A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Durham vs. Toronto for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Durham or Toronto?

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 Toronto can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Durham travel costs.

Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant, cultural, and diverse city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Toronto travel costs.

Durham and Toronto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Toronto?

You'll generally find more things to do in Toronto than Durham. Toronto is bigger than Durham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Toronto is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its art and culture, diverse cuisine, and multi-cultural population. Also, Toronto is famous for the CN Tower. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Toronto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Toronto is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Toronto on the map. The city is filled with landmarks and museums such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum. Ripley's Aquarium is a highlight for many visitors. It's near the CN Tower and has an underwater tunnel. The city is also filled with art galleries and cultural sights. Another must is a visit to Casa Loma and, of course, the Toronto Zoo.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Durham can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Toronto 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 Toronto is an experience not to be missed. The food scene is as diverse as the city itself. You'll find classic Canadian favorites like peameal bacon sandwiches and beavertails, as well as almost any international cuisine you could want. Make sure you try the dim sum, roti, and street hot dogs.

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 Toronto Better for Nightlife?

Toronto is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Toronto has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. It's a diverse nightlife scene, with upscale lounges, dive bars, live music, and high energy nightclubs. Popular areas for nightlife include King Street, the Ossington Strip, College Street, and Kensington Market.

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 Toronto?

Toronto 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.

Toronto is a world class destination for shoppers. Shopping is huge here, with plenty of options available that range from large malls to vintage stores or flea markets. Eaton Center on Yonge Street is a major shopping area. Yonge Street is also home to more than 600 retail stores.

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 Toronto Better for Families?

Toronto 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.

Toronto is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the city's many family-friendly museums like the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ontario Science Center. Younger kids will have fun playing at the Centreville Theme Park while all ages will love a day at Canada's Wonderland. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a highlight for many families as well.

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 Toronto Better for Couples?

Toronto is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Toronto is a very popular place to visit for couples. This city is full of energy, and couples can enjoy amazing meals, impressive shows, and romantic outings. You can picnic at a park or check out the view from CN Tower. There are also dinner cruises and live theater.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Durham or Toronto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Toronto is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Toronto is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels around town and there's often a good crowd of backpackers.

Durham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The student population means there are a number of parties and bars around town, but most backpackers overlook this city.

Is Durham or Toronto Better for Students?

Toronto is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Students come from all over the world to visit Toronto. The city has a good number of universities that attract students from around the globe. This is a very livable city with a lot of diversity and plenty of entertainment options.

Durham is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

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

Toronto is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Toronto is top-notch. Union Station is the hub of the city's transportation system, which includes subways, buses and streetcars.

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 Toronto a more walkable city?

Toronto is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Toronto is a very walkable destination. It's a pedestrian-friendly city that is great for exploring on foot. The waterfront area has a walkway and there are cycling trails around town as well.

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 Toronto Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Toronto or Durham?

How long in Durham or Toronto?

Both Durham and Toronto have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toronto than in Durham. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 3-7 days is enough time in Toronto.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Toronto 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 Toronto.

One day in Durham or Toronto?

In Durham, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Toronto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Toronto?

In Durham, 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 Durham has to offer.

Toronto is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Toronto?

Durham 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Toronto. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Durham or Toronto?

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

Toronto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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 Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Toronto?

Toronto has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Toronto, 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 Toronto?

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 Toronto in the Summer?

Both Toronto and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Toronto in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is a little warmer than Toronto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Toronto averages at about 21°C (70°F).

In Toronto, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Toronto in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Toronto. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Toronto for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Durham is generally much warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Toronto during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Toronto. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Toronto in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Toronto. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Toronto because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Toronto can be very cold. Durham can be very cold during winter. Durham is much warmer than Toronto in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Toronto. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Toronto. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Toronto in the Spring?

Both Toronto and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Toronto this time of year.

In the spring, Durham is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Toronto averages at about 7°C (44°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Toronto during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Toronto. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Toronto and Durham