Raleigh travel guide
Raleigh Tourism | Raleigh Guide
You're Going to Love Raleigh
With a population of 403,892, Raleigh is a must-see destination in North Carolina, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 22 days in order to fully appreciate everything Raleigh has to offer.
Where to Eat in Raleigh
Downtown is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Raleigh. These include popular favourites such as Bida Manda Restaurant and Bar (222 S. Blount St.), Crawford & Son (618 N Person St) and O-Ku - Raleigh (411 W Hargett St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Coquette Brasserie (4351-119 The Circle at North Hills) and buku: Global Street Food (2800 Renaissance Park Pl) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Clouds Brewing Raleigh (126 North West St.) and Indigo (4030 Cardinal at N Hills St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Raleigh.
When to visit Raleigh
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Raleigh in July, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 32 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -1 °C, with an average temperature of 5 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 119 mm. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Raleigh, with an average rainfall of 74 mm.
How to Get to Raleigh
Plane
When flying to Raleigh, you’ll arrive at Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU), which is located 11 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Raleigh from Singapore departs from Singapore and takes around 30h 02m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Raleigh. The train journey from Raleigh to Greensboro takes 1h 26m and costs around S$ 15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about S$ 35 for a 2h 43m trip. Located 0.5 miles from the city centre, Raleigh is the busiest station in Raleigh. Another popular train station is Raleigh North Carolina - State Fair, located 4 miles from the centre.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Raleigh, including Tornado Bus, FlixBus and Wanda Coach. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Raleigh takes 160 miles and will cost you around S$ 103. From Washington, D.C., the ticket costs about S$ 140 for a journey of 295 miles. The most popular bus station is Raleigh El Expreso Bus Station, located 4 miles from the city centre of Raleigh. Raleigh 1286 Buck Jones Rd is also a commonly used station, and is 6 miles from the city centre.
Airlines serving Raleigh
Where to stay in Raleigh
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Longleaf Hotel and Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Midtown. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Raleigh, with prices from S$ 36 to S$ 708 per night. Northeast Raleigh is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Raleigh are about 33% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Downtown - In Raleigh’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Downtown, Raleigh Marriott City Center and Sheraton Raleigh Hotel.
North Hills - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Courtyard by Marriott Raleigh Midtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh/Crabtree Valley and Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills. The average nightly price for a double room in North Hills is S$ 124.
Northwest Raleigh - Aloft Raleigh-Durham Airport Brier Creek, Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport-Brier Creek and Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport-Brier Creek have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Northwest Raleigh will cost you about S$ 183 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Raleigh
Most booked hotels in Raleigh
Hiring a car in Raleigh
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Thrifty and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Raleigh is the Hertz branch at 1017 Rental Car Dr, which is 11 miles from the city centre.
Expect to pay S$ 1.41 per litre in Raleigh (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between S$ 16.85 and S$ 22.46. Standard (Mazda Mazda6 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Raleigh, while also 71% cheaper than other types, on average.