A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Virginia Beach for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit New Bern or Virginia Beach?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Virginia Beach? 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. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See New Bern travel costs.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a relaxing, bustling, and fun-filled coastal city. Virginia Beach is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife and beaches. See Virginia Beach travel costs.

New Bern and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Virginia Beach?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New Bern. Although New Bern and Virginia Beach are popular destinations, New Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. New Bern is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and small town charm, while Virginia Beach attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi. It is also well known for the Tryon Palace. Virginia Beach is famous for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.

How is New Bern different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

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

Virginia Beach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

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

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a handful of resorts to choose from. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Virginia Beach?

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach More Beautiful?

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

Virginia Beach is a gorgeous place to visit. As a developed beach town, the city has its share of hotels along the beach, but it is still a beautiful setting to explore.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

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

Virginia Beach is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

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 Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Virginia Beach make for a nice 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.

Virginia Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Virginia Beach is popular with students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Neither New Bern or Virginia Beach offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Public transit is quite limited in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is New Bern or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

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

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

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

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Virginia Beach?

Both New Bern and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than Virginia Beach. 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 New Bern than Virginia Beach 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 New Bern.

One day in New Bern or Virginia Beach?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The coastal city of Virginia Beach offers 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 Virginia Beach?

New Bern is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week 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.

Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach has to offer. This coastal 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?

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 Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Bern is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 79°F (26°C).

Virginia Beach 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 more rain in July than Virginia Beach. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Virginia Beach. Many visitors come to New Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Virginia Beach. 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 Virginia Beach because of the cuisine.

The weather in Virginia Beach can be very cold. New Bern is much warmer than Virginia Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 39°F (4°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Virginia Beach. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

Both Virginia Beach and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

In the spring, New Bern is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 58°F (14°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Virginia Beach. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and New Bern