A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Matsue vs. Airlie Beach for Couples, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Matsue or Airlie Beach?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Matsue and Airlie Beach 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.

Matsue

Matsue is a peaceful, pretty, and serene town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a laid back, slow-paced, and idyllic town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Matsue and Airlie Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Airlie Beach. Although Matsue and Airlie Beach are popular destinations, Airlie Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Airlie Beach is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Matsue attracts visitors for its museums, food, and historical sights. Matsue is famous for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Airlie Beach is famous for its tours and transportation that visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands. It is also well known for the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

How is Matsue different from Airlie Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Matsue is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Airlie Beach is not a good town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Airlie Beach. Oceanfront beauty is what this town is all about, so you won't find much is the form of museums and manmade landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Matsue or Airlie Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Matsue is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Matsue makes for a great culinary experience. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

Airlie Beach has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Nightlife?

Airlie Beach is a town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Airlie Beach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The town has a number of nightlife venues that include DJ hosted parties, beachfront cocktail lounges, and mellow local bars.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Resorts?

Airlie Beach is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Matsue is not a resort destination.

Airlie Beach is a world class resort vacation destination. There's everything from posh resorts and luxury hotels to family-friendly campgrounds. There are also hostels that cater to the budget crowd.

Matsue is not a resort destination.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Airlie Beach is an unbeatable place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Matsue is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Airlie Beach is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.

Matsue is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Beaches?

Airlie Beach is an unbeatable place for the beache. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Airlie Beach is considered to be a world-class beach destination. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Airlie Beach does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Matsue to see the historical old town. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Airlie Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Hiking?

Airlie Beach is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Around Airlie Beach visitors will find world-class hiking trails. You'll find many incredible hiking trails in the area. Conway National Park is a great place to hike through the rainforest and Conway State Forest is another nice spot.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Airlie Beach and Matsue.

Matsue offers some nice shopping areas. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Airlie Beach has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Head to the town's main street for your typical souvenir shops and holiday stores.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Families?

Airlie Beach is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Airlie Beach is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will enjoy playing in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, visiting the markets, or hanging out at the local beaches or playgrounds. If you're hoping to swim in the ocean, be very aware of the season and the conditions.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Couples?

Airlie Beach is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Airlie Beach is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Couples often use this as a gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. The dining scene is good and there are countless outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. There are also many different resorts in the area.

Matsue is a good town for couples to visit. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Airlie Beach is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Airlie Beach is a great town to visit for backpackers. If you're hoping to visit the Whitsunday Islands, then is a good place to base yourself as a backpacker. It has a decent selection of hostels and there are a number of restaurants and other dining options.

Plenty of backpackers visit Matsue. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Matsue can move around easily with public transportation. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

Airlie Beach has some public transit options. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.

Is Matsue or Airlie Beach a more walkable city?

Matsue and Airlie Beach both are very good when exploring on foot.

Matsue is a very walkable town. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Airlie Beach is a very walkable destination. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Airlie Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Airlie Beach or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Both Matsue and Airlie Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Airlie Beach than in Matsue. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Matsue, and 4-7 days is enough time in Airlie Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Matsue 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 Airlie Beach.

One day in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

In Matsue, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this pretty town offers. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Airlie Beach. 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 Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Matsue is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Airlie Beach is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

You'll find food and shopping around the quiet destination of Matsue. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Airlie Beach. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Matsue is a popular place to visit. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the paradise destination of Airlie Beach. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Matsue or Airlie Beach?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Matsue has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Matsue or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Airlie Beach. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Matsue this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Matsue is generally around the same temperature as Airlie Beachin January. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 25°C (78°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during summer. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.

Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Matsue usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Matsue or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Airlie Beach. Many travelers come to Matsue for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Matsue is cooler than Airlie Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the autumn, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin April. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Matsue usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Airlie Beachin April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

Both Airlie Beach and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Matsue in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

Matsue can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Matsue is much colder than Airlie Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Matsue in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during winter. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. In January, Matsue usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Matsue or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

Both Airlie Beach and Matsue during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Matsue for the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Matsue is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin October. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 13°C (55°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin October. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in April than Airlie Beachin October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Matsue