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

Should you visit Durham or Winnipeg?

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 Winnipeg 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 museums, nightlife, and food. See Durham travel costs.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Winnipeg travel costs.

Durham and Winnipeg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Winnipeg?

Both Winnipeg and Durham have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Winnipeg is popular for its festivals, culture, and railway connections.

How is Durham different from Winnipeg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Winnipeg can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Winnipeg can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Durham area. 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.

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.

Is Durham or Winnipeg Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Winnipeg are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Winnipeg?

Both Durham and Winnipeg are good shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

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.

Is Durham or Winnipeg Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Winnipeg.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Winnipeg is a family-friendly city. 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 Durham or Winnipeg Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Winnipeg 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.

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

Is Durham or Winnipeg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Winnipeg is very good for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Winnipeg is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While it's often overlooked by backpackers, there are a couple of hostels around town.

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 Winnipeg Better for Students?

Durham is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Winnipeg is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Durham. 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.

Winnipeg is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Winnipeg offer decent public transit options.

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

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

Is Durham or Winnipeg a more walkable city?

Durham and Winnipeg both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Winnipeg is generally not a very walkable city. 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 Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Winnipeg Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Winnipeg or Durham?

How long in Durham or Winnipeg?

It's fun to spend time in either Durham or Winnipeg. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg.

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

One day in Durham or Winnipeg?

The city of Durham offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Durham or Winnipeg?

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

Winnipeg is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. 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 Winnipeg?

Durham 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Winnipeg. 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 Winnipeg?

Durham 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Winnipeg. 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, 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 Durham and Winnipeg, we can see that Winnipeg 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 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 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 Winnipeg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Winnipeg?

Winnipeg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham 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.

When is the best time to visit Durham or Winnipeg?

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 Winnipeg in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Winnipeg. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Winnipeg in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally a little warmer than Winnipeg. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Winnipeg fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winnipeg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Winnipeg. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winnipeg receives 328 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Winnipeg. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Winnipeg in the Autumn?

Both Winnipeg and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Winnipeg for the shopping scene during these months.

Durham is much warmer than Winnipeg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Winnipeg fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Winnipeg during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Winnipeg receives 147 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Winnipeg. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Winnipeg in the Winter?

Both Winnipeg and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Winnipeg because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Winnipeg can be very cold. Durham can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Winnipeg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Winnipeg averages at about -17°C (2°F).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Winnipeg. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winnipeg receives 115 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Winnipeg. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Winnipeg in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Winnipeg.

In April, Durham is generally much warmer than Winnipeg. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Winnipeg fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winnipeg this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winnipeg during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Winnipeg receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Winnipeg. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Winnipeg and Durham