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

Should you visit Matsue or Darwin?

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 Darwin 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 historic, quiet, and peaceful town. The beauty of Matsue is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Matsue travel costs.

Darwin

Darwin is a authentic, local, and tropical town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Darwin travel costs.

Matsue and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Darwin?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Darwin than Matsue. While Matsue is larger than Darwin, Darwin has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Darwin is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Matsue is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Matsue is more touristy than Darwin and is known for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Darwin is well known for its outdoor markets and tropical weather. Also, Darwin is famous for Mindil Beach.

How is Matsue different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Matsue 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 Matsue can be an interesting and educational experience. 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 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 Matsue or Darwin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Matsue 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 Matsue. 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.

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 Matsue or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

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

Darwin has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

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 Darwin Better for Beaches?

Darwin is a town with good options for the beach. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Darwin. 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.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Darwin Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Darwin does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Matsue to see the 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.

Darwin does not have a historic old town.

Is Matsue or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Matsue is not a hiking destination.

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.

Matsue is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Darwin?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Darwin 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.

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

Is Matsue or Darwin More Beautiful?

Matsue is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Darwin is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Matsue is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. This is a pretty town with a peaceful atmosphere, beautiful gardens, and a lakefront setting.

Darwin is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Matsue or Darwin Better for Families?

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

Darwin is a very kid-friendly town. 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.

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 Darwin Better for Couples?

Both Matsue and Darwin are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Matsue makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Darwin is a good town for couples to visit. 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 Matsue or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue and Darwin are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Plenty of backpackers 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 Matsue or Darwin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Matsue is notable for its public transit. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Matsue can get you around easily. 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.

Darwin has some public transit options. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

Is Matsue or Darwin a more walkable city?

Matsue is notable for its high level of walkability. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its ease of walking around.

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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Darwin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Matsue and Darwin. In our opinion, Matsue has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Matsue than Darwin. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

One day in Matsue or Darwin?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Matsue. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Matsue or Darwin?

Matsue 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.

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 Matsue or Darwin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. 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 Matsue or Darwin?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the serene destination of Matsue. This town 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 multicultural 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 Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Matsue and Darwin, we can see that Darwin 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 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 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 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 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 Darwin Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Darwin?

Matsue has a larger population, and is about 68% larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Matsue 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.

When is the best time to visit Matsue or Darwin?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Darwin 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 Darwin in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Darwin. Most visitors come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Darwin because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Matsue is cooler than Darwin in the summer. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in January.

In Matsue, it's very sunny this time of the year. Matsue usually receives more sunshine than Darwin during summer. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun in the summer.

Darwin 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 Darwinin January. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Matsue or Darwin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Darwin. The autumn months attract visitors to Matsue because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.

In the autumn, Matsue is much colder than Darwin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Matsue in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Darwin averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Darwin. In the autumn, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Darwinin April. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 267 hours of full sun.

Matsue receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Matsue usually gets more rain in October than Darwinin April. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Darwin in the Winter?

Both Darwin and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Matsue this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Darwin for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. In January, Matsue is generally much colder than Darwinin July. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 4°C (39°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in Darwin. Matsue usually receives less sunshine than Darwin during winter. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 312 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. In January, Matsue usually receives more rain than Darwinin July. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Matsue or Darwin in the Spring?

Both Darwin and Matsue during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Matsue for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Darwin in the spring for the beaches.

Matsue is much colder than Darwin in the spring. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in October.

In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Darwinin October. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 291 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in April than Darwinin October. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Darwin and Matsue