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

Should you visit Jakarta or Darwin?

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 Darwin. 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. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Jakarta travel costs.

Darwin

Darwin is a local, tropical, and multicultural town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Darwin travel costs.

Jakarta and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or Darwin?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Jakarta than Darwin. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Jakarta is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Darwin attracts visitors for its beaches and hiking. Darwin is more touristy than Jakarta and is popular for its outdoor markets and tropical weather. Jakarta is famous for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. It is also well known for Istiqlal Mosque.

How is Jakarta different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Darwin 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 Darwin?

Jakarta is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Jakarta can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Darwin. You can check out the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, explore the city's Waterfront Precinct, and spend some time at the Darwin Military Museum.

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

Jakarta is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Darwin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are plenty of local restaurants that serve seafood or local twists on international flavors. Many restaurants offer Barramundi that is prepared in unique ways. You can try the Barramundi Bibimbap or the Crispy Baby Barramundi.

Is Jakarta or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Darwin. You'll find the most bars along Mitchell Street or in the Waterfront Precinct area. There are also some popular nightclubs and music venues in town.

Is Jakarta or Darwin Better for Beaches?

Darwin is a good destination for its beaches. However, Jakarta is not a beach destination.

Darwin offers a nice beach destination. Most people don't swim at the beaches because of the saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish. You can hang out in the sand though and Mindil Beach is a favorite spot for locals.

Jakarta is not a beach destination.

Is Jakarta or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is a great town for hiking. However, Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Darwin for the hiking trails. In addition to city walks, there are many national parks that make great day trips from town. Litchfield National Park has many hikes as does Mary River National Park. The town is also known as the gateway to Kakadu National Park.

Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or Darwin?

Jakarta is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

Jakarta is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Darwin has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are shopping malls, art galleries, and trendy boutiques around town.

Is Jakarta or Darwin Better for Families?

Darwin is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Darwin is a very family-friendly destination. Kids will enjoy the many outdoor activities in town and in the surrounding areas. There are wildlife parks and several national parks in the area like Litchfield National Park. For many families, this is a stop off on there way to Kakadu National Park.

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 Jakarta or Darwin Better for Couples?

Jakarta and Darwin both nice 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.

Darwin makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beautiful weather means that you can spend most of your time outdoors. Sunset picnics are popular, but for many visitors, it's all about the day trips to nearby parks.

Is Jakarta or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Darwin. There are a handful of hostels in town that make this an easy place to spend a night or two for backpackers.

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

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

While Darwin offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

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 Darwin a more walkable city?

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

Darwin is somewhat walkable. There are biking and walking paths around town.

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 Darwin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or Darwin?

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

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

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

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

One day in Jakarta or Darwin?

Jakarta is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Darwin, you'll find nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town 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 Darwin?

Jakarta 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.

In Darwin, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Darwin has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or Darwin?

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

Darwin is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Darwin?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the sprawling big city of Jakarta. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Darwin. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Darwin. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Darwin, we can see that Darwin 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 Darwin 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 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Darwin?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Darwin, 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.