A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Alexandria for Attractions, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit New Bern or Alexandria?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit New Bern or Alexandria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

New Bern

New Bern is a charming, laid back, and quaint town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Alexandria

Alexandria is a quaint, historic, and charming city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

New Bern and Alexandria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Alexandria?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Alexandria than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Alexandria is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while New Bern is more popular for its small town charm. Alexandria is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its long-running history, beautiful architecture, and small town atmosphere. Also, Alexandria is famous for Mount Vernon. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Alexandria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Alexandria?

Alexandria is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Alexandria offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. George Washington's Mount Vernon home is an iconic destination in Alexandria. There are also many other museums in town that focus on the region's history. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum and the Gadsby's Tavern Museum are both interesting. There's Gunston Hall and the Carlyle House, as well as an archeology museum and many historic landmarks around town.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Alexandria? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Alexandria can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Alexandria has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The food, like the city itself, reflects the area's history. There are many southern classic dishes as well as a lot of seafood. You'll find lots of local restaurants that serve high quality dishes and a quaint atmosphere.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for Nightlife?

Alexandria is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Alexandria has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There's a great bar scene, as well as tons of restaurants that make for a relaxing night out.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for its Old Town?

Alexandria is an unbeatable place for its historic old town. However, New Bern does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Alexandria offers plenty to see. At the heart of the city is the historic old town. Its lined with townhomes that date back to the 18th century. There are many historic sights that have stories from the early days of the country. There are also cobblestone streets and a great waterfront.

New Bern does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Alexandria?

Alexandria is well known for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Alexandria is an extremely popular place for shoppers. King Street is the main shopping street in town and it offers the largest concentration of independently owned boutiques in the Washington D.C. area. It's the perfectly place to spend an afternoon shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for Families?

Most people don't think of either New Bern or Alexandria as a family destination.

New Bern doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

For families, Alexandria is not always the best place to visit. The waterfront area is nice to walk around. You can break up the history with an ice cream shop and kids will also enjoy taking a boat tour.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for Couples?

Alexandria is well known for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Alexandria frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The charm of the old town makes this a quaint and romantic destination. There's a waterfront area and many historic buildings. There are also romantic restaurants and plenty of places to grab brunch.

New Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Alexandria is a popular place for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Alexandria. There aren't any true hostels in town, but you will find some cheap motels.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is New Bern or Alexandria Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Alexandria is an unbeatable place for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Alexandria can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. DASH is the local bus system, but the city is also connected into the Washington DC metro system.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Alexandria a more walkable city?

Alexandria is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Getting around Alexandria on foot is easy. It's a very easy city to walk around, particularly in the historic heart where most tourists spend their time.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Alexandria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alexandria or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Alexandria?

It's fun to spend time in either New Bern or Alexandria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Alexandria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-4 days is enough time in Alexandria.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Alexandria than New Bern 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 Alexandria.

One day in New Bern or Alexandria?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in New Bern, one day is sufficent for most.

The beautiful city of Alexandria offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Alexandria?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Alexandria is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Alexandria, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Alexandria?

New Bern, a popular town, 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.

Alexandria is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Alexandria?

New Bern 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.

Alexandria is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Alexandria?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Alexandria, 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 New Bern or Alexandria?

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 New Bern or Alexandria in the Summer?

Both Alexandria and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Alexandria because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Alexandria. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Alexandria fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Alexandria. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Alexandria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Alexandria. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Alexandria this time of year.

New Bern is a little warmer than Alexandria in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Alexandria fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Alexandria. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Alexandria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Alexandria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Alexandria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Alexandria. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Alexandria. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Alexandria averages at about 35°F (1°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Alexandria. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Alexandria in the Spring?

Both Alexandria and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Alexandria in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Alexandria. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Alexandria fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Alexandria. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Alexandria receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Alexandria and New Bern