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

Should you visit Durham 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 Durham and Winston-Salem can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Durham travel costs.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is a friendly, under-rated, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Winston-Salem travel costs.

Durham and Winston-Salem: Pros and Cons

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

Travelers will usually find more to do in Winston-Salem. Although Durham and Winston-Salem are popular destinations, Winston-Salem has more sights and attractions for tourists. Winston-Salem is very popular for its historical sights, while Durham attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Winston-Salem is famous for it's southern character and quaint college campuses. It is also well known for Old Salem.

How is Durham different from Winston-Salem?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem?

Durham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Durham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

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 Durham or Winston-Salem? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem. 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 Durham or Winston-Salem Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.

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

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

Winston-Salem offers a nice historic old town area. 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.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Winston-Salem?

Both Durham and Winston-Salem are nice 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 Winston-Salem. You'll find a mix of larger shopping malls, retail outlets, and shopping centers around town.

Is Durham or Winston-Salem Better for Families?

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

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.

Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city. 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 Durham or Winston-Salem Better for Couples?

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

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.

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 Durham or Winston-Salem Better for Students?

Durham is notable for students. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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.

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

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

Both Durham and Winston-Salem offer reasonable 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 Winston-Salem. There are bus routes, but they are limited in their frequency and convenience, making a car essential for most visitors.

Is Durham or Winston-Salem a more walkable city?

Durham and Winston-Salem both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

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

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 Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Winston-Salem Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Durham or Winston-Salem?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Durham or Winston-Salem to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Durham 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 Durham, and 1-2 days is enough time in Winston-Salem.

Couples should spend more time in Durham than Winston-Salem. 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 Durham 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 Durham.

One day in Durham or Winston-Salem?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the diverse destination of Durham. 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.

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

A weekend in Durham or Winston-Salem?

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

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse destination of Durham. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Durham. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Winston-Salem. 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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Winston-Salem, we can see that Durham 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 Winston-Salem Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Winston-Salem?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Winston-Salem. When comparing the sizes of Durham 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 Durham or Winston-Salem?

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 Winston-Salem in the Summer?

Both Winston-Salem and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Winston-Salem because of the family-friendly experiences.

Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It's quite sunny in Winston-Salem. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 273 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Winston-Salem. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Winston-Salem and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Winston-Salem this time of year.

In the autumn, Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Winston-Salem averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In Winston-Salem, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the autumn, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 212 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Winston-Salem. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Furthermore, 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. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In January, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Winston-Salem. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Winston-Salem receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Winston-Salem.

Durham is around the same temperature as Winston-Salem in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the spring, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winston-Salem receives 248 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Winston-Salem. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Winston-Salem and Durham