A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Columbus for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit New Bern or Columbus?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Columbus? 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 laid back, quaint, and charming town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See New Bern travel costs.

Columbus

Columbus is a welcoming, down-to-earth, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Columbus travel costs.

New Bern and Columbus: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Columbus?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Bern. Although New Bern and Columbus are both popular with visitors, New Bern has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. New Bern is more popular for its food and small town charm, while Columbus is known for its nightlife. New Bern is more touristy than Columbus and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. It is also home to the Tryon Palace. Columbus is popular for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene.

How is New Bern different from Columbus?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both New Bern and Columbus have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

New Bern is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Columbus offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

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

New Bern is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around New Bern. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is New Bern or Columbus Better for Nightlife?

Columbus is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Columbus has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

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

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Columbus?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Columbus 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 Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Is New Bern or Columbus Better for Families?

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

Columbus is a very family-friendly place to visit. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

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 Columbus Better for Couples?

New Bern is a popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

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

Columbus is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

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

Is New Bern or Columbus a more walkable city?

New Bern and Columbus both are good when exploring on foot.

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

Columbus is a somewhat walkable place. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Columbus or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Columbus?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in New Bern or Columbus to fill your time. In our opinion, Columbus has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Columbus than New Bern. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Columbus?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the 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.

The city of Columbus offers nightlife 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 New Bern or Columbus?

New Bern 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in New Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Five days in New Bern or Columbus?

New Bern 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.

Columbus 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 New Bern or Columbus?

New Bern 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 town offers something for everyone.

Columbus 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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Columbus, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Columbus Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Columbus?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Columbus, 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 New Bern or Columbus?

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 New Bern or Columbus in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Columbus. The summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Columbus this time of year.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Columbus in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Columbus fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

It's quite rainy in Columbus. New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Columbus. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Columbus in the Autumn?

Both Columbus and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Columbus for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, New Bern is a little warmer than Columbus. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Columbus averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Columbus. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Columbus in the Winter?

Both Columbus and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Columbus in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Columbus can get quite cold in the winter. In January, New Bern is generally much warmer than Columbus. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Columbus fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Columbus. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Columbus in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Columbus. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm.

New Bern is a little warmer than Columbus in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Columbus fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Columbus. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Columbus receives 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Columbus and New Bern