A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Raleigh vs. Virginia Beach for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

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

Should I visit Raleigh or Virginia Beach? 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.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a student-friendly, suburban-style, and friendly city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches.

Raleigh and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Raleigh than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than Raleigh, Raleigh has more sights and attractions for tourists. Raleigh is more popular for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Virginia Beach is known for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Virginia Beach is more touristy than Raleigh and is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe. Raleigh is popular for its many museums and being the home to North Carolina State University. It is also home to North Carolina State University.

How is Raleigh different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Raleigh is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Raleigh offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are a number of free museums in the area. There are also some kid-friendly options and other activities that are affiliated with the colleges and universities. Popular options include the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (free), the NC Museum of History (free), the NC Museum of Art (free), and Marbles Kids Museum.

Virginia Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Raleigh or Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Raleigh is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Virginia Beach is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Raleigh has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. In addition to the standard chain restaurants, you'll find a number of local eateries with great southern dishes. Try some southern classics like barbecue, pimento cheese, and fried chicken and waffles. There are also good international options including Nepalese, Laotian, and Ethiopian flavors.

Virginia Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Raleigh and Virginia Beach.

Raleigh has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head to downtown Raleigh or the areas around NC State University for some of the best nightlife. Trivia nights and happy hours are popular and you'll find breweries popping up in many places.

If you're looking for night time activities Virginia Beach has a few options to choose from. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for its resorts. However, Raleigh is not a resort destination.

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

Raleigh is not a resort destination.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for the beach. However, Raleigh is not a beach destination.

Virginia Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Raleigh is not a beach destination.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

Virginia Beach is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Virginia Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

Raleigh offers lots of family activities. For such a small city, Raleigh has a number of unique kid-friendly activities like the popular Pullen Park and Marbles Kids' Museum. Pullen Park has small rides and a playground that are perfect for young kids. There's also the NC Museum of Natural History which is free and fun to explore with kids.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

Virginia Beach is a popular place for couples. However, Raleigh is not particularly known for romance.

Virginia Beach is a good coastal city for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Raleigh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. While it's often overlooked by couples who want a weekend away, there are a number of museums and some nice restaurants to explore.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Raleigh is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for students.

Raleigh is a great city to visit as a student. The city has a diverse student population with many nearby universities and colleges.

Virginia Beach is a good city to visit for students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither Raleigh or Virginia Beach offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Raleigh. The city's public transportation options are limited to a few bus lines that are mostly used by students.

Public transit is quite limited in Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Raleigh or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

Raleigh and Virginia Beach both are decent when exploring on foot.

Raleigh is generally not very walkable. The city is somewhat walkable in the downtown area, but everywhere else you'll need a car.

Virginia Beach is generally not a very walkable city. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

For even more information, also check out Is Raleigh Worth Visiting? and Is Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or Raleigh?

How long in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Both Raleigh and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in Raleigh. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Raleigh, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Raleigh than Virginia Beach 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 Raleigh.

One day in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

In Raleigh, you'll find nightlife and food. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. This coastal city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Raleigh is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Raleigh. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Virginia Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Virginia Beach has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the city of Raleigh. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. In Virginia Beach, you'll find nightlife. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Raleigh and Virginia Beach, we can see that Raleigh is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 Raleigh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Raleigh than you might in Virginia Beach.

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

Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Raleigh. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh and Virginia Beach, 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 Raleigh or Virginia Beach?

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 Raleigh or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

Both Virginia Beach and Raleigh during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Raleigh for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Raleigh is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 79°F (26°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

In Virginia Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Raleigh. In the summer, Raleigh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.

Virginia Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. Raleigh usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Raleigh or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Raleigh and Virginia Beach. Many visitors come to Raleigh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Raleigh is around the same temperature as Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Raleigh averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Raleigh, it's very sunny this time of the year. Raleigh usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during autumn. Raleigh gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Raleigh usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Raleigh or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Raleigh as well as Virginia Beach. Most visitors come to Raleigh for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the cuisine.

The weather in Virginia Beach can be very cold. Raleigh can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Raleigh is a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Raleigh in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).

In the winter, Raleigh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.

Raleigh usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Raleigh or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

Both Virginia Beach and Raleigh are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Raleigh because of the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

In April, Raleigh is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Raleigh average around 60°F (16°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Raleigh. Raleigh usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach during spring. Raleigh gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Raleigh usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Raleigh gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Raleigh