12 Can't-Miss Things To Do in Durham This Winter

Sure, the long days, blooming flowers and festivals might make the warmer months alluring, but Durham's relatively temperate winters and amazing food, entertainment and art scenes make the season a low-key winner for a visit to Durham. Instead of hiding out under your covers waiting for the warm weather to return, put on those boots with the fur and head to the Bull City for an unforgettable wintertime adventure.

1. Visit a Durham Art Museum or Gallery

Days when the weather outside is less than inviting are ideal for taking a contemplative moment to appreciate some art. Luckily, Durham has a diverse array of art museums and galleries. It's possible to experience work from local, regional, emerging, underrepresented and world-renowned artists in Durham at any time of day and, in many cases, absolutely free of charge.

• The Nasher Museum of Art – the permanent collection at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is a groundbreaking exhibition of contemporary art particularly focusing on works by historically underrepresented artists, including regionally local artists who contribute to the creative community of the South. The Nasher also hosts top international touring exhibits you don’t want to miss. On warmer winter days, get your vitamin D fix with a stroll through the sculpture garden, where you can soak up the rays in their newly renovated outdoor area. Once you're wrapped up with the art, sit down and enjoy a tasty meal or a cozy cup of coffee on the cafe's outdoor patio.
• 21c Museum Hotel – the 24-hour Museum at 21c has a lineup of inspiring temporary exhibitions including the mind-bending “Truth or Dare: A Reality Show,” on view until March 2024.
  
• NCCU Art Museum – the newly renovated art museum on the campus of North Carolina Central University displays over 1,300 pieces in its permanent collection, along with numerous special exhibits each year.

On the Third Friday of every month, local art galleries throughout downtown Durham create a festive atmosphere to display art and mingle with artists.

• 5 Points Gallery showcases works by Triangle-based artists in a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, fused glass and mixed media.
• The Studios at Golden Belt are always the place to be, with dozens of artists displaying work in their studios and in the main hall. You can mingle and even purchase the art on the spot from the artists themselves.
• Ella West Gallery is an ambitious Parrish Street staple, elevating the work of underrepresented artists committed to redefining art history. Check the gallery's website for current exhibitions.

There are many more opportunities to immerse yourself in Durham's art scene at Third Friday. Check the organization's website for featured events each month.

2. Take a Spa Day in Durham

The couch IS warm and inviting but immersing yourself in a setting that takes care of your mind, body and soul is next level. Winter is naturally a time to slow down and take care of us, and a spa day is the ideal way to do just that.

• Durham Salt Cave offers Halotherapy (Dry Salt Therapy) sessions, including sound baths, earthen walls, zero-gravity memory foam loungers and herbal tea. Count us in.
• Auroraflow works to facilitate accessible wellness with a safe space for historically marginalized groups, particularly people of color and those in the LGBTQIA+ community. There, you can relax with various massage styles and practitioners, facials, and more.
• The Retreat is your go-to for reliably phenomenal massage and esthetics services in a bright, inviting space downtown.
• Sauna House is a relaxing, spa-like space with multiple saunas and cold plunge pools, plus a tea bar, private rooms and space to sit and enjoy the ambiance.

Bookend your spa day with one of the many low-key, introvert friendly activities in Durham.

3. Explore New Nightlife in Durham

Durham’s bar and nightlife scene continues to grow with new venues to suit all tastes. Change up your routine and warm up this winter at these new(ish) watering holes –

• Primrose, a new cocktail bar downtown, invites you to come "sip, savor and celebrate" in their cute and cozy establishment.
• The Bar Beej is a Bollywood-themed speakeasy serving a curated cocktail list made with ingredients straight from Cheeni's kitchen. It was also a 2025 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best New Bar.
• Delafia Wine Bar an intimate place to grab a bottle or sip a glass and run into friends or check out the latest pop-up vendor.
• Sol House Wines in Brightleaf offers a curated selection of natural wines for customers to enjoy at the bar or purchase by the bottle to take home.
• Flying Bull Restaurant and Brewery brings everything Flying Bull has to offer under one roof: fresh beer brewed on site, a full menu with food crafted to pair with the brews, and plenty of seating for the community.
• Proximity Brewing Durham's first Black-owned brewery, so head to East Durham to check out the space at 491 S. Driver St.
• Old North Bar the Central Park District's newest neighborhood bar suits both beer drinkers and cocktail connoisseurs alike.
• High Dive opened by the same folks behind Annexe and Bar Virgile, this new Durham dive bar is a great spot for darts, pool, nachos and more.

Before 10 p.m., you can plan to check out a few participating spots with drinks to go, thanks to The Bullpen, Durham’s social district and refer to our guide to bars and restaurants with heated patios to find the perfect spot to embrace the brisk air with a bite or a drink. Whatever you’re looking for, the Bull City’s bar and nightlife scene will keep pace with you through the wee hours.

4. See a Performance at a Historic Durham Venue

Durham is full of history, and its performance venues are no exception. The ambiance in these historic spaces provide the perfect setting for a wintery evening filled with performing arts. The Carolina Theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, rolling out an excellent winter season of programming. Enjoy events like An Evening with Peter Billingsley and A Christmas Story, performances such as The Nutcracker and musical performances like Béla Fleck & The Flecktones: Jingle All the Way. You can also catch film screenings at the Carolina Theatre's cinema.

The Hayti Heritage Center also just celebrated an anniversary, noting 50 years of centering Black scholarship, art, and entrepreneurship. In commemoration of this, the Hayti Heritage Center is rolling out an all new, revamped season of programming in 2026, centering a renewed commitment to "the spirit of Durham’s Black cultural renaissance." It will feature music performances from artists like Brandee Younger and the Branford Marsalis Quartet as well as discussions with authors and thinkers like Melissa Harris-Perry and Ta-Nehisi Coates.

5. Book a Winter Weekend Getaway

It’s the perfect time to book your winter getaway and stay at one of Durham's exceptional hotels or short-term rental properties. Using our recent guides to Durham's lodging properties, you can get away in style with luxurious stays, put together an event with 50 of your closest friends or take a mini vacation complete with a dip in a pool.

6. Take a Guided Eno River Hike

Put on your boots and head to the Eno River for a fun, free guided winter hike program designed to help you get out and discover new areas. These hikes have been highlighting the natural, historical, or cultural details found along the trails since 1971. Your vitamin D levels will thank you, and you'll be free from worry about pesky summer pests.

7. Make a Bull City Souvenir

Need a one-of-a-kind gift or souvenir? Head to one of Durham's make-and-take businesses for a fun afternoon or evening spent socializing and flexing your creative muscles.

• Crafts & Drafts NC to enjoy a drink and craft some Bull City memorabilia. Not only do they provide alcohol, but they also have a wide variety of fun projects, tools and materials.

• Wine & Design on Hope Valley Road is the perfect spot to unwind and paint with your crew.
• Bright Black, a Black-owned fragrance and candle shop downtown, offers a "create your own scent" class every Saturday where they will guide you through the process of making your own body fragrance.

8. Try an Indoor Sport

Durham boasts some of the largest and most unique locations in the region for indoor recreation with the largest indoor bouldering space and climbing gym in a five-state radius, an aerial ropes course and zipline, a curling club and more. Visitors of all ages can get a thrill and catch some air while avoiding the elements.

• The Triangle Rock Club will make your rock climbing dreams come true (with help from an expert). They have everything you need to start or continue your climbing journey.
• OC Aerial has an indoor ropes course, zipline, ninja course, 21-foot slide and more.
• Xepher Arcade is guaranteed to get your pulse pumping with one of their many rhythm games.

• The Boulder Garden provides a space for visitors climb, connect, and seek inspiration. Drop into the old Durham Brazing and Welding Works building for an afternoon of bouldering or yoga.

• Triangle Curling Club brush up on this strategic sport known as “chess on ice” for the amount of strategy involved in winning a game. Brush up on your curling fandom and try your hand at this unique sport with a curling class or a private group session this winter!

9. Experience Durham's Buzzy Dining Scene

It’s a good time for foodies to visit Durham. Excitement is buzzing from this year's long list of exciting openings like Tataco, Barsa, Zeitgeist Bar & Gallery, Nanny Goat, The Lenny and more, and 2026 promises more excitement on the dining scene. Make some progress on your must-visit list this winter, and don't forget to include some well-known Durham originals!

In other Durham foodie news, The MICHELIN Guide took a trip down South, and of course, Durham's cuisine got some attention. Nanas, Seraphine, Nikos and Little Bull all received recommendations.

10. Sip Something New from Durhams Craft Beverage Scene

You’ve earned a night out to sit back and sip something new. Durham's craft beverage scene boasts more than just great cocktails, we've got all sorts of brews to relax you, energize you, and delight your tastebuds.

• Have a night out without the buzz, several bars around town have excellent drink lists with low or no alcohol. Check out Arcana’s Garden of Babylon, with beet shrub, Seedlip garden, and lemon, and you’ll never miss the booze. You can also find great mocktails at Alley Twenty-Six, The Durham Hotel, Clouds Brewcade + Kitchen, and more.

• Da Kine's Kava is Durham's source for the stress-relieving, non-alcoholic beverage and offers a welcoming atmosphere for non-drinkers to relax and socialize.
• Ment Beverage has opened up a tasting room for non-alcoholic beverages and more at ATC. As the creators of Honeygirl Mead, Ment Beverage Co. has a longstanding record of crafting excellent drinks.
• Fizzwerks is Durham's only craft seltzer brewery and bar, offering seltzers a cut above what you might find on a grocery store shelf. They also offer food, cocktails and beer, meaning whole gang can enjoy a night here.
• Conniption Cocktails and Cuisine gives travelers the opportunity to experience Durham Distillery's excellent spirits on their way to and from Durham. Sit down for a cocktail and a meal next time you find yourself in RDU's Terminal 2.

11. Check out a Jazz Night in Durham

The familiar sounds of the standup bass and trumpet have returned to the air in downtown Durham, and this winter is the time to check out our local jazz musicians doing their thing. The intimate and welcoming Sharp 9 Gallery is Durham’s go-to venue for jazz, featuring talented local, regional and national jazz performers, and you can reliably catch the Jeremy ‘Bean’ Clemons Trio at Kingfisher on Tuesday nights. Check our event calendar to confirm dates.

Durham's music scene not only has a rich jazz history. Our theaters, venues, bars and outdoor stages host big-name touring acts, local indy and folk musicians, rap artists and so much more. Check out our Music Lover's Guide to Durham to explore.

12. Follow The New York Times's Durham Itinerary

Last fall, The New York Times told travel section readers how they like to spend a weekend in Durham. The itinerary hits the high notes, regardless of season, and we wrote a companion piece with alternatives, additions and insider tips. Why not find out how many spots you can cross off the list in one weekend this winter?