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

Should you visit Pasadena 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 Pasadena 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.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Pasadena travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Pasadena and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pasadena or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Pasadena than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Pasadena, Pasadena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl. It is also well known for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Pasadena different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Pasadena or Ottawa.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Pasadena. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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.

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

Pasadena is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

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 Pasadena or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

Pasadena has a large number of nightlife venues. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

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 Pasadena or Ottawa?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

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 Pasadena or Ottawa Better for Families?

Both Pasadena and Ottawa are nice family-friendly destinations.

Pasadena is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

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 Pasadena or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Pasadena and Ottawa both nice destinations for a couple.

Pasadena is a good city for couples to visit. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

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 Pasadena or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a good destination for backpackers. However, Pasadena is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Pasadena is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the list for most backpackers.

Is Pasadena or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a good destination for students. However, Pasadena is not popular with students.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Pasadena is not popular with students.

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

Both Pasadena and Ottawa offer nice public transit options.

Pasadena has a few public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

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

Is Pasadena or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Pasadena and Ottawa both are nice when exploring on foot.

Pasadena is a somewhat walkable city. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Pasadena?

How long in Pasadena or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Pasadena and Ottawa. In our opinion, Pasadena has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Pasadena than Ottawa. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Pasadena, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Pasadena. 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 Pasadena or Ottawa?

Pasadena 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 Pasadena or Ottawa?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Pasadena. 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 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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week 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 Pasadena and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Pasadena.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pasadena Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Pasadena or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Pasadena 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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Pasadena during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences.

Pasadena is around the same temperature as Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

Pasadena usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Pasadena gets 0 inches (0 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pasadena or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pasadena and Ottawa. Many travelers come to Pasadena for the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Pasadena is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pasadena in October average around 68°F (20°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In October, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Pasadena gets 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pasadena or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pasadena as well as Ottawa. Many visitors come to Pasadena in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Ottawa can be very cold during winter. In January, Pasadena is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Pasadena average around 56°F (13°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Pasadena usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Pasadena gets 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pasadena or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Pasadena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Pasadena is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Pasadena averages around 62°F (17°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, Pasadena usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Pasadena gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Pasadena