A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nara vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nara or Benxi?

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

Should I visit Nara or Benxi? 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.

Where Should I go: Nara or Benxi?

Nara

As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, The Best Cultural Tours in Japan, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When comparing the travel costs between Nara and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Nara or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nara. When comparing the sizes of Nara and Benxi, 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 Nara or Benxi?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Nara or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Nara are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nara in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Nara is around the same temperature as Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. Nara usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during summer. Nara gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Benxi. It's quite rainy in Nara. In July, Nara usually receives less rain than Benxi. Nara gets 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nara or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Nara during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nara for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Nara is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nara in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Nara often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Nara gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. Nara usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Nara gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nara or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nara and Benxi. The winter months attract visitors to Nara because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Benxi in the winter. The weather in Nara can be very cold. In January, Nara is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Nara average around 4°C (40°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Nara usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during winter. Nara gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Nara usually receives more rain than Benxi. Nara gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nara or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nara as well as Benxi. The natural beauty are the main draw to Nara this time of year.

Nara is a little warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Nara averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. In the spring, Nara often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Nara gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun.

Nara receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nara usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Nara gets 127 mm (5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Nara