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

Should you visit Norfolk or Sacramento?

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

Should I visit Norfolk or Sacramento? 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 maritime, authentic, and blue collar city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Norfolk and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Norfolk or Sacramento?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sacramento than Norfolk. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Norfolk is famous for its naval base and military presence. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital. It is also well known for the California State Railroad Museum.

How is Norfolk different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Sacramento offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

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 Sacramento? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Norfolk and Sacramento offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

Norfolk offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a decent collection of restaurants in the downtown area. Food options include local seafood, brunch, casual eateries, and fine dining.

Sacramento has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Norfolk or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Norfolk or Sacramento 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 Sacramento has a few options to choose from. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is the Shopping Better in Norfolk or Sacramento?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento 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 Sacramento. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Norfolk or Sacramento Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Norfolk or Sacramento.

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.

Sacramento offers lots of family activities. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Norfolk or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Norfolk or Sacramento 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 Sacramento as a couple's destination. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Norfolk or Sacramento 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 Sacramento.

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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Norfolk or Sacramento a more walkable city?

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

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

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Norfolk?

How long in Norfolk or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Norfolk or Sacramento to fill your time. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

One day in Norfolk or Sacramento?

With museums and nightlife around the authentic city of Norfolk, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Norfolk, one day is sufficent for most.

In Sacramento, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Norfolk, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

In Sacramento, you'll find food 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 Sacramento has to offer.

Five days in Norfolk or Sacramento?

Norfolk, a popular city, 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.

Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

Norfolk 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.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Norfolk or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 100% larger than the population of Norfolk. When comparing the sizes of Norfolk and Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?

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 Sacramento in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Norfolk is around the same temperature as Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in Norfolk in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Norfolk this time of the year. In the summer, Norfolk often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.

Norfolk receives a lot of rain in the summer. Norfolk usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Norfolk or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento 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 Sacramento for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Norfolk is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Norfolk average around 62°F (16°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Norfolk. Norfolk usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Norfolk gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Norfolk usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Norfolk or Sacramento in the Winter?

Both Sacramento 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 Sacramento because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Norfolk can be very cold during winter. Norfolk is much colder than Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in Norfolk averages around 39°F (4°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Norfolk often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.

Norfolk usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Norfolk or Sacramento in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Norfolk is around the same temperature as Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in Norfolk in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Norfolk, it's very sunny this time of the year. Norfolk usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Norfolk gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Norfolk usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Norfolk gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Norfolk