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

Should you visit El Paso or Ottawa?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between El Paso and Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.

El Paso

El Paso is a undiscovered, laid-back, and low-key city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See El Paso travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Ottawa travel costs.

El Paso and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in El Paso or Ottawa?

Both Ottawa and El Paso have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. El Paso is better known for its nightlife, while Ottawa is more popular for its museums and attractions. El Paso is well known for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is El Paso different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in El Paso or Ottawa?

Ottawa is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both El Paso and Ottawa can be an enjoyable experience.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

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.

Is El Paso or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

El Paso 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 El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

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 El Paso or Ottawa?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both El Paso and Ottawa.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Ottawa offers some nice shopping areas. 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 El Paso or Ottawa Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either El Paso or Ottawa.

El Paso is a family-friendly city. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Ottawa. 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 El Paso or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Ottawa is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is El Paso or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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.

El Paso is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's little in the area that appeals to backpackers.

Is El Paso or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, El Paso is not popular with students.

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

El Paso is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is El Paso or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Ottawa is very good for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or El Paso?

How long in El Paso or Ottawa?

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

Families should spend more time in Ottawa than El Paso. 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 El Paso. 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 El Paso 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 El Paso or Ottawa?

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

In Ottawa, you'll find museums and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in El Paso or Ottawa?

El Paso 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.

In Ottawa, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ottawa has to offer.

Five days in El Paso or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in El Paso. 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 is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in El Paso or Ottawa?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Ottawa. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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

Which is Bigger, El Paso or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of El Paso. When comparing the sizes of El Paso 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.