A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Barbara vs. Ottawa for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Ottawa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Ottawa

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

Santa Barbara and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Barbara than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Santa Barbara different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

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

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Many visitors head to Ottawa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Santa Barbara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Ottawa is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Ottawa is not a resort destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Ottawa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Ottawa is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for the beach. However, Ottawa is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Ottawa is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Ottawa does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara has an old town worth visiting. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Ottawa does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

People visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Santa Barbara specifically to go shopping. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local 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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Barbara is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Santa Barbara. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Santa Barbara makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a popular place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa Better for Students?

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

Santa Barbara is a very popular coastal town for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

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

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

Both Santa Barbara and Ottawa offer nice public transit options.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

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

Is Santa Barbara or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara 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.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Ottawa 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the welcoming destination of Ottawa. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

Santa Barbara 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the friendly destination of Ottawa. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the stunning destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and food around the city of Ottawa. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Santa Barbara during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

Santa Barbara is cooler than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 65°F (19°C) in July, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Santa Barbara gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Barbara and Ottawa. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Ottawa for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Santa Barbara is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Barbara in October average around 62°F (17°C), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In October, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Barbara gets 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Barbara as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Ottawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Santa Barbara is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Santa Barbara average around 52°F (11°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

Santa Barbara usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Santa Barbara gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Santa Barbara are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Santa Barbara is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 57°F (14°C) in April, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Barbara gets 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Santa Barbara