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

Should you visit Surabaya or Sendai?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Sendai? 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. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and shopping. See Surabaya travel costs.

Sendai

Sendai is a high energy, vibrant, and cosmopolitan city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Sendai travel costs.

Surabaya and Sendai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Sendai?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Sendai than Surabaya. While Surabaya is larger than Sendai, Sendai has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sendai is more popular for its museums and attractions and nightlife, while Surabaya is known for its big city activities. Sendai is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also home to the statue of Lord Masamune. Surabaya is popular for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Surabaya different from Sendai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Sendai is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Sendai offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

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 Sendai? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Surabaya and Sendai can be an enjoyable experience.

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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Sendai. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Surabaya or Sendai Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is a great destination for its evening party scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The people in Sendai know how to have a good time. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

If you're looking for night time activities Surabaya has a few options to choose from. 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.

Is Surabaya or Sendai Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Surabaya and Sendai 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 Sendai to enjoy the beach. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Sendai?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sendai and Surabaya.

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 is a popular activity when visiting Sendai. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Is Surabaya or Sendai Better for Families?

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

Sendai is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

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 Sendai Better for Couples?

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

Sendai is a good city for couples to visit. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

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 Sendai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Sendai. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

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

Sendai is a great destination for its public transit. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Sendai can get you to most places easily. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

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 Sendai a more walkable city?

Surabaya and Sendai both are very good when exploring on foot.

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.

Sendai is very walkable. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

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

Should I spend more time in Sendai or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Sendai?

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

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

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

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

One day in Surabaya or Sendai?

Surabaya is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The city of Sendai offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Surabaya or Sendai?

Surabaya is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Sendai 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 Sendai, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Sendai?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Surabaya. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Sendai 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 Sendai?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the authentic big city of Surabaya. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Sendai 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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Sendai, we can see that Sendai 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Sendai?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Sendai, 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.