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

Should you visit New Bern or Providence?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Providence? 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.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

New Bern and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Providence?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Providence than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Providence is better known for its food and nightlife, while New Bern is more popular for its small town charm. New Bern is more touristy than Providence and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. Also, Providence is famous for WaterFire.

How is New Bern different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both New Bern and Providence 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.

Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

Providence is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Providence makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

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.

Is New Bern or Providence Better for Nightlife?

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

Providence has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

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 Providence?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Providence 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 Providence. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is New Bern or Providence Better for Families?

Providence 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 Providence. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

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 Providence Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Providence make for a notable place to visit.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Providence makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is New Bern or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is well known for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Providence 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 Providence, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are RIPTA 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 Providence a more walkable city?

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

Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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 Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Providence than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence 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 Providence.

One day in New Bern or Providence?

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 Providence offers food and shopping. 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 Providence?

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.

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

Five days in New Bern or Providence?

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.

Providence 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 Providence?

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.

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

Both Providence 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Providence. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Providence in the Autumn?

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

New Bern is much warmer than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Providence in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Providence. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Providence in the Spring?

Both Providence 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.

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Providence. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Providence and New Bern