How can you top the history, the Southern hospitality, and these things to do in New Bern NC? Our guide details them all from Pepsi to Tryon Palace!
Of all the small towns in North Carolina, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed New Bern most of all.
Head to New Bern and you’ll be treated to the best of North Carolina’s Inner Banks region, a beautiful place filled with friendly people and amazing attractions. Our guide shares it all, including how to get here, some interesting historical tidbits, and our favorite things to do in New Bern.
Because there is so much to do before planning your trip to New Bern, here’s how we have organized this guide:
- Where is New Bern?
- Where to Stay
- Annual Events
- America 250 in New Bern
- Things to Do in New Bern This Weekend (and Most of the Year!)
- Things to Do Near New Bern (Croatan National Forest and More!)
You can scroll ahead to any of these sections or continue reading about New Bern’s location and some quick tidbits!
Read More: Historic Towns in North Carolina
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Enter the Conversation!Where is New Bern, North Carolina?
New Bern is located in Craven County, North Carolina. It is considered a part of the Inner Banks region.
The town sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers and features a beautiful waterfront downtown.
This town is an easy day trip away from many places in North Carolina, including:
- Jacksonville NC (45 Minutes Away)
- Washington aka Little Washington (50 Minutes Away)
- Emerald Isle (1 Hour Away)
- Greenville (1 Hour Away)
- Swansboro (1 Hour Away)
- Atlantic Beach (1 Hour 10 Minutes Away)
- Beaufort (1 Hour 10 Minutes Away)
- Goldsboro (1 Hour 10 Minutes Away)
- Topsail Island (1 Hour 10 Minutes to 1 Hour 20 Minutes Away)
- Edenton (1 Hour 45 Minutes Away)
- Rocky Mount (1 Hour 45 Minutes Away)
- Raleigh (2 Hours Away)
- Wilmington (2 Hours Away)
- Fayetteville (2 Hours 15 Minutes Away)
You can visually plan your trip to New Bern with our Eastern North Carolina Map and our statewide North Carolina Travel Map.
Quick Facts About New Bern
Before we share our favorite things to do in New Bern, we thought you should know a little more about this town.
- New Bern gets its name from the capital city of Switzerland.
- Bern means bear and the people of New Bern love showing off their “Bear Town” pride. That’s why you’ll find bear statues throughout town.
- Founded in 1710, New Bern is North Carolina’s second-oldest town (after Bath).
- As a result, the town is home to beautiful historic churches, the first fire station, and other historic sites.
- One of those sites is Tryon Palace, which briefly served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina.
Where to Stay in New Bern
There’s one more thing we need to discuss—where to stay. You have a lot of quaint and historic Beds and Breakfasts in Downtown New Bern to choose from, and many are not far from the water.
The Aerie Bed & Breakfast
Address: 509 Pollock St, New Bern, NC
Official Website
The Aerie is a highly recommended Bed and Breakfast in New Bern and we couldn’t agree more.
Built in 1882, The Aerie has eight luxurious rooms, each with unique charm and decor. Whether you’re coming to New Bern to relax or for business, we can’t recommend The Aerie enough!
Owners John and Beth are incredibly accommodating, and you will be steps away from Downtown New Bern and the historic Tryon Palace.
The Victorian-style inn even housed historical guests, including a State Senator, a cousin of the Wright Brothers, and the son of Pepsi creator Caleb Bradham!
The Harvey
Address: 221 S. Front St, New Bern, NC
Official Website
The Harvey is one of New Bern’s most unique stays, set inside a beautifully restored 1790s building.
It perfectly blends old and new, with Federal-style architecture wrapped around modern, sophisticated interiors.
Every room features eye-catching, nature-inspired art and hand-crafted pieces by Tommy Mitchell, giving the whole place a polished yet personal feel.
Annual Events in New Bern
Adding to your list of things to do in New Bern should include some of these incredible annual events!
- March to October: The Ghosts of New Bern walking tour takes you through New Bern’s spooky history and is a great way to enjoy a night out in the town.
- April: Spring Homes and Garden Tour is a wonderful time of the year when homeowners of historical homes open their doors to the public. Tour the homes, take in the original architecture, and stop by Tryon Palace for their Annual Heritage Plant Sale too!
- September: The annual Havelock Chili Festival is two days of spice-filled fun! Enjoy judging competitions for chicken wings, chili Verde, red chili, and more!
- October: Mumfest is the most popular annual event in New Bern! Bringing more than 90,000 festival-goers, downtown New Bern is filled with beautiful mums, live music, and a weekend of dining in the streets!
- December Events: December is a busy month in New Bern. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- The Coastal Christmas Flotilla (Pictured Above) and Trail to Tryon are two major events in early December, usually the first weekend. All this festive entertainment usually coincides with the New Bern Christmas Parade.
- During Candlelight at Tryon Palace (second weekend), you’ll start your evening with a walk around the candle-lit Governor’s Palace, Stanly House, Dixon House, and Commission House. A show of black powder fireworks finishes up the night, which you won’t forget.
Read More: Weekend Getaways in North Carolina
America250 in New Bern
Just like during the Revolution, North Carolina kicked off America250 celebrations ahead of the pack. In August 2024, there was a celebration of the First Provincial Congress of North Carolina. Tryon Palace refers to them as the New Bern Resolves.
Learn More About America250 in New Bern
Things to Do in New Bern This Weekend (and Most of the Year!)
Those special events are certainly worthy of your calendar. Here are things to do in New Bern, no matter when you visit!
Union Point Park
Address: 210 E Front St, New Bern, NC
Website
The waterfront at Union Point Park is a wonderful spot to catch the sunrise and watch boats as they pass by. You can spend as much time as you want sitting on a bench or walking along the wooden boardwalk.
It’s a great place just to slow down and take it easy for a while. Personally, I can’t wait to get back and do just that.
Walk around Downtown
New Bern’s slow-paced downtown is easily walkable. I recommend getting an early start because people will be out visiting the town’s interesting buildings and locally owned businesses.
Shop Local!
Speaking of shopping local, New Bern is filled with interesting shops:
- Bear City Fudge (236-C Middle St, New Bern, NC): I feel like you haven’t been to New Bern if you’ve never been to Bear City Fudge. Whether it’s your first stop of the day of the reward after a long day of walking, make at least one trip to this New Bern icon.
- Black Cat Shoppe (246 Middle St, New Bern, NC): We recommend checking out the oddities at Black Cat Shoppe. This is where you also can pick up tickets for Ghosts of New Bern.
- Mitchell Hardware (215 Craven St, New Bern, NC): Family-owned and -operated since 1898, Mitchell Hardware has everything you need, as a good general store should!
- The Next Chapter Books and Art (320 S. Front Street, New Bern, NC): As bibliophiles, we think you should know about The Next Chapter, one of the best bookstores in North Carolina! Owner Michelle Garren-Flye is a longstanding avid reader, and in 2021, she was named Heart of the Pamlico Poet Laureate.
- SnapDragon (214 Middle St, New Bern, NC): SnapDragon carries specialty toys, crafts, puzzles, and much more. Don’t worry if your inner child comes out at this delightful place.
- Surf, Wind, and Fire and S.L. Revival Co. are owned by the same people. SWF is a great outdoor store, but also has the accompanying Surfing Pig Sip and Shop inside. S.L. Revival Co. is an emergent outdoor lifestyle brand, and their flagship store sits in a refurbished old service station.
- S.L. Revival Co. Address: 900 Broad St, New Bern NC
- Surf, Wind, and Fire Address: 230 Middle St, New Bern, NC
There are even more local businesses to explore in New Bern. Do you have any favorites to share with us?
Find New Bern Bear Statues
One of the most fun things in New Bern is trying to find all those cute bear statues! In fact, there are more than 60 New Bern bear statues, and I challenge you to go find every one of them.
Unlike the Swiss city’s wild bears, these statues depict professionally trained bears who work for a living, holding positions like a lawyer, doctor, and real estate agent.
Does your town do anything similar to this?
Read More: Switzerland Inn (Your Next Mountain Getaway)
North Carolina History Center
Address: 529 S Front St, New Bern, NC
Website
Before jumping into Tryon Palace, I think you should explore the North Carolina History Center. They have rotating exhibits, events, and food for those who need to grab a bite.
One thing we like about this place is its commitment to the environment, as one of the greenest buildings in our state.
Read More: Fun Things to Do in Tryon and Nearby!
Tryon Palace
Address: 529 S Front St, New Bern, NC
Website
New Bern was also North Carolina’s first permanent capitol; you can learn about it at Tryon Palace. Just be sure to emphasize “permanent,” or else you’ll get flogged or punished in some other time-accurate way.
Visiting Tryon Palace is one of the most popular things to do in New Bern, so read more in our article here and more on what to expect during your visit!
Read More: Interesting Facts About North Carolina That You Should Know
The Firemen’s Museum
Address: 420 Broad St, New Bern, NC
Website
At the Firemen’s Museum, you can learn fun stories about the fire dog, New Bern’s firefighting history, and much more. There are artifacts from early firefighting history, photos, and items from the Civil War.
Read More: The NC Museum of History in Raleigh (+7 Things We Love About It!)
Historic Churches
New Bern is also home to some beautiful churches and cemeteries. The First Baptist Church and Christ Episcopal Church are two of many you’ll see between Hancock and Craven, but there are a couple more along Queen St, too.
Is a church in the New Bern area that stands out to you? We’d love to know about it!
Lawson Creek Park
Address: 1309 Country Club Rd, New Bern, NC
Website
Lawson Creek Park gives you a beautiful view of New Bern’s waterfront and is a great way to start a day. Two spots are ideal for launching a boat if you bring one and two fishing piers, including one accessible.
We also enjoyed the walking trail there, and can’t wait to go back for more!
New Bern Battlefield Park
Address: 300 Battlefield Trail, New Bern, NC
Website
Since the Battle of New Bern was fought during the Civil War, the city’s Historical Society maintains New Bern Battlefield Park on one-third of the actual battle’s land.
Contact them at 252-638-8558 for a guided tour ($5 for members, $10 for non-members). You can also grab a brochure at the visitor’s center and take a self-guided tour of the site.
The Pepsi Store
Address: 256 Middle St, New Bern, NC
Website
New Bern is also the birthplace of Pepsi. Visiting the Birthplace of Pepsi is one of the best things to do in New Bern! The store is on Middle Street and you can have a fountain soda and imagine this famous drink’s medicinal power running through your body.
It’s such a one-of-a-kind spot that we even included it in our NC Bucket List!
Where to Eat and Drink in New Bern
With all this history and bear hunting, a person has to eat when hanging out in New Bern. So here are some of our favorite restaurants in New Bern.
- Baker’s Kitchen (227 Middle St, New Bern, NC): Eat breakfast at Baker’s Kitchen and don’t even think about avoiding their spectacular Dutch Potatoes. They also have an incredible butter syrup that is something once you experience it, you’ll never stop talking about it!
- Baxter’s 1892 (323 Pollock street, New Bern, NC): If you’re looking for a really good cocktail in New Bern, start at Baxter’s 1892. Small plates accompany their handcrafted drinks, and you don’t want to miss out on them, either.
- The Chelsea (335 Middle Street, New Bern, NC): There are some absolutely incredible upscale restaurants in New Bern. The Chelsea is one such restaurant that should definitely be on your travel itinerary. This upscale bistro will satisfy your cravings with a fabulous rotation of specials and solid menu items! Don’t forget to order the South African Pudding. It’s a banana cake with rich caramel that will seal the end to an excellent meal!
- Cypress Hall (219 Middle St, New Bern, NC): Before our last visit to New Bern, I polled our Facebook Group to see where I should eat. The number one recommended restaurant in New Bern was Cypress Hall, and I will agree with them! This downtown restaurant features a large bar, exposed brick walls, and a strawberry cake that can only be described with drools and moans.
- You thought I was done talking about Cypress Hall? Nope! The upscale menu is the creative endeavor of New Bern native Chef Ashley Moser. Absolutely everything I ordered, from the cocktail, grilled octopus appetizer, to the delicate hanger steak, was memorably delicious. I highly recommend making reservations in advance, especially on weekends. The restaurant was even packed one Wednesday evening when I stopped by!
Here are a few more restaurants to visit while enjoying all the things to do in New Bern.
- MJ’s Raw Bar & Grille‘s (216 Middle St, New Bern, NC): The colorful decor at MJ’s complements a truly delicious menu. We highly recommend getting their famous crabcakes!
- Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant (100 Pollock St, New Bern, NC): Honestly, Persimmons is the first restaurant many people will point you to in New Bern. It’s not just a meal with a view. This is a spectacular meal with a view!
We love these restaurants in New Bern and featured more in this guide. Do you have any places to eat in town (and nearby) you’d like to share? Let us know about them!
Read More: The Best North Carolina Breweries
Ready to Enjoy These Fun Things to Do in New Bern?
So while we keep our eyes out for homes for sale in New Bern, we’d love to know what you think. Have you ever visited this little slice of paradise?
What are your favorite things to do in New Bern?
Let us know here in the comments section or by email. You can also share your experiences in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.
Things to Do Near New Bern
While these things to do in New Bern will keep you occupied, you might want to venture out and explore its surroundings!
New Bern is an easy day trip from Raleigh and Wilmington. Some nearby small towns to check out while you’re in New Bern include:
- Oriental
- Beaufort
- Swansboro
- Hammocks Beach State Park (and Bear Island)
- Kinston
Here are a few more places within an hour’s drive of New Bern.
Read More: Eastern North Carolina (and 100+ Awesome Places to Visit!)
Croatan National Forest
For a mix of hiking, beaches, and camping spots, Croatan National Forest has it all. There are quite a few access points, and each offers something fun.
Exploring this public space has to be one of our favorite outdoor activities in New Bern’s surroundings.
Read More: 4 National Forests in NC (Things to Do + Why We Love Them!)
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is one of our favorite spots in Eastern NC and about 45 minutes away from New Bern! Known for Camp Lejeune, there’s plenty here.
If you’re in that area, at least take a few moments to pay your respects at Lejeune Memorial Gardens. It’s a special reminder of those who’ve served and paid the ultimate price for our country.
If you’ve got little ones, stop by Zing Zumm Children’s Museum of Jacksonville. If you like spirits, head to Walton’s Distillery for a tasting and tour. It’s one of our favorites in all of North Carolina!
Read More: Restaurants in Jacksonville (and Nearby!)
Atlantic Beach
There’s tons of watery fun nearby and the closest beach to New Bern would be Atlantic Beach in Carteret County. We love staying at Atlantis Lodge in Pine Knoll Shores near Atlantic Beach.
You could easily spend the whole day on the beach but don’t forget to get out and explore Fort Macon State Park and the amazing restaurants from Atlantic Beach down to Emerald Isle.
Read More: All North Carolina State Park Sites (and Things to Do in Each One!)
Beaufort
The wild horses of the Rachel Carson Reserve are one of the main reasons we first came to Beaufort. From there, we’ve remained hooked on this wonderful town.
You should also visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum or stare at the boats and water after parking on Front Street.
Don’t forget to grab some grub at Beaufort Grocery CO and Moonrakers.
Read More: 7 Awesome Coastal NC Lighthouses (+ How to Visit Them All!)
The Cedar Island Ferry
You can also island hop by taking the Cedar Island ferry, about 1-1/2 hours from New Bern. From there, you can reach the Outer Banks town of Ocracoke.
Explore Ocracoke Village (including Ocracoke Lighthouse), continue north toward the Hatteras ferry, and hire a boat to take you to Portsmouth Island.
New Bern is a great jumping-off point to many fabulous places to visit in North Carolina along the coast.
Read More: The Best Things to Do in the Outer Banks
More North Carolina Travel Guides
We’ve featured New Bern and more destinations in our personal collection of NC travel guides. Here are a few of them:
We love New Bern. Our most recent visit was during the Christmas holiday. .we were there 4 times last year. The flotilla and Marine Corp band’s performance were worth standing in the cold. A small town experience at its best…the atmosphere, history, food…most of all…the people.
Sounds like you had a fun time, Barbara. Thanks for sharing! New Bern is a wonderful place any time of year, but especially when it’s festive. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
New Bern is one of my favorite cities. May I suggest taking a cruise around the town. You learn so much about the city and even get to see Nicholas Sparks House.
Nice suggestion, Melissa. Thanks! Will definitely keep that one in mind next time we’re in New Bern.
G Morning Hello You need to see the First Black Hotel in New Bern. It’s rite near the railroad Tracks on Queen Street and was a Hotel and Housed African Americans taking the train. The Blue Print for the Hotel is all around the Country. My Parents Renovated and Brought it up to Par. Bailey Barnwell and my Company is called Shred the Stigma. Have a nice Day
My wife and I came to visit New Bern in Feb 2018 and loved it so much we returned home to Chicago to get ready to move into the house we bought!
I’m an artist painting in Plein Air New Bern. http://www.pleinairnewbern.com. I’m sure the organizers would love to be listed here!
The Neuse River and Pamlico Sound are all part of a huge inland sea that has some of the fishing on the East Coast. Spending a day on the water fishing for redfish, speckled trout, striped bass or tarpon can be a blast. There are area fishing guides launching from New Bern and Oriental and numerous bait launch for those who have their own watercraft.
Here’s the correct website address for the North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival now underway in Historic New Bern, Oriental, and Beaufort — May 14-21: https://ncpleinair.org/
Plein Air headquarters and art displays are located two blocks from Tryon Palace in the Farmers Market. Thanks for sharing!
I love this town!! Moved here about 2 years ago and love every minute here.
After suffering through 15 land-locked years, this lifelong sailor was more than ready to get back to coastal living. So, in 2016, I began looking up and down the East and West coasts for my forever home. It needed to offer 1) affordable housing 2) a well-established, year-round community — not one with an economy and lifestyle driven solely by seasonal tourism 3) an excellent location for a cruising sailboat 4) moderate weather. I had other nice-to-have items on my list, but those were my must-haves. Many coastal towns met one of these conditions, some met two, but only one sufficiently met all four: New Bern, NC. I moved here in 2016 and have not regretted my choice for one minute. Is it perfect? No. But it is perfect for me. I truly love my home and its proximity to a very strong sailing community and beautiful cruising grounds — not to mention the gorgeous NC beaches. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the U.S.! Believe me, I looked. 🙂
We’re planning a trip this month. I am interested in doing some kayaking/paddle boarding (rentals) which I saw mentioned somewhere but not here…anyone have any info on that?
Don’t miss the MARINE CORPS AIR STATION (MCAS) Cherry Point Air Show inn May! Just 20 minutes south of New Bern The access to the flight line is open to the public. Just go online and print off a parking pass (FREE) to get on base.