A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nara vs. Te Anau for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Nara or Te Anau?

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

Should I visit Nara or Te Anau? 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. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a breathtaking, stunning, and pristine town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the food and hiking.

Nara and Te Anau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nara or Te Anau?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Nara than Te Anau, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Nara is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Te Anau is more popular for its food, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Te Anau is more touristy than Nara and is popular for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Nara is well known for its many temples and shrines, its beautiful natural areas, and its free roaming deer. Also, Nara is famous for Nara Park.

How is Nara different from Te Anau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Nara is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Te Anau offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The town is about the surrounding outdoor activities but you will find the Te Anau Vintage Machinery Museum and the Te Anau Trout Observatory in town.

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

Te Anau 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 Te Anau. The town makes a great spot to refuel after all of your hiking and outdoor adventures. There are plenty of cafes and food trucks around town where you can enjoy local dishes and a friendly atmosphere.

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 Te Anau Better for Nightlife?

Nara is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

Nara has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Te Anau is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. This is a small town that's focused on outdoor activities, but it does receive a number of tourists, so you'll find a few bars around town where you can hang out.

Is Nara or Te Anau Better for its Old Town?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Nara. 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.

Te Anau does not have a historic old town.

Is Nara or Te Anau Better for Hiking?

Te Anau 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 Te Anau specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The town serves as basecamp for Fiordland National Park so there are many amazing hikes and walks in the area. Many of the hikes begin at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and range in length and the required skill level.

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 Te Anau?

Nara is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Nara is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Te Anau has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are shops where you can pick up any outdoor supplies and food items that you may need.

Is Nara or Te Anau Better for Families?

Te Anau 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, Te Anau is a very family-friendly destination. The town's proximity to the Milford Sound make it a nice base for families who enjoy spending time outdoors. Kayaking or exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves are favorite activities in the area. There's also the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and many hikes nearby.

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 Te Anau Better for Couples?

Te Anau 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.

Te Anau makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The stunning scenery in the area, combined with small town charm, make this is a top couple's destination and a wonderful honeymoon spot. Couples who appreciate nature and outdoor adventure will fall in love with this amazing area.

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 Te Anau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Te Anau is notable for backpackers. Also, Nara is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Te Anau is a great town to visit for backpackers. For such a small town, there are a decent number of hostels and budget accommodation options in the area. The town makes a good base for exploring the region's stunning scenery.

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 Te Anau Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nara is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Nara has some very good public transit options. There are city buses that will take you through town and to the many tourist spots.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Te Anau. Public transit in the area is limited and most visitors have their own car or join one of the many tours in the area.

Is Nara or Te Anau a more walkable city?

Nara is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Te Anau is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

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

Te Anau is generally not very walkable. Exploring the area requires a vehicle and, while there are many hikes in the area, it's not easy to walk to many places. There are tours available for those that don't have a vehicle.

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

Should I spend more time in Te Anau or Nara?

How long in Nara or Te Anau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nara and Te Anau. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Te Anau than in Nara. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Nara, and 1-3 days is enough time in Te Anau.

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

One day in Nara or Te Anau?

In Nara, you'll find nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Te Anau is a small town where visitors enjoy the food. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Nara or Te Anau?

In Nara, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Nara has to offer.

Te Anau is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Nara or Te Anau?

Nara is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Te Anau is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nara or Te Anau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nara. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Nara. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Because Te Anau is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

When comparing the travel costs between Nara and Te Anau, we can see that Te Anau 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 Te Anau 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 Te Anau Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nara or Te Anau?

Nara has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Nara and Te Anau, 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.