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

Should you visit New Bern or Boise?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Boise? 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. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Boise

Boise is a friendly, welcoming, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

New Bern and Boise: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Small town charm
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less family-friendly
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
Things to Consider
  • Less family-friendly
  • Less popular with couples


Is there more to do in New Bern or Boise?

Visitors will usually find more to do in New Bern than Boise, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. New Bern is better known for its food and small town charm, while Boise is more popular for its nightlife. New Bern is more touristy than Boise and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Also, New Bern is famous for the Tryon Palace. Boise is well known for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is New Bern different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern
Boise

Both New Bern and Boise have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

New Bern is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Boise offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.


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

New Bern
Boise

New Bern is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

New Bern is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is New Bern or Boise Better for Nightlife?

New Bern
Boise

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

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

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

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Boise?

New Bern
Boise

Shopping is a popular activity in both Boise and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.


Is New Bern or Boise Better for Families?

New Bern
Boise

Most people don't think of either New Bern or Boise 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, Boise is not always the best place to visit. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is New Bern or Boise Better for Couples?

New Bern
Boise

New Bern is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

New Bern is a good town for couples to visit. 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.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

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

New Bern
Boise

Boise is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

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


Is New Bern or Boise a more walkable city?

New Bern
Boise

New Bern is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Boise or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Boise?

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

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

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

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


  • How many days in New Bern or Boise? Ideal Length of Stay
    New Bern 1-2 
    Boise 1-2

One day in New Bern or Boise?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

The city of Boise offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Boise 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. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Boise, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.


Five days in New Bern or Boise?

New Bern is a fun place to experience. New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise 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 Boise?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Boise is a great place to explore. 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.


Which place is cheaper, Boise or New Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in New Bern is $140, while the average daily cost in Boise is $146. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New Bern and Boise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    New Bern $76
    Boise $75
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    New Bern $152
    Boise $150
Compare Hotels in New Bern and Boise

Looking for a hotel in New Bern or Boise? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in New Bern


Hotels in Boise


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New Bern Hotel Prices and Boise Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    New Bern $34
    Boise $34

Is it cheaper to fly into New Bern or Boise?

Prices for flights to both Boise and New Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    New Bern $41
    Boise $45

Typical Food Prices in Boise

For Boise, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Hotel
    $59
  • Cracker Barrel Lunch (for 4)
    $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    New Bern $26
    Boise $30

Typical Entertainment Prices in Boise

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Boise's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Edwards Boise Imax
    $27

Tours and Activities in Boise

For Boise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Boise by 3Quest Challenge: $10
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $14
  • Boise Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • A Macabre History of Boise Walking Tour: $25
  • Hells Canyon Kirkwood Jet Boat Tour near Boise, Idaho: $218

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    New Bern $30
    Boise $24


When comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Boise, we can see that Boise 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 New Bern Expensive? and Is Boise Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, New Bern or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Boise, 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.