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

Should you visit Cincinnati or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Cincinnati 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.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is a authentic, hard-working, and blue collar city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Cincinnati travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Ottawa travel costs.

Cincinnati and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Cincinnati than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Cincinnati, Cincinnati has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cincinnati is popular for its breweries and down-to-earth personality. It is also home to the Cincinnati Zoo. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Cincinnati different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Cincinnati and Ottawa.

Cincinnati offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find both traditional and quirky museums around town. For outside-the-box, check out the American Sign Museum or the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Art museums include the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Taft Museum of Art. Other popular museums include the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

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 Cincinnati or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Cincinnati and Ottawa both to be good destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Cincinnati. Mixed in with the standard chain and fast food options, you'll find some local restaurants that serve up the iconic Midwestern favorites. For a taste of the town, try Cincinnati chili, barbecue ribs, and a corned beef Reuben.

Ottawa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Cincinnati or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cincinnati. The nightlife scene is diverse and includes music venues, breweries, and nightclubs. In addition to the city's downtown, you'll find trendy places to hang out in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Breweries are popular in the city, in part because of its German roots.

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 Cincinnati or Ottawa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Ottawa and Cincinnati.

Cincinnati offers some nice shopping areas. There are large shopping malls and retail outlets. You'll also find local boutiques in the Montgomery or Mariemont areas.

Ottawa has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Cincinnati or Ottawa Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Cincinnati or Ottawa.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cincinnati. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities around town like the Cincinnati Zoo, the Cincinnati Museum Center, Newport Aquarium, and Smale Riverfront Park.

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 Cincinnati or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Ottawa is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Cincinnati is not particularly known for couples.

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.

Cincinnati is not always the best place to visit for a couple. If you do find yourself in town for a few days, there are several good restaurants and a number of music venues that can keep the visit fun and entertaining.

Is Cincinnati or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cincinnati and Ottawa are good places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Cincinnati. There are actually a couple of hostels in town for backpackers or students.

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 Cincinnati or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a popular place for students. However, Cincinnati is not popular with students.

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

Cincinnati is not popular with students.

Is Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati and Ottawa.

You'll find some public transit in Cincinnati, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are two bus systems around town - the METRO and TANK bus systems. There's also a streetcar that travels through the downtown.

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 Cincinnati or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Cincinnati 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.

Cincinnati is a very walkable destination. There are several surprisingly walkable areas, particularly downtown and the nearby neighborhoods.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Cincinnati?

How long in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Ottawa than Cincinnati. 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.

One day in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

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

With museums and food around the welcoming city of Ottawa, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

Cincinnati 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.

With food and shopping around the destination of Ottawa, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

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

Ottawa, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Cincinnati or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the hard-working destination of Cincinnati. 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 place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to 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 Cincinnati and Ottawa, we can see that Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cincinnati or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cincinnati. When comparing the sizes of Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati or Ottawa in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Cincinnati is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cincinnati in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Ottawa averages at about 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 Cincinnati this time of the year. In the summer, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Cincinnati gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Cincinnati usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Cincinnati gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Ottawa in the Autumn?

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

In October, Cincinnati is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Cincinnati average around 58°F (15°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Cincinnati gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cincinnati usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Cincinnati during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati. Cincinnati is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Cincinnati averages around 31°F (-0°C) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Cincinnati often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Cincinnati gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Cincinnati usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Cincinnati gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cincinnati or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cincinnati and Ottawa.

In the spring, Cincinnati is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cincinnati in April average around 56°F (14°C), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).

In Cincinnati, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cincinnati usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Cincinnati gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cincinnati usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati