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

Should you visit Guadalajara or Durham?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guadalajara or Durham, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is a vibrant, cultural, and historical 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 Guadalajara travel costs.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Durham travel costs.

Guadalajara and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Guadalajara or Durham?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Guadalajara than Durham. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Guadalajara is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its mariachi music, tequila, and many festivals. It is also well known for the Guadalajara Cathedral. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Guadalajara different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Durham and Guadalajara.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Guadalajara can be an interesting and educational experience. It's a city that's filled with culture and history, with many impressive landmarks such as the Guadalajara Cathedral. Also make sure you visit the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, Expiatory Temple, the Government Palace, and the Regional Museum of Guadalajara.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Durham. 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 Guadalajara or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine uses some key ingredients such as corn tortillas, chilis, and beans. You'll find a lot of street food which includes tacos and tortas as well as restaurant dishes like birria (meat stew), pozole (hominy soup), and fish ceviche.

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 Guadalajara or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Guadalajara 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.

Guadalajara offers plenty to do in the evening. The city comes to life at night. You'll find vibrant dance clubs, live music, and traditional bars. The craft beer scene has also grown in recent years. The most active areas are around Chapultepec Avenue and Zapopan.

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 Guadalajara or Durham Better for its Old Town?

Guadalajara is a well-known place for its historic old town charm. However, Durham does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Guadalajara. The city center is filled with Spanish colonial architecture. With a walking tour you will find baroque, neoclassical, renaissance, and Gothic style buildings that highlight the city's long running past and rich history.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Guadalajara or Durham?

Guadalajara is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Guadalajara. One of the best shopping streets is Avenida Juarez. A must-see stop is also the large indoor market of Mercado Libertad. You'll also find shopping centers and retail outlets around town.

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 Guadalajara or Durham Better for Families?

Durham is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Guadalajara is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Guadalajara is not the most family-friendly destination. While it's not the most popular destination for families, those who visit will enjoy exploring the nature parks or amusement parks.

Is Guadalajara or Durham Better for Couples?

Guadalajara and Durham are both nice to visit as a couple.

Guadalajara is a good city for couples to visit. It's filled with nice architecture, a vibrant nightlife scene, and great urban parks, making it a nice and romantic destination for couples.

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 Guadalajara or Durham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Guadalajara is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels and 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 Guadalajara or Durham Better for Students?

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

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.

Guadalajara is not popular with students.

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

Guadalajara and Durham both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Guadalajara. There's a bus system as well as a metro system with two lines, which are primarily used by commuters.

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

Is Guadalajara or Durham a more walkable city?

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

Guadalajara is a very walkable destination. The city center is pedestrian-friendly. This is also where you'll find most of the sights.

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 Guadalajara Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Guadalajara?

How long in Guadalajara or Durham?

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

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

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

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

One day in Guadalajara or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Guadalajara. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-filled 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.

A weekend in Guadalajara or Durham?

Guadalajara 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the student-filled 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.

Five days in Guadalajara or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Guadalajara. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

The sports oriented 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.

A week in Guadalajara or Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Guadalajara. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to 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 Guadalajara and Durham, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Guadalajara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guadalajara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara.

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

Which is Bigger, Guadalajara or Durham?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Guadalajara 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.