A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Ise for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Surabaya or Ise?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Ise? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Surabaya

Surabaya is a local, undiscovered, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife. See Surabaya travel costs.

Ise

Ise is a authentic, off-the-beaten-path, and overlooked city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and food. See Ise travel costs.

Surabaya and Ise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Ise?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Surabaya than Ise, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Surabaya is more popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Ise is known for its museums and attractions and food. Ise is more touristy than Surabaya and is known for its important Shinto shrines and its coastal setting. Surabaya is popular for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution. It is also home to the Submarine Monument.

How is Surabaya different from Ise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Surabaya or Ise?

Ise is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ise. 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.

While most people don't head to Surabaya specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. You'll likely pass through town on your way somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out Suramadu Bridge, the House of Sampoerna, Cheng Hoo Mosque, Sanggar Agung Temple, and Ampel Mosque. It's also worth a visit to the Submarine Museum and the Heroes Monument.

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

Ise is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Ise is an experience not to be missed. 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 plenty of up and coming restaurants around Surabaya. It's a port city, and the cuisine reflexs this. You'll find a mix of different flavors that combine Javanese, Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, and Indian cuisines. Dishes include a lot of vegetables as well as tofu and tempeh. Many dishes are also sweet in flavor or incredibly spicy.

Is Surabaya or Ise Better for Nightlife?

Surabaya is a city with good options for nightlife and partying. However, Ise is not particularly known for its evening party scene.

Surabaya has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Like the rest of the city, the nightlife scene has a local vibe. There are night markets, fascinating neighborhoods, and some lively clubs and bars.

Ise doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most visitors don't stay long enough to take in the nightlife, which is limited.

Is Surabaya or Ise Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Surabaya and Ise are good choices.

Surabaya is a good option for a beach vacation. You'll find a few beaches within a short drive of the city center. Some of the popular ones include Ria Kenjeran Beach, Bentar Beach, and Delegan Beach.

Many people head to Ise to enjoy the beach. There are several nice and sandy beaches in the area that make for a nice break from the sightseeing.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Ise?

Surabaya is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Surabaya is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city has a great mix of air-conditioned mega-malls and colorful street markets. Bratang Market has become a favorite but it's also worth checking out Tugu Pahlawan Market and Ampel Market.

Ise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There's a shopping street in town with many of the shops housed in traditional buildings, giving the area a nice character.

Is Surabaya or Ise Better for Families?

Ise is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

For families, Surabaya is not always the best place to visit. You'll like be passing through this city enroute to somewhere else, but if you have some time to kill, check out the Submarine Museum. You can also wander through the market area of Qubah or explore Chinatown.

Is Surabaya or Ise Better for Couples?

Ise is a popular place for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Ise is a good city 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.

Surabaya is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some sights an museums that you can visit while you're in town.

Is Surabaya or Ise Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ise is a popular place for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Surabaya is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town but most backpackers don't spend more than a night in town.

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

Ise is a popular place for its public transit. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Ise, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The CAN Bus is a tourist bus that connects the train stations to the main attractions and runs every half hour.

Public transit is mostly limited in Surabaya. There's a bus system, but it's mostly used by locals. There are two types of buses - normal buses and patas buses, which are express.

Is Surabaya or Ise a more walkable city?

Surabaya is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Ise is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Surabaya is a very walkable city. It's one of the more walkable cities in Indonesia and it has the feel of a bunch of neighborhoods combined together.

Ise is a somewhat walkable city. 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 Surabaya Worth Visiting? and Is Ise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ise or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Ise?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Surabaya and Ise. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ise than in Surabaya. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Surabaya, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ise than Surabaya 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 Surabaya or Ise?

When visiting Surabaya, people usually allow for lots of time. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

The city of Ise offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Surabaya or Ise?

Many people visit Surabaya for a weekend. When visiting Surabaya, people usually allow for lots of time. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Ise is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ise, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Ise?

The big city destination of Surabaya offers nightlife and food. It offers something for everyone. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Ise is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Surabaya or Ise?

Surabaya, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Ise is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Ise?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Ise, 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.