A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sendai vs. Airlie Beach for Beaches, Couples, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Sendai or Airlie Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Airlie Beach, 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.

Sendai

Sendai is a cosmopolitan, lively, and high energy city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food, beaches, and shopping. See Sendai travel costs.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a paradise, laid back, and slow-paced town. Airlie Beach is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Airlie Beach travel costs.

Sendai and Airlie Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sendai. Although Sendai and Airlie Beach are popular destinations, Sendai has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sendai is very popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Airlie Beach attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Sendai is famous for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also well known for the statue of Lord Masamune. Airlie Beach is famous for its tours and transportation that visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands.

How is Sendai different from Airlie Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Sendai is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Airlie Beach is not a good town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sendai. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Airlie Beach. Oceanfront beauty is what this town is all about, so you won't find much is the form of museums and manmade landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Sendai or Airlie Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at nice restaurants in both Sendai and Airlie Beach.

Sendai has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Airlie Beach area. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Sendai offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Airlie Beach. The town has a number of nightlife venues that include DJ hosted parties, beachfront cocktail lounges, and mellow local bars.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Resorts?

Airlie Beach is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Sendai is not a resort destination.

Airlie Beach offers an unforgettable resort vacation. There's everything from posh resorts and luxury hotels to family-friendly campgrounds. There are also hostels that cater to the budget crowd.

Sendai is not a resort destination.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Airlie Beach is renowned for its diving and snorkeling. However, Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel to Airlie Beach specifically to enjoy its famous scuba diving and snorkeling areas. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.

Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Beaches?

Airlie Beach is renowned for the beach. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

The beaches in Airlie Beach are among the best in the world. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Sendai. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Hiking?

Airlie Beach is renowned for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Airlie Beach draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. You'll find many incredible hiking trails in the area. Conway National Park is a great place to hike through the rainforest and Conway State Forest is another nice spot.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Sendai is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Sendai is an extremely popular place for shoppers. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Airlie Beach. Head to the town's main street for your typical souvenir shops and holiday stores.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach More Beautiful?

Airlie Beach is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Sendai is not a destination known for its beauty.

Airlie Beach is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Serving as a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, this town is surrounded by some of the world's most idyllic landscapes.

Sendai is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Families?

Sendai and Airlie Beach are both great destinations for the whole family.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Sendai is very family-friendly. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

Airlie Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy playing in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, visiting the markets, or hanging out at the local beaches or playgrounds. If you're hoping to swim in the ocean, be very aware of the season and the conditions.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Couples?

Airlie Beach is renowned for its romantic activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Airlie Beach has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples often use this as a gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. The dining scene is good and there are countless outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. There are also many different resorts in the area.

Sendai is a good city for couples to visit. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Airlie Beach is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Airlie Beach. If you're hoping to visit the Whitsunday Islands, then is a good place to base yourself as a backpacker. It has a decent selection of hostels and there are a number of restaurants and other dining options.

Sendai is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

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

Sendai is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Sendai can move around easily with public transportation. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Airlie Beach has some public transit options. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.

Is Sendai or Airlie Beach a more walkable city?

Sendai and Airlie Beach are great when it comes to walkability.

Sendai is a very walkable city. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

Airlie Beach is a very walkable destination. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Sendai Worth Visiting? and Is Airlie Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Airlie Beach or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Both Sendai and Airlie Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Airlie Beach than in Sendai. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sendai, and 4-7 days is enough time in Airlie Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Sendai 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 Airlie Beach.

One day in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

In Sendai, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this cosmopolitan city offers. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Airlie Beach. 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 Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Sendai 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.

Airlie Beach 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.

Five days in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Sendai. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Airlie Beach. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Sendai 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.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the paradise destination of Airlie Beach. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sendai and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Sendai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sendai is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sendai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sendai and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Sendai.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sendai Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Sendai or Airlie Beach?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Airlie Beach is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Sendai has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sendai or Airlie Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Airlie Beach. Many travelers come to Sendai for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Sendai is generally cooler than Airlie Beachin January. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 23°C (73°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. In the summer, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin January. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets less rain in July than Airlie Beachin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?

Both Airlie Beach and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sendai in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Sendai is much colder than Airlie Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during autumn. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sendai or Airlie Beach in the Winter?

Both Airlie Beach and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Sendai can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Sendai is much colder than Airlie Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sendai in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.

In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin July. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun.

Sendai usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Airlie Beachin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Airlie Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Airlie Beach. The spring months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.

In April, Sendai is generally much colder than Airlie Beachin October. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 10°C (51°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during spring. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sendai usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Sendai