A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arlington vs. Ottawa for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Arlington or Ottawa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Ottawa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Arlington

Arlington is a educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Arlington travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Arlington and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Ottawa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Arlington than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Arlington, Arlington has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Arlington is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. It is also well known for Arlington National Cemetery. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Arlington different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ottawa and Arlington. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arlington or Ottawa?

You'll find a number of very good museums and attractions in both Ottawa and Arlington.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Arlington can be an interesting and educational experience. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Ottawa. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.

Is the Food Better in Arlington or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

Ottawa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Arlington is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Arlington has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

Ottawa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Ottawa?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Arlington and Ottawa.

Arlington has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Ottawa is a great destination for shopping. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Families?

Arlington and Ottawa are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Arlington is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Ottawa. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Arlington and Ottawa are both nice to visit as a couple.

Arlington is a good city for couples to visit. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Ottawa is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Ottawa is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Students?

Arlington is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Ottawa is popular with students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Is Arlington or Ottawa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Arlington can get you around easily. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

You'll find some public transit in Ottawa, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Arlington or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Arlington is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Arlington is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

Ottawa is somewhat walkable. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Ottawa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Arlington and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Arlington than in Ottawa. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Arlington, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

Families should spend more time in Arlington than Ottawa. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Arlington, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Arlington than Ottawa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Arlington that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Ottawa if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Arlington.

One day in Arlington or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arlington. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ottawa. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Arlington or Ottawa?

Arlington is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and food around the cultural destination of Ottawa. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Arlington or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arlington. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the friendly city of Ottawa. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Arlington or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the educational destination of Arlington. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Ottawa is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arlington and Ottawa, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arlington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arlington than you might in Ottawa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arlington Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Arlington. When comparing the sizes of Arlington and Ottawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Arlington or Ottawa?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Arlington or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Arlington are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Arlington in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Arlington is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Arlington averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

It's quite sunny in Ottawa. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arlington. Arlington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa during summer. Arlington gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Arlington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Arlington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Arlington or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Arlington during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Arlington for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Arlington is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arlington in October average around 60°F (15°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the autumn, Arlington often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Arlington gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Ottawa. Arlington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arlington or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Arlington and Ottawa. The winter months attract visitors to Arlington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. The weather in Arlington can be very cold. In January, Arlington is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Arlington average around 35°F (1°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Arlington usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during winter. Arlington gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Arlington usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Arlington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Arlington or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Arlington as well as Ottawa.

Arlington is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Arlington averages around 56°F (14°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arlington this time of the year. In the spring, Arlington often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Arlington gets 228 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets more rain in April than Ottawa. Arlington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Arlington