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

Should you visit New Bern or Milwaukee?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Milwaukee? 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. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Milwaukee

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

New Bern and Milwaukee: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Milwaukee?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New Bern. Although New Bern and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee attracts visitors for its nightlife. New Bern is more touristy than Milwaukee and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. It is also well known for the Tryon Palace. Milwaukee is famous for its many breweries and its baseball culture.

How is New Bern different from Milwaukee?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both New Bern and Milwaukee have nice 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.

Milwaukee offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several unique museums like the Harley-Davidson Museum, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. There's also the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Grohmann Museum as well as outdoor sculpture parks and other cultural and historic museums.

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

New Bern is a town with good options for its restaurants. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

Milwaukee may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The Midwest is known for its artery clogging comfort foods, and Milwaukee is no exception. Cheese curds, fried fish, fruit dumplings, and frozen custard are all popular.

Is New Bern or Milwaukee Better for Nightlife?

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

Milwaukee has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a decent number of breweries around town. There are also wine bars, nightclubs, and live music venues that are worth checking out.

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 Milwaukee?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. You'll find the standard shopping centers and shopping malls around town, but if you want some more local vendors, check out the areas around the Historic Third Ward and The Village in Wauwatosa.

Is New Bern or Milwaukee Better for Families?

Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. Kids will enjoy a visit to Discovery World, which is a science center with hands-on exhibits. There's also the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Younger kids will also enjoy a stop at Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

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 Milwaukee Better for Couples?

New Bern is a town with good options for its romantic activities. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options 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.

Milwaukee is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Take a walk or visit a local restaurant. There are also museums and performances that make for a nice outing.

Is New Bern or Milwaukee Better for Students?

Milwaukee is a popular place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Milwaukee is popular with students. It's home to a number of colleges and universities, so there is a bit of a college town vibe.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee. There are buses that travel around town.

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

Is New Bern or Milwaukee a more walkable city?

New Bern and Milwaukee both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Milwaukee is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are relatively compact and walkable. The most walkable neighborhoods are East Side, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Downtown, Avenues West/Marquette, Third Ward, Walker's Point, and Bay View.

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

Should I spend more time in Milwaukee or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Milwaukee?

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Milwaukee?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

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

Five days in New Bern or Milwaukee?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?

New Bern is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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 will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee, we can see that Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee?

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 Milwaukee in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Milwaukee. Many visitors come to New Bern in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Milwaukee for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, New Bern is a little warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 74°F (23°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Milwaukee. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Milwaukee in the Autumn?

Both Milwaukee and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Milwaukee because of the shopping scene.

In October, New Bern is generally much warmer than Milwaukee. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Milwaukee fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Milwaukee. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Milwaukee in the Winter?

Both Milwaukee and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to New Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Milwaukee this time of year.

It's quite cold in Milwaukee in the winter. New Bern is much warmer than Milwaukee in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Milwaukee fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Milwaukee. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Milwaukee in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Milwaukee. The small town charm are the main draw to New Bern this time of year.

In the spring, New Bern is much warmer than Milwaukee. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Milwaukee averages at about 47°F (8°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Milwaukee. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Milwaukee receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Milwaukee and New Bern