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

Should you visit Durham or Galveston?

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

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Galveston

Galveston is a coastal, historic, and charming town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Galveston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Galveston?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Galveston than Durham. While Durham is larger than Galveston, Galveston has more sights and attractions for tourists. Galveston is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its long history that is centered around the shipping industry and hurricanes. It is also home to Pleasure Pier. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Galveston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Galveston can be an interesting and educational experience. With its long history and Victorian homes, there are a number of museums around town. A favorite mansion is the 1892 Bishop's Palace. There's also the Galveston Railroad Museum and the Galveston Arts Center.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Galveston can be difficult as they are each good 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 Galveston. There's a great mix of seafood and Texas favorites. Seafood-lovers will enjoy the oysters, crab cakes, and po boys while land-lovers will like the brisket, Tex Mex, and Texas chili.

Is Durham or Galveston Better for Nightlife?

Galveston is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Galveston offers plenty to do in the evening. There's a bit of a party town vibe in the evenings. Head to Pleasure Pier for rides and entertainment. The town also has taverns, lounges, and bars that you can check out.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is Durham or Galveston Better for Beaches?

Galveston is very good for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Galveston to enjoy the beach. There are miles of beaches that spread out from town. Some of the best include Babe's Beach, Stewart Beach, and Crystal Beach. Because of the proximity to the Mississippi River, the water can be a bit murky, but the beaches are still fun.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is Durham or Galveston Better for its Old Town?

Galveston is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Durham does not have a historic old town.

Galveston offers a nice historic old town area. The East End Historic District is filled with historic mansions with beautiful porches. It's possible to take a tour or you could explore independently.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Galveston?

Both Durham and Galveston 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 Galveston. There are plenty of places to pick up souvenirs like shell jewelry or t-shirts. There are also more eclectic shops as well as shopping centers and malls.

Is Durham or Galveston Better for Families?

Galveston is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Galveston is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Head to Pier 21 where you'll find museums, harbor tours, and other kid-friendly activities. The city also offers a number of pirate-themed activities that kids enjoy as well as spooky ghost tours. For a bit of a thrill you can check out the rides at Galveston Pleasure Pier. And, of course, there are the beaches.

Durham is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Durham or Galveston Better for Couples?

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

Galveston is a very popular place to visit for couples. The Historic District is the perfect place to enjoy a nice meal and soak up the charm. The area's beaches and parks also offer a bit of romance and there are plenty of outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing, or swimming.

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 Galveston Better for Students?

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

Durham is very popular with students. 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.

Galveston is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Galveston offer decent public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Galveston. While there are buses and trolley buses, a car is the best way to get around with the greatest flexibility and convenience.

Is Durham or Galveston a more walkable city?

Galveston is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Galveston is a somewhat walkable town. There are some walkable areas such as the Historic District.

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 Galveston Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Galveston or Durham?

How long in Durham or Galveston?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Galveston. In our opinion, Galveston has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Galveston than Durham. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Galveston?

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Galveston. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Galveston?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the diverse destination of Durham. 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.

Galveston 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 Galveston?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-filled city of Durham. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Galveston. 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 Galveston?

Durham 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal destination of Galveston. This town 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 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 comparing the travel costs between Durham and Galveston, we can see that Galveston 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 Galveston Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Galveston?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Galveston. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Galveston, 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 Galveston?

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 Galveston in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Galveston. The summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Galveston this time of year.

In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Galveston. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Galveston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Galveston. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Galveston receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Galveston in the Autumn?

Both Galveston and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Galveston for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

Durham is cooler than Galveston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Galveston fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Galveston. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Galveston receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Galveston in the Winter?

Both Galveston and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Galveston in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Galveston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Galveston averages at about 52°F (11°C).

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

Should I visit Durham or Galveston in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Galveston. Furthermore, most visitors come to Galveston for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.

In April, Durham is generally cooler than Galveston. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Galveston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Galveston. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Galveston receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Galveston and Durham