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

Should you visit Belfast or Ottawa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or Ottawa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Belfast

Belfast is a authentic, affordable, and under-rated city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the nightlife and shopping. See Belfast travel costs.

Ottawa

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

Belfast and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Belfast or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Belfast than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Belfast, Belfast has more sights and attractions for tourists. Belfast is better known for its nightlife and big city activities, while Ottawa is more popular for its museums and attractions and food. Belfast is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for being the birthplace of the Titanic and the location of the era of the "Troubles". Also, Belfast is famous for Belfast Castle. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Belfast different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ottawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Belfast does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Belfast is not a good city for its restaurants.

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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Belfast. While many restaurants have moved towards more modern cuisines, there are still places that hold tight to the traditions of the area. Traditional dishes include pasties, full Irish breakfasts, and oysters.

Is Belfast or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Belfast 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 Belfast. The city has a number of bars and clubs with local DJs or musicians.

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 Belfast or Ottawa?

Both Belfast and Ottawa are notable shopping destinations.

Belfast is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping areas in the city are Victoria Square Shopping Centre and CastleCourt.

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 Belfast or Ottawa Better for Families?

Belfast and Ottawa are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Belfast is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has several great kid-friendly museums, a zoo, and a few indoor or outdoor activity centers where you can let kids play and explore.

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 Belfast or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for romance. However, Belfast is not a good city for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of Belfast as a couple's destination. There are gardens and parks to explore, several nice hotels with spas, and an Observatory on the 23rd floor of the Grand Central Hotel.

Is Belfast or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Belfast is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Belfast is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a reasonably affordable destination with a few hostels to choose from, but most backpackers don't make their way to this city.

Is Belfast or Ottawa Better for Students?

Belfast and Ottawa are both notable destinations for students and younger travelers.

Belfast is a good city to visit for students. The city's affordability has made it a popular option for international students headed to the area.

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

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

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Belfast is not a good 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 Belfast. There is a bus service in the city.

Is Belfast or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Belfast and Ottawa both are notable when exploring on foot.

Belfast is somewhat walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Belfast?

How long in Belfast or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Belfast and Ottawa. In our opinion, Ottawa has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Ottawa than Belfast. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Belfast, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

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

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Belfast. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Ottawa, you'll find museums and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Belfast or Ottawa?

Belfast 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.

In Ottawa, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ottawa has to offer.

Five days in Belfast or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Belfast. 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 great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Belfast or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the under-rated destination of Belfast. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ottawa. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Ottawa. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, 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 Belfast and Ottawa, we can see that Belfast is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belfast is in Europe and Ottawa is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Belfast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belfast 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 Belfast Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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 Belfast 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 Belfast or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Belfast during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Belfast in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Belfast is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 15°C (59°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Belfast or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Belfast for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.

Belfast is around the same temperature as Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 9°C (48°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Belfast gets 92 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Belfast or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Belfast as well as Ottawa. The winter months attract visitors to Belfast because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. The weather in Belfast can be very cold. In the winter, Belfast is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Belfast in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Belfast usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Belfast or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Belfast this time of year.

In April, Belfast is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 8°C (46°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Belfast usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Belfast