A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sendai vs. Gold Coast for Nightlife, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sendai or Gold Coast?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Gold Coast, 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 vibrant, cosmopolitan, and lively city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a fun-filled, glamourous, and vibrant coastline. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Sendai and Gold Coast: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Gold Coast?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Gold Coast than Sendai. While Sendai is larger than Gold Coast, Gold Coast has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Gold Coast is more touristy than Sendai and is known for its colorful theme parks, thrilling water sports, and nearby rainforests. It is also home to the long sandy beaches. Sendai is popular for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August.

How is Sendai different from Gold Coast?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Sendai and Gold Coast.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sendai can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Gold Coast. The views from the observation deck at the Q1 Resort and Spa are a not-to-be-missed experience. You'll also find many amusement parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the area.

Is the Food Better in Sendai or Gold Coast? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Gold Coast has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The coastline is filled with modern Australian restaurants that serve locally caught seafood and modern twists on traditional dishes. There are wine bars, fine dining restaurants, and more casual options. You'll also find plenty of international eateries as well.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sendai area. 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.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Nightlife?

Gold Coast is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Gold Coast is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The nightlife scene is filled with ritz and glam, but you'll also find wild beach parties and lively nightclubs. There are backpackers and students that keep the parties going until the morning hours.

The people in Sendai know how to have a good time. 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.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Resorts?

Gold Coast is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Sendai is not a resort destination.

Gold Coast offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Resorts range from family-friendly to backpacker-focused with everything in between. There are many high rise resorts that have luxury pools and beachfront views.

Sendai is not a resort destination.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Gold Coast to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. There are many dive shops and snorkeling excursions. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, there are excursions that will not disappoint. There are also many places that offer certification courses.

Sendai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Beaches?

Gold Coast is renowned for the beache. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

The beaches in Gold Coast are among the best in the world. This stretch of beachline is perfect for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. There are miles of coastline that are sandy and beautiful and some of the most popular beaches include the Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach.

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 Gold Coast Better for Hiking?

Gold Coast is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk connects the area's diverse and lush rainforests through the Numinbah Valley. It's a World Heritage Area with subtropical rainforest as well as warm temperate rainforest, and Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforest.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Gold Coast?

Shoppers can find a variety of very good stores in both Sendai and Gold Coast.

Sendai is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Gold Coast. There are large outlet malls, outdoor markets, and designer shopping centers. You'll find trendy fashion designers as well as the typical souvenir shops.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Families?

Gold Coast is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Gold Coast is an amazing family-friendly coastline to visit. It's filled with popular theme parks and other adrenaline-filled activities. There are surfing lessons, wildlife sanctuaries, ropes courses, and water sports. Kids of all ages will appreciate this fun-filled setting with its many family-friendly resorts and restaurants.

Sendai is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast Better for Couples?

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

Gold Coast has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Couples that energy high energy activities, water sports, theme parks, and parties that last into the morning, will love a stay at this vibrant coast. There's no shortage of great restaurants, entertaining shows, and fun activities that you can experience.

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 Gold Coast Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Gold Coast is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Gold Coast is extremely popular for backpackers. Backpackers flock to this vibrant coastline. There are hostels and budget-friendly places to stay, and there's a huge nightlife scene. The many activities and long sandy beaches make this a well established stop on Australia's backpacker circuit.

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 Gold Coast Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find very good public transit in both Sendai and Gold Coast.

The public transit in Sendai can get you around easily. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Gold Coast offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a bus, train, and tram network that's operated by TransLink and runs along the coast.

Is Sendai or Gold Coast a more walkable city?

Sendai is a great city for its ease of walking around. Also, Gold Coast is not as popular, but is still a nice coastline for its walkability.

Sendai is a very walkable destination. 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.

Gold Coast is somewhat walkable. There are parts of the area that can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Sendai Worth Visiting? and Is Gold Coast Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Gold Coast or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Gold Coast?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast.

One day in Sendai or Gold Coast?

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant city of Sendai, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Gold Coast. 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 Gold Coast?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Sendai, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast?

Sendai, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gold Coast. 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 Gold Coast?

Sendai is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant destination of Gold Coast. This coastline 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 Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Sendai and Gold Coast, we can see that Sendai 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 Sendai is in Asia and Gold Coast 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 Sendai Expensive? and Is Gold Coast Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sendai or Gold Coast?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Gold Coast. When comparing the sizes of Sendai and Gold Coast, 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 Sendai or Gold Coast?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Gold Coast. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Gold Coast for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Sendai is cooler than Gold Coast. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sendai in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gold Coast this time of the year. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during summer. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 256 hours of full sun in the summer.

Gold Coast receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sendai usually receives less rain than Gold Coastin January. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Sendai or Gold Coast in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Gold Coast. Most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Gold Coast because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

In October, Sendai is generally cooler than Gold Coastin April. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 15°C (59°F), and Gold Coast fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. In the autumn, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin April. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 214 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Gold Coast. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sendai usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Gold Coastin April. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Gold Coast in the Winter?

Both Gold Coast and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Gold Coast this time of year.

The weather in Sendai can be very cold. Sendai is much colder than Gold Coast in the winter. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 2°C (35°F) in January, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Gold Coast. Sendai usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during winter. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Sendai usually receives less rain than Gold Coastin July. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Sendai or Gold Coast in the Spring?

Both Gold Coast and Sendai during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Gold Coast for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Sendai is much colder than Gold Coast. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sendai in April average around 10°C (51°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.

In Gold Coast, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin October. Sendai gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 259 hours of full sun.

Gold Coast gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sendai usually gets less rain in April than Gold Coastin October. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Gold Coast and Sendai