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

Should you visit Mystic or Detroit?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mystic and Detroit. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Mystic

Mystic is a quaint, laid back, and charming town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Mystic travel costs.

Detroit

Detroit is a under-rated, hardworking, and overlooked city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include live music, food, and shopping. See Detroit travel costs.

Mystic and Detroit: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mystic or Detroit?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Detroit. Although Mystic and Detroit are popular destinations, Detroit has more sights and attractions for tourists. Detroit is very popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Mystic attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, beaches, and shopping. Mystic is more touristy than Detroit and is known for its New England charm and local character. Detroit is famous for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. It is also well known for the Henry Ford Experience.

How is Mystic different from Detroit?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mystic or Detroit?

Mystic is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Mystic can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Detroit. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

Is the Food Better in Mystic or Detroit? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Mystic and Detroit can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Detroit. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Detroit has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

Mystic has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Music?

Detroit is an amazing city to visit for live music. However, Mystic is not a live music destination.

Detroit is known as a music capital around the world. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Mystic is not a live music destination.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Beaches?

Mystic is a very popular place for the beach. However, Detroit is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Mystic. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Detroit is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Mystic or Detroit?

Mystic is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Mystic is well-known for its shopping. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Many visitors go to Detroit to go shopping. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Families?

Mystic is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Mystic is very family-friendly. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Couples?

Mystic is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Mystic makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Is Mystic or Detroit Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Detroit is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Mystic or Detroit a more walkable city?

Detroit is a good destination for its walkability. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Detroit is somewhat walkable. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

For even more information, also check out Is Mystic Worth Visiting? and Is Detroit Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Detroit or Mystic?

How long in Mystic or Detroit?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mystic and Detroit. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Mystic, and 1-3 days is enough time in Detroit.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Detroit than Mystic 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 Detroit.

One day in Mystic or Detroit?

In Mystic, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Detroit. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Mystic or Detroit?

In Mystic, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Mystic has to offer.

Detroit is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, 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 Mystic or Detroit?

Mystic is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Detroit. Don't miss the live music, 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 Mystic or Detroit?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the under-rated destination of Detroit. 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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mystic or Detroit?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Mystic and Detroit, 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 Mystic or Detroit?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Mystic or Detroit in the Summer?

Both Detroit and Mystic are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Mystic in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Detroit for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Mystic is around the same temperature as Detroit. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mystic in July average around 73°F (23°C), and Detroit averages at about 74°F (24°C).

It's quite sunny in Detroit. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. Mystic usually receives less sunshine than Detroit during summer. Mystic gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 319 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Mystic usually receives less rain than Detroit. Mystic gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mystic or Detroit in the Autumn?

Both Detroit and Mystic during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Mystic for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Detroit because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Mystic is generally around the same temperature as Detroit. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 53°F (12°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Mystic. In the autumn, Mystic often gets more sunshine than Detroit. Mystic gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 172 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets more rain in October than Detroit. Mystic gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mystic or Detroit in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mystic and Detroit. The winter months attract visitors to Mystic because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Detroit this time of year.

It's quite cold in Detroit in the winter. The weather in Mystic can be very cold. Mystic is much warmer than Detroit in the winter. The daily temperature in Mystic averages around 28°F (-2°C) in January, and Detroit fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).

Mystic usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during winter. Mystic gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 120 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mystic usually receives more rain than Detroit. Mystic gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mystic or Detroit in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Mystic as well as Detroit. The beaches are the main draw to Mystic this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Detroit for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Mystic is around the same temperature as Detroit. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mystic in April average around 48°F (9°C), and Detroit averages at about 49°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Detroit. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In the spring, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Detroit. Mystic gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 223 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets more rain in April than Detroit. Mystic gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Detroit and Mystic