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

Should you visit Ensenada or Durham?

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

Should I visit Ensenada or Durham? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Ensenada

Ensenada is a outdoorsy, historic, and cultural city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Ensenada travel costs.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Durham travel costs.

Ensenada and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ensenada or Durham?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ensenada than Durham, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Ensenada is more popular for its food and beaches, while Durham is known for its museums and attractions. Ensenada is more touristy than Durham and is known for its local cuisine, golf, and outdoor sports. It is also home to Avenida Lopez Mateos. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Ensenada different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Durham is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Ensenada is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Durham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Ensenada. There are several good museums in town such as the Museo de Historia and Caracol Museo de Ciencias.

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

Ensenada 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 Ensenada is an experience not to be missed. The town is known for its seafood, and fish tacos is one of the most popular dishes. You'll find seafood markets and street cards selling fresh and local items. Sample your way through the city and enjoy all of the local specialties.

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 Ensenada or Durham Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Ensenada or Durham has a better nightlife scene.

Ensenada has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars and nightclubs around town. Head to Avenida López Mateos for many of the best restaurants and bars.

If you're looking for night time activities Durham has a few options to choose from. 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 Ensenada or Durham Better for Beaches?

Ensenada is a moderate city for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

The beach in Ensenada is worth checking out. It's a working port town and the beaches in the area aren't great. You'll find the best options to the south of the city.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ensenada or Durham?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Durham and Ensenada.

Ensenada offers some nice shopping areas. Avenida López Mateos is the main shopping street in town. You'll find many shops, but be prepared to pay more than you might elsewhere because shopkeepers are used to cruise ship riders who are willing to pay a high price tag.

Durham has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Ensenada or Durham Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ensenada or Durham.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Ensenada. You'll find ziplining, horseback riding, and surf lessons in the area. Kids will also enjoy seeing the Water Show or going whale watching.

Durham offers lots of family activities. 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 Ensenada or Durham Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ensenada and Durham make for a good place to visit.

Ensenada makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city has an authentic atmosphere that will let you experience a more genuine side to Mexico.

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.

Is Ensenada or Durham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Ensenada is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels and a number of cheap hotels 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 Ensenada or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is a great destination for students. However, Ensenada is not popular with students.

Durham is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Ensenada is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Ensenada and Durham.

Public transit is generally limited in Ensenada. Public transit in the area is limited.

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

Is Ensenada or Durham a more walkable city?

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

Ensenada is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

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 Ensenada Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Ensenada?

How long in Ensenada or Durham?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ensenada and Durham. In our opinion, Ensenada has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Ensenada than Durham. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ensenada, and 1-3 days is enough time in Durham.

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

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

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

One day in Ensenada or Durham?

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

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.

A weekend in Ensenada or Durham?

Ensenada 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.

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.

Five days in Ensenada or Durham?

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

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.

A week in Ensenada or Durham?

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

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Ensenada or Durham?

Ensenada has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Ensenada and Durham, 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.