A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. Darwin for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Darwin?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Darwin? 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.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a cultural, historical, and colorful city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Yogyakarta travel costs.

Darwin

Darwin is a multicultural, authentic, and local town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking. See Darwin travel costs.

Yogyakarta and Darwin: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

You'll generally find more things to do in Yogyakarta than Darwin. Yogyakarta is bigger than Darwin, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Yogyakarta is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Darwin is more popular for its beaches and hiking. Yogyakarta is more touristy than Darwin and is popular for its beautiful temples, divine food, and lively dance shows. Also, Yogyakarta is famous for Borobudur Temple. Darwin is well known for its outdoor markets and tropical weather.

How is Yogyakarta different from Darwin?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Yogyakarta is terrific for its sights and museums. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Yogyakarta are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is known for it's cultural sights and temples. Kraton Yogyakarta is the palace where the Sultan lives. You should also visit Taman Sari Water Castle and Prambanan Temple. But for many visitors, Yogyakarta is seen as the gateway to the famed Borobudur Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It offers spectacular views and is best visited at sunrise.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Darwin. You can check out the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, explore the city's Waterfront Precinct, and spend some time at the Darwin Military Museum.

Is the Food Better in Yogyakarta or Darwin? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Yogyakarta is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Yogyakarta. It's filled with street food stalls and cheap eateries where you can fill up on local Indonesian classics for a cheap price. Gudeg (stewed jackfruit), Satay, and Bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles) are just some of the dishes that you must try.

Darwin is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are plenty of local restaurants that serve seafood or local twists on international flavors. Many restaurants offer Barramundi that is prepared in unique ways. You can try the Barramundi Bibimbap or the Crispy Baby Barramundi.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Nightlife?

Yogyakarta is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Yogyakarta has plenty to do after the sun goes down. With a large student population, you'll find many bars and live music venues around town. You'll also find night markets and plenty of theaters and live shows that you can enjoy.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Darwin. You'll find the most bars along Mitchell Street or in the Waterfront Precinct area. There are also some popular nightclubs and music venues in town.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Beaches?

Darwin is a popular place for the beach. However, Yogyakarta is not a beach destination.

Darwin is a good option for a beach vacation. Most people don't swim at the beaches because of the saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish. You can hang out in the sand though and Mindil Beach is a favorite spot for locals.

Yogyakarta is not a beach destination.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for its Old Town?

Yogyakarta is notable for its old town. However, Darwin does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Yogyakarta to see the historical old town. Kota Gede is the city's old town. It's filled with silver shops, religious sites, and traditional architecture. You'll also find a traditional market in the heart of the old town where you can buy coconut, dry fish, and tofu, or simply browse the unique items.

Darwin does not have a historic old town.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Hiking?

Darwin is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Yogyakarta is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Darwin. In addition to city walks, there are many national parks that make great day trips from town. Litchfield National Park has many hikes as does Mary River National Park. The town is also known as the gateway to Kakadu National Park.

Yogyakarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Yogyakarta is terrific for its shopping opportunities. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Yogyakarta make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is filled with craftsmen and a local art scene that makes it a wonderful shopping destination. There are countless markets and shops where you can pick up local handicrafts that highlight the city's culture.

Darwin has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are shopping malls, art galleries, and trendy boutiques around town.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Families?

Darwin is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Darwin is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy the many outdoor activities in town and in the surrounding areas. There are wildlife parks and several national parks in the area like Litchfield National Park. For many families, this is a stop off on there way to Kakadu National Park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Yogyakarta. It's often overlooked by families, but the temples, culture, art scene, and friendly people all make this a surprisingly fun destination for those traveling with kids. You'll also find a number of adventure activities in the area as well.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Yogyakarta and Darwin make for a notable place to visit.

Yogyakarta makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with fun activities for couples such as a visit to Taman Pelangi at night, taking a walk along Jalan Malioboro, and taking in a traditional dance performance.

Darwin is a good city for couples to visit. The beautiful weather means that you can spend most of your time outdoors. Sunset picnics are popular, but for many visitors, it's all about the day trips to nearby parks.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yogyakarta is notable for backpackers. Also, Darwin is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Yogyakarta is a great city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers who want to experience Indonesia's culture and friendly population will love a visit to this lively city. There are plenty of hostels and other travelers to meet, but there's also a uniquely Indonesian vibe to the city.

Darwin is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels in town that make this an easy place to spend a night or two for backpackers.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Students?

Yogyakarta is a nice place to visit for students. However, Darwin is not popular with students.

Yogyakarta is a good city to visit for students. There's a large number of students in the city, which makes this a fun place to study abroad.

Darwin is not popular with students.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Darwin is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Yogyakarta is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Darwin has some public transit options. There are public buses around town. There's also a waterfront shuttle.

Public transit is generally limited in Yogyakarta. There's a public bus system known as Trans Jogja, which is used by both tourists and locals. You can also hire motorbikes, becak, or Ojek.

Is Yogyakarta or Darwin a more walkable city?

Yogyakarta and Darwin are notable when it comes to walkability.

Yogyakarta is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the main sights are accessible on foot.

Darwin is a somewhat walkable city. There are biking and walking paths around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Yogyakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Darwin Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Darwin or Yogyakarta?

How long in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Yogyakarta and Darwin. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Yogyakarta than in Darwin. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Yogyakarta, and 2-3 days is enough time in Darwin.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yogyakarta than Darwin 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 Yogyakarta.

One day in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Yogyakarta. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the authentic town of Darwin, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Yogyakarta 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Darwin, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Yogyakarta. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Darwin, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the colorful destination of Yogyakarta. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Darwin is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco 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 Yogyakarta and Darwin, we can see that Darwin is more expensive. And not only is Yogyakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yogyakarta is in Asia and Darwin 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 Yogyakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yogyakarta 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin than you might in Yogyakarta.

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

Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Darwin?

Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Darwin, 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.