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

Should you visit Austin or Ottawa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin 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.

Austin

Austin is a unconventional, lively, and entrepreneurial city. With a variety of activities, it's a big city. Austin is beautiful destination to visit. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Austin travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Ottawa travel costs.

Austin and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Austin or Ottawa?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Austin than Ottawa, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Austin is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its live music scene, excellent Texas barbecue, authentic Mexican food, and vibrant student population. Also, Austin is famous for The Texas Capital. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Austin different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Austin and Ottawa have very good landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Austin can be an interesting and educational experience. Austin has a number of great museums and sights including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. There's also a huge supply of local art galleries. Perhaps the most notable landmark in town is the beautiful Texas Capital Building

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 Austin or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Austin is a world-class destination for its restaurants. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, Austin is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It is credited with being the original food truck city and you'll find many diverse food truck options around town. There is also amazing Mexican food, world renowned Texas barbecue, and many modern restaurants that reflect the city's culinary influence.

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 Austin or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Austin is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

People head to Austin just to party. It's nightlife is centered around its thriving live music scene. Head for Sixth Street for some of the most popular bars and clubs. There are also many music festivals and outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months. Popular bars and clubs around town include the White Horse, the Rose Room, and Antone's Nightclub.

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 Austin or Ottawa Better for Music?

Austin is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Ottawa is not a live music destination.

Austin has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Music is what gives this city its character. There are many live music venues, concerts, and music festivals to experience. Austin has influenced many music genres such as rock, blues, jazz, hip hop, punk, and country.

Ottawa is not a live music destination.

Is Austin or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Austin is a decent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Hiking is a fun activity while in Austin. Head just outside of town to explore a few great hiking spots right near town.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Austin or Ottawa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Ottawa and Austin.

Austin is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of local boutiques around town where you can enjoy shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Ottawa. 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 Austin or Ottawa More Beautiful?

Austin is a decent place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Austin is beautiful destination to visit. The city has some nearby natural beauty as well as an eclectic style.

Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Austin or Ottawa Better for Families?

Austin and Ottawa are both notable destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Austin. The city is a popular destination for young travelers, but there are also some family-friendly activities like Barton Springs, Zilker Park, and several natural swimming holes. There's a number of nice parks around town that are great for kids of all ages.

Ottawa offers lots of family activities. 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 Austin or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Austin and Ottawa are both notable to visit as a couple.

Austin is a nice destination for couples. Young couples will enjoy the city for its lively nightlife, fun music scene, and youthful vibe. There are also many outdoor areas where you can hike or explore. The restaurant scene is among the best as well.

Ottawa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Austin or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Austin 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 Austin. Although the city is relatively small, it does see a disproportionate number of backpackers. There are a couple of hostels in town as well.

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 Austin or Ottawa Better for Students?

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

Austin is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a huge university, the University of Texas at Austin, and it is a young city with tons for international students. There is a great nightlife scene and plenty for students to see and do.

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

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

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Austin. There are city buses and a very limited lightrail system, but you really need a car to explore the city.

Is Austin or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its walkability. However, Austin is a city with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

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

Austin is generally not a very walkable city. The city, like most southern cities, isn't very walkable and it's important to have a car to get around. There are some downtown areas that are pedestrian-friendly.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Austin?

How long in Austin or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Austin and Ottawa. In our opinion, Austin has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Austin than Ottawa. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Austin 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 Austin.

One day in Austin or Ottawa?

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

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

A weekend in Austin or Ottawa?

Austin 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.

Ottawa 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.

Five days in Austin or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Austin. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. 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.

A week in Austin or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the lively destination of Austin. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, 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 Austin and Ottawa, we can see that Austin 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 Austin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Austin 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 Austin Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Austin or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Austin. When comparing the sizes of Austin 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 Austin or Ottawa?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Austin or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Austin as well as Ottawa. Many visitors come to Austin in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Austin is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 87°F (30°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Austin this time of the year. In the summer, Austin often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Austin gets 318 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Austin or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Austin are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Austin for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.

Austin is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Austin averages around 73°F (23°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. Austin usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Austin gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Austin usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Austin gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Austin or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Austin during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Austin 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. In the winter, Austin is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Austin in January average around 51°F (11°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Austin often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Austin gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Austin usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Austin gets 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Austin or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Austin and Ottawa. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Austin this time of year.

In April, Austin is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Austin average around 71°F (22°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In Austin, it's very sunny this time of the year. Austin usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Austin gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Austin usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Austin gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Austin