A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sapporo vs. Railay Beach for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sapporo or Railay Beach?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Sapporo and Railay Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Sapporo

Sapporo is a park-filled, snowy, and vibrant city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for shopping, museums, and skiing. See Sapporo travel costs.

Railay Beach

Railay Beach is a fun-filled, adventurous, and dramatic beach area. Many visitors also come to Railay Beach because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and food. See Railay Beach travel costs.

Sapporo and Railay Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Sapporo than Railay Beach, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Sapporo is better known for its skiing, museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Railay Beach is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty. Sapporo is well known for its skiing, winter activities, and the yearly Sapporo Snow Festival. Also, Sapporo is famous for Odori Park. Railay Beach is well known for its beautiful limestone cliffs and its world famous rock climbing.

How is Sapporo different from Railay Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Skiing?

Sapporo is a well-known place for snow skiing. However, Railay Beach is not a skiing destination.

Sapporo is an extremely popular place for snow skiing and other winter sports. There are many great ski areas that are an easy day trip from the center of town. Very close by you'll find Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort and Sapporo Teine is where the 1972 Winter Olympics were held. It's divided into the family-friendly Olympia Zone and the more advanced Highland Zone.

Railay Beach is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Sapporo is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Railay Beach is not a good beach area for its museums and history.

Many visitors head to Sapporo specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are a number of shrines and museums in the city. Make sure you check out Hokkaidō Shrine, Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo Clock Tower, and the Sapporo Science Center.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Railay Beach. This is an adventure sport destination that is popular for rock climbing and its scenic beauty. Therefore, there are no real museums or temples in the area.

Is the Food Better in Sapporo or Railay Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sapporo is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Railay Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach area to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Sapporo makes for a great culinary experience. The local cuisine focuses on the world class fishing in the area as well as the great agriculture. Pork is a common meat ingredient and many dishes include ramen, vegetables, or grilled seafood.

Railay Beach has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find a number of tourist oriented restaurants. Many are affiliated with hotels and resorts and serve the standard Thai options along with pizza and burgers.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Nightlife?

Sapporo is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Railay Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach area to visit for nightlife and partying.

Sapporo offers plenty to do in the evening. The city's nightlife scene is laid back and mostly concentrated in the Susukino area. In particular, King Xmhu is famous for its party nights and wild decor.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Railay Beach. It's a secluded area with a decent number of laid back bars that are usually associated with hotels or resorts. There's also a young crowd, including backpackers, who come for the beautiful setting and great rock climbing. This population insures that there's always something going on at night.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Resorts?

Railay Beach is a great beach area for its luxury resorts. However, Sapporo is not a resort destination.

In Railay Beach, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. You'll find a mix of beachside resorts and budget hotels, as well as a number of hostels in the area.

Sapporo is not a resort destination.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Railay Beach is a great beach area for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Sapporo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Railay Beach is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are dive centers that offer both snorkeling and dive trips to nearby areas.

Sapporo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Beaches?

Railay Beach is a great beach area for the beach. However, Sapporo is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Railay Beach attract visitors from all over. The beaches are famous for their dramatic limestone cliffs. There are three areas: Railay Beach West is scenic with its surrounding cliffs and popular resorts. This is the place to swim or watch the sunset. Railay Beach East is most popular for its rock climbing. You should also check out Phra Nang Cave Beach, which is the location of Phra Nang Cave.

Sapporo is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Sapporo is a well-known place for shopping. However, Railay Beach is not a good beach area for its shopping opportunities.

Sapporo is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Shopping malls are the most popular places to enjoy browsing the stores. This is particularly nice during the snowy winter months when you can escape into the heated malls.

If you're looking to go shopping, Railay Beach has some nice offerings. The Walking Street has shops that sell bathing suits or anything you may have forgotten.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach More Beautiful?

Railay Beach is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Sapporo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Railay Beach because of it's amazing beauty. The dramatic limestone cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches make this a stunning place to visit.

Sapporo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Families?

Sapporo is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Railay Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach area to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Sapporo is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has many activities for families, any time of year. There's skiing and winter sports in the winter and theme parks and camping in the summer. There's also a Puppet Theater and indoor play areas for when the weather is poor.

Railay Beach is a family-friendly city. This is a favorite beach area for many visitors to Thailand. It's only accessible by water and it offers adventure sports and calm waters that are nice for kids.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Couples?

Both Sapporo and Railay Beach are superb destinations for a couple's getaway.

Sapporo is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples will enjoy the parks, gardens, museums, and winter sports in the area. A highlight for everyone is a visit to the famous Sapporo Snow Festival, which features many ice sculptures.

Railay Beach is a very popular place to visit for couples. Rock climbing is a favorite activity here, and couples who have an adventurous spirit will enjoy this dramatic location.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Sapporo and Railay Beach are superb places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Sapporo. There are a number of hostels around town and many fun activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Railay Beach. There's no shortage of affordable accommodation that attracts budget travelers and backpackers. The area's world class rock climbing also appeals to the young and adventurous crowd.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Students?

Sapporo is a well-known place for students. However, Railay Beach is not popular with students.

Sapporo is very popular with students. The city is welcoming to international students and many people enjoy studying at Sapporo International University.

Railay Beach is not popular with students.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sapporo is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Railay Beach is not a good beach area for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Sapporo is fairly effecient and thorough. Most visitors use the subway system to get around. There are three lines - the Namboku Line, Tozai Line, and Toho Line- all of which pass through Odori Station. The city also has a streetcar and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in Railay Beach. The area is only accessible by boat and there is no road transportation.

Is Sapporo or Railay Beach a more walkable city?

Railay Beach is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Sapporo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Railay Beach is a very easy beach area to get around on foot. The area has no cars or road transportation so everything, including the beaches are easy to walk to.

Sapporo is very walkable. The city center, where you'll find many of the attractions, is walkable. Susukino Station is about a 20 or 30 minute walk from JR Sapporo Station.

For even more information, also check out Is Sapporo Worth Visiting? and Is Railay Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Railay Beach or Sapporo?

How long in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

It's fun to spend time in either Sapporo or Railay Beach. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Railay Beach due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sapporo, and 2-4 days is enough time in Railay Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sapporo than Railay Beach 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 Sapporo.

One day in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Each neighborhood in Sapporo has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Railay Beach, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This beach area offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Sapporo is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Railay Beach, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Railay Beach has to offer.

Five days in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

You'll find skiing and nightlife around the vibrant big city of Sapporo. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Railay Beach is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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.

A week in Sapporo or Railay Beach?

Sapporo is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Railay Beach. Many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting Railay Beach. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Sapporo and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach 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 Sapporo Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Sapporo or Railay Beach?

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

Should I visit Sapporo or Railay Beach in the Summer?

Both Railay Beach and Sapporo during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Sapporo in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

In the summer, Sapporo is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sapporo in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Sapporo often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.

Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sapporo usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.

Should I visit Sapporo or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sapporo and Railay Beach. Most visitors come to Sapporo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Sapporo is generally much colder than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Sapporo average around 11°C (52°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Sapporo usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during autumn. Sapporo gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sapporo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sapporo usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.

Should I visit Sapporo or Railay Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sapporo as well as Railay Beach. The winter months attract visitors to Sapporo because of the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

The weather in Sapporo can be very cold. Sapporo is much colder than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Sapporo averages around -5°C (24°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In the winter, Sapporo often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.

Sapporo receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sapporo usually gets more rain in January than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season.

Should I visit Sapporo or Railay Beach in the Spring?

Both Railay Beach and Sapporo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Sapporo this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Sapporo is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sapporo in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).

It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. Sapporo usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Sapporo gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In April, Sapporo usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Sapporo gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Sapporo