A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers New Bern vs. Banff for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or Banff?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Banff? 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.

New Bern

New Bern is a quaint, charming, and laid back town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See New Bern travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a sporty, adventurous, and scenic town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, hiking, and shopping. See Banff travel costs.

New Bern and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Banff?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Banff. Although New Bern and Banff are popular destinations, Banff has more sights and attractions for tourists. Banff is very popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, and impressive beauty, while New Bern attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Banff is more touristy than New Bern and is known for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also well known for Lake Louise. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is an unbeatable place for winter skiing. However, New Bern is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Banff should be on your list. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

New Bern is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Banff?

New Bern is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Banff is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Banff makes for a great culinary experience. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is well known for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Banff is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

People visit Banff specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Banff?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Banff and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Banff. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is New Bern or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is well known for its scenery and beauty. However, New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Banff is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Banff makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and many great restaurants.

New Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is well known for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is New Bern or Banff Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Banff is a popular place for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Banff, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is well known for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Banff is very walkable. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Banff Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Banff or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Banff?

In either New Bern or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than New Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Banff than New Bern 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 Banff.

One day in New Bern or Banff?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The beautiful town of Banff offers nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Banff is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Banff, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Banff?

New Bern is a fun place to experience. New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Banff is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Banff, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Banff?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Banff is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Banff?

New Bern has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Banff, 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.