A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Lake Tekapo for Families, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Lake Tekapo? 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 undiscovered, authentic, and local city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife. See Surabaya travel costs.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a remote, basic, and small town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include hiking. See Lake Tekapo travel costs.

Surabaya and Lake Tekapo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Surabaya. Although Surabaya and Lake Tekapo are popular destinations, Surabaya has more sights and attractions for tourists. Surabaya is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Lake Tekapo attracts visitors for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Lake Tekapo is more touristy than Surabaya and is known for its hot springs, remote location, and beautiful night sky. Surabaya is famous for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution. It is also well known for the Submarine Monument.

How is Surabaya different from Lake Tekapo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Surabaya is a city with a few options for its museums and landmarks. However, Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

Surabaya offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. 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.

Lake Tekapo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Surabaya is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

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

Lake Tekapo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The town is very small with just a couple of restaurants and fast food joints.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo Better for Nightlife?

Surabaya is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Lake Tekapo This is a very small town and there isn't a real nightlife scene. The night sky is incredible though, and you should absolutely do some stargazing.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo Better for Beaches?

Surabaya is a good destination for the beach. However, Lake Tekapo is not a beach destination.

Surabaya offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Lake Tekapo is not a beach destination.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo Better for Hiking?

Lake Tekapo is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Lake Tekapo. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

Surabaya is a great destination for its shopping areas. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Surabaya. 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.

Shopping in Lake Tekapo can be found for those interested. There are a couple of shops where you can pick up basic necessities.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo More Beautiful?

Lake Tekapo is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Lake Tekapo attracts visitors from all around. You really want to get out of town and explore the area's stunning natural beauty.

Surabaya is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo Better for Families?

Lake Tekapo is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Lake Tekapo is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to Tekapo Springs, which is particularly fun in the winter months. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and, of course, the hot pools. There are also short hikes in the area like the Mount John Summit Walk. Biking, paddleboarding, and kayaking are also popular in the area.

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 Lake Tekapo Better for Couples?

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

Lake Tekapo is a good town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the stunning scenery, beautiful hikes, and the romantic hot springs. Stargazing is another popular activity in the area.

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 Lake Tekapo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Lake Tekapo. It's a small town with a couple of cheap places to stay that backpackers will appreciate.

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

Surabaya is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, Lake Tekapo is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally 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.

Public transit is quite limited in Lake Tekapo. Public transportation in the area is very limited. If you don't have a car, you'll want to arrange tours to get out and about.

Is Surabaya or Lake Tekapo a more walkable city?

Surabaya is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Lake Tekapo is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

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

Lake Tekapo is somewhat walkable. The town is small enough to get around on foot, and you can hire a tour to get out into the region.

For even more information, also check out Is Surabaya Worth Visiting? and Is Lake Tekapo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lake Tekapo or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo to fill your time. In our opinion, Surabaya has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Surabaya than Lake Tekapo. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Surabaya than Lake Tekapo 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 Surabaya.

One day in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

Surabaya is a authentic city where you can fill many days. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The beautiful town of Lake Tekapo offers . Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Lake Tekapo?

Surabaya is a local big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Lake Tekapo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Lake Tekapo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

The undiscovered city of Surabaya offers shopping and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Surabaya. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Lake Tekapo is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town 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 Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.

When comparing the travel costs between Surabaya and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Surabaya is in Asia and Lake Tekapo 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 Surabaya Expensive? and Is Lake Tekapo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 7200 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Lake Tekapo, 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.