A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salt Lake City vs. Ottawa for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City and Ottawa can help you decide which place is right for you.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Salt Lake City different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

You'll find a number of great museums and attractions in both Ottawa and Salt Lake City.

Many visitors head to Salt Lake City specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Salt Lake City and Ottawa both to be nice destinations.

Salt Lake City is becoming an appealing option for foodies. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

The reasonable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Salt Lake City and Ottawa.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Salt Lake City. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Ottawa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Salt Lake City has a few good snorkeling spots. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Ottawa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Salt Lake City is a good destination for hiking. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Salt Lake City and Ottawa.

Salt Lake City has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Salt Lake City or Ottawa.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly city. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Both Salt Lake City and Ottawa are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Salt Lake City is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for backpackers.

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.

Salt Lake City is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels in town, but most backpackers overlook this destination or breeze through town quickly.

Is Salt Lake City or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

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

Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Salt Lake City and Ottawa.

Salt Lake City has some public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Ottawa is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

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

Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Salt Lake City?

How long in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

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

In Ottawa, you'll find food and shopping. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

Salt Lake City 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 great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Salt Lake City. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the notable destination of Salt Lake City. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the city of Ottawa. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week 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.

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 Salt Lake City and Ottawa, we can see that Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Salt Lake City. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake 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.