Samui vs Bali

Samui: more swimmable

The beaches of Samui are beautiful and, most of the time, lapped by calm waters. The brief exception to this is during the low season, from September to November. From the busiest resort towns’ beaches to the most remote strips of sand, picturesque scenes featuring white sand, coconut trees and turquoise waters are available all around Samui.

Bali: more for surfers

Beaches in Bali have a reputation for being hazardous for swimmers but are much more enjoyable for surfers. Due to its size, Bali offers a great diversity of beaches, with many different types of sand and water quality, which can make picking the right beach for your holiday a bit trickier in Bali than it is in Samui.

Samui: more beachfront

Samui is one of the destinations in southern Thailand that hosts the greatest choice of beachfront hotels and resorts. Whether you want to stay near the heart of the action in Chaweng or in the peaceful surroundings of Maenam, Lipa Noi, and Taling Ngam (to name just a few), you can easily find dozens of accommodation choices right on the beach for almost any types of budget.

Bali: more variety

As one of the prime destinations in Asia, Bali offers an astounding choice of accommodation options. You can obviously find beachfront hotels among the favourite hotels in Bali, but you also can find outstanding resorts in the mountainous and lush areas of the island, such as in Ubud or in the bustling urban environment of Seminyak.

Samui: more casual

Samui has a rather casual dining scene that can suit any budget. Even though fine-dining restaurants can be found both in hotels and as standalone establishments, they’re not especially abundant. Most of the restaurants in Samui aim at mid-range budget travellers, serving good-quality Thai and international cuisines.

Bali: more fine dining

Due to its popularity and size, Bali offers a remarkable choice of fine-dining opportunities. International chefs and 5-star restaurants serving innovative cuisine abound in the most sought-after resort towns of Bali, offering you top-notch gastronomic experiences at fair rates (compared to the price you would pay in Europe in the same type of restaurants). Besides this, you also find a lively scene of mid-range dining venues serving Indonesian and international fares at affordable rates.

Samui: more discreet

Culture and religion are somewhat discreet in Samui. Large Buddhist temples such as Samui’s Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem are obviously part of the traditional Thai culture, but in Samui and Thailand in general, there are not many big cultural street processions or events, apart from Songkran and Loy Krathong. There are only a few religious holidays per year when alcohol cannot be bought – so-called "Buddha Days".

Bali: more cultural events

With over 80% of its population adhering to Agama Hindu Dharma – a religion blending Hinduism, Buddhism and animism – Bali abounds in cultural and religious festivals. Even on a small scale, festivals and ceremonies are held on many occasions throughout the year in the streets, on the beach or at temples.

Samui: more coastal

Samui features splendid coastal scenery. Most of the beaches have a postcard-like look and give photographers great opportunities. The mountainous central part of the island is covered with lush vegetation but is unfortunately rather difficult to access due to the lack of proper roads heading that way. Only a few hotels, restaurants and attractions are available on the hillsides. Viewpoints are therefore pretty scarce, but those there are tend to be conveniently located and easily enjoyed.

Bali: more panoramic

Bali offers a wide range of stunning scenery. With about 145 km of coastline featuring tall cliffs, long white- or black-sand beaches and small, undisturbed coves, Bali’s seaside area already offers outstanding panoramas. The hinterland is as stunning as the coastline with its mountains, rice terraces, plains, waterfalls and rainforests offering astonishing tropical landscapes.

Samui: more developed

Island-hopping is one of the main activities in Samui. For snorkelling, scuba diving or simple sightseeing, the islands surrounding Samui offer a stunning playground. Ang Thong National Marine Park is perfect for sightseeing and sea kayaking and Koh Tao is very famous for its sublime underwater scenery. Last but not least, Koh Phangan is also a cool holiday destination and is world-famous for its full-moon parties.

Bali: more adventurous

Island-hopping is also possible in Bali but is not as easy as it is in Samui as, with Bali’s sheer size, where you stay will have a noticeable impact. For instance, if you spend your vacation in Kuta – the prime destination in Bali – you can easily get to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan. However, a day trip to the splendid Gili Islands, although possible, will require a long and tiring journey. Apart from Nusa Lembongan, which is a bit like Bali was several decades ago, the Gili Islands in neighbouring Lombok are the only ones featuring more accommodation options.

Samui: more beachside

Beachfront dining and partying are the trend in Samui. The island hosts a lively scene of beach clubs, where you can dance, drink and cruise until late with your toes in the sand. The neighbouring Phangan Island is the destination of choice for partygoers. With full-moon parties held all year round on Haad Rin Beach and half- or black moon parties held nearby, you can get your fill of techno, electronic and other house music.

Bali: more big names

Bali has something of a hip and trendy feel when it comes to nightlife. The island is on the circuit of many world-famous DJs, who regularly perform in the most popular nightclubs there.

Samui: more commercial

The quiet tropical island of Samui has changed a lot since the ‘70s. The development of tourism has certainly had many positive effects, creating better infrastructures such as roads, hospitals and public transport. It also means that visitors have more modern western amenities to enjoy, including shopping malls and international-standard attractions. The slight downside is that the island loses some of its traditional charms.

Bali: more cultural

Tradition and culture play very important roles in daily life in Bali. While the more popular destinations are showing signs of becoming heavily commercialised and westernised, the size of the island means that it is not as obvious as it is in smaller Samui. The buzzing resort towns are not that many and are certainly further from each other, leaving more space for the original culture to breathe in between.

Samui: more cheap stuff

Despite the opening of its first contemporary shopping mall – Central Festival Samui – in 2014, the island has not yet become a trendy shopping destination. A few chic fashion boutiques and cool handicraft shops are available, but the most interesting shopping options are at the weekly Walking Streets. These open-air night markets allow you to find a wide variety of cheap goods, including T-shirts and souvenirs.

Bali: more handicraft

Art markets and handicrafts are the most interesting parts of Bali shopping scene. Ubud is one of the most important destinations in that domain, but handcrafted goods and their creators can be found all around the island. Once again, the strong and influential cultural atmosphere of Bali is at the heart of this significant aspect of the shopping scene.

Due to the difference in currency exchange rates, Samui is more expensive than Bali. In recent years, you can get over 14,000 Indonesian Rupiah for 1 US Dollar while you get only about 35 baht for the same amount.

Additionally, the cost of living in Bali is about half that of Samui. This will make a big difference to those travelling on a budget, but those seeking a more luxurious experience will find the difference between the 2 destinations far slimmer.

As Bali is almost 12 times larger than Koh Samui, so it’s a bit like comparing David to Goliath. In spite of this, it’s not possible to firmly say that one is better than the other. Both of them have wins and flaws. Bali is certainly more popular than Samui in terms of visitor numbers, though that does not automatically mean that it will be best for you.

Generally speaking, Koh Samui suits those seeking a relaxing beach holiday, with amazing partying opportunities and western-style facilities. While this experience is, to a certain extent, also available in Bali, the Indonesian island’s size becomes a hindrance, making Samui the more convenient choice. By contrast, Bali is well-suited to those who want a fun-filled vacation in a beautiful destination with a vibrant culture.