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

Should you visit Phuket or Wellington?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Wellington, 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 stunning, activity-filled, and energetic resort island. Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. See Phuket travel costs.

Wellington

Wellington is a compact, laid-back, and funky city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Wellington travel costs.

Phuket and Wellington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Wellington?

Both Wellington and Phuket have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Phuket is better known for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Wellington is more popular for its museums and attractions, hiking, and shopping. Phuket is more touristy than Wellington and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Wellington is well known for its waterfront promenade, quirky cafe culture, and relaxing beaches.

How is Phuket different from Wellington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Wellington offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the capital city, you'll find a number of museums and sights around town. Check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Beehive, the Wellington Museum, and the City Gallery.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Phuket and Wellington can be difficult as they are each very good in their own way.

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."

Wellington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are waterfront restaurants and a vibrant cafe scene around town. You'll also find local markets and many diverse eateries that you can explore.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Phuket is a world class 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.

Wellington is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The best nightlife scene is found along Courtenay Place. There you'll find nightclubs, pubs, and cocktail bars. Cuba Street is another fun area with a bit more of a local vibe, and the waterfront is another great nightlife district in the city.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Resorts?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, Wellington is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Phuket is a great choice. 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.

Wellington is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is a very popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Wellington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Phuket. 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.

Wellington is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Beaches?

Phuket is a must-visit destination for the beach. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Phuket. 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.

Wellington is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are nice beaches within walking distance of the city center. There are also beaches that are well worth the drive if you're looking to get a bit out of town. In the summer months, there are swimming beaches, and year around they have nice views and a good atmosphere.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Hiking?

Wellington is a nice place to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Wellington has hiking trails worth exploring. The area has rolling hills and beautiful coastlines that are filled with walking trails and scenic views. Some of the more popular trails in the area are the Red Rocks walk and the City-to-Sea walk.

Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Wellington?

Wellington is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Wellington is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. For the city's best shopping, head to the "Golden Mile". This is the area defined by Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. There are boutique designers and high end fashion outlets throughout the area. The city also has many great markets and local shopping areas.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Is Phuket or Wellington More Beautiful?

Phuket is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Wellington 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.

Wellington is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Families?

Wellington is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Wellington is a very kid-friendly city. There's the Wellington Zoo as well as Island Bay Marine Education Centre, both of which are great for animal-lovers. Waitangi Park is a nice park where kids can run around and play, and if you're looking for something indoors, head to the Space Place at Carter Observatory. If everyone needs some down time, there's always the beach with is fun to hang out at.

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 Wellington Better for Couples?

Phuket is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Phuket makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Wellington is a good resort island for couples to visit. The botanical gardens are beautiful to explore, and there is also a bird sanctuary in the area as well. Couple's will also enjoy the many nice restaurants and beautiful outdoor space around town.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Wellington is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Wellington is a great city to visit for backpackers. Located on the south side of the North Island, many backpackers use this city as a gateway to the South Island. There are many hostels around town and other fellow backpackers to hang out with.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. 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.

Is Phuket or Wellington Better for Students?

Wellington is a nice place to visit for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Wellington is popular with students. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is a nice setting for students.

Phuket is not popular with students.

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

Wellington is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Wellington can get you around easily. There are city buses, trains, and ferries that are popular with tourists and locals alike.

While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Phuket or Wellington a more walkable city?

Wellington is a great destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Wellington is a very walkable city. This is one of New Zealand's most walkable cities and it has a compact city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Wellington or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Wellington?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Phuket than Wellington. 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 Wellington than Phuket 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 Wellington.

One day in Phuket or Wellington?

With shopping and nightlife around the party-hard resort island of Phuket, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Wellington. 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.

A weekend in Phuket or Wellington?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Phuket, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Wellington 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 Wellington?

Phuket, a popular resort island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this resort island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Wellington. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Wellington?

Phuket is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this resort island makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this resort island has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the compact destination of Wellington. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

When comparing the travel costs between Phuket and Wellington, 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 Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Wellington?

Wellington has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Wellington, 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 Wellington?

Wellington 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 Wellington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Wellington. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Phuket is much warmer than Wellington in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wellington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Wellingtonin January. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Wellington in the Autumn?

Both Wellington and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Wellington because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Phuket is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Wellington averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.

Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin April. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Should I visit Phuket or Wellington in the Winter?

Both Wellington and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.

In January, Phuket is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin July. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.

Wellington gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or Wellington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Wellington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches.

Phuket is much warmer than Wellington in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Wellington and Phuket