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

Should you visit Greenville or Norfolk?

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 Greenville and Norfolk can help you decide which place is right for you.

Greenville

Greenville is a southern, welcoming, and hospitable city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Norfolk

Norfolk is a authentic, blue collar, and maritime city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Greenville and Norfolk: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Greenville or Norfolk?

You'll generally find more things to do in Norfolk than Greenville. Norfolk is bigger than Greenville, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Norfolk is more touristy than Greenville and is popular for its naval base and military presence. Also, Norfolk is famous for the Battleship Wisconsin. Greenville is well known for its outdoor spaces and its growing arts scene.

How is Greenville different from Norfolk?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Greenville or Norfolk?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Norfolk and Greenville.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Greenville. Museums focus on art, history, and science. Notable museums in town include the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Upcountry History Museum, and the Sigal Music Museum.

Norfolk is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting museums in town like the Chrysler Museum, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, and the Norfolk Police and Fire Museum. You should also check out the Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin.

Is the Food Better in Greenville or Norfolk? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Norfolk is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Greenville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Norfolk is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a decent collection of restaurants in the downtown area. Food options include local seafood, brunch, casual eateries, and fine dining.

Greenville offers some easy restaurants to choose from. The food scene is growing and the farm-to-table movement is apparent here, but the city is still often overlooked by foodies in the area.

Is Greenville or Norfolk Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Greenville and Norfolk.

If you're looking for night time activities Greenville has a few options to choose from. Bars, breweries, and low key clubs are what drive the city's nightlife scene. There are both piano bars and live music venues that often lean towards the local country classics.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Norfolk. Downtown is where you'll find the most busy nightlife venues. The city has great breweries, and the live music scene has taken off. There are also lounges, dance clubs, and wine bars to choose from.

Is the Shopping Better in Greenville or Norfolk?

If you're looking to go shopping, Greenville and Norfolk both offer plenty of notable spots.

Greenville has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find upscale shopping in the city's downtown and sprawling shopping malls in other neighborhoods. There are plenty of name brand stores where you can pick up the latest style.

Norfolk is a great destination for shopping. There's a mix of shopping malls, local boutiques, farmer's markets, and shopping centers around town.

Is Greenville or Norfolk Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Greenville or Norfolk.

Greenville offers lots of family activities. There are many local families in town, so you'll find all kinds of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. Paris Mountain State Park is a popular place where everyone can run around. Falls Park on the Reedy River also has walking trails and is in the city's historic district. There's also a children's theater and plenty of playgrounds around town.

Norfolk is a family-friendly place to visit. The Norfolk Zoo is always a hit with kids. You should also visit the USS Wisconsin which offers tours, as well as the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum.

Is Greenville or Norfolk Better for Couples?

Neither Greenville or Norfolk is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Greenville is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You can take the free trolley down Main Street and then enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

Norfolk is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some nice hotels and several great parks and outdoor activities.

Is Greenville or Norfolk Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Greenville and Norfolk both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Greenville. There are free trolleys that make their way around the downtown neighborhoods.

Public transit is generally limited in Norfolk. While there are buses, ferries, and even lightrail in the area, you really want to have a car to get around.

Is Greenville or Norfolk a more walkable city?

Norfolk is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Greenville is not known for its walkability.

Norfolk is a somewhat walkable city. Downtown is the most walkable part of the city.

Greenville is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is surprisingly walkable, but like most cities in the area, you need a car to make the most of your visit.

For even more information, also check out Is Greenville Worth Visiting? and Is Norfolk Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Norfolk or Greenville?

How long in Greenville or Norfolk?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Greenville or Norfolk to fill your time. In our opinion, Norfolk has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Norfolk than Greenville. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Norfolk than Greenville 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 Norfolk.

One day in Greenville or Norfolk?

In Greenville, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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

A weekend in Greenville or Norfolk?

In Greenville, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Greenville has to offer.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Norfolk, 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.

Five days in Greenville or Norfolk?

Greenville is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Norfolk, 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.

A week in Greenville or Norfolk?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Greenville. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Greenville. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Norfolk 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Greenville or Norfolk?

Norfolk has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Greenville. When comparing the sizes of Greenville and Norfolk, 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.