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

Should you visit Providence 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 Providence 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.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Providence 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.

Providence and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Providence or Ottawa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Providence than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Providence, Providence has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Providence is very popular for its food and nightlife, while Ottawa attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. It is also well known for WaterFire. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Providence different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ottawa is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

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

Providence has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

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 Providence or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Providence 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 Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

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 Providence or Ottawa?

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

Providence has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

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 Providence or Ottawa Better for Families?

Both Providence and Ottawa are nice family-friendly destinations.

Providence offers lots of family activities. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

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 Providence or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Providence and Ottawa both nice destinations for a couple.

Providence is a good city for couples to visit. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

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 Providence or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Providence is not known for backpackers.

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

Providence is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town for those who want an affordable place to stay.

Is Providence or Ottawa Better for Students?

Providence is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

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

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

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

While Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

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

Is Providence or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Providence is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Providence is a very walkable destination. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Providence?

How long in Providence or Ottawa?

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

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

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

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

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

With museums and food around the friendly 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 Providence or Ottawa?

Providence 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 Providence or Ottawa?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fascinating destination of Providence. 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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping 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 Providence and Ottawa, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence 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 Providence Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Providence or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Providence. When comparing the sizes of Providence 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 Providence 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 Providence or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Providence and Ottawa. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Providence this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ottawa this time of the year. In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. Providence usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during summer. Providence gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Providence usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Providence gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Providence or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Providence as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Providence for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Providence is a little warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Providence in October average around 53°F (12°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In the autumn, Providence often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Providence gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun.

Providence usually gets more rain in October than Ottawa. Providence gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Providence or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Providence are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Providence in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Ottawa can be very cold during winter. Providence can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Providence is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Providence average around 28°F (-2°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Providence usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during winter. Providence gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Providence usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Providence gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Providence or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Providence during the spring are popular places to visit.

Providence is a little warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Providence averages around 48°F (9°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

It's quite sunny in Providence. In the spring, Providence often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Providence gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun.

Providence usually gets more rain in April than Ottawa. Providence gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Providence