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

Should you visit New Bern or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit New Bern 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.

New Bern

New Bern is a charming, laid back, and quaint town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See New Bern travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Ottawa travel costs.

New Bern and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Ottawa?

Both Ottawa and New Bern have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. New Bern is better known for its small town charm, while Ottawa is more popular for its museums and attractions. New Bern is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is New Bern different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Ottawa?

Ottawa is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Ottawa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Ottawa can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Ottawa has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 New Bern or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in New Bern and Ottawa.

New Bern is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Ottawa doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. 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 New Bern or Ottawa?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Ottawa and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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 New Bern or Ottawa Better for Families?

Ottawa is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or Ottawa Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Ottawa make for a notable place to visit.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

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.

Is New Bern or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a popular place for backpackers. However, New Bern 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.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is New Bern or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a popular place for students. However, New Bern 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.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a popular place for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Ottawa, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Ottawa a more walkable city?

New Bern and Ottawa both are notable when exploring on foot.

New Bern is somewhat walkable. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Ottawa?

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

Families should spend more time in Ottawa than New Bern. 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 New Bern. 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 New Bern 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 New Bern or Ottawa?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The city of Ottawa offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Ottawa?

New Bern 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ottawa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. 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 popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Ottawa?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town 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 great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical 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 New Bern and Ottawa, we can see that New Bern 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 New Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Bern 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 New Bern Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Ottawa?

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

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

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Ottawa in the Autumn?

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

New Bern is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Ottawa. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Bern 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. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Ottawa. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Ottawa. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and New Bern