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

Should you visit Orlando or New Bern?

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

Should I visit Orlando or New Bern? 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.

Orlando

Orlando is a family-friendly, entertaining, and active city. It's also known for shopping, theater, and nightlife.

New Bern

New Bern is a laid back, quaint, and charming town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Orlando and New Bern: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Orlando or New Bern?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Orlando. Although Orlando and New Bern are both popular with visitors, Orlando has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Orlando is more popular for its theatre productions, food, nightlife, resorts, and shopping, while New Bern is known for its museums and small town charm. Orlando is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for being the home of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and many other theme parks and family-friendly activities. It is also home to Disney World, Universal Studios, and the city's many amusement parks. New Bern is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is Orlando different from New Bern?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Orlando or New Bern?

New Bern is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Orlando does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Orlando does not have museums and landmarks.

Is Orlando or New Bern Better for Theater?

Orlando is a popular place for theatre. However, New Bern is not a theatre destination.

With some theater and performance venues, you might want to see a show in Orlando. The city has a number of local theaters that are fun to explore. As home to Disney World and Universal Studios, there are also a number of shows available that are affiliated with the parks.

New Bern is not a theatre destination.

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

Orlando 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, Orlando makes for a great culinary experience. There are a diversity of restaurants on the Disney grounds and nearby. You'll also find many restaurants at Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs. Food can be expensive, and the quality can vary dramatically. Many people enjoy going to dinner shows as well. Restaurants can be challenging also, as reservations must be made months in advance.

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 Orlando or New Bern Better for Nightlife?

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

Orlando has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. If you need a break from the kids, you'll find some of the best nightlife around Orlando at Disney Springs, Wall Street Plaza and Universal CityWalk.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is Orlando or New Bern Better for Resorts?

Orlando is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Orlando is a great choice. Disney World is famous for its many iconic resorts. Some of the most popular are the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Resort, and the Grand Floridian Resort. There are also many resorts that aren't affiliated with the major theme parks. These tend to be more affordable, but transportation options to and from the park are limited. You'll also miss out on the perks that come with staying at a theme park resort.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Orlando or New Bern?

Orlando is well known for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Orlando is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Shopping is a dream for any Disney enthusiast. There are countless malls and shops, both on and off the Disney grounds, that sell all of the Disney paraphernalia. Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk are the most famous areas. During the evenings, these areas can be very crowded, but during the day they're less popular as most people are at the theme parks.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is Orlando or New Bern Better for Christmas?

Orlando is an unbeatable place for its Christmas activities. However, New Bern does not offer Christmas activities.

During Christmas, Orlando is not to be missed. Christmas at Disney World is lots of fun. There are decorations and all kinds of seasonal activities around town.

New Bern does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Orlando or New Bern Better for Families?

Orlando is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Orlando is a very family-friendly destination. Known as a theme park capital, here you'll find the iconic Disney World, as well as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and many more. While most people spend their vacation at the Disney or Universal resorts, there is also an endless supply of less mainstream parks and activities in the area.

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 Orlando or New Bern Better for Couples?

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

Orlando is a nice destination for couples. While most people visit the area with family, there is a niche crowd that enjoys honeymooning or vacationing here as a couple. There are many beautiful restaurants and interesting activities that couples can enjoy together. This is the perfect trip for fun loving couples who don't take themselves to seriously.

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.

Is Orlando or New Bern Better for Students?

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

Orlando is popular with students. Most people don't think about education when they think about Orlando, but there are actually a diversity of internships and opportunities for students to learn in a fun setting.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Orlando 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 Orlando. If you're staying at a Disney Property, there is excellent transportation around the complex, but otherwise, a car is essential.

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

Is Orlando or New Bern a more walkable city?

New Bern is a popular place for its walkability. However, Orlando is not a good destination for its high level of walkability.

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

Orlando is not a walkable city. The city is sprawling, so unless you stay on the Disney grounds, it's best to rent a car.

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

Should I spend more time in New Bern or Orlando?

How long in Orlando or New Bern?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Orlando or New Bern to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in New Bern than Orlando because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Orlando, and 1-2 days is enough time in New Bern.

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

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

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

One day in Orlando or New Bern?

The city of Orlando offers food and shopping. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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.

New Bern is a small town with plenty to do. This town 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 Orlando or New Bern?

Orlando is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. A weekend 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. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 New Bern has to offer.

Five days in Orlando or New Bern?

Orlando 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.

New Bern 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 Orlando or New Bern?

Orlando is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Orlando and New Bern, we can see that Orlando 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando 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 Orlando Expensive? and Is New Bern Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Orlando or New Bern?

Orlando has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of Orlando and New Bern, 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 Orlando or New Bern?

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 Orlando or New Bern in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Orlando as well as New Bern. The summer months attract visitors to Orlando because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Bern this time of year.

Orlando is around the same temperature as New Bern in the summer. The daily temperature in Orlando averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and New Bern fluctuates around 80°F (27°C).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. Orlando receives a lot of rain in the summer. Orlando usually gets more rain in July than New Bern. Orlando gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orlando or New Bern in the Autumn?

Both New Bern and Orlando are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Orlando this time of year. Also, many travelers come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Orlando is a little warmer than New Bern. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Orlando in October average around 75°F (24°C), and New Bern averages at about 65°F (18°C).

It's quite rainy in Orlando. In October, Orlando usually receives more rain than New Bern. Orlando gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Orlando or New Bern in the Winter?

Both New Bern and Orlando during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Orlando for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to New Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Orlando is generally much warmer than New Bern. Daily temperatures in Orlando average around 59°F (15°C), and New Bern fluctuates around 44°F (7°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Orlando usually gets less rain in January than New Bern. Orlando gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Orlando or New Bern in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Orlando and New Bern. Also, most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm during these months.

Orlando is a little warmer than New Bern in the spring. The daily temperature in Orlando averages around 72°F (22°C) in April, and New Bern fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

In April, Orlando usually receives around the same amount of rain as New Bern. Orlando gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for New Bern and Orlando