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

Should you visit New Bern or San Antonio?

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

Should I visit New Bern or San Antonio? 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. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See New Bern travel costs.

San Antonio

San Antonio is a colorful, festive, and fun city. San Antonio is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See San Antonio travel costs.

New Bern and San Antonio: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or San Antonio?

Tourists will generally find more to do in San Antonio. Although New Bern and San Antonio are both popular with visitors, San Antonio has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. San Antonio is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while New Bern is known for its small town charm. New Bern is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. San Antonio is popular for being the home to the Alamo, the popular RiverWalk area, and several world-class amusement parks. It is also home to The Alamo.

How is New Bern different from San Antonio?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

San Antonio is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

San Antonio offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. It is known for its role in American history, and the city is famous as the location of the Alamo. It's also where you'll find the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park & Mission Trail, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, among others.

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.

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

San Antonio 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, San Antonio makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find a mix of amazing and authentic Mexican food, simpler Tex Mex, and a number of Hill Country specialties. The city is filled with comfort food and the restaurants reflect the diverse character of the population. Popular local dishes include tacos, sweet potato fries, and chicken fried steak.

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 San Antonio Better for Nightlife?

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

San Antonio has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's nightlife scene is diverse, with dance halls, breweries, and clubs. It has seen a recent boom in dance clubs, so there are plenty of places to party hard, or to have a more relaxing night out. The RiverWalk is at the heart of the city's nightlife scene, particularly for tourists. Many conferences stay at hotels near the RiverWalk, so it's not uncommon to see professionals out and about after a day of networking.

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

Is New Bern or San Antonio Better for Music?

San Antonio is a popular place for live music. However, New Bern is not a live music destination.

The music scene in San Antonio is active and vibrant. It's worth checking out The Aztec Theater, Sam's Burger Joint, and 502 Bar.

New Bern is not a live music destination.

Is New Bern or San Antonio Better for its Old Town?

San Antonio is a popular place for its historic old town. However, New Bern does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to San Antonio to see the historical old town. The city is famous for its River Walk, which may feel slightly cheesy, but is still a unique and mesmerizing place to wander.

New Bern does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or San Antonio?

Shopping is a popular activity in both San Antonio 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 San Antonio. From souvenir shops to local boutiques and chain stores, there are several shopping options around town. Check out the historic Market Square or the shops at Rivercenter for some of the city's most interesting shopping.

Is New Bern or San Antonio More Beautiful?

San Antonio is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Antonio is a gorgeous place to visit. The RiverWalk feels almost like a European city and its filled with colors and festiveness.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or San Antonio Better for Families?

San Antonio 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, San Antonio is a very family-friendly destination. The RiverWalk is a fun family-friendly area. There's also Six Flags, SeaWorld and the San Antonio Zoo as well as a number of museums and other amusement parks in the area. It's easy to spend days having a great family vacation in this area and you can combine history, culture, and entertainment all in one setting.

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 San Antonio Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and San Antonio make for a good place to visit.

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.

San Antonio makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy taking a boat ride and exploring the many sites around town. The RiverWalk has many restaurants and a great atmosphere for a date night. There's also the botanical gardens and many outdoor spaces to explore.

Is New Bern or San Antonio Better for Students?

San Antonio is a popular place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

San Antonio is popular with students. There are a couple of colleges in the area. This is also a major conference destination so it's possible to network and meet other professionals.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

San Antonio 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 San Antonio. Buses connect most of the city's tourist attractions, but you'll find life much easier if you have your own car.

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

Is New Bern or San Antonio a more walkable city?

New Bern is a good destination for its walkability. However, San Antonio is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

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

San Antonio is generally not a very walkable town. If you stick to the downtown area you will be fine getting around on foot. Outside of that area, you'll need a car.

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

Should I spend more time in San Antonio or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or San Antonio?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and San Antonio. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in San Antonio 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 San Antonio.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Antonio 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 San Antonio.

One day in New Bern or San Antonio?

New Bern is a small town with plenty to do. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The city of San Antonio offers museums and nightlife. 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 San Antonio?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

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

Five days in New Bern or San Antonio?

Because New Bern is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

San Antonio 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 San Antonio?

Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

San Antonio 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 San Antonio, 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 San Antonio Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or San Antonio?

San Antonio has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and San Antonio, 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 San Antonio?

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 San Antonio in the Summer?

Both San Antonio and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Antonio because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

New Bern is cooler than San Antonio in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and San Antonio fluctuates around 87°F (31°C).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than San Antonio. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or San Antonio in the Autumn?

Both San Antonio and New Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Antonio this time of year.

In the autumn, New Bern is cooler than San Antonio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and San Antonio averages at about 73°F (23°C).

New Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as San Antonio. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or San Antonio in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and San Antonio. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Antonio for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, New Bern is generally much colder than San Antonio. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and San Antonio fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than San Antonio. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or San Antonio in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New Bern as well as San Antonio. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm. Additionally, many visitors come to San Antonio in the spring for the natural beauty.

New Bern is cooler than San Antonio in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and San Antonio fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

New Bern usually gets more rain in April than San Antonio. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while San Antonio receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Antonio and New Bern