A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Norfolk vs. Boise for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Norfolk or Boise?

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

Should I visit Norfolk 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.

Norfolk

Norfolk is a authentic, blue collar, and maritime city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Boise

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

Norfolk and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Norfolk or Boise?

You'll generally find more things to do in Norfolk than Boise. Norfolk is bigger than Boise, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Norfolk is well known for its naval base and military presence. Also, Norfolk is famous for the Battleship Wisconsin. Boise is well known for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Norfolk different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Norfolk or Boise?

Both Norfolk and Boise have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

Norfolk is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting museums in town like the Chrysler Museum, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, and the Norfolk Police and Fire Museum. You should also check out the Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin.

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 Norfolk or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Norfolk is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a decent collection of restaurants in the downtown area. Food options include local seafood, brunch, casual eateries, and fine dining.

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 Norfolk or Boise Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Norfolk or Boise has a better nightlife scene.

Norfolk has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Downtown is where you'll find the most busy nightlife venues. The city has great breweries, and the live music scene has taken off. There are also lounges, dance clubs, and wine bars to choose from.

If you're looking for night time activities Boise has a few options to choose from. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is the Shopping Better in Norfolk or Boise?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Boise and Norfolk.

Norfolk is a great destination for shopping. There's a mix of shopping malls, local boutiques, farmer's markets, and shopping centers around town.

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 Norfolk or Boise Better for Families?

Norfolk is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Norfolk is a family-friendly city. The Norfolk Zoo is always a hit with kids. You should also visit the USS Wisconsin which offers tours, as well as the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Museum.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Norfolk or Boise Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Norfolk or Boise as a couple's destination.

Norfolk is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are some nice hotels and several great parks and outdoor activities.

Most people don't think of Boise as a couple's destination. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Norfolk and Boise.

Public transit is generally limited in Norfolk. While there are buses, ferries, and even lightrail in the area, you really want to have a car to get around.

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

Is Norfolk or Boise a more walkable city?

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

Norfolk is a somewhat walkable city. Downtown is the most walkable part of the city.

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 Norfolk Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Norfolk?

How long in Norfolk or Boise?

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

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

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

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

One day in Norfolk or Boise?

In Norfolk, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this maritime destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Boise, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Norfolk or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Norfolk. 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.

In Boise, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Boise has to offer.

Five days in Norfolk or Boise?

Norfolk is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Norfolk. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Norfolk or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the blue collar destination of Norfolk. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Boise. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Boise. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Norfolk or Boise?

Norfolk has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Norfolk 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.