A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Atami for Beaches, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Similan Islands or Atami?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Atami 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.

Similan Islands

Similan Islands is a spectacular, idyllic, and remote island chain. Similan Islands is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Similan Islands travel costs.

Atami

Atami is a nostalgic, authentic, and overlooked town. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Atami travel costs.

Similan Islands and Atami: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Similan Islands or Atami?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Similan Islands than Atami, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Similan Islands is better known for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Atami is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Atami is more touristy than Similan Islands and is known for its onsen (hot springs) and sandy beaches. Similan Islands is well known for its world class diving and remote setting. Also, Similan Islands is famous for the undersea world.

How is Similan Islands different from Atami?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Similan Islands or Atami?

Atami is a town with good options for its museums and history. However, Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

Atami offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The onsen, or hot springs, have historically been a big draw to this town. Places to experience them include Oedo Onsen Monogatari Atami, Otsuki Hotel Wafukan, and Myoraku-Yu. Other sights around town include Kaminiya Shrine and the MOA Museum of Art.

Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Similan Islands or Atami? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Similan Islands and Atami can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Similan Islands has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Most people visit the islands as part of an organized tour, which usually provides meals as part of the package.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Atami area. You'll find an authentic Japanese dining experience here, with a lot of seafood due to the city's coastal location. Popular dishes include sushi, dried fish, and fish boiled in broth.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Nightlife?

Atami is a town with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Atami. The town was once a place to escape the city and enjoy a fun night out, but these days it's a bit quieter and has more of a nostalgic vibe. Head to Yushima Yugijo Yushima Amusement Center for some of the best nightlife in town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Similan Islands. Peace and tranquility is what makes these islands special, and you'll find very limited amenities and no nightlife on the islands.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Similan Islands is renowned for its diving and snorkeling. However, Atami is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Similan Islands is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. These islands offer one of the world's most famous and impressive diving spots. World class divers travel great distances to experience the undersea world here. There are liveaboard boat trips that range in length from 4 to 6 nights and leave from either Khao Lak or Phuket. These trips will take you to the many great dive spots in the area. Do take note that the islands close every year from May until October.

Atami is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Beaches?

Similan Islands is renowned for the beach. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Similan Islands is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The world class beaches have white sand and stunningly blue waters. The setting is challenging enough to reach that you'll likely have few people to share the beaches with. The undersea world is also among the best and most vibrant around.

Atami offers a nice beach destination. The most popular beach in the city is Atami Sun Beach, which is right in town. It's a place to relax in the sun, and there are sometimes fireworks throughout the year.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Hiking?

Similan Islands is a island chain with good options for its hiking trails. However, Atami is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Similan Islands. There are hikes through the jungle and to various viewpoints on several of the islands.

Atami is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Similan Islands or Atami?

Atami is a town with good options for its shopping opportunities. However, Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Atami. You'll find a couple of retro shopping streets in town such as Atami Ekimae Shopping Street, Nakamise Shopping Street, and Heiwadori Shopping Street. There are arcades and food stalls where you can sample local dishes.

Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Similan Islands or Atami More Beautiful?

Similan Islands is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Atami is not a destination known for its beauty.

Similan Islands is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The remote setting makes this one of the few truly pristine places left to explore. In addition to the white sand and blue water, the undersea world here is spectacular.

Atami is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Families?

Both Similan Islands and Atami are notable to visit with kids.

Similan Islands is a family-friendly island chain. It's a remote setting, but it's spectacularly beautiful with great snorkeling and sandy beaches that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Atami. The city is a hot springs area, but you can also head to the nearby beaches and other family-friendly activities.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Couples?

Similan Islands is renowned for its romantic activities. Also, Atami is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Similan Islands is a great island chain for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Couples who want to escape the tourist crowds will appreciate this remote and beautiful beach setting. The blue water and sandy beaches make for a true paradise.

Atami is a good island chain for couples to visit. This is a beach and hot springs resort area, and in historic times it was a honeymoon destination. Today you'll find beaches, hot springs, shopping, and museums to explore, but most visitors use it as a base to explore the nearby areas, as the town itself doesn't have a lot to offer.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atami is a town with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for backpackers.

Atami is a good town to visit for backpackers. While there aren't a huge number of hostels in the area, and backpackers often skip over this town, prices aren't particularly high so you should be able to find something affordable.

Similan Islands is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's remote setting makes it challenging to reach on a budget, but if you're willing to devote a day or more to travel, then you'll be well rewarded.

Is Similan Islands or Atami Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Atami is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its public transit.

Atami has some public transit options. There are public buses, such as the YuYu Bus, which has two routes and passes by many of the town's attractions.

Public transit is generally limited in Similan Islands. The national park operates boats between the islands. You can also charter private longtail boats, however these must be secured in advance and availability is not guaranteed.

Is Similan Islands or Atami a more walkable city?

Similan Islands and Atami are notable when it comes to walkability.

Similan Islands is a somewhat walkable place. There are footpaths that connect the points of interest on some of the islands.

Atami is a somewhat walkable island chain. Some parts of the city are more walkable than others.

For even more information, also check out Is Similan Islands Worth Visiting? and Is Atami Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Atami or Similan Islands?

How long in Similan Islands or Atami?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Similan Islands or Atami to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Similan Islands than Atami because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Similan Islands, and 1-2 days is enough time in Atami.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atami than Similan Islands 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 Atami.

One day in Similan Islands or Atami?

In Similan Islands, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this spectacular destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This island chain offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The nostalgic destination of Atami offers nightlife and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Similan Islands or Atami?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Similan Islands. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

The town of Atami offers food and shopping. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Similan Islands or Atami?

Similan Islands is a fun place to experience. In Similan Islands, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this destination offers. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Atami is a great place to explore. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Similan Islands or Atami?

In Similan Islands, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and food that this spectacular destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Atami. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Atami, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Atami much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atami would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atami 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 Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Atami.

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Atami?

Atami has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Similan Islands experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Atami in the Summer?

Both Atami and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Atami this time of year.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Atami in the summer. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Atami fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Atami during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 140 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Atami. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Atami. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Atami receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Atami in the Autumn?

Both Atami and Similan Islands during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Atami for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is much warmer than Atami. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Atami averages at about 18°C (64°F).

In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Atami. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 130 hours of full sun.

Atami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Atami. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Atami receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year. October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Atami in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Atami. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Atami in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Atami. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Atami fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Atami during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Atami receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Atami. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Atami receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Atami in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Atami. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Atami for the beaches during these months.

Similan Islands is much warmer than Atami in the spring. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Atami fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Atami. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Atami receives 161 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Atami. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the spring. Similan Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Atami. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Atami receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Atami and Similan Islands