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

Should you visit Similan Islands or Ise?

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 Ise 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. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the beaches, hiking, and food.

Ise

Ise is a overlooked, authentic, and off-the-beaten-path city. Visitors also love the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Similan Islands and Ise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Similan Islands or Ise?

Both Ise and Similan Islands have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Similan Islands is better known for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Ise is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping. Ise is more touristy than Similan Islands and is popular for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting. Similan Islands is well known for its world class diving and remote setting.

How is Similan Islands different from Ise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ise offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. While this is an often overlooked part of Japan for tourists, those who venture here will enjoy strolling through the forest and visiting the shrine complex of Ise Jingu.

Similan Islands does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Ise 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.

Ise has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find some of Japan's best seafood around town and there are many local delicacies. Head to the downtown area around Iseshi Station to find a high concentration of places. One local specialty is the Japanese spiny lobster (also known as the Ise lobster).

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 Ise Better for Nightlife?

Ise is a decent place to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Similan Islands is lacking in options for its evening party scene.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Ise. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

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 Ise Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Similan Islands is a must-visit destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Ise 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.

Ise is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Similan Islands or Ise Better for Beaches?

Similan Islands is a must-visit destination for the beache. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Ise offers a nice beach destination. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Is Similan Islands or Ise Better for Hiking?

Similan Islands is a island chain with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Ise 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.

Ise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Similan Islands or Ise?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Ise. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Similan Islands is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Similan Islands or Ise Better for Families?

Both Similan Islands and Ise 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 Ise. The Ise Jingu Shrine complex is large and sprawling, and has the feel of a park. The kids will likely find visiting all of the temples tedious, but the forest is peaceful and the setting is beautiful.

Is Similan Islands or Ise Better for Couples?

Similan Islands is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular 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.

Ise is a good island chain for couples to visit. This is an off-the-beaten path destination that is far more than a shrine - it's a complex of shrines. It's spread out over a large space and filled with forest and peaceful walks that couples will enjoy.

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

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

Ise is a good city to visit for backpackers. It's off the radar for many backpackers, but those that make it here will find a couple of hostels and affordable accommodation options.

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

Ise 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.

Ise has some public transit options. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

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 Ise a more walkable city?

Similan Islands and Ise 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.

Ise is a somewhat walkable island chain. There are walking paths through the complex that connect the shrines, but some of the distances can be significant.

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

Should I spend more time in Ise or Similan Islands?

How long in Similan Islands or Ise?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Similan Islands and Ise. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Similan Islands than in Ise. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Similan Islands, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ise.

Couples should spend more time in Similan Islands than Ise. 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 Ise 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 Ise.

One day in Similan Islands or Ise?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the idyllic destination of Similan Islands, there's plenty to do. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

The authentic destination of Ise offers shopping and museums. 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 Ise?

Many people visit Similan Islands for a weekend. With scuba diving and snorkeling and food around the idyllic island chain of Similan Islands, there's plenty to do. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

The city of Ise offers museums and food. 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 Ise?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Similan Islands, there's plenty to do. Many people spend five days here. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.

Ise is a great place to explore. 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 Ise?

Similan Islands, a popular island chain, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for one week. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Ise. 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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

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

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 Ise Expensive?.

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

Ise 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 Ise in the Summer?

Both Ise and Similan Islands during the summer 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, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Ise this time of year.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Ise in the summer. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the summer, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Ise. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.

Ise 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 July than Ise. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Ise in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ise for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Ise averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Ise during autumn. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Ise receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Ise. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Ise in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Ise. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Ise in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Ise can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Similan Islands is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the winter, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Ise. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ise. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Ise in the Spring?

Both Ise and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the beaches during these months.

Similan Islands is much warmer than Ise in the spring. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Ise during spring. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ise. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In April, Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ise. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September.

Typical Weather for Ise and Similan Islands