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

Should you visit Richmond or Ottawa?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Richmond and Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Richmond

Richmond is a friendly, historical, and growing city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Richmond travel costs.

Ottawa

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

Richmond and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Richmond or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Richmond than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Richmond, Richmond has more sights and attractions for tourists. Richmond is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its cultural and historical sights. It is also well known for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Richmond different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Many visitors head to Richmond specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city has a long history which you can learn about at one of the many museums. There's the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, and the Black History Museum. There are also landmarks and historical homes.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Ottawa can be an interesting and educational experience. 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 Richmond or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Richmond and Ottawa both to be nice destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Richmond area. The food scene has been growing around town, and there are food halls and local restaurants that serve diverse and interesting dishes. You'll find Indian, Asian, and European restaurants in addition to local classics.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Ottawa. 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 Richmond or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Richmond 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 Richmond. You'll find diverse bars and clubs around town. Pubs are usually laid back with a relaxed atmosphere. You'll also find live music that includes bluegrass, country, and jazz.

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 Richmond or Ottawa?

Both Richmond and Ottawa are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Richmond to go shopping. You'll find shopping malls and shopping centers around town, but there are also eclectic shopping streets and boutique outlets.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in 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 Richmond or Ottawa Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Richmond or Ottawa.

Richmond is a family-friendly place to visit. The Children's Museum of Richmond offers hands-on exhibits that will keep young ones entertained. Another fun option is the Science Museum of Virginia. The city also has parks and outdoor places to explore as well as playgrounds and kid-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 Richmond or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Both Richmond and Ottawa are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Richmond is a good city for couples to visit. Kayaking or tubing on the James River is a great activity for couples. There are also museums and many restaurants that are perfect for a date night.

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 Richmond or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is very good for backpackers. However, Richmond is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Richmond is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a popular backpacker destination, and most people breeze through town.

Is Richmond or Ottawa Better for Students?

Richmond and Ottawa are both nice destinations for students and younger travelers.

Richmond is a good city to visit for students. There are a couple of colleges and universities in town such as Virginia Commonwealth University.

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

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

Ottawa is very good for its public transit. However, Richmond is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Richmond. There are buses around town, but the availability and reliability is limited.

Is Richmond or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Richmond and Ottawa both are nice when exploring on foot.

Richmond is a somewhat walkable city. There are some walkable neighborhoods such as the Fan and Museum District, but most people prefer to get around by car.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Richmond?

How long in Richmond or Ottawa?

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

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

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

Richmond 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 Richmond or Ottawa?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical destination of Richmond. 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 Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers 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 Richmond and Ottawa, we can see that Richmond 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 Richmond would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Richmond 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 Richmond Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Richmond or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Richmond. When comparing the sizes of Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Richmond during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Richmond for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the family-friendly experiences.

Richmond is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Richmond. In the summer, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Richmond gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Richmond gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Richmond and Ottawa. The autumn months attract visitors to Richmond because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

In the autumn, Richmond is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Richmond in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In Richmond, it's very sunny this time of the year. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Richmond gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Richmond usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Richmond as well as Ottawa. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Richmond this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Ottawa for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ottawa. It's quite cold in Richmond in the winter. In January, Richmond is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Richmond average around 36°F (2°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Richmond often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Richmond gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Richmond usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Richmond or Ottawa in the Spring?

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

Richmond is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Richmond averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Richmond. Richmond usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Richmond gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Richmond usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Richmond gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Richmond