A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sapporo vs. Te Anau for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Sapporo or Te Anau?

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 Te Anau 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 snowy, vibrant, and laid-back city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the skiing, nightlife, and food.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a stunning, pristine, and breathtaking town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the food and hiking.

Sapporo and Te Anau: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sapporo or Te Anau?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sapporo. Although Sapporo and Te Anau are both popular with visitors, Sapporo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Sapporo is more popular for its skiing, museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Te Anau is known for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Sapporo is popular for its skiing, winter activities, and the yearly Sapporo Snow Festival. It is also home to Odori Park. Te Anau is popular for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

How is Sapporo different from Te Anau?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Skiing?

Sapporo is a very popular place for skiing and snowboarding. However, Te Anau is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Sapporo. 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.

Te Anau is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sapporo or Te Anau?

Sapporo 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 Sapporo. 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.

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 Sapporo or Te Anau? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Sapporo and Te Anau both to be great destinations.

Sapporo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Te Anau makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

Is Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Nightlife?

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

Sapporo has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

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 Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Hiking?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for hiking. However, Sapporo is not a hiking destination.

Around Te Anau visitors will find world-class hiking trails. 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.

Sapporo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sapporo or Te Anau?

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

Sapporo is well-known for its shopping. 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.

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 Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Families?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sapporo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Te Anau is an extremely popular town to visit for families. 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.

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.

Is Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Couples?

Te Anau is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Sapporo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Te Anau is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. 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.

Sapporo is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Sapporo and Te Anau are great 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 Te Anau. 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.

Is Sapporo or Te Anau Better for Students?

Sapporo is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Te Anau is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Sapporo. The city is welcoming to international students and many people enjoy studying at Sapporo International University.

Te Anau is not popular with students.

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

Sapporo 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.

Sapporo has some very good public transit options. 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 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 Sapporo or Te Anau a more walkable city?

Sapporo 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.

Sapporo is a very walkable city. 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.

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 Sapporo Worth Visiting? and Is Te Anau Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Te Anau or Sapporo?

How long in Sapporo or Te Anau?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sapporo and Te Anau. In our opinion, Sapporo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Sapporo than Te Anau. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sapporo, and 1-3 days is enough time in Te Anau.

Families should spend more time in Te Anau than Sapporo. 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.

Couples should spend more time in Sapporo than Te Anau. 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 Te Anau 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 Te Anau?

Because Sapporo is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Te Anau is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Sapporo or Te Anau?

Because Sapporo is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Sapporo has to offer.

Te Anau might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Te Anau has to offer.

Five days in Sapporo or Te Anau?

Sapporo is a great place to explore. 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 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.

A week in Sapporo or Te Anau?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sapporo. Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Sapporo. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Te Anau. Since Te Anau is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.

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

Which is Bigger, Sapporo or Te Anau?

Sapporo has a larger population, and is about 910 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Sapporo 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.