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

Should you visit Jakarta or Sado?

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 Sado. 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.

Sado

Sado is a traditional, cultural, and off-the-beaten-path island. Other reasons to visit include food, hiking, and museums. See Sado travel costs.

Jakarta and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or Sado?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Jakarta. Although Jakarta and Sado are both popular with visitors, Jakarta has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Jakarta is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Sado is known for its hiking. Jakarta is popular for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls. It is also home to Istiqlal Mosque. Sado is popular for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Jakarta different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Spend time exploring the superb sights and museums in either Jakarta or Sado.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Jakarta. 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.

Sado offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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 Jakarta or Sado? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

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 Sado. 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 Jakarta or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Jakarta 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 Jakarta. 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.

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

Is Jakarta or Sado Better for Hiking?

Sado is a great island for hiking. However, Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Sado for the hiking trails. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Jakarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or Sado?

Jakarta is notable for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island 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.

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 Jakarta or Sado Better for Families?

Both Jakarta and Sado 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.

Sado is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Jakarta or Sado Better for Couples?

Jakarta and Sado 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.

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 Jakarta or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Jakarta and Sado are good 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 Sado. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

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

Jakarta is a moderate city for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

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.

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 Jakarta or Sado a more walkable city?

Jakarta is a moderate city for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

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.

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 Jakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Sado Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sado or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or Sado?

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

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

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

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

One day in Jakarta or Sado?

Jakarta is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Sado, you'll find food and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This island 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 Sado?

Jakarta is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

In Sado, you'll find museums and food. 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 Sado has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or Sado?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sprawling big city of Jakarta. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Sado 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 Sado?

The friendly city of Jakarta offers nightlife and food. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sado. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Sado. 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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Sado, we can see that Sado is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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