A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nara vs. Nelson for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Nara or Nelson?

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

Should I visit Nara or Nelson? 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.

Nara

Nara is a historic, cultural, and traditional city. Nara is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and hiking. See Nara travel costs.

Nelson

Nelson is a natural, beautiful, and outdoorsy city. The beauty of Nelson is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Nelson travel costs.

Nara and Nelson: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nara or Nelson?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Nelson than Nara. While Nara is larger than Nelson, Nelson has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Nelson is very popular for its food, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Nara attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Nelson is more touristy than Nara and is known for its stunning national parks, beautiful coastline, and outdoor adventures. It is also well known for Abel Tasman National Park. Nara is famous for its many temples and shrines, its beautiful natural areas, and its free roaming deer.

How is Nara different from Nelson?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nara or Nelson?

Nara is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Nara. The city is filled with history. There are many ancient temples such as Tōdai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Yakushi-ji Temple, and Tōshōdai-ji Temple. You can also visit the Nara National Museum as well as the many parks and gardens.

Nelson offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. While most people spend their time enjoying the nature-oriented activities, there are several museums in the area as well. Founder's Heritage Park Museum is a village-like setting that you can explore. There's also the Nelson Classic Car Museum and local art and craft galleries that are fun to walk through.

Is the Food Better in Nara or Nelson? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nelson is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Nelson. Local ingredients, vineyards, and craft breweries all make the foodie scene around town interesting. There are many great restaurants that offer seasonal menus that change with the season. Eating is an experience in town, and locals take pride in the food they produce.

Nara is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The cuisine is simple and traditional with its roots in the history of the area. Many residents start their morning with a simple rice porridge. The area is also known for its persimmon leaf sushi and miwa somen (a thin, chewy noodle).

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Nightlife?

Nara is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Nara offers plenty to do in the evening. The town offers a serene and relaxed atmosphere at night. There are plenty of bars around town that are known for their friendly bartenders and you'll find many of the bars in Naramachi, which is the old town area.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Nelson. The city attracts a good tourist crowd, and there are bars and clubs that keep things interesting late into the evening.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Beaches?

Nelson is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Nara is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Nelson. Beaches in the area are sandy and most are great for swimming. There are many water sports available as well such as kayaking, kite surfing, and paddleboarding. You'll find locals and tourists alike hanging out at the beach and enjoying a barbecue.

Nara is not a beach destination.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for its Old Town?

Nara is a city with good options for its historic old town. However, Nelson does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Nara to see the historical old town. Naramachi is the old town of Nara. This is the old merchant district and today you'll find several traditional residential buildings and warehouses that are open to the public.

Nelson does not have a historic old town.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Hiking?

Nelson is a must-visit destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its hiking trails.

People visit Nelson specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The area is filled with walking and hiking trails that wander along the coast and soak up the spectacular views. There are also three national parks in the area that are filled with trails. Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park, and Nelson Lakes National Park each have their own environments and scenery to explore.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Nara. The city is all about its surrounding nature. There are historic pilgrim routes that pass through the hills and mountains, taking you by sacred sights and ancient forests. In the area you'll find some of Japan's most ancient byways.

Is the Shopping Better in Nara or Nelson?

Nara is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Nelson is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Nara is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Sanjo-dori is the main street through town. This is where you'll find many souvenir shops that sell local items and traditional food. Mochiido Center Town is the oldest shopping arcade in town and it is filled with history.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Nelson. There are weekly markets in the area and a variety of retail shops where you can pick up anything you might need.

Is Nara or Nelson More Beautiful?

Nelson is notable for its scenery and beauty. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Nelson is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. The city is surrounded by beautiful scenery and wonderful outdoor environments.

Nara offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The city is filled with green space, parks, and natural areas. You'll find deer roaming freely and tranquil lawns where you can relax.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Families?

Nelson is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Nelson is a very family-friendly destination. Surrounded by family-friendly national parks, this city has a number of things for kids to do. In particularly, Abel Tasman National Park is a highlight for kids, with canoeing, sailing and other activities. Kids will also enjoy a visit to Cable Bay Adventure Park or seeing the historically themed Founders Park.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Nara. Head to Nara Park for a bit of nature in the city. Deer roam freely in the park, which is filled with pine trees and beautiful lawns. Kids will also appreciate a visit to Ikomasanjo Amusement Park or the NARAMACHI-KARAKURI Toy Museum. You can also take a ride on the Ikoma Cable Line or spend some time at the Tennenyamato Hot Spring Nara Kenko Land.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Couples?

Nelson is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Nelson makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Wilderness, national parks, beaches, and mountain scenery make this a wonderful couples destination. The area also has beautiful vineyards and gardens as well hiking and outdoor adventures.

Nara makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is smaller than you might expect, and it's filled with green space and parks. You can wander through Nara Park, see the deer, and soak up the romantic atmosphere. You can also visit one of the beautiful temples such as Todaiji Temple. Many couples also enjoy exploring Yoshikien Garden.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nelson is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Nelson. There are many hostels in the area as well as outdoor activities and adventure sports that backpackers will love.

Nara is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels in the area that cater to backpackers and the budget travel crowd.

Is Nara or Nelson Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nara is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Nelson is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Nara can move around easily with public transportation. There are city buses that will take you through town and to the many tourist spots.

Public transit is mostly limited in Nelson. The city has a local bus network, but to efficiently explore everything that the area has to offer, you'll want to have a car.

Is Nara or Nelson a more walkable city?

Nara and Nelson both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Nara is a very walkable city. Many of the sights are within walking distance of each other, so many visitors enjoy exploring on foot.

Nelson is a very walkable destination. There are many great walks in the area and its a wonderful way to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Nara Worth Visiting? and Is Nelson Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nelson or Nara?

How long in Nara or Nelson?

In either Nara or Nelson, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Nelson than Nara because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Nara, and 3-5 days is enough time in Nelson.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nelson than Nara 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 Nelson.

One day in Nara or Nelson?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Nara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Nelson. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Nara or Nelson?

Nara 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.

Nelson is a fun place to experience. It's also a great beach destination, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Nara or Nelson?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nara. 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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the natural destination of Nelson. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Nara or Nelson?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the natural destination of Nara. This city 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.

The natural city of Nelson offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

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 New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.

When comparing the travel costs between Nara and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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. Even though Nara is in Asia and Nelson is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Nara or Nelson?

Nara has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Nara and Nelson, 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.