A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Banff vs. Ottawa for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Banff or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Banff 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.

Banff

Banff is a outdoorsy, sporty, and adventurous town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Banff travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a friendly, welcoming, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food. See Ottawa travel costs.

Banff and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Banff or Ottawa?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Banff. Although Banff and Ottawa are both popular with visitors, Banff has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Banff is more popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Ottawa is known for its museums and attractions. Banff is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also home to Lake Louise. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Banff different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Banff or Ottawa Better for Skiing?

Banff is a world-class destination for skiing and snowboarding. However, Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

If you're an avid snow skiier, Banff should be on your list. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

Ottawa is not a skiing destination.

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

Ottawa is notable for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Banff has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

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 Banff or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

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

Banff has a large number of nightlife venues. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

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 Banff or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

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

People visit Banff specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Banff or Ottawa?

Both Banff and Ottawa are good shopping destinations.

Banff offers some nice shopping areas. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Ottawa has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Banff or Ottawa More Beautiful?

Banff is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Banff attracts visitors from all around. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

Ottawa is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Banff or Ottawa Better for Families?

Banff 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 Banff. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

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 Banff or Ottawa Better for Couples?

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

Banff makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and 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 Banff or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to 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.

Is Banff or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a popular place for students. However, Banff 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.

Banff is not popular with students.

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

Both Banff and Ottawa offer good public transit options.

Banff has a few public transit options. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

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

Is Banff or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Banff 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.

Banff is a very walkable destination. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Banff?

How long in Banff or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Banff and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than in Ottawa. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Banff, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Banff 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 Banff.

One day in Banff or Ottawa?

Banff might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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.

In Ottawa, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this friendly destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Banff or Ottawa?

Banff 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. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Banff or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Banff. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Ottawa is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Ottawa. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Banff or Ottawa?

Banff is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This 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 food and shopping around the friendly destination of Ottawa. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, The Best Camping Tours in Canada, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banff and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa than you might in Banff.

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

Which is Bigger, Banff or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Banff 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.