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

Should you visit Bangor or Ottawa?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangor and Ottawa can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bangor

Bangor is a friendly, laid back, and welcoming town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Bangor travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Bangor and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bangor or Ottawa?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ottawa. Although Bangor and Ottawa are popular destinations, Ottawa has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ottawa is very popular for its museums and attractions, while Bangor attracts visitors for its small town charm. Bangor is famous for its history as a lumber town. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space. It is also well known for Parliament Hill.

How is Bangor different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ottawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Bangor is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Bangor and Ottawa can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Bangor area. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Ottawa. 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 Bangor or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Both Bangor and Ottawa are reasonable when it comes to partying.

Most people don't head to Bangor specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Ottawa. 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 Bangor or Ottawa?

Both Bangor and Ottawa are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Bangor to go shopping. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in 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 Bangor or Ottawa Better for Families?

Both Bangor and Ottawa are nice to visit with kids.

Bangor is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Ottawa is a family-friendly town. 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 Bangor or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Ottawa is a city with good options for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

Ottawa is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Bangor or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a city with good options for backpackers. However, Bangor is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for backpackers. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Bangor is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Budget accommodation is available, but most backpackers don't think the visit here.

Is Bangor or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a city with good options for students. However, Bangor is not popular with students.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Bangor is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Bangor is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Ottawa has a few public transit options. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Is Bangor or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Bangor and Ottawa both are nice when exploring on foot.

Bangor is a somewhat walkable town. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bangor and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ottawa than in Bangor. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Bangor, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Bangor 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 Ottawa.

One day in Bangor or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Bangor. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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 Bangor or Ottawa?

Bangor 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 Bangor or Ottawa?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Bangor. This town 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 Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, 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 Bangor and Ottawa, we can see that Bangor 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 Bangor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangor 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 Bangor Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bangor or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Bangor 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 Bangor 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 Bangor or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Bangor during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Bangor is around the same temperature as Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 69°F (21°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

Bangor usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bangor or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangor and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Bangor in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Bangor is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bangor in October average around 48°F (9°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In October, Bangor usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bangor gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bangor or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bangor as well as Ottawa. Most visitors come to Bangor for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. Bangor can be very cold during winter. In January, Bangor is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Bangor average around 18°F (-8°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Bangor usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Bangor gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bangor or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Bangor are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bangor because of the small town charm.

Bangor is around the same temperature as Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Bangor averages around 43°F (6°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, Bangor usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bangor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Bangor