A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. Faro for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Backpackers

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Faro?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Faro? 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 youthful, cultural, and historical city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Yogyakarta travel costs.

Faro

Faro is a busy, active, and popular resort town. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. See Faro travel costs.

Yogyakarta and Faro: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yogyakarta or Faro?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Yogyakarta. Although Yogyakarta and Faro are popular destinations, Yogyakarta has more sights and attractions for tourists. Yogyakarta is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Faro attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Yogyakarta is famous for its beautiful temples, divine food, and lively dance shows. It is also well known for Borobudur Temple. Faro is famous for its historical sights and rich culture.

How is Yogyakarta different from Faro?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Yogyakarta is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Yogyakarta from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. 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.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Yogyakarta is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Nightlife?

The very good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Yogyakarta and Faro.

Yogyakarta has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Faro is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Resorts?

Faro is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Yogyakarta is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Faro is a great choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Yogyakarta is not a resort destination.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Yogyakarta is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Faro has a few good snorkeling spots. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

Yogyakarta is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Beaches?

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

Faro is a good option for a beach vacation. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Yogyakarta is not a beach destination.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for its Old Town?

Yogyakarta is great for its historic old town. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its 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.

Many people head to Faro to see the old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Is the Shopping Better in Yogyakarta or Faro?

Yogyakarta is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Yogyakarta. 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.

Faro offers some nice shopping areas. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Families?

Yogyakarta is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Yogyakarta offers lots of family activities. 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.

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Yogyakarta and Faro make for a nice 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.

Faro is a good city for couples to visit. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yogyakarta is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for backpackers.

Yogyakarta is very popular with the backpacker crowd. 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.

Faro is a good city to visit for backpackers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Is Yogyakarta or Faro Better for Students?

Yogyakarta is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

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

Faro is not popular with students.

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

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

Faro has some public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

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 Faro a more walkable city?

Yogyakarta and Faro are nice when it comes to walkability.

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

Faro is a somewhat walkable city. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Faro or Yogyakarta?

How long in Yogyakarta or Faro?

In either Yogyakarta or Faro, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than Yogyakarta because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Yogyakarta, and 2-5 days is enough time in Faro.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yogyakarta than Faro 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 Faro?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Yogyakarta. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With shopping and nightlife around the active resort town of Faro, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Yogyakarta or Faro?

Yogyakarta is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Faro, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this resort town.

Five days in Yogyakarta or Faro?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Yogyakarta. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Faro, a popular resort town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this resort town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Yogyakarta or Faro?

The colorful city of Yogyakarta offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

Faro 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 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.

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

Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Faro?

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