100+ Things to Do in Durham

There’s no shortage of things to do in Durham. So next time you’re racking your brain for a fun or free adventure, consult this list. We’ve got you covered, Bull City!

Let’s start with the FREE Stuff

1. Take a behind the scenes tour of DPAC

2. Attend a children’s choir performance at Duke Chapel

3. Take a picture with Major the Bull

4. Go on a guided tour at the 21c Museum

5. Check out the championship trophies at Duke Basketball Hall of Fame

6. Do a coffee tasting at Counter Culture

7. Explore with the whole family at Ellerbe Creek Family Explorers Club

8. Take your pup to the Piney Wood dog park

9. Learn more about our city at the Museum of Durham History

10. Take a stroll in Duke Gardens

11. Strike a pose on the stage at Burch Avenue Park

12. Admire some of Durham’s street art

13. Swing in the hammocks at American Tobacco Campus

14. Hike at the Eno River State Park

15. Check out a tuba museum, V & E Simonetti’s Historic Tuba Collection

16. Take everyone to Family Day at Duke Homestead

17. Go on a Funny Girl Farm Tour

18. See where ‘Bull Durham’ was filmed, Historic Durham Athletic Park and cheer on NCCU at a baseball game

19. Explore West Point on the Eno

20. Visit the Historic Parrish Street Forum and learn more about Black Wall Street

21. Volunteer at Durham Central Park

22. Play at one of Durham’s 65+ parks

23. Enjoy some blues music at the Bullpen every Friday and Saturday

24. Tour historic Bennett Place

25. Visit one of the largest plantations in NC, Stagville State Historic Site

26. Go on a Preservation Durham Tour

27. Walk Duke University’s campus

28. Play pinball games for free at Bullpen (Sundays 12-9pm)

29. Ride your bike on American Tobacco Trail

30. Grab a book from a Free Little Library around town

31. Volunteer at Duke Farms

32. Go on a Pony Bike Ride that ends at Ponysaurus Brewing

33. See a comedy show at Fullsteam: Bulltown Comedy Series (3rd Tuesday of every month)

34. Experience the Museum of Life and Science (Check out Durham County Residents Free day)

35. Check out a book from the Durham County Library

Related: FREE Things to Do Outdoors in Durham

     Do Something a Little Different

36. Take a yoga class with goats at Hux Family Farm

37. Get your sweat on at Sync Studio

38. Find some new workout partners at Rèbull Run Club

39. Shop at Brightleaf Square then grab some ice cream at Pine Cone

40. Go Antiquing at Classic Treasures or Once and Again

41. Browse Letters Bookshop

42. Get some fresh veggies at the Durham Farmer’s Market

43. Shop the Durham Rescue Mission Thrift Store

44. Visit Durham’s oldest hardware store, Public Hardware

45. Discover some local businesses on 9th Street

46. Paint a canvas at Bull City Craft (Paint and Pour)

47. Make n Take a craft at Scrap Exchange

48. Get craft supplies for your next project at Freeman’s Creative

49. Take a dance class at Ninth Street Dance

50. Learn how to garden at Durham Garden Center

51. Pick up a new instrument at Bull City Music School

52. Build a terrarium at The Zen Succulent

53. Acquire some new skills with classes at SkillPop

Related: Create & Learn Something New at These 8 Local Spots

54. Take a wine class at Bar Brunello

55. Attend a wine tasting at The Wine Feed

56. Learn something new at Duke Gardens Classroom

57. Take a dance class at American Dance Festival

58. Grub out at the Food Truck Rodeo

59. Buy something unique at the monthly Patchwork Market

60. Discover some amazing art at Third Fridays

61. Listen in on Open Mic Night at Beyu Cafe (Wednesday Nights)

62. Catch a film at Carolina Theatre

63. Attend a performance at DPAC

64. Watch a Durham Bulls Game

65. Attend a show at Pinhook

66. Solve a mystery with friends at an escape room, like Bull City Escape

67. Go to the Nasher Museum (Free on Thursdays!)

68. Roller Skate at Wheels Fun Park

69. Catch a show at Motorco

70. Swap some homemade goods at the Bull City Food Swap

71. Cheer on Duke at a football game

72. Rock out at Moog Fest

73. Test your skills at the High Ropes Discovery Course

74. Catch a film at Full Frame Theater

75. Have afternoon tea at the Washington Duke Inn

76. Dance to some bluegrass at the Blue Note Grill

77. Make some furry friends at the Duke Lemur Center

78. Check out the exhibits at Durham Arts Council

79. Go on a Durham Haunted Adventure Tour

80. Take a ride on the carousel at Northgate Mall

81. Find a bargain at the Durham green flea market

82. Take your kiddos to a class at Piedmont Wildlife Center

Eat & Drink

83. Pick out some fresh fruit at Perkins Orchard

84. Indulge in brunch at Bull Street Gourmet & Market or Finch’s Family Restaurant

 

85. Try some German-Style Bakery Treats at Guglhupf

86. See the sunset a rooftop bar, The Durham Hotel or Unscripted are a good starts

87. Tour the Durham Distillery

88. Spoil your fur baby and grab a beer at Barley Labs

89. Sip cocktails in an alley at Alley Twenty Six

90. Find a little bit of everything at Parker & Otis

91. Try some homemade ice cream at The Parlour

92. Dine at a Durham staple, Foster’s Market

93. Hang by the fire pit at Bull City Ciderworks

94. Eat dinner on a goat farm at Elodie Farms

95. Become an owner at Durham Co-Op Market

96. Snack on some churros & great coffee from Cocoa Cinnamon

97. Treat yourself at Early Bird Donuts

98. Taste some 65+ beers at Pour Taproom

99. Drink some mead at Honeygirl Meadery

100.  Check out the only indoor txotx in the United States at Black Twig Cider

101.  Try the “Best Waffles on Earth” at Big C Waffles

102.  Try a new donut at Monuts

Related: Satisfy your Sweet Tooth with These 10 Spots in Durham

103.  Get yourself some Durham swag at Cotton Creek

104.  Dine outdoors at Parts & Labor

105.  Pick up some local products at Bulldega

106.  Grab a burger at Bull City Burger and take a tour of their brewery

Best of the Bull exists to support and promote the homegrown stuff that keeps Durham unique. We focus on locally owned, small businesses that give a you a one-of-a-kind experience. This is by no means a complete list of everything to do in Durham, we’d love your suggestions to continue to add to this list!