A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lanta vs. Christchurch for Beaches, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Christchurch 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.

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is a quiet, beautiful, and off-the-beaten-path island. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Christchurch

Christchurch is a outdoorsy, adventure-filled, and cultural city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Koh Lanta and Christchurch: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Christchurch than Koh Lanta, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Christchurch is better known for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Koh Lanta is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty. Christchurch is more touristy than Koh Lanta and is known for its outdoor beauty and relaxing, scenic atmosphere. Also, Christchurch is famous for the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Koh Lanta is well known for it's long and sandy beaches, its idyllic paradise atmosphere, and its beautiful national park.

How is Koh Lanta different from Christchurch?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Christchurch is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Christchurch. The city is filled with street art and local galleries. There's also Canterbury Museum, the International Antarctic Centre, the Arts Centre, and the Riccarton House & Bush.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Lanta. Nature and tranquil beauty are what this island is all about, so you won't find much in the form of museums or temples.

Is the Food Better in Koh Lanta or Christchurch? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Koh Lanta and Christchurch both to be excellent destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Koh Lanta. There are local markets that pop up in different places each day of the week. You may even get to sample deep-fried cicadas or dried fish. If you're looking for a more mainstream flavor, there are also curries and seafood dishes that are often locally caught.

Christchurch has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a mix of cozy cafes and casual eateries around town. You'll also find some fine dining restaurants as well as international flavors.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Nightlife?

Christchurch is a great destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Koh Lanta is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

The people in Christchurch know how to have a good time. The city has its share of dance clubs, live music venues, and laid back bars. You'll find a number of popular hangout spots around Oxford Terrace or on the historic New Regent Street.

If you're looking for night time activities Koh Lanta has a few options to choose from. This is one of the most chill islands in Thailand, so you won't find the hardcore party scene of some of the more backpacker heavy islands. That doesn't mean you won't find live music or places to hang out any night of the week.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Resorts?

Koh Lanta is well known for its resorts. However, Christchurch is not a resort destination.

Koh Lanta is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Most of the hotels and resorts are small, family-owned businesses that have a local and welcoming atmosphere.

Christchurch is not a resort destination.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Lanta is well known for its diving and snorkeling. However, Christchurch is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Koh Lanta. There are snorkeling and diving trips that leave from the island daily. It's also possible to snorkel off some of the beaches around the island without organizing a group trip.

Christchurch is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Beaches?

Koh Lanta is terrific for the beache. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for the beach.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Koh Lanta. For a quiet and tranquil beach holiday, this is your spot. You can enjoy long walks along sandy beaches on the north side of the island, and on the south side you'll find dramatic beauty. The most well known beach is Long Beach, which is also the longest on the island.

Christchurch is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are sandy beaches in the area with water sports and various amenities. The summer months are the most popular time for hanging out at the beach, and you'll find local families playing in the sun or enjoying a picnic.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Hiking?

Both Koh Lanta and Christchurch are destinations which offer excellent hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Koh Lanta. You'll find hiking trails in Koh Lanta National Park, which is at the southern tip of the island. You'll wander through the jungle, see wildlife, and take in breathtaking views.

Many visitors go to Christchurch for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful hikes in the area that take you along the coastline or past local historic sights. The landscape is diverse and you'll find many amazing parks in the area. Hooker Valley Track is one of the best hiking routes nearby.

Is the Shopping Better in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Christchurch is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for its shopping areas.

Christchurch is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a mix of boutique shops, outlet malls, and open air markets. Some of the best shopping places include the Tannery and the Colombo.

Shopping in Koh Lanta can be found for those interested. The island doesn't have the huge tourist crowds of many places in Thailand, so you'll find few shops in the towns. If you need to buy clothes or other items, it's better to go to the mainland.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Families?

Christchurch is a world-class destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Koh Lanta is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Christchurch is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The International Antarctic Centre is a thrilling and fun experience. There's also the Orana Wildlife Park or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. For adrenaline junkies there are the ropes courses at the Adrenalin Forest. There are also many indoor playgrounds and rock climbing facilities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Koh Lanta. This is among the best island's in Thailand for kids. The waters are calm and the nightlife scene is relaxed. There are hotels that have kiddy pools and some even have kid's clubs. There are also kid-friendly menus at many of the restaurants.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Couples?

Koh Lanta is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Christchurch is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Koh Lanta makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The laid back vibe offers a bit of romance for couples. The beaches are beautiful and the island isn't as built up as many islands are in Thailand. And while you'll find places to go in the evening near the backpacker areas, most of the island has a chill and relaxed atmosphere.

Christchurch is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. Punting on the Avon River is one of the most romantic activities in the city. There are also botanical gardens, parks, and natural areas that are fun to explore. Nearby, you can do a wine tour, or there are cocktail bars and charming restaurants in town. The city also has a nice theater and many other date night activities.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Christchurch is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Koh Lanta is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Christchurch is a great city to visit for backpackers. There's no shortage of hostels around town, and many backpackers pass through Christchurch on their epic New Zealand adventure.

Plenty of backpackers visit Koh Lanta. You'll find backpackers on almost every island in Thailand, but this one is a bit more chill than most. It's not as touristy as most of the country's southern islands, but there are still enough amenities to make it comfortable.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Students?

Christchurch is a great destination for students. However, Koh Lanta is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Christchurch. It's the largest city on the South Island and there are plenty of activities and nearby trips that you can enjoy.

Koh Lanta is not popular with students.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Christchurch is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Christchurch, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While it's not a diverse transit system, the buses are well connected and offer the cheapest way to get around town.

Public transit is quite limited in Koh Lanta. There really isn't any public transit on the island. Most visitors hire taxis or rent motorbikes to get around.

Is Koh Lanta or Christchurch a more walkable city?

Christchurch is a great destination for its high level of walkability. However, Koh Lanta is a island with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

Christchurch is a very walkable city. The city center is relatively flat and easy to explore on foot.

Koh Lanta is not a very walkable island. While there are some parts of the island that can be explored on foot, most people get around by motorbike.

For even more information, also check out Is Koh Lanta Worth Visiting? and Is Christchurch Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Christchurch or Koh Lanta?

How long in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

It's fun to spend time in either Koh Lanta or Christchurch. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Koh Lanta due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Koh Lanta, and 2-4 days is enough time in Christchurch.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Christchurch than Koh Lanta 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 Christchurch.

One day in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

In Koh Lanta, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this tranquil island offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Christchurch. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Koh Lanta is a fun place to experience. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the beaches. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the adventure-filled destination of Christchurch. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

In Koh Lanta, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this beautiful destination offers. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Lots of people come for the beaches. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the adventure-filled city of Christchurch. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Koh Lanta is a popular place to visit. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Christchurch is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Christchurch has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta and Christchurch, 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.

When is the best time to visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch?

Christchurch has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Lanta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch in the Summer?

Both Christchurch and Koh Lanta are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Christchurch in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Koh Lanta is much warmer than Christchurch in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Christchurch fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Christchurch. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually receives less sunshine than Christchurch during summer. Koh Lanta gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Christchurch receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Koh Lanta. In July, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Christchurchin January. Koh Lanta gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Koh Lanta is June to September.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch in the Autumn?

Both Christchurch and Koh Lanta during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Christchurch for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Koh Lanta is much warmer than Christchurch. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Lanta in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Christchurch averages at about 12°C (54°F)in April.

In the autumn, Koh Lanta often gets more sunshine than Christchurchin April. Koh Lanta gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Christchurch receives 161 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in October than Christchurchin April. Koh Lanta gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lanta and Christchurch. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Christchurch because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Koh Lanta is generally much warmer than Christchurchin July. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 27°C (80°F), and Christchurch fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

In Koh Lanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Lanta usually receives more sunshine than Christchurch during winter. Koh Lanta gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Christchurch receives 122 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Lanta usually receives less rain than Christchurchin July. Koh Lanta gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. January to April in Koh Lanta is the dry season.

Should I visit Koh Lanta or Christchurch in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Lanta as well as Christchurch. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Christchurch this time of year.

Koh Lanta is much warmer than Christchurch in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Christchurch fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Christchurch. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Lanta this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Lanta often gets more sunshine than Christchurchin October. Koh Lanta gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Christchurch receives 204 hours of full sun.

Koh Lanta receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in April than Christchurchin October. Koh Lanta gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Christchurch receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to April in Koh Lanta is the dry season. June to September in Koh Lanta is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Christchurch and Koh Lanta