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

Should you visit New Bern or Cincinnati?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Cincinnati? 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 quaint, charming, and laid back town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a hard-working, blue collar, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

New Bern and Cincinnati: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Cincinnati?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New Bern. Although New Bern and Cincinnati are popular destinations, New Bern has more sights and attractions for tourists. New Bern is very popular for its food and small town charm, while Cincinnati attracts visitors for its museums and nightlife. New Bern is more touristy than Cincinnati and is known for being the birthplace of Pepsi. It is also well known for the Tryon Palace. Cincinnati is famous for its breweries and down-to-earth personality.

How is New Bern different from Cincinnati?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Cincinnati offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find both traditional and quirky museums around town. For outside-the-box, check out the American Sign Museum or the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Art museums include the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. Other popular museums include the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

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 Cincinnati? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Bern is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in New Bern. 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.

Cincinnati is not a culinary destination.

Is New Bern or Cincinnati Better for Nightlife?

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

Cincinnati has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is diverse and includes music venues, breweries, and nightclubs. In addition to the city's downtown, you'll find trendy places to hang out in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Breweries are popular in the city, in part because of its German roots.

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 Cincinnati?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati. There are large shopping malls and retail outlets. You'll also find local boutiques in the Montgomery or Mariemont areas.

Is New Bern or Cincinnati Better for Families?

Cincinnati is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cincinnati. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities around town like the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, and Smale Riverfront Park.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. 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.

Is New Bern or Cincinnati Better for Couples?

New Bern is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cincinnati is not particularly known for couples.

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.

Cincinnati is not always the best place to visit for a couple. If you do find yourself in town for a few days, there are several good restaurants and a number of music venues that can keep the visit fun and entertaining.

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

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

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cincinnati. There are actually a couple of hostels in town for backpackers or students.

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 Cincinnati Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

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

You'll find some public transit in Cincinnati, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus systems around town - the METRO and TANK bus systems. There's also a streetcar that travels through the downtown.

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

Is New Bern or Cincinnati a more walkable city?

Cincinnati is well known for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Cincinnati is very walkable. There are several surprisingly walkable areas, particularly downtown and the nearby neighborhoods.

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 Cincinnati Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cincinnati or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Cincinnati?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than Cincinnati. 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.

One day in New Bern or Cincinnati?

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 city of Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?

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.

Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Cincinnati?

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.

Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati?

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.

Cincinnati 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.

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

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 Cincinnati Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati?

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 New Bern or Cincinnati in the Summer?

Both Cincinnati and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cincinnati this time of year.

In the summer, New Bern is around the same temperature as Cincinnati. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 79°F (26°C).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Cincinnati. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Cincinnati in the Autumn?

Both Cincinnati and New Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cincinnati for the shopping scene.

In October, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Cincinnati. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Cincinnati fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

New Bern usually gets more rain in October than Cincinnati. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Cincinnati in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Cincinnati. Many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Cincinnati in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene.

Cincinnati can get quite cold in the winter. New Bern is much warmer than Cincinnati in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Cincinnati fluctuates around 31°F (-0°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Cincinnati. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Cincinnati in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Cincinnati. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, New Bern is a little warmer than Cincinnati. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Cincinnati averages at about 56°F (14°C).

New Bern usually gets less rain in April than Cincinnati. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Cincinnati receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Cincinnati and New Bern