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

Should you visit Durham or Nashville?

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

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Nashville

Nashville is a country music lovers, eclectic, and southern city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, live music, and food.

Durham and Nashville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Nashville?

You'll generally find more things to do in Nashville than Durham. Nashville is bigger than Durham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Nashville is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, and big city activities, while Durham is more popular for its museums and shopping. Nashville is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its influence in country music and its many live music venues. Also, Nashville is famous for The Grand Ole Opry. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Nashville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Nashville is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Durham. 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.

Nashville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It is famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry. It's also where you'll find the Country Music Hall of Fame and the unique Johnny Cash Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Nashville can be difficult as they are each notable 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 Nashville. The city is known for some southern favorites including southern barbecue, mac and cheese, and biscuits and gravy.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Nightlife?

Nashville 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.

Nashville offers plenty to do in the evening. The city is popular for it's music scene, particularly the country music scene. You can take in one of the free Honky Tonks or head to a rooftop bar. It's also a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties.

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 Nashville Better for Music?

Nashville is an amazing city to visit for its music scene. However, Durham is not a live music destination.

In Nashville you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city is famous for country music, blues, and rock and roll. Popular venues include The Basement, The 5 Spot, and The Cannery Complex.

Durham is not a live music destination.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Resorts?

Nashville is very good for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

Nashville has a few great resort options. There are a couple of famous resorts in the area including the Gaylord Opryland Resort, the Hermitage Hotel, and the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Nashville?

Durham is a city with good options for shopping. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Nashville has some nice offerings. The town has a number of boutique shops as well as major department stores. You'll find all of the major American chains around town.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Christmas?

Nashville is very good for its Christmas activities. However, Durham does not offer Christmas activities.

Many visitors go to Nashville during the Christmas season. Several different venues decorate beautifully for the Christmas season including the Gaylord Opryland.

Durham does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Nashville.

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.

Nashville is a family-friendly city. The city has a handful of kid-friendly activities like a science center and kid-friendly music venues.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Nashville are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Nashville is a nice destination for couples. For music lovers, this is the ultimate couple's destination. There are also a number of romantic activities around town including horse drawn carriage rides through the downtown. To enjoy the beautiful weather, head to Centennial Park or take a hike in Forest Hills.

Is Durham or Nashville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Nashville is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are one or two hostels around town and there's a great live music scene that attracts a young crowd.

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 Nashville Better for Students?

Durham is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for students.

Students come from all over to stay in 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.

Nashville is a decent spot for students. Several universities bring in international students, but the city is smaller and it isn't the most popular student destination in America.

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

Durham is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Nashville. Public transportation is very limited and you really need a car to explore the city in depth.

Is Durham or Nashville a more walkable city?

Durham is a decent place to visit for its walkability. However, Nashville is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

Nashville is not a walkable city. There aren't many parts of the city that are pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Nashville or Durham?

How long in Durham or Nashville?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Nashville. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-3 days is enough time in Nashville.

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

One day in Durham or Nashville?

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 Nashville. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Nashville?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the student-filled 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.

Nashville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. 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 Nashville?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse 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 Nashville. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. 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 Nashville?

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 food and museums when visiting the eclectic destination of Nashville. 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 Nashville, we can see that Nashville 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 Nashville Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Nashville?

Nashville has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Nashville, 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 Nashville?

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 Nashville in the Summer?

Both Nashville and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Nashville in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Nashville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Nashville averages at about 81°F (27°C).

In Nashville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nashville. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 276 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Nashville. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Nashville in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Nashville. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Nashville for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

In October, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Nashville. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Nashville fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nashville this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nashville during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 212 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nashville. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Nashville in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Nashville. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Nashville because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Nashville can be very cold. Durham can be very cold during winter. Durham is a little warmer than Nashville in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Nashville fluctuates around 38°F (4°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Nashville. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nashville receives 134 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Nashville. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Nashville in the Spring?

Both Nashville and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Nashville this time of year.

In the spring, Durham is around the same temperature as Nashville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Nashville averages at about 62°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Nashville. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nashville during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Nashville receives 234 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nashville. In April, Durham usually receives less rain than Nashville. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Nashville receives 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nashville and Durham