A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Alexandria for Attractions, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Durham or Alexandria?

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 Durham and Alexandria can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Alexandria

Alexandria is a charming, quaint, and historic city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham and Alexandria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Alexandria?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Alexandria than Durham. While Durham is larger than Alexandria, Alexandria has more sights and attractions for tourists. Alexandria is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its long-running history, beautiful architecture, and small town atmosphere. It is also well known for Mount Vernon. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Alexandria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durham or Alexandria?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Durham or Alexandria.

Many visitors head to Durham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Alexandria can be an interesting and educational experience. George Washington's Mount Vernon home is an iconic destination in Alexandria. There are also many other museums in town that focus on the region's history. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum and the Gadsby's Tavern Museum are both interesting. There's Gunston Hall and the Carlyle House, as well as an archeology museum and many historic landmarks around town.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Alexandria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Alexandria can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Durham area. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Alexandria. The food, like the city itself, reflects the area's history. There are many southern classic dishes as well as a lot of seafood. You'll find lots of local restaurants that serve high quality dishes and a quaint atmosphere.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Alexandria are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Alexandria. There's a great bar scene, as well as tons of restaurants that make for a relaxing night out.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for its Old Town?

Alexandria is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Durham does not have a historic old town.

Alexandria offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. At the heart of the city is the historic old town. Its lined with townhomes that date back to the 18th century. There are many historic sights that have stories from the early days of the country. There are also cobblestone streets and a great waterfront.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Alexandria?

Alexandria is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Alexandria. King Street is the main shopping street in town and it offers the largest concentration of independently owned boutiques in the Washington D.C. area. It's the perfectly place to spend an afternoon shopping.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Families?

Durham is a good destination for its kid-friendly activities. However, Alexandria is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Durham offers lots of family activities. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Alexandria is not the most family-friendly destination. The waterfront area is nice to walk around. You can break up the history with an ice cream shop and kids will also enjoy taking a boat tour.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Couples?

Alexandria is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Alexandria is a very popular place to visit for couples. The charm of the old town makes this a quaint and romantic destination. There's a waterfront area and many historic buildings. There are also romantic restaurants and plenty of places to grab brunch.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alexandria is very good for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Alexandria is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There aren't any true hostels in town, but you will find some cheap motels.

Durham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The student population means there are a number of parties and bars around town, but most backpackers overlook this city.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Students?

Durham is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Alexandria is not popular with students.

Many students visit Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Alexandria is not popular with students.

Is Durham or Alexandria Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Alexandria is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Alexandria is top-notch. DASH is the local bus system, but the city is also connected into the Washington DC metro system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Durham or Alexandria a more walkable city?

Alexandria is an amazing city to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Alexandria on foot. It's a very easy city to walk around, particularly in the historic heart where most tourists spend their time.

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Alexandria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alexandria or Durham?

How long in Durham or Alexandria?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alexandria than Durham 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 Alexandria.

One day in Durham or Alexandria?

With museums and nightlife around the student-filled city of Durham, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Durham, one day is sufficent for most.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Alexandria. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Alexandria?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Durham, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Alexandria is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Alexandria?

Durham, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alexandria. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Durham or Alexandria?

Durham is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Alexandria. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Alexandria?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Alexandria. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Alexandria, 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 Durham or Alexandria?

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 Durham or Alexandria in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Alexandria. Many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Alexandria for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Durham is around the same temperature as Alexandria in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Alexandria fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alexandria. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Alexandria. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Alexandria receives 278 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Alexandria. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Alexandria in the Autumn?

Both Alexandria and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Alexandria because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Durham is around the same temperature as Alexandria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Alexandria averages at about 60°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Alexandria during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Alexandria receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Alexandria. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Alexandria in the Winter?

Both Alexandria and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Alexandria this time of year.

It's quite cold in Alexandria in the winter. The weather in Durham can be very cold. In January, Durham is generally much warmer than Alexandria. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Alexandria fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Alexandria. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Alexandria receives 139 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Alexandria. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Alexandria in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Alexandria. Furthermore, many travelers come to Alexandria for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Durham is a little warmer than Alexandria in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Alexandria fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alexandria this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Alexandria during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Alexandria receives 228 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Alexandria. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Alexandria and Durham