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

Should you visit Denver or Ottawa?

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

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

Denver

Denver is a park-filled, suburban, and accessible city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the nightlife, hiking, and shopping. See Denver 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.

Denver and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Denver or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Denver than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Denver, Denver has more sights and attractions for tourists. Denver is more popular for its skiing, nightlife, hiking, and big city activities, while Ottawa is known for its museums and attractions and food. Denver is popular for serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the many national parks that are in the area. It is also home to Red Rocks Park. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Denver different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Denver or Ottawa Better for Skiing?

Denver is a popular place for skiing and snowboarding. However, Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

Head to Denver for some great skiing and other winter activities. Although there's no skiing in the immediate area, there is a huge list of world class ski resorts within an hour or two of town. Two of the closest are Echo Mountain Resort and Loveland Ski Area.

Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

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

Ottawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Denver is not a good city for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Ottawa can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

While most people don't head to Denver specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Many people use Denver as a starting or ending point for their mountain and national park trip, but those who linger can visit some of the city's museums and sights. Popular museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the History Colorado Center, and the Forney Museum of Transportation.

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

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Denver is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in 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.

Denver may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. It's a pretty large city, so you'll find some nice local restaurants, but the foodie scene is still emerging in many neighborhoods. A number of restaurants offer outdoor seating, which is nice. You'll also find a growing selection of international restaurants. For something uniquely local, you should try the Bison steak and fried pickles.

Is Denver or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Denver 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 Denver. The city has come a long way with its nightlife. There's a great craft beer scene and the downtown area has really come to life. Popular bars and clubs in town include the Grizzly Rose and 54Thirty Rooftop. Many places are concentrated in the Soco Nightlife District.

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 Denver or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Denver is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Denver is a good destination for hiking. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains. It's not hard to make a day trip from town and enjoy some great hiking. Nice options include the Trading Post Trail in Red Rocks Mountain Park, Bergen Peak near Evergreen, and Chimney Gulch Trail near the town of Golden.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Denver or Ottawa?

Both Denver and Ottawa are good shopping destinations.

Denver offers some nice shopping areas. The city has many outlet malls that budget shoppers appreciate. There are also weekend farmer's markets, boutique shopping areas, and all of the major chains that you'll find in most larger cities.

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 Denver or Ottawa Better for Families?

Denver and Ottawa are both good destinations for the whole family.

Denver is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Popular activities include the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Ottawa is a family-friendly city. 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 Denver or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Denver and Ottawa are both good to visit as a couple.

Denver makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many beautiful and romantic outdoor activities in the area such as parks and botanical gardens. There are also spas, including the impressive Spa at the Brown Palace, as well as upscale restaurants and fun bars and clubs to explore.

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.

Is Denver or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Denver is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Denver is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Some backpackers fly into Denver to begin their national park tour. There is a hostel or two around town, and if you leave town quickly you'll find campgrounds not far away.

Is Denver or Ottawa Better for Students?

Denver and Ottawa are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.

Denver is a good city to visit for students. There are a few students in the city, but there isn't a college town vibe that you'd get at other nearby university areas.

Plenty of students visit Ottawa. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

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

Both Denver and Ottawa offer good public transit options.

Denver has a few public transit options. If you're not planning to leave town, the light rail and bus systems offer good access to much of Denver.

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

Is Denver or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Denver is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

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

Denver is not a very walkable city. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Denver?

How long in Denver or Ottawa?

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

Families should spend more time in Ottawa than Denver. 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.

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

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the destination of Denver. 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 Denver or Ottawa?

Denver 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 Denver or Ottawa?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the sprawling destination of Denver. 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 welcoming 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 Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking 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 Denver and Ottawa, we can see that Denver 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 Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver 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 Denver Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Denver or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Denver. When comparing the sizes of Denver 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.