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

Should you visit Norfolk or Cleveland?

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

Should I visit Norfolk or Cleveland? 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 blue collar, maritime, and authentic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Cleveland

Cleveland is a under-rated, diverse, and authentic city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Norfolk and Cleveland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Norfolk or Cleveland?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Cleveland than Norfolk, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Cleveland is more popular for its museums and music, while Norfolk is known for its food. Norfolk is popular for its naval base and military presence. Cleveland is popular for being the home to "rock 'n roll" as well as its friendly and hard working people. It is also home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

How is Norfolk different from Cleveland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Cleveland is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Norfolk is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Cleveland offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are diverse museums around town such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa), and the Great Lakes Science Center. Music lovers will appreciate a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Norfolk offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Is the Food Better in Norfolk or Cleveland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Norfolk is a nice place to visit for its restaurants. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Norfolk. You'll find a decent collection of restaurants in the downtown area. Food options include local seafood, brunch, casual eateries, and fine dining.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Cleveland. Casual dining with comfort food is the way most residents prefer to eat. There are local foods that have made a name for themselves such as gourmet hot dogs and deli sandwiches. The food is also influenced by the city's German, Irish, Polish, and Italian roots. Pierogis, bratwurst, and chicken paprikash are all common.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Norfolk or Cleveland 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 Cleveland has a few options to choose from. Breweries have become a popular nighttime activity. There are also comedy clubs, music venues, and several theaters.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland Better for Music?

Cleveland is a great destination for live music. However, Norfolk is not a live music destination.

Cleveland has become a hotbed of musicians and artists. Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it has long been a destination for music enthusiasts. There are many independent music venues and it's the perfect place to catch a show.

Norfolk is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Norfolk or Cleveland?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Cleveland 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 Cleveland. Large shopping malls offer plenty of selection. There's also West Side Market, which is the oldest public market in the city. Other interesting shopping areas include Little Italy and the Cleveland Flea.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Norfolk or Cleveland.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Norfolk. 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.

Cleveland offers lots of family activities. Kid-friendly activities in the area include the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. There's also the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well as the smaller Akron Zoo.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Norfolk or Cleveland 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 Cleveland as a couple's destination. There are several romantic date night activities like boat rides on Lake Erie or dining at a nice restaurant.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland 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 Cleveland.

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 Cleveland. There are bus, trolley, and train lines through the city, but a car is the most efficient way to get around.

Is Norfolk or Cleveland a more walkable city?

Norfolk is a nice place to visit for its walkability. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

Cleveland is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are more walkable than others (Downtown, Ohio City and Buckeye - Shaker), most visitors need a car to easily access everything they wish to do.

For even more information, also check out Is Norfolk Worth Visiting? and Is Cleveland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cleveland or Norfolk?

How long in Norfolk or Cleveland?

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

Families should spend more time in Norfolk than Cleveland. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Norfolk than Cleveland 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 Cleveland?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Norfolk. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Norfolk has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

In Cleveland, you'll find nightlife and live music. 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 Cleveland?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the maritime destination of Norfolk. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

In Cleveland, you'll find live music 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 Cleveland has to offer.

Five days in Norfolk or Cleveland?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the blue collar city of Norfolk. 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.

Cleveland 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 Cleveland?

Norfolk 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cleveland. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Cleveland. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Norfolk and Cleveland, we can see that Norfolk is more expensive. And not only is Cleveland much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cleveland would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cleveland 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 Norfolk would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Norfolk than you might in Cleveland.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Norfolk Expensive? and Is Cleveland Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Norfolk or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Norfolk. When comparing the sizes of Norfolk and Cleveland, 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 Norfolk or Cleveland?

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 Norfolk or Cleveland in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Norfolk as well as Cleveland. Many travelers come to Norfolk for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Cleveland in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

Norfolk is around the same temperature as Cleveland in the summer. The daily temperature in Norfolk averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Cleveland fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cleveland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Norfolk this time of the year. In the summer, Norfolk often gets less sunshine than Cleveland. Norfolk gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 307 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Cleveland. Norfolk receives a lot of rain in the summer. Norfolk usually gets more rain in July than Cleveland. Norfolk gets 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 4 inches (101 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Norfolk or Cleveland in the Autumn?

Both Cleveland and Norfolk are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Norfolk in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Cleveland for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months.

In the autumn, Norfolk is a little warmer than Cleveland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Norfolk in October average around 62°F (16°C), and Cleveland averages at about 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Norfolk. Norfolk usually receives more sunshine than Cleveland during autumn. Norfolk gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 165 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Norfolk usually receives more rain than Cleveland. Norfolk gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Norfolk or Cleveland in the Winter?

Both Cleveland and Norfolk during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Norfolk for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Cleveland because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Cleveland can be very cold. Norfolk can be very cold during winter. In January, Norfolk is generally much warmer than Cleveland. Daily temperatures in Norfolk average around 39°F (4°C), and Cleveland fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Norfolk often gets more sunshine than Cleveland. Norfolk gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 95 hours of full sun.

Norfolk usually gets more rain in January than Cleveland. Norfolk gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.5 inches (39 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Norfolk or Cleveland in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Norfolk and Cleveland.

Norfolk is a little warmer than Cleveland in the spring. The daily temperature in Norfolk averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Cleveland fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cleveland this time of the year. In Norfolk, it's very sunny this time of the year. Norfolk usually receives more sunshine than Cleveland during spring. Norfolk gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 213 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Norfolk usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cleveland. Norfolk gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cleveland and Norfolk