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

Should you visit New York City or Ottawa?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for New York City and Ottawa. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

New York City

New York City is a one-of-a-kind, vibrant, and energetic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music. See New York City travel costs.

Ottawa

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

New York City and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New York City or Ottawa?

You'll generally find more things to do in New York City than Ottawa. New York City is bigger than Ottawa, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. New York City is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. Also, New York City is famous for The Statue of Liberty. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is New York City different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

New York City is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, New York City has many famous sights for visitors. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.

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 New York City or Ottawa Better for Theater?

New York City is a world-class destination for its shows and theatre. However, Ottawa is not a theatre destination.

The theater and performance venues in New York City draw crowds from around the world. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.

Ottawa is not a theatre destination.

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

New York City is a world-class destination for its restaurants. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, New York City is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.

Ottawa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 York City or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

New York City is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

People head to New York City just to party. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.

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 New York City or Ottawa Better for Music?

New York City is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Ottawa is not a live music destination.

New York City has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.

Ottawa is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New York City or Ottawa?

New York City is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to New York City specifically to go shopping. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.

Ottawa is a great destination for shopping. 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 York City or Ottawa More Beautiful?

New York City is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.

Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New York City or Ottawa Better for Families?

New York City is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in New York City. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.

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 New York City or Ottawa Better for Couples?

New York City is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

New York City makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.

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 New York City or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

New York City is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit New York City. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.

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 New York City or Ottawa Better for Students?

New York City 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 New York City. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.

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

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

New York City is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in New York City can get you around easily. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.

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.

Is New York City or Ottawa a more walkable city?

New York City is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in New York City. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or New York City?

How long in New York City or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New York City and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Ottawa. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for New York City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City 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 New York City.

One day in New York City or Ottawa?

New York City is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the friendly destination of Ottawa. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in New York City or Ottawa?

New York City is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in New York City or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New York City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Ottawa. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in New York City or Ottawa?

New York City is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find museums and food around the city of Ottawa. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, 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 York City and Ottawa, we can see that New York City 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 York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 York City Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New York City or Ottawa?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of New York City 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 York City or Ottawa?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit New York City or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and New York City are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New York City is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 77°F (25°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

It's quite rainy in New York City. In July, New York City usually receives more rain than Ottawa. New York City gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New York City or Ottawa in the Autumn?

Both Ottawa and New York City during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.

New York City is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

New York City usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Ottawa. New York City gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New York City or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New York City and Ottawa. Many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Ottawa can be very cold during winter. New York City can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, New York City is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in New York City in January average around 31°F (-1°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In January, New York City usually receives more rain than Ottawa. New York City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New York City or Ottawa in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New York City as well as Ottawa. Most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, New York City is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 52°F (11°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

New York City usually gets more rain in April than Ottawa. New York City gets 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and New York City