40 Fun and interesting facts about Raleigh, NC [your FAQs answered!]

Over the years, we’ve received a lot of questions about Raleigh. We get questions about its history, geography, climate, what it’s like to live in, and why it’s nickname is the City of Oaks. If you’ve ever had your questions go unanswered, we’ve put together a list of facts about Raleigh so you can feel ready for any pop-quiz about North Carolina’s capital.

I have broken this article down into four key categories; History and Demographics, Fun and Unusual Facts about Raleigh, Living in Raleigh (culture and way of life), and Visiting Raleigh (as a tourist information). 

Historical facts about Raleigh

How did Raleigh get its name?

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and was officially named after the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh who attempted to establish the first English colony on the shores of the new world in the 1580s. Born in 1552, he grew up in the house of Hayes Bartonin South Devon. He became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I because of his efforts at increasing the Protestant Church in Ireland. In 1585, Raleigh was knighted.

But when the Queen died in 1603, Raleigh was arrested and charged with treason for his involvement in the Main Plot against Elizabeth’s successor, James I, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Raleigh was beheaded in the Old Palace Yard at the Palace of Westminster in 1618. His head was embalmed and presented to his wife. His body was laid to rest in St. Margaret’s, Westminster, where his tomb may still be visited today.

When was Raleigh founded?

Raleigh was founded in 1792 but wasn’t always the capital city of NC. When North Carolina was a colony, the capital was in New Bern and Edenton at different times. But because these coastal locations were easy to attack, it was decided the capital needed to be moved. Initially, the legislature used a rotation system, meeting in six different towns, including Raleigh and Fayetteville. 

The site was selected in 1788, and the city was laid off from a tract of forest in 1792, soon after the American Revolution, when North Carolina moved its capital westward from the seaboard. Raleigh was established as the county seat in 1771 under the name Wake County Courthouse; the name was changed to Raleigh, in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh, when the city became the capital in 1792. Where is Raleigh located?

Raleigh is located on the East Coast of the USA about halfway between New York City and Florida, in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. Interstate 40 (I-40) runs past the outskirts of downtown, and Interstate 95 (I-95) is also close by and the main interstate on the East Coast that will take you to Florida or New England. For directions from your starting point, click on the above Google map.

What cities are near Raleigh?

One of the great things about living in Raleigh is its central location on the East Coast. Fun fact: More than half of the US population lives within a day’s drive from Raleigh. Driving distances to other nearby cities include:

• Durham: 24 miles
• Charlotte: 167 miles
• Asheville: 241 miles
• Washington D.C: 278 miles
• Atlanta: 407 miles
• Philadelphia: 417 miles
• NYC: 487 miles
• Nashville: 539 miles
• Orlando: 594 miles

What county is Raleigh in?

Most of Raleigh is located within Wake County, with a very small portion extending into Durham County. Wake County was named for Margaret Wake Tryon, the wife of royal governorWilliam Tryon. All up there are 12 municipalities within Wake County:

• Apex
• Cary
• Fuquay-Varina
• Garner
• Holly Springs
• Knightdale
• Morrisville
• Raleigh
• Rolesville
• Wake Forest
• Wendell
• Zebulon

What is the population of Raleigh?

According to the most up-to-date U.S. Census, the population of Raleigh is 482,425, with a growing rate of 1.27% annually. It is the second-largest city in North Carolina (behind Charlotte) by population, and the 40th most populous city in the USA. Wake County has an estimated population of 1,111,761 (2024) and is now the largest county in North Carolina. The most recent racial makeup stats of Raleigh are:

• 51% White
• 26% Black or African American
• 6% Asian American
• 0.33% American Indian or Alaska Native
• 12% Hispanic
• 4% two or more races
• 0.03% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

The predominant religion in Raleigh is Christianity (77% of the population), with the largest numbers of adherents being:

• Evangelical Protestant (35%)
• Mainline Protestant (19%)
• Historically Black Protestant (12%)
• Catholic (9%)
• Mormon (1%)
• Orthadox Christian (1%)
• Jehovah’s Witness (1%)

Non-Christian makes up 3% of the community, and 20% of the community identify as unaffiliated with religion.

What are the sister cities of Raleigh?

Raleigh became associated with the Sister Cities program in 1986 and now has partnerships with five cities: 

• Kingston Upon Hull, England
• Compiegne, France
• Rostock, Germany
• Xiangyang, China 
• and Nairobi, Kenya.

How big is Raleigh (in size)?

The city of Raleigh occupies a total land area of 144.0 square miles, of which 142 square miles is land and 0.97 square miles (or 0.76%) is covered by water – the Neuse River flows through the northeast end of the city. Raleigh is 434 feet above sea level.

Fun and Unusual Facts

Why is Raleigh nicknamed the City of Oaks?

Raleigh is nicknamed the “City of Oaks” for its sheer number of majestic oak trees which line the streets. You may also hear it nicknamed “The Triangle.” Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle area, together with Durham and Chapel Hill. The “Triangle” nickname began after the 1959 plan and construction of the Research Triangle Park, in Durham and Wake Counties. If you draw a line between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, the shape is a Triangle. Other nicknames include:

• Raleighwood
• Oak City
• Raleighites (locals)

What “firsts” happened in Raleigh?

The first public park in NC 

Raleigh is home to Pullen Park, the oldest and first public park in the state. This 66 acre amusement park has a playground, lake with peddle boats, and an antique carousel. It’s a wonderful place to go with kids, especially if you’re from out of town. It’s also the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. It’s located on Ashe Avenue and adjacent to the Main and Centennial campuses of North Carolina State University.

Raleigh has the first state-supported symphony in the USA

Raleigh is home to The North Carolina Symphony which is known as being the first state-supported symphony in the country. Founded in 1932, the orchestra has lead the way for musical talent for almost a century, hosting educational programs throughout the year to more than 100,000 students, as well as performing more than 300 concerts with its own orchestra.

It has the first shopping center between Washington D.C. and Atlanta

When it opened in 1949 with three stores and one restaurant, the Village District (formerly Cameron Village) became the first shopping center between Washington D.C. and Atlanta., and a Raleigh Tradition was born. Here’s how to enjoy the Village District with kids and a date experience in the Village District.

Home to the first historically black university in the South

Shaw University is the first historically Black institution of higher education in the South and among the oldest in the nation. The University was founded in 1865 by Henry Martin Tupper, a native of Monson, Massachusetts, a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, and a graduate of Amherst College and Newton Theological Seminary. Estey Hall was the first building constructed for the higher education of Black women, and Leonard Medical Center was the first four-year medical school in the country for African Americans Here are more ways to learn about Black history and culture in Raleigh.

The first and only research triangle in America

Raleigh-Durham is home to Research Triangle Park (RTP), one of the greatest technological research parks in the world with more than 375 companies and over 60,000 people with expertise in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, microelectronics, chemicals, and environmental sciences. 

Top employers include: IBM, Cisco, GlaxoSmithCline, Nortel Networks, Sony Ericsson, and Lenovo just to name a few. RTP is centrally located between Raleigh (18 miles) and Durham (12 miles). It’s also a pioneer in technology innovation and is where you will find many startups and small companies building their brands.

Home to the site of the first NC State Fair

Raleigh hosted the inaugural State Fair on a 16-acre plot between Davie and Hargett streets. The event drew around 4,000 visitors and marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition. For rides, music, animals, and all the greasy fair food you can imagine, Raleigh locals flock to the annual State Fair each October, the largest annual event in the state which draws one million visitors over 11 days. The fair was also the first fair to use electricity in the USA. Read our guide to the North Carolina State Fair and watch the video below.

First psychiatric hospital in the state

Dorothea Dix Hospital was established in 1856 on what became known as Dix Hill, and is now located on the grounds of Dorothea Dix Park. This institution was North Carolina’s first psychiatric hospital, and still has buildings used for medical care today.

First municipally elected African American mayor in a majority-white Southern city

Clarence Lightner made history when he was elected Raleigh’s mayor in 1973 — an unprecedented milestone in post-Reconstruction Southern politics.

It has 100+ miles of Greenway Trails

If you love walking or biking on trails, you’ll love the fact that the Raleigh area has 180 miles of greenway trails to explore. The Capital Area Greenway System is made up of 28 individual trails and for locals and people who visit Raleigh is one of the most popular things to do in Raleigh. 

Popular trails include:

• American Tobacco Trail (23-mile trail running along an abandoned railroad bed)
• Neuse River Greenway (27-mile paved trail stretching from Falls Lake in North Raleigh to the Wake County border line in southeast Raleigh) You may like this ebike tour along the Neuse River Greenway in Clayton.
• Art to Heart Trail (6 mile trail connecting the NC Museum of Art to Downtown Raleigh)
• Lake Johnson Park (paved three-mile greenway loop)
• Umstead State Park

Raleigh is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South”.

Raleigh is well known for its quality and quantity of free museums and has often been referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South”. Three major state museums call the city home:

• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – with 1.2 million visitors annually it is North Carolina’s most visited museum and the Southeast’s largest natural history museum.
• North Carolina Museum of Art – became the first state art museum in the country in 1947.
• North Carolina Museum of History – founded in 1902, on display is more than 14,000 years and 150,000 artifacts of North Carolina history. **Currently closed for renovations, which are expected to last 2-3 years.**
• Read More: Fantastic museums in Raleigh

The Capitol building was intended to house all three branches of state government 

Built of local stone in 1840, the Capitol building replaced the previous stuccoed-brick State House destroyed by fire in 1831. It is now National Historic Landmark and one of the best-preserved examples of Greek Revival-style architecture. At one point, the building housed the office of the Governor, the Supreme Court and the chambers of the General Assembly, as well as various other state offices. There’s a statue of George Washington dressed as a Roman general in its rotunda.

It has the 5th largest cathedral in the US

The Roman Catholic Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral — located at 715 Nazareth St. Cost $46 million to build in 2015 and is the fifth-largest cathedral in the US. The cathedral accommodates more than 2,000 worshippers.

The City of Raleigh Flag is double sided

Raleigh is perhaps the only American city flag to feature different designs on the obverse and reverse. The double-sided flag features a similar red-white-red vertical triband that represents Sir Walter Raleigh, the English for whom the city is named. Symbols: The front side represents the City of Oaks with an oak tree + acorns, and the crest on the back is Sir Walter Raleigh’s coat of arms. The deer is used in the coat of arms because the Anglo-Saxon meaning of the word Raleigh is “meadow of the deer.”

It’s home to the largest selection of beers on tap (A Guinness World Record)

In case you don’t know, Raleigh Beer Garden offers the world’s largest selection of beers on tap, 350+ beers, even made official by the folks from the Guinness Book of Records. This massive 8,500 square foot venue over 3 levels has tons of outdoor space, a back garden patio and a rooftop bar and an ever changing selection of beers!

Raleigh served as the confederate headquarters during the American Civil War

If you’re interested in Civil War history, you may be interested to know that Raleigh was the HQ of the Confederates until the 12th of April 1865. You can learn more about the history on the Dorothea Dix guided walking tour.

The Culture

Raleigh’s slogan and motto

While Raleigh doesn’t have an official motto or slogan, ask any local what they think it is and they would say; All are welcome.

Why do they say Y’ALL?

The word y’all is ubiquitous among native Southerners. Y’all is a subject pronoun that addresses two or more people. It’s the contraction of “you” and “all.” And all y’all is the plural of y’all, at least in some areas of the south. You may have driven past the Welcome to Raleigh Y’all mural?

If not, it was created to promote equality, inclusion, and tolerance and “Welcome to Raleigh Y’all” is depicted in 17 different languages. It’s still funny to me how much Southerners love hearing our Aussie accent and often say “ya’ll talk real pretty”. So there you have it. You’re welcome, y’all. 

What food is Raleigh known for?

While the top-notch restaurant scene is thriving and you can find all kinds of cuisines in Raleigh, it’s most synonymous with traditional southern food – particularly North Carolina State BBQ. An NC State Barbecue is not only present in Raleigh though, it’s a state-wide cuisine, but is prepared differently depending on whether you visit East or West NC. Another food item you have to try is sweet potato. This is the state vegetable, and 40% of the USA’s sweet potatoes are grown here. When visiting Raleigh, some classic food items you must try are:

• Barbecue – NC is a bbq state and they take their barbecue seriously. Places for good BBQ include The Pit and Clyde Cooper’s in downtown, Old Time BBQ, Aviator SmokeHouse in Fuquay-Varina, Prime Barbecue in Knightdale.
• Fried chicken – they’re always frying things in the South, and Southern-fried chicken is a locals favorite. Popular places include; Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, The Mecca, and Clyde Cooper’s.
• Grits – corn-based dish that is best associated with Southern breakfasts. Get some at Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant or Angie’s Restaurant in Garner where they’re serving up Southern style breakfasts all day. here are some of our favorite shrimp and grits in Raleigh.
• Biscuits – Southern comfort food and the bread of the South. Popular places include Real Biscuits at the State Farmers Market, Big Ed’s, and Jubala Coffee does amazing biscuits. Check out more places for breakfast in Raleigh

• Hush Puppies – another Southern specialty, and common with bbq or seafood. Local favorites are; N.C. Seafood Restaurant at the Farmer’s Market, Captain Stanley’s Seafood, Old Time BBQ and Clyde Cooper’s. 
• Country Ham – a classic, Southern tradition that is aged, smoked, dried and cured to perfection. Try it for breakfast at Big Ed’s or The Mecca. 
• Collard Greens – don’t forget to eat your greens as they say. Try Lucky 32 in Cary, Joyce and Family Restaurant in Fuquay-Varina.
• Mac & Cheese – popular side with a barbecue dinner or as a full entrée. Try at Clyde Cooper’s BBQ, the famous macaroni au gratin at Poole’s Diner, or at Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar, a local mecca of mac & cheese.
• Fried Green Tomatoes – trendy Southern side dish featuring unripe tomatoes washed in egg and buttermilk, coated in cornmeal and fried. Try at The Pit, Tobacco Road Sports Café, Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, Relish, Tupelo Honey. 
• Sweet Potato Pie – N.C. is the leading producer of sweet potatoes, so try sweet potato pie at Slice Pie Company

What sports teams are based in Raleigh?

The Triangle region is ACC Basketball territory with the local NC State Wolfpack, plus the nearby UNC Tar Heels, and Duke Blue Devils all within a 40 minute drive of each other. As for Pro Sports, in 1997 the National Hockey League’s Hartford Whalers announced their intention to move to Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes, becoming the city’s first and only major league professional sports franchise. Teams in the Raleigh area:

• Carolina Hurricanes: National Hockey League (NHL)
• NC State University Wolfpack: ACC Conference
• North Carolina FC: United Soccer League
• North Carolina Courage: National Women’s Soccer League
• Carolina Mudcats: Single-A baseball
• Carolina Rollergirls: Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
• Raleigh Flyers: American Ultimate Disc League

Facts about living in Raleigh

What is the tallest building in Raleigh?

The tallest building in Raleigh is the 33 story PNC Plaza on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh which rises 538 feet and was completed in 2008. It’s also the tallest building in NC outside of Charlotte and is home to both commercial offices and residential apartments. The second tallest is the Two Hannover Square (BB&T Building) which rises 431 feet and built in 1991. The third tallest is the Wells Fargo Capitol Center building, also in downtown, and rises 400 feet.

What is the cost of living in Raleigh NC?

The cost of living, in particular real estate, has risen in the past 5 years due to low inventory and high demand. More and more people are moving to Raleigh from out of state due to the quality of life and how affordable it is. On the Payscale.com website, the cost of living in Raleigh is 4% lower than the national average, although utility bills are 2% more than the national average.

On the whole, you can expect the average cost of expenses for a family of four to be around $4,602.6 per month without rent. Realtor.com named Raleigh the most affordable alternative “kindred city” to San Francisco.

• What is the median income in Raleigh? The median household income in Raleigh (2024) is $75,424
• How much do houses cost in Raleigh? The medium home value in 2024 is $439,640
• How much are rents in Raleigh? Median apartment rent is $1,337 p/m
• How much do energy bills cost on average in Raleigh? $180.36 per month
• How much does a phone bill cost in Raleigh? On average, a phone bill costs $194.02 per month in Raleigh
• How much is gas in Raleigh? Gas costs around £3.21 per gallon
• What are the taxes in Raleigh? Income tax is a flat rate of 5.25%. Sale tax is currently 4.75%

Raleigh doesn’t have good public transport

Raleigh is predominantly a driving city. You won’t find a train system here like in New York City or Chicago, but otherwise getting around Raleigh is easy. The GoRaleigh bus service currently serves local and regional buses and is headquartered downtown at the GoRaleigh bus station in Moore Square (214 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601). For fares and passes info go here. You can also read our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh.

The Wolfline bus service, NC State University’s bus service not only serves the students but also the general public fare-free (no sudent id required). Wolfline buses operate every day classes are in session. Bike-Share: if you want to explore Raleigh on two wheels, Cardinal Bike Share is the local bike-share system in town comprising of 300 bikes across 30 stations. See all pricing and memberships here.

What are the top colleges in Raleigh?

A major draw to the Raleigh area are the world-class educational institutions and state universities, including 11 principal universities. Money Magazine ranked NC State as the #1 best public college in North Carolina for your money, and #4 veterinary medicine program nationally! Here’s our campus tour of NC State University.

Public universities in Raleigh:

• North Carolina State University – a powerhouse in engineering, math, technology and science. 
• Wake Tech – the largest community college in the state

Private universities in Raleigh:

• Meredith College – a women’s liberal arts college and coeducational graduate school.
• William Peace University – a private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
• St. Augustine’s University – a private historically black college.
• Shaw University is the first historically Black institution
• Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law 
• Skema Business School, the first French Business School to open a campus in the USA

Private, for profit:

• ECPI College of Technology
• The Medical Arts School 
• Strayer University

Nearby:

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) is the nation’s first public university and one of the best universities in the world, is 40 minutes away. Duke University, a private research university and often referred to as the “Harvard of the South”, is 30 minutes away. 

How are schools in Raleigh?

The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is now the largest school system in the state and the 15th largest school system in the nation, with 159,995 students (as of 2024). Wake County Public Schools operate on both traditional and year-round calendars. Traditional schools begin after a 3-month summer break and take a short break between semesters in December. At year-round schools, four “tracks” rotate between 9-week periods of classes and 3-week periods of breaks, so there are three “tracks” are always in school at any given time of year.

In Wake County, students are assigned to a base elementary, middle, and high school for their home address. Find your base school using their address look-up tool. Your base school may have an enrollment cap. You will still register for your base school. Learn more about Wake County schools here.

• Total number of schools: 198
• Elementary: 119
• Middle: 38
• High: 31

Who are the top employers in the Raleigh area?

Looking for jobs in Raleigh? Wake County has become a center for banking, health care, education and a booming tech scene! The major employers list below provides a snapshot of both public and private companies in Wake County and Research Triangle Park that employ 2,000 or more people.

• Duke University and Duke Health Systems
• State of North Carolina
• Wake County Public Schools
• Wal-Mart
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• WakeMed Health & Hospitals
• NC State University
• Food Lion
• Target
• IBM
• UNC Rex Healthcare
• SAS Institute, Inc
• Harris Teeter
• Cisco Systems
• IQVIA
• Wake County Government
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield
• Get the full list here.

What other major companies are based in Raleigh?

Raleigh is just not about government and healthcare. Some of the flagship tech companies based here include:

• Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source solutions has its corporate headquarters in Downtown Raleigh. 
• Lenovo’s operational headquarters are here in Morrisville.
• Epic Games was originally founded in Maryland but moved to Cary in 1999.
• Bandwidth, who provide cloud-ready voice, messaging, and emergency service connectivity, is headquartered in Raleigh.
• Lulu, an online self-publishing company founded by Red Hat co-founder Bob Young.
• Citrix ShareFile, a cloud-based file sharing and storage service. 
• Pendo, the analytics software company, was founded in Raleigh NC. 
• And FreshBooks, accounting software for small businesses that we personally use, has one of its three offices here.

Raleigh is an educated city

Forbes ranked Raleigh as the 6th most educated city in America back in 2023 (it was 2nd place in 2014), and Bloomberg ranked Raleigh 4th in America’s most educated city in 2019. According to the U.S. Census, in the Raleigh area over 53.89% of persons aged 25+ have a Bachelor’s Degree and 21.75% a doctorate. Raleigh has been ranked 3rd on a list by Forbes forbest places for business and careers. The future is exciting.

What grocery stores are in Raleigh?

Coming from Australia which has a much smaller population than the US, we aren’t used to having so many options. I know each state has their favorite grocery stores, but to me we are spoiled for choice here and have all the big name national stores, plus local favorites:

• CostCo
• Whole Foods
• Trader Joe’s
• Harris Teeter
• Publix
• Wegmans
• Wal-Mart
• Lowes Foods
• Food Lion
• Aldi
• Lidl
• World Market
• Grand Asia Market

What is the closest beach to Raleigh?

As Aussies who grew up on the beach, being within an easy drive to the Carolina coast was important to us. We love that Interstate 40 runs past the outskirts of downtown and we can be at the closest beach to Raleigh, Wrightsville Beach (near Wilmington), in two hours – a straight shot down I-40. Other beaches close to Raleigh are Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Top Sail Beach, Surf City, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach, SC

What is the weather like in Raleigh?

Coming from Australia where we basically have two seasons, summer and winter, we really enjoy experiencing all four seasons, although Fall seems to be getting shorter each year. Like much of the Southeast, Raleigh has a humid subtropical climate.

Winters are generally cool, with a normal January daily mean temperature of 41.0 °F. On average, there are 69 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 2.7 days that fail to rise above freezing. Raleigh receives an average of 6.0 inches (15.2 cm) of snow in winter. Freezing rain and sleet also occur most winters, and occasionally the area experiences a major damaging ice storm.  Raleigh receives an average annual rainfall of 43.34 inches. 

April is the driest month, with an average of 2.92 inches (74.2 mm) of precipitation. July is the wettest month, owing to generally frequent, sometimes heavy, showers and thunderstorms. Summers are hot and humid, with a normal July daily mean temperature of 80.0 °F.There are 48 days per year with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C). Autumn is similar to spring overall but has fewer days of rainfall, but greater potential for extremely heavy rainfall in a one/two day period, owing to occasional threat from tropical weather systems (hurricanes and tropical storms) packing torrential rainfall.

Raleigh shuts down when it snows!

It still makes me laugh how much Raleigh shuts down over a few inches of snow. As an Australian who grew up without snow in the winter, I thought ya’ll would have figured this out by now, I mean, winter comes around every year, lol. Whilst locals may be used to a little snow in winter, with so many people from the Northeast moving here I always wondered why everyone panics so much like we are going to be bunkered down for a month and hoards bread and milk (maybe you can add TP to the list in 2020). 

But I guess they don’t have the equipment to clear the roads like they do in the Northeast. And people from the Northeast tell me they don’t have the black-ice like we do here, which scares me way more than driving in snow! I only just heard this the other day which made me laugh, but “milk sandwiches” are the thing around here in snow storms!

What is the traffic like in Raleigh?

Compared to other big cities in the USA, for us the traffic in Raleigh isn’t too bad. The area is growing rapidly which is bringing with it more cars. Peak hour, as you can imagine, is the most congested time, especially on the I-440 beltline (which loops around downtown) and the I-40 corridor between Raleigh and Durham (and the Research Triangle Park).

The average commute time is about 26 minutes. About 78.4% of Wake County residents drove alone to work in 2019, which is similar to state and national averages. But it just depends upon where you live in Raleigh and where you have to commute to! Of course 2020 has been a unique year with many people now working from home reducing the amount of cars on the road, and moving forward who knows how this will play out.

Facts About Visiting Raleigh

What airport serves Raleigh?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the Triangle region which consists of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. RDU is approximately 20-minutes from Downtown Raleigh and roughly halfway between Raleigh and Durham. RDU consists of two main terminals (1 and 2) and in “normal times” operates more than 400 daily flights with 50+ non-stop destinations. Some of the domesticnon-stop flights to Raleigh include:

• Chicago
• Boston
• New York City
• Washington D.C.
• Dallas
• Houston
• Charlotte
• Cincinnati
• Orlando
• Minneapolis
• Salt Lake City
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles

Internationally we can fly non-stop to:

• London (American Airlines)
• Paris (Delta)
• Cancun
• Toronto
• Montreal

What are the top attractions in Raleigh?

One of the other things we love about living in Raleigh is that it’s NOT a big tourist destination. We don’t have the big ticket tourist attractions here, it’s more of a place to live, which I like. However, there are plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh to keep us happy and for people of all ages. 

Top Raleigh attractions:

• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
• North Carolina Museum of Art
• Pullen Park
• North Carolina Museum of History (currently closed for renovations until 2028)
• Umstead State Park
• Historic Yates Mill County Park
• JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State
• State Farmers Market
• Neuse River Trail
• The 180 miles of Greenway Trails
• Marbles Kids Museum

Plus, the Raleigh food scene has exploded and one of the top reasons people visit Raleigh is the culinary scene. USA TODAY named Raleigh one of five underrated food cities on the East Coast, and named Herons at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary one of America’s 30 best restaurants. And Forbes named Raleigh one of 12 global destinations to travel to thanks to our culinary prowess.

And, there are endless breweries to discover. With over 30 local Raleigh breweries, the craft beer scene is unlike any other in the Southeast and you can visit many of them on the Raleigh Beer Trail – download the map here. 

What are the top festivals and events in Raleigh?

There are around 85 annual festivals and fun events in Raleigh each year to keep anyone entertained through all seasons. In fact, Raleigh has the most live music venues in a concentrated area in the whole state, so you can always be sure there’s something going on. Some of the most famous festivals in Raleigh are:

• Raleigh Wide Open Festival – two-day event and FREE
• Hopscotch Music Festival – three-day music festival in downtown with more than 120 bands.
• Triangle Restaurant Week – week-long celebration of culinary excellence.
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade – a day of fun with a full line-up of live music
• Art in Bloom – four-day festival of art and flowers.
• Brewgaloo – N.C.’s largest craft beer festival-featuring 100 breweries, 50 food trucks.
• Artsplosure – Raleigh Arts Festival that attracts 80,000 people to downtown.
• Food Truck Rodeo – 50+ food trucks in the city center spanning 11 city blocks.
• Krispy Kreme Challenge – started by NC State students, this fun run starts at the campus then you run 2.5 miles to Krispy Kreme, then attempt to consume 12 doughnuts, then run 2.5 miles back. 
• GalaxyCon – 3day festival for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, and more.
• Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival – 2 days of beer sipping, bourbon tasting, and music.
• Packapalooza – all-day block party with more than 80,000 attendees that caps off NC State’s Wolfpack Welcome Week.
• Dreamville Festival – 1 day multi-stage festival celebrating local culture, food, art and featuring some of music’s biggest national acts.
• NC State Fair – largest annual event in the state draws one million visitors over 11 days.
• SAS Championship – see golf’s best at this  PGA Tour Championships event.
• Raleigh Christmas Parade – a tradition for more than 75 years.
• New Years Eve, First Night Raleigh – downtown Raleigh New Year’s Eve celebration.

What are the major historic sites in Raleigh?

• Mordecai Historical Park – the Mordecai Historic House is the oldest residence in Raleigh still on its original foundation, and it’s the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President.
• Historic Oakwood – a neighborhood of 19th-century Victorian homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• North Carolina State Capitol, a National Historic Landmark.
• The North Carolina Executive Mansion – home to more than 25 governors and their families since 1891.
• Historic Oakwood Cemetery – for more than 140 years it has been the final resting place of over 22,000 of the area’s citizens including prominent city, state and national leaders.
• Historic Yates Mill County Park

Where can I get the best view of downtown Raleigh?

The best place to get amazing views of Raleigh is from the beer garden of Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing – what’s better than great beer and food? How about great beer and food with the best view of downtown Raleigh thrown in. Go for great brews and stay for fantastic views of the downtown Raleigh skyline! Next to this is the Boylan Bridge which will give you the same views.

Another place to get great views is from the top of The Dillon Building – located in the heart of the Warehouse District. Anyone can jump in the elevator, go up to level 9, head out onto their rooftop patio and take in the amazing views of downtown! 

Another view to love in Raleigh is the Willard Rooftop

Check out these rooftop bars with views and hotels with great views in Raleigh.

What is the best area to stay in Raleigh?

For staying in hotels in Raleigh, your main choices are going to be in downtown Raleigh, the North Hills area, out near the Raleigh Airport and RTP, and in Cary. For North Hills consider the Renaissance Hotel, the AC Hotel, or the Hyatt House. If you choose to stay in Cary, consider the boutique Mayton Inn. We have atravel guide for North Hills. If you need somewhere to stay, here are some guides on hotels in Raleigh that may be useful to you:

• Best downtown Raleigh hotels
• Best hotels near Raleigh Airport
• Hotels near Lenovo Center
• What’s it like to stay at the Casso Hotel
• What’s it like to stay at the Stateview Hotel in Raleigh
• What’s it like to stay at the Residence Inn in Downtown Raleigh
• Whats it like to stay at the Sheraton Downtown Raleigh

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide helped you discover some interesting things about Raleigh, NC, and answered some of your questions about living in Raleigh? If you have any more questions, let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget tojoin our free weekly email newsletter as we continue to bring you the best things to do in Raleigh and surrounds!