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

Should you visit Richmond or Detroit?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Richmond and Detroit can help you decide which place is right for you.

Richmond

Richmond is a growing, friendly, and historical city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Detroit

Detroit is a overlooked , under-rated, and hardworking city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Richmond and Detroit: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Richmond or Detroit?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Detroit than Richmond, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Detroit is more popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Richmond is known for its museums. Richmond is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for its cultural and historical sights. Detroit is popular for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. It is also home to the Henry Ford Experience.

How is Richmond different from Detroit?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Richmond or Detroit?

Richmond is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Richmond can be an interesting and educational experience. The city has a long history which you can learn about at one of the many museums. There's the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, and the Black History Museum. There are also landmarks and historical homes.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Detroit. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

Is the Food Better in Richmond or Detroit? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Richmond and Detroit both to be good destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Richmond area. The food scene has been growing around town, and there are food halls and local restaurants that serve diverse and interesting dishes. You'll find Indian, Asian, and European restaurants in addition to local classics.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Detroit. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Richmond is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Detroit has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Richmond. You'll find diverse bars and clubs around town. Pubs are usually laid back with a relaxed atmosphere. You'll also find live music that includes bluegrass, country, and jazz.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Music?

Detroit is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Richmond is not a live music destination.

In Detroit you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Richmond is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Richmond or Detroit?

Both Richmond and Detroit are good shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Richmond to go shopping. You'll find shopping malls and shopping centers around town, but there are also eclectic shopping streets and boutique outlets.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Detroit. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Richmond or Detroit.

Richmond is a family-friendly place to visit. The Children's Museum of Richmond offers hands-on exhibits that will keep young ones entertained. Another fun option is the Science Museum of Virginia. The city also has parks and outdoor places to explore as well as playgrounds and kid-friendly restaurants.

Detroit is a family-friendly city. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Couples?

Richmond is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Richmond makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Kayaking or tubing on the James River is a great activity for couples. There are also museums and many restaurants that are perfect for a date night.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Students?

Richmond is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Detroit is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Richmond. There are a couple of colleges and universities in town such as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Detroit is not popular with students.

Is Richmond or Detroit Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Richmond and Detroit offer decent public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Richmond. There are buses around town, but the availability and reliability is limited.

Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Is Richmond or Detroit a more walkable city?

Richmond and Detroit both are good when exploring on foot.

Richmond is a somewhat walkable city. There are some walkable neighborhoods such as the Fan and Museum District, but most people prefer to get around by car.

Detroit is somewhat walkable. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Richmond Worth Visiting? and Is Detroit Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Detroit or Richmond?

How long in Richmond or Detroit?

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

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

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

One day in Richmond or Detroit?

In Richmond, 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.

The city of Detroit offers museums and nightlife. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Richmond or Detroit?

In Richmond, 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 Richmond has to offer.

Detroit is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Detroit, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Richmond or Detroit?

Richmond 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.

Detroit is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that live music is why people visit. 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.

A week in Richmond or Detroit?

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

Detroit is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that live music is why people visit. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Richmond or Detroit?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the sizes of Richmond and Detroit, 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 Richmond or Detroit?

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 Richmond or Detroit in the Summer?

Both Detroit and Richmond during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Richmond this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Detroit for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Richmond is generally around the same temperature as Detroit. Daily temperatures in Richmond average around 78°F (26°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

In Detroit, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Richmond. In the summer, Richmond often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Detroit. Richmond gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 319 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually gets more rain in July than Detroit. Richmond gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Richmond or Detroit in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Richmond and Detroit. Many travelers come to Richmond for the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Detroit in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Richmond is a little warmer than Detroit in the autumn. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 59°F (15°C) in October, and Detroit fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

In Richmond, it's very sunny this time of the year. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during autumn. Richmond gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 172 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Richmond usually receives more rain than Detroit. Richmond gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Richmond or Detroit in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Richmond as well as Detroit. Many visitors come to Richmond in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Detroit for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Detroit can be very cold during winter. Richmond can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Richmond is much warmer than Detroit. Typically, the winter temperatures in Richmond in January average around 36°F (2°C), and Detroit averages at about 25°F (-4°C).

In the winter, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Detroit. Richmond gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 120 hours of full sun.

Richmond usually gets more rain in January than Detroit. Richmond gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Richmond or Detroit in the Spring?

Both Detroit and Richmond are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Detroit because of the activities around the city.

In April, Richmond is generally much warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in Richmond average around 58°F (14°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

It's quite sunny in Detroit. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during spring. Richmond gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 223 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Richmond usually receives around the same amount of rain as Detroit. Richmond gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Detroit and Richmond