Raleigh travel guide
Raleigh Tourism | Raleigh Guide
You're Going to Love Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and home to a number of universities. Named after Sir Walter Raleigh, it has a handsome Downtown and a great food and music scene. The city is home to some excellent museums and galleries and the large student population helps to create an exciting nightlife.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Raleigh
1. Museums
Raleigh is home to some great museums, such as the City of Raleigh Museum and the North Carolina Museum of History.
2. Pullen Park
Pullen Park is an excellent nature park, complete with boat rental, hiking trails, fairground rides, and a lovely miniature railway.
3. Historic Sites
The city boasts many fascinating historic sites, such as Yates Mill County Park, Mordecai Historic Park, and Historic Oakwood.
4. Performing Arts
Raleigh has a number of good performing arts venues and organizations, such as Theatre in the Park and North Carolina Opera.
5. The Nightlife
The city has a great selection of bars and clubs, such as Noir and Goodnight's Comedy Club.
What to do in Raleigh
1. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Great Fun for Kids
Regularly ranked as one of America's best museums, the Museum of Natural Sciences is educational and entertaining in equal measure. You may have to dodge a few school parties here and there, but it's worth it. Installations telling the story of NC's natural world, with dinosaur skeletons, aquariums, cinemas and much, much more. In truth, there's so much here that a day might not be enough, but it's free to enter, so feel free to go back another day.
2. Pullen Park: More than Meets the Eye
Located just west of Downtown Raleigh, the 66 acres of Pullen Park offer a blend of family fun and tranquility. Kids will adore the carousel (made in 1900 by an Italian master craftsman) as well as the kiddie boats and model train, while grown-up kids tend to enjoy the pedalos on the park's lake. With an Olympic-sized pool, an air-conditioned theater center and ceramics and art workshops at the Pullen Art Center, it's much more than a park -- it's the hub of Raleigh's community.
3. North Carolina Museum of Art: A Cornucopia of Visual Delights
Tucked away in western Raleigh near the University, the NC Museum of Art first opened its doors in 1956. Since then, it has accumulated a fantastic collection which spans all of the world's continents and more than 5,000 years of history. Highlights include bronzes by Rodin and a fantastic collection of Dutch and Flemish masters, but there's something for all art lovers here. And the museum's amphitheater is also a wonderful summer concert venue, so make a day of it with a unique fusion of art and music.
4. North Carolina State Capitol: The Heart of the Tar Heel State
This is where everything gets done in Raleigh. The Capitol is an elegant building at the heart of the city which dates back to 1840. It might not host the legislature any more (that's moved opposite the Natural History Museum), but it's still where the Governor works. These days, the Capitol Tour provides a vivid peek into how the state's government functioned for over 100 years and also includes a meticulous reconstruction of how the State Library would have looked in 1856.
5. JC Raulston Arboretum: The Rose of Raleigh
As you'll know if you visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina has some majestic plants, and the JC Raulston Arboretum is the place to see them. Raulston himself was a pioneering horticulturalist and the arboretum was opened in his memory after a fatal car crash in 1996. It's a fitting memorial, extending over 40,000 square meters. Overload your senses with fragrances in the Paradise Garden or the Klein-Pringle White Garden, settle down for a rest in the peaceful Japanese Garden or wander through the many zones, taking in a plethora of colors and smells.
1. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Great Fun for Kids
Regularly ranked as one of America's best museums, the Museum of Natural Sciences is educational and entertaining in equal measure. You may have to dodge a few school parties here and there, but it's worth it. Installations telling the story of NC's natural world, with dinosaur skeletons, aquariums, cinemas and much, much more. In truth, there's so much here that a day might not be enough, but it's free to enter, so feel free to go back another day.
2. Pullen Park: More than Meets the Eye
Located just west of Downtown Raleigh, the 66 acres of Pullen Park offer a blend of family fun and tranquility. Kids will adore the carousel (made in 1900 by an Italian master craftsman) as well as the kiddie boats and model train, while grown-up kids tend to enjoy the pedalos on the park's lake. With an Olympic-sized pool, an air-conditioned theater center and ceramics and art workshops at the Pullen Art Center, it's much more than a park -- it's the hub of Raleigh's community.
3. North Carolina Museum of Art: A Cornucopia of Visual Delights
Tucked away in western Raleigh near the University, the NC Museum of Art first opened its doors in 1956. Since then, it has accumulated a fantastic collection which spans all of the world's continents and more than 5,000 years of history. Highlights include bronzes by Rodin and a fantastic collection of Dutch and Flemish masters, but there's something for all art lovers here. And the museum's amphitheater is also a wonderful summer concert venue, so make a day of it with a unique fusion of art and music.
4. North Carolina State Capitol: The Heart of the Tar Heel State
This is where everything gets done in Raleigh. The Capitol is an elegant building at the heart of the city which dates back to 1840. It might not host the legislature any more (that's moved opposite the Natural History Museum), but it's still where the Governor works. These days, the Capitol Tour provides a vivid peek into how the state's government functioned for over 100 years and also includes a meticulous reconstruction of how the State Library would have looked in 1856.
5. JC Raulston Arboretum: The Rose of Raleigh
As you'll know if you visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina has some majestic plants, and the JC Raulston Arboretum is the place to see them. Raulston himself was a pioneering horticulturalist and the arboretum was opened in his memory after a fatal car crash in 1996. It's a fitting memorial, extending over 40,000 square meters. Overload your senses with fragrances in the Paradise Garden or the Klein-Pringle White Garden, settle down for a rest in the peaceful Japanese Garden or wander through the many zones, taking in a plethora of colors and smells.
1. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Great Fun for Kids
Regularly ranked as one of America's best museums, the Museum of Natural Sciences is educational and entertaining in equal measure. You may have to dodge a few school parties here and there, but it's worth it. Installations telling the story of NC's natural world, with dinosaur skeletons, aquariums, cinemas and much, much more. In truth, there's so much here that a day might not be enough, but it's free to enter, so feel free to go back another day.
2. Pullen Park: More than Meets the Eye
Located just west of Downtown Raleigh, the 66 acres of Pullen Park offer a blend of family fun and tranquility. Kids will adore the carousel (made in 1900 by an Italian master craftsman) as well as the kiddie boats and model train, while grown-up kids tend to enjoy the pedalos on the park's lake. With an Olympic-sized pool, an air-conditioned theater center and ceramics and art workshops at the Pullen Art Center, it's much more than a park -- it's the hub of Raleigh's community.
3. North Carolina Museum of Art: A Cornucopia of Visual Delights
Tucked away in western Raleigh near the University, the NC Museum of Art first opened its doors in 1956. Since then, it has accumulated a fantastic collection which spans all of the world's continents and more than 5,000 years of history. Highlights include bronzes by Rodin and a fantastic collection of Dutch and Flemish masters, but there's something for all art lovers here. And the museum's amphitheater is also a wonderful summer concert venue, so make a day of it with a unique fusion of art and music.
4. North Carolina State Capitol: The Heart of the Tar Heel State
This is where everything gets done in Raleigh. The Capitol is an elegant building at the heart of the city which dates back to 1840. It might not host the legislature any more (that's moved opposite the Natural History Museum), but it's still where the Governor works. These days, the Capitol Tour provides a vivid peek into how the state's government functioned for over 100 years and also includes a meticulous reconstruction of how the State Library would have looked in 1856.
5. JC Raulston Arboretum: The Rose of Raleigh
As you'll know if you visit the Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina has some majestic plants, and the JC Raulston Arboretum is the place to see them. Raulston himself was a pioneering horticulturalist and the arboretum was opened in his memory after a fatal car crash in 1996. It's a fitting memorial, extending over 40,000 square meters. Overload your senses with fragrances in the Paradise Garden or the Klein-Pringle White Garden, settle down for a rest in the peaceful Japanese Garden or wander through the many zones, taking in a plethora of colors and smells.
Where to Eat in Raleigh
The Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue is excellent for Mexican, while the Falls River Smokehouse on Litchford Road is a great place for BBQ. You'll pay around $12 for dinner in a budget restaurant and $30 in a more upscale establishment.
When to visit Raleigh
Raleigh has a humid subtropical climate with cool winters and hot, humid summers. Spring is warm and dry and an ideal time to visit.
How to Get to Raleigh
Plane
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) has good domestic and some international connections. The 100 bus will take you downtown for $2.25. A taxi costs around $33.
Train
Amtrak runs services to Raleigh from New York; Washington, D.C.; and Florida. Fares from New York are around $97.
Car
The I-40 connects Raleigh from the west and I-85 and 95 give access from the East Coast. U.S. 1 runs through Raleigh on its way from New York to Florida.
Bus
Greyhound offers services to Raleigh. Fares from New York start at $54.
Airlines serving Raleigh
Where to stay in Raleigh
Cameron Park - this is a historic area just to the west of downtown. It has a variety of Colonial Revival and Queen Anne architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Popular Neighborhoods in Raleigh
Capitol Area Historic District - this is another historic area. In the heart of downtown, it has a number of examples of Classical Revival and Late Gothic Revival buildings.
Historic Oakwood - this area is full of splendid mansions and the Oakwood Cemetery. It is renowned for its gardens and Christmas Candlelight Tour.
Where to stay in popular areas of Raleigh
Most booked hotels in Raleigh
How to Get Around Raleigh
Public Transportation
Capital Area Transit and the Triangle Transit Authority provide bus services in and around Raleigh. Fares are from $2.25.
Taxi
Raleigh has plenty of reliable taxi firms. Fares are an initial $2.45 and then $2.50 per mile.
Car
Raleigh has a simple grid road system, with the U.S. 401 being the main route through the city. Car rental is from $35.
Best car hire deals in Raleigh
Compact SUV
4 Adults, 2 Bags
RM 259/day
Intermediate SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
RM 259/day
The Cost of Living in Raleigh
Shopping Streets
Seaboard Station in downtown is the place for local independent stores, while the Crabtree Valley Mall on Glenwood Avenue is the largest mall in the region.
Groceries and Other
A quart of milk in Raleigh is priced at $0.92 and a dozen eggs costs $2.77.