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

Should you visit Durham or Cincinnati?

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 Cincinnati can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a authentic, hard-working, and blue collar city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Durham and Cincinnati: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Cincinnati?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Durham than Cincinnati. While Cincinnati is larger than Durham, Durham has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. It is also home to the Duke University Chapel. Cincinnati is popular for its breweries and down-to-earth personality.

How is Durham different from Cincinnati?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Cincinnati can be an interesting and educational experience. You'll find both traditional and quirky museums around town. For outside-the-box, check out the American Sign Museum or the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Art museums include the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. Other popular museums include the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

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

Durham is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Durham. 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.

Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Is Durham or Cincinnati Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Cincinnati are good 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 Cincinnati. The nightlife scene is diverse and includes music venues, breweries, and nightclubs. In addition to the city's downtown, you'll find trendy places to hang out in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Breweries are popular in the city, in part because of its German roots.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Cincinnati?

Both Durham and Cincinnati are good shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Cincinnati. There are large shopping malls and retail outlets. You'll also find local boutiques in the Montgomery or Mariemont areas.

Is Durham or Cincinnati Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Cincinnati.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Cincinnati is a family-friendly city. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities around town like the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, and Smale Riverfront Park.

Is Durham or Cincinnati Better for Couples?

Durham is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cincinnati is not particularly known for couples.

Durham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Cincinnati is not always the best place to visit for a couple. If you do find yourself in town for a few days, there are several good restaurants and a number of music venues that can keep the visit fun and entertaining.

Is Durham or Cincinnati Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Cincinnati is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are actually a couple of hostels in town for backpackers or students.

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 Cincinnati Better for Students?

Durham is well known for students. However, Cincinnati is not popular with students.

Durham is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Cincinnati is not popular with students.

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

Cincinnati is very good for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Cincinnati has a few public transit options. There are two bus systems around town - the METRO and TANK bus systems. There's also a streetcar that travels through the downtown.

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 Cincinnati a more walkable city?

Cincinnati is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Cincinnati is a very walkable destination. There are several surprisingly walkable areas, particularly downtown and the nearby neighborhoods.

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 Cincinnati Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cincinnati or Durham?

How long in Durham or Cincinnati?

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Cincinnati?

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 shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Cincinnati. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Cincinnati?

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.

Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?

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 Cincinnati. 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 Cincinnati?

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 hard-working destination of Cincinnati. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Cincinnati, we can see that Cincinnati 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 Durham Expensive? and Is Cincinnati Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Cincinnati in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Cincinnati. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Cincinnati because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cincinnati this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Cincinnati during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 298 hours of full sun in the summer.

Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Cincinnati. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Cincinnati in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Durham as well as Cincinnati. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Cincinnati this time of year.

Durham is a little warmer than Cincinnati in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Cincinnati fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the autumn, Durham often gets more sunshine than Cincinnati. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 188 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in October than Cincinnati. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Cincinnati in the Winter?

Both Cincinnati and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cincinnati for the museums and the shopping scene.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cincinnati. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much warmer than Cincinnati. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 31°F (-0°C).

Durham usually receives more sunshine than Cincinnati during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Cincinnati receives 129 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Cincinnati. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Cincinnati in the Spring?

Both Cincinnati and Durham during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Durham is generally a little warmer than Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

In Cincinnati, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the spring, Durham often gets more sunshine than Cincinnati. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cincinnati receives 215 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in April than Cincinnati. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Cincinnati and Durham