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

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Ottawa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a student-oriented, collegiate, and southern town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Chapel Hill travel costs.

Ottawa

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

Chapel Hill and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Chapel Hill. Although Chapel Hill and Ottawa are popular destinations, Chapel Hill has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chapel Hill is famous for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States. It is also well known for the University of North Carolina. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Chapel Hill different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Chapel Hill or Ottawa.

Chapel Hill offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the museums are affiliated with UNC. A highlight of many trips is a visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Hours can vary, so check the schedule ahead of time. Also worth visiting are the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum.

Many visitors head to Ottawa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Chapel Hill and Ottawa offer nice local cuisine and restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chapel Hill area. Students often eat on Franklin Street, which has a diverse mix of casual and slightly nicer restaurants. You'll find Indian food, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek. The city also has excellent barbecue and other southern favorites.

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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

Chapel Hill has a large number of nightlife venues. Most of the nightlife is centered around the student population. Franklin Street has a number of bars where students hang out. There are also parties hosted by fraternities and sororities. Things are quieter during the summer months when students are mostly gone.

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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Ottawa and Chapel Hill.

Many visitors go to Chapel Hill to go shopping. There are a mix of local shops, larger shopping centers, and suburban malls. There are also weekly farmer's markets that are fun to check out.

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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chapel Hill or Ottawa.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Chapel Hill. You can wander around the UNC campus or visit one of the museums affiliated with the school. This includes a planetarium that has regular shows and movies (The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). There are also science exhibits geared specifically towards kids.

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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chapel Hill and Ottawa make for a nice place to visit.

Chapel Hill is a good town for couples to visit. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants on Franklin Street. Couples will also enjoy exploring the campus at UNC, visiting the botanical garden, or checking out one of the town's museums.

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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a popular place for backpackers. However, Chapel Hill is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Chapel Hill is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a young population thanks to the university, but there's little else to attract backpackers.

Is Chapel Hill or Ottawa Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Many students frequent Chapel Hill. It's a quintessential college town. UNC has a nice campus and Franklin Street is the main spot for restaurants and shopping. Most of the students live near or on campus, but once you head further out things get more suburban.

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

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Chapel Hill and Ottawa.

You'll find some public transit in Chapel Hill, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

While Ottawa offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Chapel Hill or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill and Ottawa both are nice when exploring on foot.

Chapel Hill is a somewhat walkable town. The area around UNC is the most walkable part of town. Elsewhere things are very suburban and you'll need a car.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Chapel Hill?

How long in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Chapel Hill and Ottawa. In our opinion, Chapel Hill has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Chapel Hill than Ottawa. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Chapel Hill, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

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

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cultural city of Ottawa. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

Chapel Hill 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Ottawa. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

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

The friendly city of Ottawa offers museums and food. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

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

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Ottawa. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle 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 Chapel Hill and Ottawa, we can see that Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Chapel Hill. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as Ottawa. The summer months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

Chapel Hill is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, 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 Chapel Hill this time of the year. In the summer, Chapel Hill often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Ottawa for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Chapel Hill is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chapel Hill in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Chapel Hill gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chapel Hill usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Chapel Hill during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Chapel Hill. In January, Chapel Hill is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 40°F (5°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Chapel Hill often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and Ottawa.

Chapel Hill is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Chapel Hill gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chapel Hill usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Chapel Hill