The Bull City is known for the Durham Bull’s stadium, the quaint downtown, and the lush North Carolina greenery. If you are looking to take a road-trip through N.C. or just visiting for the weekend, Durham has a lot to offer. The small city of Durham is growing fast with good reason as it has many outdoor activities, great restaurants, and an adorable downtown! Grab your weekend bag, apply some sunscreen, and let’s explore Durham, NC!

Durham’s Location:

Durham is located in the North-Central region of North Carolina and is about 25 miles from the capital city of Raleigh (GoogleMaps, 2022). Durham’s central location in N.C. is very desirable as it is located only a few hours from the N.C. coast and mountains, which is ideal for both mountain and beach goers.

The Best Things To Do In Durham, N.C.

1. Eno River State Park 

Distance from downtown Durham: about 12 miles

Trail hiking distance: Distance varies by trail 

Recommended hiking trails within Eno State Park: Cole Mill and Bobbitt Hole trail, Cole Mill Trail, Laurel Bluffs Trail, and Cox Mountain Trail. 

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park/home 

Eco River State Park is first on my list as hiking in the N.C. forest is truly amazing! Eno displays the beauty of N.C. with views of lush green trees, water flowing over rocks, and native N.C. wildflowers. The park also has a variety of long and short hikes that are well marked and easy to navigate. The trails are generally more trafficked in the spring and summer months as the plants and wildlife are the most abundant and lively then. No matter what season you choose to hike Eno State Park, you will feel refreshed, accomplished, and immersed in North Carolina’s nature. It’s a hike you don’t want to miss!

Tips for hiking in N.C: 

Here’s a few tips for hiking in N.C. as hiking in N.C. is much different than in other states.

First, always pack water! N.C. can be very humid, especially in the summer months. You will definitely need some water after working up a sweat.

Secondly, always check for ticks after hiking! N.C. is home to a variety of ticks, including the Deer Tick so be sure to check your entire body for ticks after trekking through the forest.

Next, wear long pants! It can be tempting to wear shorts while hiking in N.C. in the summer due to the humid weather. However, I would avoid this as N.C. has plants such as Poison Oak and Poison Ivy that can cause a pruritic, red rash if they come in contact with your skin.

Lastly, pack bug spray. N.C. has a lot of mosquitos, mostly near puddles of water so be sure to apply a good coat of bug spray before trekking through the woods.

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2. The Duke Botanical Gardens

Distance from downtown Durham: about 3 miles

Location: 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708

Website: https://gardens.duke.edu/about 

This is one of the best botanical gardens I have been to! The Japanese gardens at the Duke Botanical Garden are simply stunning. There’s also a large Koi pond surrounded with beautifully landscaped flowers and plants that you don’t want to miss. Most all the trails at the botanical garden are paved, making this a fun trip for all visitors. So pack your camera and get ready to learn about all the beautiful plants and flowers in N.C.

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3. Walk around downtown Durham 

Location: Downtown Durham, N.C.

Downtown Durham may be small but has a lot to offer! The streets are lined with a variety of locally owned restaurants and quirky shops. I would recommend checking out the Brightleaf section of downtown Durham as this perfectly landscaped area is home to some great restaurants and has a lot of history, as it used to be a part of the historic N.C. tobacco industry.

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4. Duke Lemur Center

Driving distance from downtown Durham: About 7 miles 

Location: 3705 Erwin Rd, Durham NC 27705 

Website: https://lemur.duke.edu/ 

 The Duke Lemur Center has the most diverse population of Lemurs in the United States! They have a TON of Lemurs and help with conservation efforts to prevent Lemurs from going extinct. The Lemur center is family-friendly and such a unique learning experience. Private and self-guided tours are available at an affordable rate. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the different types of Lemurs in the world! 

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5. The Durham Bulls Stadium 

Driving distance from downtown Durham: in downtown Durham

Location: 409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701

Website: https://www.milb.com/durham 

This fun baseball park is located right in downtown Durham. Nothing feels more like North Carolina than watching baseball, enjoying a hotdog with chili, and screaming “home run” as loud as you can. The Durham Bulls Stadium is an impressively large (and nice) stadium that has fireworks nights on certain days of the week. A Durham game makes for a fun date night or a great way to spend quality time with family. Let’s go Durham Bulls!

(Please always check the website-specific information regarding warnings, tickets, and closures before making plans)

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The 5 Best (and Affordable) Eats in Durham

1. Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas

Distance from downtown Durham: located in downtown

Location: 112 West Main Street Durham NC 27701(Durham location)

Website: https://www.lunarotisserie.com/ 

This spot offers South American food with a North Carolina twist and has amazing Empanadas at two different locations. This cozy restaurant has a lot of flavors and a unique (and delicious) menu. One of my favorite dishes is the chicken empanadas and mac and cheese… talk about comfort food! They also have a variety of margaritas and a good amount of outdoor seating, which is perfect for summer nights out in downtown Durham.

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2. Namu 

Distance from downtown Durham: about 7 miles

Location: 5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

Website: https://www.namudurham.com/

Namu is a little off the beaten path but has fantastic Korean food! This restaurant is casual but surprisingly large. Food is ordered at the counter and then delivered to your table. This place has a beautiful garden and patio with seating, which creates a romantic oasis. I would recommend trying the Bo’s special, which is Korean BBQ with a side of Mandoo. Yum! This place also has a full coffee bar and beer hall. Namu is a very versatile restaurant to enjoy some coffee and work, have a romantic date night on the patio, or grab a beer with a few friends.

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3. Guglhupf Bakery and Café & Biergarten

Distance from downtown Durham: about 3 miles

Location: 2706 Durham- Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham NC 27707

Website: https://guglhupf.com/ 

This German restaurant offers a relaxed but classy environment and offers tasty German food. Attached to the restaurant is a bakery, which has a variety of treats, bread, and pastries that are the perfect dessert after a German meal. This is one of my favorite restaurants to go to in the summer as they have a lot of outdoor seating with shade and a sizeable brunch menu!

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4. NuvoTaco 

Distance from downtown Durham: about 2 miles

Location: 2512 University Dr. Durham NC 27707

Website: https://nuvotaco.com/ 

This colorful, no-thrills taco place is one of the best in Durham! If you are a picky eater, it’s the perfect spot to make your tacos exactly how you like them. They have a variety of meats and toppings to choose from and a Salsa bar (we aren’t talking about dancing; just Salsa and chips!). This is a great, casual place to grab take-out or to have a quick and delicious lunch at.

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5. Grub Durham 

Distance from downtown Durham: 1 mile

Location: 1200 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701

Website: https://grubdurham.com/ 

Looking for a good southern brunch that also offers some healthy options? Well, look no further! Grub Durham has some great southern food but also has healthy brunch options. Their brunch menu is available every day until 3:00 PM and they have an array of smoothies and breakfast bowls. The building used to be an old gas station but was converted into a restaurant giving it a fun, retro vibe. It also has spectacular rooftop bar/seating area that is just a few blocks away from downtown. You definitely must check out this extraordinary restaurant!

Below is a sample of a 2-day travel itinerary for Durham, N.C.

Day 1
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM	Have breakfast at Guglhupf Bakery and Café
10:30 AM -1:30 PM	Visit The Duke Botanical Gardens
3:00 PM- 5:00 PM	Walk around and Explore Downtown Durham
5:00 PM- 6:30 PM	Have dinner at Luna’s Rotisserie and Empanadas in downtown Durham. (go early so you miss the crowds)
6:30 PM	Attend a game at the Durham Bulls Stadium (if available; check website for info/tickets).

Day 2
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM	Have brunch at Grub Durham
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM	Enjoy a short Hike at Eno State Park
1:30 PM- 3:30 PM	Check out the Lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center
6:00 PM	Have dinner on the patio at Namu

Please be sure to check other sources for restaurants’ hours, availability, closures, and contact information before making plans.

None of my recommendations of the best things to do in Durham NC were sponsored/discounted and as always, reflect my honest review/opinion.