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

Should you visit New Bern or Toronto?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Toronto? 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.

Toronto

Toronto is a cultural, diverse, and vibrant city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Toronto travel costs.

New Bern and Toronto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Toronto?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Toronto. Although New Bern and Toronto are both popular with visitors, Toronto has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Toronto is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while New Bern is known for its small town charm. Toronto is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its art and culture, diverse cuisine, and multi-cultural population. It is also home to the CN Tower. New Bern is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Toronto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Toronto is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Toronto that are not to be missed. The city is filled with landmarks and museums such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum. Ripley's Aquarium is a highlight for many visitors. It's near the CN Tower and has an underwater tunnel. The city is also filled with art galleries and cultural sights. Another must is a visit to Casa Loma and, of course, the Toronto Zoo.

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 Toronto? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Toronto 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, Toronto makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene is as diverse as the city itself. You'll find classic Canadian favorites like peameal bacon sandwiches and beavertails, as well as almost any international cuisine you could want. Make sure you try the dim sum, roti, and street hot dogs.

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 Toronto Better for Nightlife?

Toronto is an unbeatable place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Toronto is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. It's a diverse nightlife scene, with upscale lounges, dive bars, live music, and high energy nightclubs. Popular areas for nightlife include King Street, the Ossington Strip, College Street, and Kensington Market.

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 Toronto?

Toronto is an unbeatable place for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Toronto is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shopping is huge here, with plenty of options available that range from large malls to vintage stores or flea markets. Eaton Center on Yonge Street is a major shopping area. Yonge Street is also home to more than 600 retail stores.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is New Bern or Toronto Better for Families?

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

Toronto is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the city's many family-friendly museums like the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ontario Science Center. Younger kids will have fun playing at the Centreville Theme Park while all ages will love a day at Canada's Wonderland. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a highlight for many families as well.

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 Toronto Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Toronto frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This city is full of energy, and couples can enjoy amazing meals, impressive shows, and romantic outings. You can picnic at a park or check out the view from CN Tower. There are also dinner cruises and live theater.

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 Toronto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Backpackers come from all over to visit Toronto. There are a number of hostels around town and there's often a good crowd of 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 Toronto Better for Students?

Toronto is an unbeatable place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Toronto. The city has a good number of universities that attract students from around the globe. This is a very livable city with a lot of diversity and plenty of entertainment options.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

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

Visitors in Toronto can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. Union Station is the hub of the city's transportation system, which includes subways, buses and streetcars.

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

Is New Bern or Toronto a more walkable city?

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

Toronto is very walkable. It's a pedestrian-friendly city that is great for exploring on foot. The waterfront area has a walkway and there are cycling trails around town 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 Toronto Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Toronto or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Toronto?

Both New Bern and Toronto have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toronto than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 3-7 days is enough time in Toronto.

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a big city with plenty to do. 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 Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Toronto, 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 Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Toronto has to offer. 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 Northern Lights Tours in Canada, and The Best Luxury Tours to Canada.

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

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 Toronto Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Toronto?

Toronto has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Toronto, 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 Toronto?

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 Toronto in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Toronto. Many visitors come to New Bern in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Toronto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

New Bern is a little warmer than Toronto in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Toronto fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Toronto. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Toronto in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, New Bern is much warmer than Toronto. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Toronto averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Toronto. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Toronto in the Winter?

Both Toronto and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to New Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toronto this time of year.

It's quite cold in Toronto in the winter. In January, New Bern is generally much warmer than Toronto. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Toronto. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Toronto in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Toronto. The small town charm are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Toronto for the activities around the city.

New Bern is much warmer than Toronto in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Toronto fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Toronto. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Toronto and New Bern