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

Should you visit New Bern or Victoria?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Victoria? 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 charming, laid back, and quaint town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See New Bern travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a scenic, relaxing, and cultural city. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

New Bern and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Victoria?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Victoria than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Victoria is better known for its nightlife and hiking, while New Bern is more popular for its small town charm. Victoria is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its colonial buildings and public parks. Also, Victoria is famous for Butchart Gardens. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both New Bern and Victoria have notable 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.

Victoria offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Victoria 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.

Victoria has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is New Bern or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

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

Victoria has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

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

Is New Bern or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Victoria is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Victoria is a good destination for hiking. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Victoria?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Victoria 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 Victoria. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is New Bern or Victoria Better for Families?

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

Victoria is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

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 Victoria Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Victoria frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities 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.

Is New Bern or Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Victoria. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

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

Victoria 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 Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

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

Is New Bern or Victoria a more walkable city?

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

Victoria is very walkable. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

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 Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either New Bern or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Victoria?

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 Victoria offers food and shopping. 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 Victoria?

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.

Victoria 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 Victoria?

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.

Victoria 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 Victoria?

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.

Victoria 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 Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Victoria, we can see that Victoria 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria 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 Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Victoria?

Victoria has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Victoria, 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 Victoria?

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 Victoria in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Victoria. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Victoria because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Victoria in the Autumn?

Both Victoria and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

New Bern is much warmer than Victoria in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Victoria. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Victoria in the Winter?

Both Victoria and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. In the winter, New Bern is a little warmer than Victoria. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Victoria averages at about 5°C (41°F).

Victoria gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets less rain in January than Victoria. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Victoria in the Spring?

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

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Victoria. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Victoria. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Victoria and New Bern