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

Should you visit Jakarta or Alesund?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Alesund. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Jakarta

Jakarta is a friendly, diverse, and genuine city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Jakarta travel costs.

Alesund

Alesund is a scenic, laid back, and welcoming city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Alesund is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Alesund travel costs.

Jakarta and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or Alesund?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Jakarta. Although Jakarta and Alesund are both popular with visitors, Jakarta has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Jakarta is more popular for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities, while Alesund is known for its impressive beauty. Alesund is more touristy than Jakarta and is popular for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. Jakarta is popular for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. It is also home to Istiqlal Mosque.

How is Jakarta different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Jakarta is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Alesund offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Jakarta and Alesund.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Jakarta. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Alesund. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

Is Jakarta or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Jakarta and Alesund.

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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Alesund. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or Alesund?

Jakarta is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Jakarta is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Alesund. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Is Jakarta or Alesund More Beautiful?

Alesund is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Jakarta is not a destination known for its beauty.

Alesund is a gorgeous place to visit. The architecture, viewpoints, and nearby fjords make this a great stop off on any Norwegian adventure.

Jakarta is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Jakarta or Alesund Better for Families?

Both Jakarta and Alesund are good family-friendly destinations.

Jakarta offers lots of family activities. 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.

Alesund is a family-friendly place to visit. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Jakarta or Alesund Better for Couples?

Jakarta and Alesund both good destinations for a couple.

Jakarta is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Alesund makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Jakarta or Alesund Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Jakarta is a popular place for backpackers. However, Alesund is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Jakarta. 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.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Jakarta or Alesund Better for Students?

Alesund is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Jakarta is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Alesund. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Jakarta is not popular with students.

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

Alesund is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Jakarta is not known for its public transit.

While Alesund offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a public bus system around town.

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 Jakarta or Alesund a more walkable city?

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

Alesund is somewhat walkable. The city center can be explored 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 Jakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Alesund Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Jakarta and Alesund. In our opinion, Alesund has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Alesund than Jakarta. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Jakarta, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Jakarta than Alesund 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 Jakarta.

One day in Jakarta or Alesund?

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.

In Alesund, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Jakarta or Alesund?

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.

In Alesund, you'll find food and shopping. 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 Alesund has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or Alesund?

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.

Alesund 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 Jakarta or Alesund?

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.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Alesund, we can see that Alesund is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jakarta is in Asia and Alesund is in Europe, 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 Alesund would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alesund 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Alesund Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Alesund?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Alesund, 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.