A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Baltimore vs. New Bern for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Baltimore or New Bern?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and New Bern can help you decide which place is right for you.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a colorful, historic, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Baltimore travel costs.

New Bern

New Bern is a quaint, charming, and laid back town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See New Bern travel costs.

Baltimore and New Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Baltimore or New Bern?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Baltimore. Although Baltimore and New Bern are popular destinations, Baltimore has more sights and attractions for tourists. Baltimore is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while New Bern attracts visitors for its small town charm. Baltimore is more touristy than New Bern and is known for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities. It is also well known for the National Aquarium. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is Baltimore different from New Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Baltimore or New Bern?

Baltimore is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Baltimore offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

Is the Food Better in Baltimore or New Bern? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Baltimore is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Baltimore makes for a great culinary experience. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Is Baltimore or New Bern Better for Nightlife?

Baltimore is well known for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Baltimore is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Baltimore or New Bern?

Baltimore is well known for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Baltimore is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is Baltimore or New Bern Better for Families?

Baltimore is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Baltimore is a very family-friendly place to visit. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is Baltimore or New Bern Better for Couples?

Both Baltimore and New Bern are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Baltimore makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

New Bern is a good city for couples to visit. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Is Baltimore or New Bern Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Baltimore is a popular place for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Baltimore. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is Baltimore or New Bern Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Baltimore is well known for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Baltimore is fairly effecient and thorough. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is Baltimore or New Bern a more walkable city?

Baltimore is well known for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Baltimore is very walkable. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Baltimore Worth Visiting? and Is New Bern Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Bern or Baltimore?

How long in Baltimore or New Bern?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Baltimore or New Bern to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Baltimore than New Bern because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Baltimore, and 1-2 days is enough time in New Bern.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Baltimore than New Bern 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 Baltimore.

One day in Baltimore or New Bern?

The city of Baltimore 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.

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Baltimore or New Bern?

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

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Baltimore or New Bern?

Baltimore 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.

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Baltimore or New Bern?

Baltimore 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.

New Bern is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Baltimore and New Bern, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is New Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to New Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Bern 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 Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore than you might in New Bern.

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

Which is Bigger, Baltimore or New Bern?

Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of Baltimore and New Bern, 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.

When is the best time to visit Baltimore or New Bern?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Baltimore or New Bern in the Summer?

Both New Bern and Baltimore are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Baltimore for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Baltimore is generally around the same temperature as New Bern. Daily temperatures in Baltimore average around 78°F (25°C), and New Bern fluctuates around 80°F (27°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. It's quite rainy in Baltimore. In July, Baltimore usually receives less rain than New Bern. Baltimore gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Baltimore or New Bern in the Autumn?

Both New Bern and Baltimore during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Baltimore because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year.

Baltimore is cooler than New Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Baltimore averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and New Bern fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).

Baltimore usually gets less rain in October than New Bern. Baltimore gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Baltimore or New Bern in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Baltimore and New Bern. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Baltimore this time of year. Also, many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Baltimore in the winter. In the winter, Baltimore is much colder than New Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Baltimore in January average around 32°F (0°C), and New Bern averages at about 44°F (7°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Baltimore usually receives less rain than New Bern. Baltimore gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Baltimore or New Bern in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Baltimore as well as New Bern. Many travelers come to Baltimore for the activities around the city. Also, many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, Baltimore is generally cooler than New Bern. Daily temperatures in Baltimore average around 54°F (12°C), and New Bern fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

Baltimore usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as New Bern. Baltimore gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for New Bern and Baltimore