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Hue or Te Anau?

Hue has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Te Anau, 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.