A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Malang vs. Darwin for Food, Hiking, Families, and Attractions

Should you visit Malang or Darwin?

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

Should I visit Malang or Darwin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Malang

Malang is a authentic, cultural, and under-rated city. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food. See Malang travel costs.

Darwin

Darwin is a authentic, local, and tropical town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Darwin travel costs.

Malang and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Malang or Darwin?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Darwin than Malang. While Malang is larger than Darwin, Darwin has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Darwin is very popular for its beaches and hiking, while Malang attracts visitors for its food. Malang is famous for its many nearby natural attractions. Darwin is famous for its outdoor markets and tropical weather. It is also well known for Mindil Beach.

How is Malang different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Malang or Darwin?

Both Malang and Darwin have nice landmarks and museums for visitors.

Malang is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a handful of museums around town that provide information on the city's culture and history. There are also mosques, temples, and the famous Rainbow Village.

Darwin offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Malang or Darwin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Malang is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. This is a top foodie destination and you'll find plenty of amazing street food. It's also the credited with being the birthplace of bakso (meatballs). Many of the dishes around town are sweet, spicy, and served with peanut sauce. It's been influenced by many different cuisines such as Chinese, Javanese, Madurese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian.

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 Malang or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Malang and Darwin.

Malang has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The universities around town mean that there's a youthful vibe to the nightlife scene. You'll also find a mix of cultural activities as well as modern and trendy venues. There are dance clubs, upscale lounges, and everything in between.

If you're looking for night time activities Darwin has a few options to choose from. 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 Malang or Darwin Better for Beaches?

Darwin is a popular place for its beaches. However, Malang is not a beach destination.

Darwin is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Malang is not a beach destination.

Is Malang or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is well known for its hiking experiences. Also, Malang is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Darwin. 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.

Many people include a hike when visiting Malang. Many visitors use this city as a base for hiking Mount Bromo. It's popular to hire a jeep tour from town, or you can hire a private driver or motorbike. Near town you'll also find one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Indonesia - Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. It's possible to hike to the base of the waterfall, but it's a very challenging route.

Is the Shopping Better in Malang or Darwin?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Darwin and Malang.

Malang is a great destination for shopping. You'll find places to pick up many local items. The region is known for its ceramics, wood, and rattan (palms).

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Darwin. There are shopping malls, art galleries, and trendy boutiques around town.

Is Malang or Darwin Better for Families?

Darwin is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Malang is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Darwin is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Malang offers lots of family activities. If you're willing to head just outside of town, you'll find theme parks and waterparks. Some of the favorites are Batu Secret Zoo, Jatim Park, Selecta Park, and Batu Night Spectacular.

Is Malang or Darwin Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Malang and Darwin make for a nice place to visit.

Malang is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy culture, museums, temples, and great food will have a good time visiting this city. It is also a bit cooler than much of Indonesia, which can make a nice escape from the heat.

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 Malang or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Malang and Darwin are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Malang. Most backpackers pass through town when they're headed to climb Mount Bromo. There are plenty of hostels and cheap places to stay as well as some sights that are worth checking out.

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

Is Malang or Darwin Better for Students?

Malang is a nice place to visit for students. However, Darwin is not popular with students.

Malang is a good city to visit for students. The university means that there's a large student population in town.

Darwin is not popular with students.

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

Darwin is a popular place for its public transit. However, Malang is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Darwin, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

Public transit is mostly limited in Malang. Angkot or mikrolet are small buses or modified cars that carry passengers around town. Many visitors also hire a motor scooter or driver to get around.

Is Malang or Darwin a more walkable city?

Malang and Darwin both are nice when exploring on foot.

Malang is somewhat walkable. The city center is relatively walkable.

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

For even more information, also check out Is Malang Worth Visiting? and Is Darwin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Malang?

How long in Malang or Darwin?

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

Families should spend more time in Darwin than Malang. 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 Malang. 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 Malang 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 Malang or Darwin?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Malang. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Darwin. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Malang or Darwin?

Malang is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Darwin 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.

Five days in Malang or Darwin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Malang. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Darwin. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

A week in Malang or Darwin?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the local destination of Darwin. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors 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 Malang and Darwin, we can see that Darwin is more expensive. And not only is Malang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Malang 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 Malang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malang 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 Malang.

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

Which is Bigger, Malang or Darwin?

Malang has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Malang 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.