A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Minneapolis for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Durham or Minneapolis?

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 Durham and Minneapolis can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Durham travel costs.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a diverse, dynamic, and innovative city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Minneapolis travel costs.

Durham and Minneapolis: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Minneapolis?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Minneapolis than Durham, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Minneapolis is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its professional sports teams, countless outdoor activities, and friendly people. It is also home to Mall of America. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Minneapolis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durham or Minneapolis?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Durham or Minneapolis.

Many visitors head to Durham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Minneapolis can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a wide variety of museums that include art, history, science, and local culture. Some of the favorite museums in the city are the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, the American Swedish Institute, and the Weisman Art Museum.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Minneapolis? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Minneapolis is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Minneapolis is an experience not to be missed. Dishes in the Midwest are known for being hearty comfort foods, and the food in Minneapolis is no exception. You'll find cheese-stuffed burgers that are known as Juicy Lucys, Tator Tot casseroles, and deep-fried cheese curds. For international food, there's a variety of Scandinavian options around town.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Durham. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Durham or Minneapolis Better for Nightlife?

Minneapolis is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Minneapolis offers plenty to do in the evening. There are diverse neighborhoods that each have their own personality. You'll find rooftop lounges in Uptown, international venues in Whittier, and trendy bars in the North Loop. But at the heart of the city's nightlife scene is Downtown Minneapolis.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is an amazing city to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Minneapolis is a world class destination for shoppers. Known for the megamall, Mall of America, this is a shopper's paradise. Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the country and it even has an aquarium and a theme park within it. In addition to this iconic shopping mall, Minneapolis also has many shopping districts including the Minnehaha Mile.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Durham or Minneapolis Better for Families?

Minneapolis is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Minneapolis is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Mall of America is at the top of the list for most families, but there's also plenty of kid-friendly museums around town as well as nature centers, parks, and playgrounds. There's the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Minnesota Zoo, and Afton Apple Orchard. For museums, kids will love the Minnesota Children's Museum or the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Durham is a family-friendly city. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Durham or Minneapolis Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Minneapolis are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Minneapolis is a nice destination for couples. There are beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to explore as well as museums and fine dining. Couples will appreciate stopping by the Stone Arch Bridge or wandering through the Lyndale Park Rose Garden.

Is Durham or Minneapolis Better for Students?

Durham and Minneapolis are both excellent destinations for students and younger travelers.

Durham is very popular with students. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Minneapolis is a great city to visit as a student. There are a number of colleges and universities in the area including the University of Minnesota. The city is known for its academic and intellectual focus, and students will enjoy being challenged educationally while enjoying a dynamic city.

Is Durham or Minneapolis Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Minneapolis is very good for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Minneapolis has a few public transit options. There are buses, light rail, and commuter trains that stop at many of the major entertainment centers around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Durham or Minneapolis a more walkable city?

Minneapolis is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Minneapolis is a somewhat walkable city. There are neighborhoods that are dense enough to be walkable, but the city is still very car-focused.

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Minneapolis Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Minneapolis or Durham?

How long in Durham or Minneapolis?

It's fun to spend time in either Durham or Minneapolis. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Minneapolis due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-4 days is enough time in Minneapolis.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Minneapolis than Durham 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 Minneapolis.

One day in Durham or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Durham. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Minneapolis. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Minneapolis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Minneapolis?

The diverse city of Durham offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Minneapolis. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. 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.

A week in Durham or Minneapolis?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Durham. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the innovative destination of Minneapolis. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a larger population, and is about 80% larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Minneapolis, 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 Durham or Minneapolis?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Summer?

Both Minneapolis and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Minneapolis for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 76°F (25°C).

In Minneapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Minneapolis. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 357 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Minneapolis. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Minneapolis. Many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Minneapolis in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Durham is a little warmer than Minneapolis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Minneapolis during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Minneapolis. Many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Minneapolis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Minneapolis can be very cold during winter. Durham can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 15°F (-10°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Minneapolis receives 157 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Minneapolis. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Minneapolis in the Spring?

Both Minneapolis and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Minneapolis because of the activities around the city.

In April, Durham is generally much warmer than Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 49°F (10°C).

It's quite sunny in Minneapolis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Minneapolis during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Minneapolis receives 244 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Minneapolis and Durham