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

Should you visit New Bern or Detroit?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Detroit? 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. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See New Bern 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. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Detroit travel costs.

New Bern and Detroit: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Detroit?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Detroit. Although New Bern 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 New Bern attracts visitors for its small town charm. New Bern is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. 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 New Bern different from Detroit?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Detroit 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 Detroit?

Both New Bern and Detroit have nice 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.

Detroit offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Detroit can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Detroit has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 New Bern or Detroit Better for Nightlife?

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

Detroit is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

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

Is New Bern or Detroit Better for Music?

Detroit is an unbeatable place for live music. However, New Bern is not a live music destination.

Detroit is a world class music destination. 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.

New Bern is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Detroit?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Detroit 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 Detroit. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is New Bern or Detroit Better for Families?

Detroit is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

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 Detroit Better for Couples?

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

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.

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

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

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

Is New Bern or Detroit a more walkable city?

New Bern and Detroit both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

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

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

Should I spend more time in Detroit or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Detroit?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Detroit. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Detroit than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 1-3 days is enough time in Detroit.

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

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than Detroit. 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 Detroit 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 Detroit.

One day in New Bern or Detroit?

New Bern is a small town with plenty to do. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The city of Detroit offers museums and nightlife. 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 Detroit?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer.

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

Five days in New Bern or Detroit?

New Bern is a great place to explore. 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.

Detroit is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that live music is why people visit. 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 Detroit?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Detroit is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that live music is why people visit. 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 Detroit, we can see that New Bern 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 Detroit Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Detroit?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern 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 New Bern or Detroit?

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 Detroit in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Detroit. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Detroit in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Bern is a little warmer than Detroit. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Detroit averages at about 74°F (24°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Detroit. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Detroit in the Autumn?

Both Detroit and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Detroit for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

In October, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Detroit. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Detroit in the Winter?

Both Detroit and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Detroit because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Detroit can be very cold. New Bern is much warmer than Detroit in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Detroit fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Detroit. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Detroit in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Detroit. The spring months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Detroit this time of year.

In the spring, New Bern is much warmer than Detroit. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Detroit averages at about 49°F (9°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Detroit. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Detroit and New Bern