Bull City on a Budget

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation is dedicated to preserving Durham's African-American heritage and Black history at the Hayti Heritage Center, a cultural and educational institution that houses community and artist space, and the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery, the Rhythm & Blues Gallery, and the 450-seat St. Joseph’s Performance Hall.

Take in exhibits at the Museum of Durham History, a 21st-century museum that uses stories about people, places and things to foster curiosity and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history. Little ones can explore the children’s area stocked with blocks, train tracks, dress-up clothes and more. Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday.

Schedule a tour at The Pauli Murray Center, which connects the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray in connection with history and contemporary human rights issues. Born in 1910, Pauli Murray was a "human rights activist, legal scholar, author, labor organizer, poet, Episcopal priest, multiracial Black, LGBTQ+ Durhamite." Located in Murray's childhood home, this museum aims to inspire a new generation of activist leaders. The center accepts donations, and most tours cost between $2 and $20. For a free visit, look for the Center's scheduled community days or check out the outdoor exhibits. The full event calendar can be found on the Center's website.

Durham is full of history, from its buildings to its natural landscape. Take a self-guided tour of Downtown Durham to learn about the Bull City's historic land marks and figures.

At the Duke Homestead, visitors can tour the restored Duke family home, tobacco barns, original factory, farm and on-site museum, which showcases the beginnings of the tobacco industry and the empire founded by Washington Duke. General admission is free, but guided tours are $4 for adults, $3 for military and seniors, $1 for minors. Guided tours are free for K-12 school groups, with an additional $2 charge per student per activity they take part in. The Duke family legacy is also visible at the American Tobacco Campus, where adaptive reuse has welcomed restaurants and startup businesses among the former Lucky Strike cigarette factory buildings.

Pack a picnic and head to Duke University’s East Campus to grab a seat under a shady tree before touring the grounds, which feature Gothic stone buildings that date to the 1920s. Then, head toward West Campus to marvel at the historic Duke Chapel.

Thanks to a generous gift made in June 2022, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is free to visit. Featuring fine contemporary art and rotating exhibits as well as a collection of classical antiquities from Europe, Africa and the Americas, it is a must-see for art lovers and history buffs alike. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 - 5 p.m.

Durham's culinary scene is full of deliciously affordable restaurants, especially on Ninth Street near Duke's campus. Cruise around and sample cheap college town cuisine. Hop in the car and take a hot dog tour of Durham, experiencing hot dog styles from around the world ranging from Venezuela to our home state of North Carolina.

• Dain's Place — build your own burger and snack on crispy tots at this local-favorite sports bar.
• Monuts— a go-to spot for donuts, breakfast sandwiches and coffee for those looking for a quick and affordable morning bite.
• King's Sandwich Shop — One of Durham's oldest restaurants, King's has been an affordable eats staple for decades. Go with a classic like a King’s Southern Red Dog or change it up with an Impossible Philly.
• Elmo's Diner— a great sit-down spot for a full breakfast menu complete with biscuits and gravy, French toast and more.
• Banh's Cuisine— tasty Chinese food and homestyle Vietnamese dishes on the cheap with super affordable specials on Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Cosmic Cantina — legendary burritos and a late night eats staple, come here for afforable burritos, nachos, quesadillas and more.
• Cate's Cookout — a go-to East Durham establishment for reasonably priced cookout favorites like hot dogs, burgers, fries, wings and more.
• QueDogs — home of the QueDog, this Lakewood establishment has hot dogs and pulled pork, made to order separately or all in one meal.
• Capital Seafood — grab to-go trays of seafood and soul food at this seafood market. Dinner prices are extremely reasonable and the lunch special is even better.
• E.O.'s Athletic Club — For one of the best loaded baked potatoes in town, head to this Main Street sports bar. It's hard to beat this classic for any price, even harder when it's only $6 at E.O.'s.
• So/If – This tiny bar inside the art deco lobby of the historic Snow Building on Main Street does double duty as a daytime coffee stop and cocktail bar in the afternoon into evening hours. While the spritzes and cocktails are well-priced (all under $13), the coffee menu is where you'll find the steals. Everything on the menu is $5 and under.

Enjoy performing arts on a budget through DPAC's DPAC for All program. For nearly every show, from broadway performances to live comedy shoes, DPAC reserves seats for Durham residents, military, and students. If you fit into one of these categories, you can sign up to this program and purchase available tickets for 20% to 75% off.

You can take your Scrap Exchange finds to Crafts and Drafts to bring them to life while sipping a beer or glass of wine. Bring your own project to work on or purchase one of their affordable, homemade craft kits, starting at just $25. 

Can't get enough art? Look through our guide to Durham Museums and Galleries page to find more tours, locations, attractions and more.

Prefer to wear your art? Don’t miss Durham’s thrift and vintage scene. The Bull City is full of spots to find cool secondhand clothes and vintage trinkets.

If you're in the market for unique vintage clothing or furniture, you have a host of shops to choose from. Stop by TROSA Thrift Store for second-hand clothing, books, furniture, household items and more. The Scrap Exchange also has its own thrift store, Scrap Thrift, located right next door to the main building. For carefully curated vintage pieces, peruse the racks at Durham Vintage Collective and Gibson Girl Vintage.

The American Tobacco Trail provides an accessible, partially paved foray into nature that follows a former railroad line. The trail extends well into neighboring Chatham and Wake Counties (the Durham portion is 11 miles long) and traverses many of Durham’s neighborhoods. It's open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Follow the Eno to Falls Lake for even more outdoor activities by the water. You can hike or camp on the Mountains to Sea Trail. Book a guided paddle tour with Two Sisters Adventure Company or rent your own kayaks and paddle boards to create your own experience. Fishing opportunities abound, so make sure to pack a rod and reel.

Durham has plenty of places to game, whether you're a board game fan or an arcade addict. Xepher Arcade is your place for all things rhythm gaming. Head here for games like StepmaniaX and Hatsune Miku Project Diva Arcade and a selection of non-rhythm games like Beyblades and Sega Dreamcast games. Urban Axes gives guests the opportunity to hone their axe throwing skills and compete with friends. Just nextdoor, Boxcar Bar and Arcade is full of the classics: pinball, Big Buck, Mortal Kombat, skeeball and more.

If you're in the mood for board games, Moon Dog Meadery has over 300 board games you can play while you enjoy a glass of mead. Have your own game you want to play? Pick one of the many breweries in town and grab a table. Dungeons and Drafts also sets up events in Durham where you can play a one-off game of DnD, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced veteran. Check their schedule to see when and where the next event in Durham will be.

Durham has great music venues, many of which host free performances. Head to Durham Central Park to attend the PLAYlist Concert Series, a program that hosts a free concert on the first Friday of every month from May to October. Duke Arts has it's own free concert series, Music in the Gardens. This year's edition of the series is in collaboration with the Pinhook, temporarily named "Music Near the Gardens" due to construction at the gardens. Both of these concert series happen every year, so make sure to check with the hosting organizations to confirm this year's details. You can also catch live music outdoors at Hub RTP through their Concerts on the Creek series.

Occasionally, you can find free live music in the American Tobacco Campus as well. For a full list of venues that have both free and ticketed events, check out our music lovers guide to Durham.

Boasting local ingredients and fresh flavors, Durham’s award-winning breweries and distilleries are a great way to wrap up a day of discovery.

Hopheads will rejoice at the array of flavor profiles offered by Durham’s beer crafters. Don’t miss standbys like the Carver, Fullsteam’s sweet potato ale, or Ponysaurus Brewing Company's bright Biere de Garde, before you see what seasonal fruits have made it onto the menu at Bull City Ciderworks. The great news is there are no wrong choices – and a taste of the South is no further than the nearest brewery. Here’s a roundup of all of the Bull City’s breweries.

There are plenty of amazing coffee shops in Durham, each of has a menu full of classic drinks and unique creations. While cafes like Gojo and Omie's are great places to get your caffeine fix, buying a drink is just scratching the surface of Durham's Coffee scene. Take a class with Little Waves Roasters to learn more about what makes those tiny beans so delicious. Grab some delicious churros at Cocoa Cinnamon's Lakewood location. On Fridays, you can join the folks over at Counter Culture Coffee for Tasting at 10, where you'll learn all about Counter Culture's amazing flavors in their training center.

Still need ideas? Stop by the Discover Durham Visitor Info Center to pick up self-guided tour maps and ask our helpful team any questions you might have. Available guides include the ​​African American Heritage Guide, and Public Art & Inspiration Guide. Plus, there’s always something new to discover under the “Free events” category on our calendar.