Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Winston-Salem?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Winston-Salem?

Many visitors spend one to two days in Winston-Salem during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.

Winston-Salem is a medium-sized city in central North Carolina. It's home to Wake Forest University and Salem College. It's filled with a southern personality and a inviting atmosphere and visitors will enjoy a stop at the traditional Old Salem.

Do you have one or two days to visit Winston-Salem? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Winston-Salem?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time when exploring the main attractions. After all, Winston-Salem is a small city with a some good sights and activities, but still hosts a fairly small number of tourists. To fully embrace Winston-Salem, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate one to two days to browse the museums, admire the historic sights, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and take advantage of the local nightlife. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Winston-Salem

Perhaps the most famous place in Winston-Salem is Old Salem, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. North Carolina barbecue is popular around town. The city is also the birthplace of Krispy Kreme donuts and during the holiday season you should sample the local Moravian Cookies.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Winston-Salem?

Two days or a full weekend in Winston-Salem is often considered the right amount of time to spend here, as many tourists take around one to two days for their trip in the area. A 2-day trip would usually give you enough time to check out the museums and landmarks, the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.

How to spend 2 days in Winston-Salem

With a weekend (two to three days) in Winston-Salem, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. Old Salem has a nice concentration of museums and gardens. Outside of the old town you'll find several art museums like the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Winston-Salem, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.