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.
When to Visit Raleigh
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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
Best Western Raleigh North-Downtown has rooms from $56, while Sheraton Raleigh has a very central location and rooms from $139.
Popular Neighborhoods 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.
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.
Most popular hotel in Raleigh by neighbourhood
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.
Car rental agencies in Raleigh
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.
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.