A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers New Bern vs. Niagara Falls for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit New Bern or Niagara Falls?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Niagara Falls? 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.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a iconic, breathtaking, and impressive city. Niagara Falls is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Niagara Falls travel costs.

New Bern and Niagara Falls: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Niagara Falls?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Niagara Falls. Although New Bern and Niagara Falls are popular destinations, Niagara Falls has more sights and attractions for tourists. Niagara Falls is very popular for its nightlife, hiking, and impressive beauty, while New Bern attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and small town charm. Niagara Falls is more touristy than New Bern and is known for the large volume of water that flows over it. It is also well known for the Journey Behind the Falls. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Niagara Falls?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Niagara Falls is a mediocre city for its museums and history.

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.

While most people don't head to Niagara Falls specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The Niagara Falls History Museum is one of the best museums in the area. There are also more touristy museums and attractions that you can visit as well. There's also a butterfly conservancy that is worth checking out.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Niagara Falls 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.

Niagara Falls has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. It's an iconic Canadian destination so, of course, you should try all things Canadian while you're in town. Maple syrup, poutine, butter tart, and beavertail (fried dough) are all things that should be on your list. Also make sure you sample some of the local game meat.

Is New Bern or Niagara Falls Better for Nightlife?

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

Niagara Falls has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a decent concentration of clubs, pubs, and bars around town that keep things fun late into 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 Niagara Falls Better for Hiking?

Niagara Falls is well known for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Niagara Falls. The nearby area is filled with hiking trails that let you escape into nature and enjoy impressive views.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Niagara Falls?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls. You'll find touristy souvenir shops as well as outlets and malls nearby.

Is New Bern or Niagara Falls More Beautiful?

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

Niagara Falls is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's an impressive sight and the Canadian side offers the best views. It's definitely something you should try and see at least once.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or Niagara Falls Better for Families?

Niagara Falls is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Niagara Falls is a very family-friendly destination. The views and setting are spectacular, and kids will love the boat tours or taking a ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car. There's also an indoor waterpark, a butterfly conservatory, and plenty of nature to explore.

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 Niagara Falls Better for Couples?

Niagara Falls is well known for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Niagara Falls frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The setting has long brought to mind romance, and to this day couples still honeymoon at this iconic destination. There are boat tours, nature trails, luxury hotels, and even wineries to explore.

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 Niagara Falls Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Niagara Falls is a popular place for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Niagara Falls. There's a hostel or two where you can stay for cheap and meet other travelers.

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 Niagara Falls Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a bus system through town.

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

Is New Bern or Niagara Falls a more walkable city?

New Bern and Niagara Falls both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Niagara Falls is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the attractions and close together by the falls, so it's relatively walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Niagara Falls or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Niagara Falls?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls.

One day in New Bern or Niagara Falls?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The beautiful city of Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Niagara Falls 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Niagara Falls, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Niagara Falls?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Niagara Falls 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 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 Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Niagara Falls?

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

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 New Bern or Niagara Falls in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Niagara Falls. The summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Niagara Falls this time of year.

In the summer, New Bern is a little warmer than Niagara Falls. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Niagara Falls averages at about 23°C (74°F).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Niagara Falls. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Niagara Falls in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Niagara Falls. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Niagara Falls for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

New Bern usually gets more rain in October than Niagara Falls. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Niagara Falls in the Winter?

Both Niagara Falls and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Niagara Falls in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Niagara Falls can get quite cold in the winter. New Bern is much warmer than Niagara Falls in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Niagara Falls fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Niagara Falls. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Niagara Falls in the Spring?

Both Niagara Falls and New Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm. Furthermore, most visitors come to Niagara Falls for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, New Bern is much warmer than Niagara Falls. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Niagara Falls averages at about 10°C (49°F).

New Bern usually gets more rain in April than Niagara Falls. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Niagara Falls receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Niagara Falls and New Bern