A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Cruz vs. Ottawa for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz 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 Cruz

Santa Cruz is a laid back, coastal, and scenic town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Ottawa travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Cruz than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Cruz is better known for its nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Ottawa is more popular for its museums and attractions. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. Also, Santa Cruz is famous for Santa Cruz Wharf. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Santa Cruz different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ottawa is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Ottawa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Santa Cruz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

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

Both Santa Cruz and Ottawa offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Ottawa has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Cruz or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

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 Cruz or Ottawa Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for the beach. However, Ottawa is not a beach destination.

Santa Cruz is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Ottawa is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz is a good destination for hiking. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Both Santa Cruz and Ottawa are notable shopping destinations.

Santa Cruz is a great destination for shopping. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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 Santa Cruz or Ottawa Better for Families?

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

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 Cruz or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for couples. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic 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 Santa Cruz or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Santa Cruz and Ottawa are notable destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

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.

Is Santa Cruz or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a popular place for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Cruz is a mediocre town 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 Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Santa Cruz or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz.

One day in Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Santa Cruz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

With museums and food around the cultural 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 Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal destination of Santa Cruz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Ottawa, we can see that Santa Cruz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 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 Cruz or Ottawa in the Summer?

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

In July, Santa Cruz is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 67°F (19°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

Santa Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Santa Cruz gets 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Cruz and Ottawa. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Cruz this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ottawa for the shopping scene.

Santa Cruz is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Cruz averages around 63°F (17°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In October, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Cruz gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santa Cruz as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, 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 the winter, Santa Cruz is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Cruz in January average around 51°F (10°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

Santa Cruz usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Santa Cruz gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Santa Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Santa Cruz is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Santa Cruz average around 58°F (14°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, Santa Cruz usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Santa Cruz gets 1 inches (26 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Santa Cruz