A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Darwin for Nightlife, Beaches, Food, and Families

Should you visit Phuket or Darwin?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Darwin, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Phuket

Phuket is a party-hard, stunning, and activity-filled resort island. Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Phuket 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.

Phuket and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Darwin?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Phuket than Darwin, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Phuket is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Darwin is more popular for its museums and attractions and hiking. Phuket is more touristy than Darwin and is known for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Also, Phuket is famous for The Seated Maravija Buddha Statue (Big Buddha). Darwin is well known for its outdoor markets and tropical weather.

How is Phuket different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Darwin?

Darwin is a nice place to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Darwin offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Darwin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Phuket 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 Phuket. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

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 Phuket or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Phuket is a must-see party destination. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Darwin. 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.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Resorts?

Phuket is terrific for its resorts. However, Darwin is not a resort destination.

Phuket offers an unforgettable resort vacation. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Darwin is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is notable for its diving and snorkeling. However, Darwin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Phuket to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Darwin is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Beaches?

Phuket is terrific for the beach. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for the beach.

The beaches in Phuket are among the best in the world. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

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.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Phuket 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.

Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Darwin?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Darwin and Phuket.

Phuket offers some nice shopping areas. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

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

Is Phuket or Darwin More Beautiful?

Phuket is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Darwin is not a destination known for its beauty.

Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Darwin is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Families?

Darwin is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket 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.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Couples?

Phuket is notable for its romantic activities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for couples.

Phuket is a very popular place to visit for couples. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Darwin is a good resort island 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 Phuket or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

It's common for backpackers to visit Phuket. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Darwin is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels in town that make this an easy place to spend a night or two for backpackers.

Is Phuket or Darwin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Phuket and Darwin.

You'll find some public transit in Phuket, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

While Darwin offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

Is Phuket or Darwin a more walkable city?

Phuket and Darwin both are notable when exploring on foot.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Darwin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Phuket and Darwin. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Phuket than in Darwin. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-3 days is enough time in Darwin.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Phuket 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 Phuket.

One day in Phuket or Darwin?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Phuket. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Phuket or Darwin?

Phuket is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. 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 Phuket or Darwin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. 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 Phuket or Darwin?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Phuket. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the local 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Phuket and Darwin, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket is in Asia and Darwin 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Darwin Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Darwin?

Darwin has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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 Phuket or Darwin?

Darwin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Darwin in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Darwin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Darwin this time of year.

Phuket is around the same temperature as Darwin in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in January.

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Darwin during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 173 hours of full sun in the summer.

Darwin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Phuket usually receives less rain than Darwinin January. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 437 mm (17.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Phuket or Darwin in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Darwin. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Darwin for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Phuket is around the same temperature as Darwin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°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, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Darwinin April. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Darwin receives 267 hours of full sun.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket usually gets more rain in October than Darwinin April. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season.

Should I visit Phuket or Darwin in the Winter?

Both Darwin and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Darwin in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Darwinin July. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Darwin fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in Darwin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Darwin during winter. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Darwin receives 312 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Phuket usually receives more rain than Darwinin July. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Phuket is December to March.

Should I visit Phuket or Darwin in the Spring?

Both Darwin and Phuket during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Darwin for the beaches during these months.

Phuket is around the same temperature as Darwin in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Darwin fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in October.

In Darwin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the spring, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Darwinin October. Phuket gets 249 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 Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in April than Darwinin October. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Darwin receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year. June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Darwin and Phuket