A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Hobart for Couples, Food, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Similan Islands or Hobart?

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 Hobart 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. Many visitors also come to Similan Islands because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Similan Islands travel costs.

Hobart

Hobart is a historical, charming, and fascinating city. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Hobart travel costs.

Similan Islands and Hobart: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Hobart than Similan Islands, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Hobart is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, hiking, and shopping, while Similan Islands is more popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty. Hobart is more touristy than Similan Islands and is known for its quaint historical center, fresh seafood, and nearby hiking and biking trails. Also, Hobart is famous for Battery Point. Similan Islands is well known for its world class diving and remote setting.

How is Similan Islands different from Hobart?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Hobart. The town has many landmarks and museums such as Port Arthur, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A highlight of the city is Battery Point, which is like an open-air museum. Make sure you explore the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.

Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Hobart has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town has seen a surge in its culinary scene in recent years. Local chefs like to highlight the regional flavors and ingredients such as octopus, kingfish, abalone, and leatherwood honey.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Similan Islands area. Most people visit the islands as part of an organized tour, which usually provides meals as part of the package.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart Better for Nightlife?

Hobart is a city 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 Hobart. While it's a smaller city, there is still a good mix of local bars, trendy lounges, and elegant wine bars. you'll also find some great venues for live music.

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 Hobart Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Similan Islands is renowned for its diving and snorkeling. However, Hobart 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.

Hobart is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart Better for Beaches?

Similan Islands is renowned for the beach. However, Hobart is not a beach destination.

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.

Hobart is not a beach destination.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart Better for Hiking?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Hobart. The city is surrounded by bushland reserves as well as nearby Mount Wellington. The area offers many diverse hiking and walking trails and there are a wide range to choose from so whatever your hiking level, you'll find something of interest.

Similan Islands offers some nice hiking trails. There are hikes through the jungle and to various viewpoints on several of the islands.

Is the Shopping Better in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Hobart is well-known for its shopping. It has some of the best shopping in Tasmania. You'll find a great shopping experience along Elizabeth Street, which is lined with boutiques and quirky shops. The city also has a couple of outdoor flea markets that offers a unique shopping experience.

Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart More Beautiful?

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

Many visitors also come to Similan Islands because of it's amazing beauty. 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.

Hobart is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart Better for Families?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Hobart is very family-friendly. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are also fruit farms to visit and vineyards to explore in the area, as well as great hiking. For an interactive museum, head to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has some toddler-friendly displays.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Similan Islands. It's a remote setting, but it's spectacularly beautiful with great snorkeling and sandy beaches that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

Is Similan Islands or Hobart Better for Couples?

Similan Islands is renowned for its romantic activities. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

Hobart is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples will enjoy exploring the waterfront and Sullivans Cove. There are also outdoor markets and breweries around town. Botanical gardens and quaint neighborhoods also make this a lovely town to visit.

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

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

Hobart is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels around town and many great hiking trails.

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

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

Hobart has some public transit options. There's a public bus system and many of the buses leave from Elizabeth Street (between Macquarie and Collins Streets) or Franklin Square.

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 Hobart a more walkable city?

Hobart is an excellent place to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Similan Islands is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Hobart is a very walkable city. It has a compact city center that many people enjoy exploring on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Hobart or Similan Islands?

How long in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Similan Islands and Hobart. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Similan Islands than in Hobart. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Similan Islands, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hobart.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hobart 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 Hobart.

One day in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and food when visiting the destination of Similan Islands. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The historical destination of Hobart offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Similan Islands 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.

The city of Hobart offers food and shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Hobart?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Similan Islands. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Hobart is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Similan Islands or Hobart?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the idyllic destination of Similan Islands. This island chain offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Hobart. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Hobart, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Hobart much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Similan Islands is in Asia and Hobart 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 Hobart would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hobart 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 Hobart.

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 Hobart Expensive?.

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

Hobart 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 Hobart in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Hobart. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hobart this time of year.

Similan Islands is much warmer than Hobart in the summer. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Hobart fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hobart this time of the year. In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives less sunshine than Hobart during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Hobartin January. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Hobart in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Hobart. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Hobart for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is much warmer than Hobart. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Hobart averages at about 14°C (57°F)in April.

In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hobartin April. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 178 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Hobartin April. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Hobart in the Winter?

Both Hobart and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Hobart in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Hobartin July. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Hobart fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Hobart during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Hobart receives 152 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Hobartin July. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Hobart in the Spring?

Both Hobart and Similan Islands during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Similan Islands is much warmer than Hobart in the spring. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Hobart fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.

In Hobart, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Hobartin October. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hobart receives 209 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in April than Hobartin October. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Hobart receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands. June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands.

Typical Weather for Hobart and Similan Islands