A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nagasaki vs. Canberra for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Nagasaki or Canberra?

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

Should I visit Nagasaki or Canberra? 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.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a interesting, authentic, and welcoming city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Canberra

Canberra is a diverse, under-rated, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Nagasaki and Canberra: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Both Canberra and Nagasaki have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Nagasaki is more popular for its nightlife, while Canberra is known for its hiking. Nagasaki is more touristy than Canberra and is known for its history, hot spring spas, and local cuisine. Canberra is popular for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves.

How is Nagasaki different from Canberra?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nagasaki or Canberra?

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Canberra and Nagasaki.

Nagasaki offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Nagasaki Peace Park is a moving tribute to those lost during the atomic bomb attack. Other sights around town include the Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown, Kofukuji Temple, and Huis Ten Bosch.

Many visitors head to Canberra specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

Is the Food Better in Nagasaki or Canberra? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Nagasaki and Canberra both to be high quality destinations.

Nagasaki has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city has a cosmopolitan cuisine which has been influenced by China and several Western cuisines. Popular local dishes include Chanpon (a noodle dish), Sara Udon (meat, vegetables, and noodles), and Kakuni Manju (pork belly on a dough bun).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Canberra makes for a great culinary experience. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Nightlife?

Nagasaki is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Nagasaki has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The best areas for nightlife are the Doza-machi and Shianbashi districts. Shinanbashi is filled with narrow alleys and its easy to get lost.

Canberra has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Hiking?

Canberra is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Nagasaki is not a hiking destination.

Canberra is a good destination for hiking. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Nagasaki is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Nagasaki and Canberra.

Nagasaki has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Head to the waterfront for the best shopping opportunities. You'll find everything from malls to souvenir shops around town. You'll also find traditional market streets which are known as shōtengai.

Canberra is a great destination for shopping. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Families?

Canberra is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Nagasaki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Canberra. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Nagasaki. Check out Agiruno Oka Park, which has a small farm and other recreational activities. There are also several kid-friendly museums like the Nagasaki City Science Museum and the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium. There are also many parks and playgrounds as well as the Nagasaki Seaside Park.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Nagasaki and Canberra make for a good place to visit.

Nagasaki is a good city for couples to visit. There's a unique cuisine with good restaurants. There are also many parks where couples can take a stroll, as well as relaxing hot springs nearby.

Canberra is a nice destination for couples. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nagasaki is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Canberra is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Nagasaki. There are a number of hostels in the city, but you really should make reservations in advance as they tend to fill up.

Canberra is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Despite being the capital city, few backpackers actually spend much time in town. There are some budget-friendly motels if you're stopping by.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Students?

Canberra is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Nagasaki is not popular with students.

Canberra is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Nagasaki is not popular with students.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nagasaki is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Canberra is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Nagasaki has some very good public transit options. The city has four tram lines as well as city buses.

You'll find some public transit in Canberra, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

Is Nagasaki or Canberra a more walkable city?

Nagasaki and Canberra are good when it comes to walkability.

Nagasaki is a somewhat walkable city. Many parts of the city can be explored by foot. The downtown is about a kilometer from Nagasaki Station and the Peace Park is several kilometers in the other direction from the station.

Canberra is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

For even more information, also check out Is Nagasaki Worth Visiting? and Is Canberra Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Canberra or Nagasaki?

How long in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nagasaki and Canberra. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nagasaki than Canberra 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 Nagasaki.

One day in Nagasaki or Canberra?

The city of Nagasaki offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Canberra offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Nagasaki is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Nagasaki, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Canberra is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Canberra, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Nagasaki is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Canberra is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Nagasaki or Canberra?

Nagasaki is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Canberra is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Nagasaki or Canberra?

Nagasaki has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Nagasaki and Canberra, 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 Nagasaki or Canberra?

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

Should I visit Nagasaki or Canberra in the Summer?

Both Canberra and Nagasaki are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Nagasaki because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Canberra this time of year.

In July, Nagasaki is generally a little warmer than Canberrain January. Daily temperatures in Nagasaki average around 27°C (81°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite rainy in Nagasaki. In July, Nagasaki usually receives more rain than Canberrain January. Nagasaki gets 334 mm (13.1 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nagasaki or Canberra in the Autumn?

Both Canberra and Nagasaki during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Nagasaki this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Canberra for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

Nagasaki is a little warmer than Canberra in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nagasaki averages around 20°C (67°F) in October, and Canberra fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in April.

Canberra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nagasaki. Nagasaki usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Canberrain April. Nagasaki gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nagasaki or Canberra in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nagasaki and Canberra. Many travelers come to Nagasaki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Canberra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Nagasaki is much colder than Canberra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nagasaki in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Canberra averages at about 11°C (52°F)in July.

In January, Nagasaki usually receives more rain than Canberrain July. Nagasaki gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nagasaki or Canberra in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nagasaki as well as Canberra. Many visitors come to Nagasaki in the spring for the activities around the city. Additionally, most visitors come to Canberra for the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Nagasaki is generally around the same temperature as Canberrain October. Daily temperatures in Nagasaki average around 16°C (60°F), and Canberra fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

Nagasaki receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nagasaki usually gets more rain in April than Canberrain October. Nagasaki gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Canberra receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Canberra and Nagasaki