A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Charlotte vs. Winston-Salem for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Charlotte and Winston-Salem can help you decide which place is right for you.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a evolving, up-and-coming, and growing city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is a friendly, under-rated, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Charlotte and Winston-Salem: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlotte than Winston-Salem. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Charlotte is very popular for its big city activities, while Winston-Salem attracts visitors for its historical sights. Charlotte is famous for its banking industry and growing Uptown area. It is also well known for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Winston-Salem is famous for it's southern character and quaint college campuses.

How is Charlotte different from Winston-Salem?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Winston-Salem and Charlotte. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Winston-Salem and Charlotte.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Charlotte. The Mint Museum is a popular place to visit, as is the Gantt Center for African American Arts. Art enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and sports enthusiasts will enjoy a stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Winston-Salem is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Is the Food Better in Charlotte or Winston-Salem? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

Charlotte is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The food scene continues to grow and change around town. You'll find the latest trendy restaurant changes regularly, but dishes often include upscale southern faire or classic American. There are also many international restaurants, particularly Mexican, Thai, and Chinese.

Winston-Salem offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is nice in both Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

If you're looking for night time activities Charlotte has a few options to choose from. Head Uptown for some of the best nightlife. The city has many bars and clubs that keep things fun late into the night.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Winston-Salem. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for its Old Town?

Winston-Salem is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Charlotte does not have a historic old town.

Winston-Salem has an old town worth visiting. Nearby Old Salem is filled with historic museums, gardens, and restaurants. A ticket is required for most of the venues, but the atmosphere and architecture are charming.

Charlotte does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

If you're looking to go shopping, Charlotte and Winston-Salem both offer plenty of nice spots.

Charlotte has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls such as SouthPark Mall or Carolina Place offer all of the standard retailers. Concord Mills is another favorite mall in the area. Aside from the malls, there is no shortage of shopping centers around town.

Winston-Salem is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of larger shopping malls, retail outlets, and shopping centers around town.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Charlotte or Winston-Salem.

Charlotte offers lots of family activities. There are a number of museums for kids, with one of the best being Discovery Place. It has many hands-on science based exhibits that kids will love. Another unique experience is a visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Carowinds Amusement Park is also in the area as are many great parks, playgrounds, and natural areas.

Winston-Salem is a family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums like the Kaleideum science museums. There are also outdoor parks and playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and a children's theater.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for Couples?

Charlotte is a popular place for couples. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for romance.

Charlotte is a good city for couples to visit. There are a number of date night activities around town, particularly Uptown. You can see a show or concert at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center or hit up one of the trendy bars or restaurants. There are also sporting events and other festivals that are fun to experience.

Winston-Salem is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are restaurants and movie theaters that make for a nice date night. There are also parks and walks that will get you outdoors.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for Students?

For students, both Charlotte and Winston-Salem are nice places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Charlotte. There are a number of smaller colleges in town, but the biggest university is the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Winston-Salem is a good city to visit for students. Wake Forest University as well as colleges such as Salem College give parts of the city a collegiate vibe.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charlotte is a popular place for its public transit. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Charlotte has a few public transit options. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Winston-Salem. There are bus routes, but they are limited in their frequency and convenience, making a car essential for most visitors.

Is Charlotte or Winston-Salem a more walkable city?

Charlotte is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for its walkability.

Charlotte is a somewhat walkable city. The Uptown area is the most walkable part of the city.

Winston-Salem is generally not a very walkable city. The downtown area is the most pedestrian-friendly part of town, but most of the city requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlotte Worth Visiting? and Is Winston-Salem Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Winston-Salem or Charlotte?

How long in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Charlotte or Winston-Salem to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Charlotte than Winston-Salem because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlotte, and 1-2 days is enough time in Winston-Salem.

Couples should spend more time in Charlotte than Winston-Salem. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Charlotte that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlotte than Winston-Salem 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 Charlotte.

One day in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the evolving destination of Charlotte. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Winston-Salem. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Winston-Salem has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlotte. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Winston-Salem. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the evolving destination of Charlotte. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the welcoming city of Winston-Salem. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Charlotte. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Winston-Salem is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlotte Expensive? and Is Winston-Salem Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Winston-Salem. When comparing the sizes of Charlotte and Winston-Salem, 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 Charlotte or Winston-Salem?

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 Charlotte or Winston-Salem in the Summer?

Both Winston-Salem and Charlotte during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charlotte for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Winston-Salem because of the family-friendly experiences.

Charlotte is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

In Winston-Salem, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charlotte. In the summer, Charlotte often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 289 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 273 hours of full sun.

Winston-Salem gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlotte or Winston-Salem in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlotte and Winston-Salem. The autumn months attract visitors to Charlotte because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Winston-Salem this time of year.

In the autumn, Charlotte is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlotte in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Winston-Salem averages at about 62°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winston-Salem this time of the year. In Charlotte, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem during autumn. Charlotte gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 212 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Charlotte usually receives less rain than Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlotte or Winston-Salem in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlotte as well as Winston-Salem. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charlotte this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Winston-Salem for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Winston-Salem. In January, Charlotte is generally a little warmer than Winston-Salem. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 42°F (6°C), and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

In the winter, Charlotte often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 173 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 169 hours of full sun.

Charlotte usually gets more rain in January than Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlotte or Winston-Salem in the Spring?

Both Winston-Salem and Charlotte are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Charlotte for the activities around the city.

Charlotte is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 63°F (17°C) in April, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Winston-Salem. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Winston-Salem during spring. Charlotte gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of rain as Winston-Salem. Charlotte gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Winston-Salem and Charlotte