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

Should you visit Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

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

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

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a under-rated, industrial, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Pittsburgh travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Pittsburgh and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Pittsburgh than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Pittsburgh is famous for its many bridges, its steel industry, and being the home of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood". It is also well known for Mount Washington. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Pittsburgh different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of very good museums and attractions in both Ottawa and Pittsburgh.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Pittsburgh can be an interesting and educational experience. The museums range from science and nature focused, like the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, to quirky and artsy, like the Mattress Factory. The Warhol Museum is dedicated to the works of Andy Warhol and it's not to be missed. Also worth a visit is the Heinz History Center, Randyland, and the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Ottawa. 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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Pittsburgh and Ottawa offer a number of nice restaurants to choose from.

Pittsburgh is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city is known for its working class roots, and the food is hearty and filling, which is great for those on a budget. Popular local dishes include pierogis, deli sandwiches, Pittsburgh salads (complete with French fries), and hotcakes.

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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

Pittsburgh has a large number of nightlife venues. There's an active music and dance scene in town. For the best bars and clubs, head to the Strip and South Side and for live entertainment and casinos check out the North Shore.

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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

If you're looking to go shopping, Pittsburgh and Ottawa both offer plenty of nice spots.

Pittsburgh has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find local fashion boutiques and shopping centers in the city's downtown. Other great shopping neighborhoods include Shadyside, Station Square, and Fifth Avenue Place.

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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa Better for Families?

Pittsburgh and Ottawa are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Pittsburgh offers lots of family activities. There's a surprising number of kid-friendly activities packed into this city. Check out the National Aviary or visit the popular Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. There are also kid-focused museums and science centers as well as parks and playgrounds. Also make sure you take the cable car up Duquesne Incline or enjoy a boat ride on one of the rivers as well.

Ottawa is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for couples. However, Pittsburgh is not a good destination for romance.

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.

Pittsburgh is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are a few good date night activities like taking river cruises, enjoying dinner and show, or going to a Pirate's game.

Is Pittsburgh or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

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.

Pittsburgh is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's usually overlooked by backpackers, but there is some cheap accommodation in town.

Is Pittsburgh or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Pittsburgh is not popular with students.

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

Pittsburgh is not popular with students.

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

Pittsburgh and Ottawa both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Pittsburgh offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are bus and lightrail options through the city's downtown. There's also the unique incline, which is an experience worth doing.

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

Is Pittsburgh or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Pittsburgh and Ottawa are nice when it comes to walkability.

Pittsburgh is a somewhat walkable city. Some of the attractions are spread out, but if you're willing to do a bit of walking, it's possible to get around on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Pittsburgh?

How long in Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

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

Couples should spend more time in Ottawa than Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Pittsburgh. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and food around the welcoming city of Ottawa, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

Pittsburgh 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.

With food and shopping around the destination of Ottawa, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pittsburgh. 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, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Pittsburgh. 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

Which is Bigger, Pittsburgh or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Pittsburgh. When comparing the sizes of Pittsburgh 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.