A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Surfers Paradise for Nightlife, Beaches, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Surfers Paradise? 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. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Surabaya travel costs.

Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise is a active, ritzy, and glamourous city. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Surfers Paradise travel costs.

Surabaya and Surfers Paradise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Surfers Paradise. Although Surabaya and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations, Surfers Paradise has more sights and attractions for tourists. Surfers Paradise is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and shopping, while Surabaya attracts visitors for its big city activities. Surfers Paradise is more touristy than Surabaya and is popular for its long sandy beaches, glamourous party scene, colorful amusement parks, and active water sports. It is also well known for the SkyPoint Observation Deck. Surabaya is famous for its role in Indonesia's independence revolution.

How is Surabaya different from Surfers Paradise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Surfers Paradise offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. For the best views of the coastline head to the SkyPoint Observation Deck at the Q1 Resort and Spa. It's in Australia's tallest residential tower. You can also visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, or the Sea World Marine Park, as well as countless other amusement parks or entertainment centers.

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 Surfers Paradise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise is an experience not to be missed. There's a trendy food scene with a number of award winning restaurants in the area. There are high end seafood restaurants, modern international eateries, and niche food bars that all cater to the tourist crowd.

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 Surfers Paradise Better for Nightlife?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Surfers Paradise is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. This high energy area is filled with glitzy nightclubs and trendy cocktail bars. There are parties that last until the early morning hours and you'll find the most active nightlife scene along the famous Surfers Paradise glitter strip.

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 Surfers Paradise Better for Resorts?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Surabaya is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Surfers Paradise is a great choice. The high-rise skyline is filled with luxury resorts and trendy hotels. Fancy pools and rooftop views make this is a glitzy and lively place to stay.

Surabaya is not a resort destination.

Is Surabaya or Surfers Paradise Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Surfers Paradise is a great destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Surabaya is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Surfers Paradise. There's no shortage of scuba diving and snorkeling excursions that leave from the area. You'll see a diversity of marine life and interesting undersea reefs.

Surabaya is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Surabaya or Surfers Paradise Better for Beaches?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Surfers Paradise. It's at the heart of the Gold Coast, and you'll enjoy two kilometers of golden sand and beautiful surf. The beaches are lined with high rise buildings and there's plenty of energy and amenities for visitors. This is a popular tourist destination and there is no shortage of water sports and other activities along the beaches.

Many people head to Surabaya to enjoy the beach. 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.

Is Surabaya or Surfers Paradise Better for Hiking?

Surfers Paradise is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Surfers Paradise is a good destination for hiking. Outside of town you'll find many coastal hikes and inland trails. You can see waterfalls or breathtaking views of the water.

Surabaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Surabaya is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Surfers Paradise is a world class destination for shoppers. Beachside markets sell local items. There are also large shopping malls that are filled with international fashion brands and boutique shops that sell unique items.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Is Surabaya or Surfers Paradise Better for Families?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Surfers Paradise is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with activities that kids and adults will enjoy. There's everything from sandy beaches to amusement park rides and entertainment centers. Check out Infinity, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, or the view from Q1 SkyPoint. There's also countless minigolf places, kayaking, and other water sports.

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 Surfers Paradise Better for Couples?

Surfers Paradise is a great destination for couples. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for romance.

Couples visit Surfers Paradise frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Walk along the beach or take in the view from Q1 SkyPoint. There are also many fun-filled adventure activities as well as restaurants and a lively party scene.

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 Surfers Paradise Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Surfers Paradise is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Surabaya is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Surfers Paradise is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers who want fun entertainment, a lively beach scene, and water sports will find their place here. There are also hostels with reasonable rates and plenty of backpackers to hang out with.

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

Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Without a car, you can use the shuttle buses, public buses, and light rail to get around.

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 Surfers Paradise a more walkable city?

Surabaya is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Surfers Paradise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Surfers Paradise is somewhat walkable. There are walking and bike paths around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Surfers Paradise or Surabaya?

How long in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Both Surabaya and Surfers Paradise have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Surfers Paradise than in Surabaya. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Surabaya, and 3-7 days is enough time in Surfers Paradise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise.

One day in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

The city of Surfers Paradise offers museums and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Surfers Paradise?

People visit Surabaya because there is so much to do. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Surfers Paradise is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Surabaya is a popular choice for travelers. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Surfers Paradise is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Surfers Paradise, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Surabaya is a great place to explore. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Surfers Paradise is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Surfers Paradise has to offer. 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 Luxury Tours to Australia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Surfers Paradise, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Surabaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Surabaya is in Asia and Surfers Paradise 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 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Surfers Paradise?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Surfers Paradise, 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.