A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Durango vs. Winnipeg for Attractions, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Durango or Winnipeg?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Durango and Winnipeg. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Durango

Durango is a scenic, nature-filled, and historic small town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. Durango is a beautiful place to visit, too. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Visitors also love the hiking and museums. See Durango travel costs.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Winnipeg travel costs.

Durango and Winnipeg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durango or Winnipeg?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Durango. Although Durango and Winnipeg are popular destinations, Durango has more sights and attractions for tourists. Durango is very popular for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Winnipeg attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and shopping. Durango is more touristy than Winnipeg and is known for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. It is also well known for The Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. Winnipeg is famous for its festivals, culture, and railway connections.

How is Durango different from Winnipeg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Skiing?

Durango is adequate for skiing. However, Winnipeg is not a skiing destination.

Durango is a fun local destination for snow skiers. Purgatory Ski Resort is about 20 minutes from town and it's a family-friendly mountain with beginner and intermediate runs. It's small, and geared specifically to the beginner and younger crowd.

Winnipeg is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durango or Winnipeg?

Winnipeg is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Durango is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Winnipeg. There are some unique museums around town including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Other popular museums are the Manitoba Museum and the Manitoba Children's Museum.

Durango offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most visitors come to town specifically to ride the Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. There's also the D&SNGRR Railroad Museum, and the Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum.

Is the Food Better in Durango or Winnipeg? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Winnipeg is a good destination for its restaurants. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Winnipeg. You'll find a wide variety of restaurants around town that serve a mix of local dishes and international cuisines. A must-see part of the city is the historic Forks Market.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Durango. Most of the restaurants are casual and family-friendly, serving up burgers or sandwiches for a reasonable price. You'll also find some coffeeshops and even a few food trucks and international restaurants.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Nightlife?

Winnipeg is a good destination for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Winnipeg. The city has an active nightlife, even during the winter months. You'll find dance clubs, bars, and pubs around town that are popular with locals and visitors alike.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Durango. It's a small town that attracts tourists mainly for its train, so you won't find much in the way of a nightlife scene.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a small town with good options for its old town. However, Winnipeg does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Durango. Filled with character, the downtown feels like you've stepped into a Western. The town has a long history as a mining and railroad community, which you can see throughout the historic area. It really feels like you're in the "Wild West."

Winnipeg does not have a historic old town.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Hiking?

Durango is great for hiking. However, Winnipeg is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Durango for the hiking trails. It's surrounded by plenty of natural beautiful and there is an endless supply of hikes in the region. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.

Winnipeg is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durango or Winnipeg?

Winnipeg is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Winnipeg. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town, from boutiques to big box shops and even some outlets.

If you're looking to go shopping, Durango has some nice offerings. The charming town has some boutiques that sell beautifully made Native American jewelry and other interesting items. There are also souvenir shops and other venues that target tourists specifically.

Is Durango or Winnipeg More Beautiful?

Durango is a small town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Winnipeg is not a destination known for its beauty.

Durango is a beautiful place to visit, too. The town is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

Winnipeg is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Families?

Durango is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Winnipeg is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Durango is very family-friendly. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Winnipeg is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love a visit to the Assiniboine Park Zoo or the Manitoba Children's Museum. There are a number of parks and playgrounds around town as well as the Prairie Dog Central Railway. There are many kid-friendly restaurants in the city as well.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Couples?

Winnipeg is a good destination for romance. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Winnipeg is a nice destination for couples. Many couples enjoy wandering through Assiniboine Park. There are also many romantic restaurants and spas for couples.

Most people don't think of Durango as a couple's destination. The town may not be the first romantic destination that comes to mind, but the railroad combined with wandering the downtown can make for a great couple's getaway.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango and Winnipeg are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Durango. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Winnipeg. While it's often overlooked by backpackers, there are a couple of hostels around town.

Is Durango or Winnipeg Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Winnipeg is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Winnipeg. There's a bus system around town, but many visitors prefer to have a vehicle.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Durango. It's a small town with no real public transit options so a car is a must.

Is Durango or Winnipeg a more walkable city?

Durango and Winnipeg are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Durango is generally not a very walkable small town. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.

Winnipeg is generally not very walkable. While there are a few walkable neighborhoods, the city itself is not particularly walkable, particularly during the cold winter months.

For even more information, also check out Is Durango Worth Visiting? and Is Winnipeg Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Winnipeg or Durango?

How long in Durango or Winnipeg?

It's fun to spend time in either Durango or Winnipeg. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Winnipeg due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Durango, and 2-4 days is enough time in Winnipeg.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Winnipeg than Durango 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 Winnipeg.

One day in Durango or Winnipeg?

Durango is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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.

In Winnipeg, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Durango or Winnipeg?

Durango is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this small town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Durango, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

In Winnipeg, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Winnipeg has to offer.

Five days in Durango or Winnipeg?

Durango 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.

Winnipeg is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Durango or Winnipeg?

Durango is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This small town offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Winnipeg. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Winnipeg. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Durango or Winnipeg?

Winnipeg has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Durango and Winnipeg, 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.