A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Niagara Falls vs. Ottawa for Families, Attractions, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

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

Should I visit Niagara Falls 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.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a impressive, iconic, and breathtaking city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping.

Ottawa

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

Niagara Falls and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Niagara Falls than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls has more sights and attractions for tourists. Niagara Falls is more popular for its nightlife, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Ottawa is known for its museums & sights. Niagara Falls is more touristy than Ottawa and is popular for the large volume of water that flows over it. It is also home to the Journey Behind the Falls. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Niagara Falls different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Ottawa is notable for its sights and museums. However, Niagara Falls is a mediocre city 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.

While most people don't head to Niagara Falls specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The Niagara Falls History Museum is one of the best museums in the area. There are also more touristy museums and attractions that you can visit as well. There's also a butterfly conservancy that is worth checking out.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Niagara Falls and Ottawa can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Niagara Falls. It's an iconic Canadian destination so, of course, you should try all things Canadian while you're in town. Maple syrup, poutine, butter tart, and beavertail (fried dough) are all things that should be on your list. Also make sure you sample some of the local game meat.

Ottawa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls. There's a decent concentration of clubs, pubs, and bars around town that keep things fun late into the evening.

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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Hiking?

Niagara Falls is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Niagara Falls. The nearby area is filled with hiking trails that let you escape into nature and enjoy impressive views.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Both Niagara Falls and Ottawa are good shopping destinations.

Niagara Falls offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find touristy souvenir shops as well as outlets and malls nearby.

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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Families?

Niagara Falls is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Niagara Falls is a very family-friendly destination. The views and setting are spectacular, and kids will love the boat tours or taking a ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car. There's also an indoor waterpark, a butterfly conservatory, and plenty of nature to explore.

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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Couples?

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

Niagara Falls makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The setting has long brought to mind romance, and to this day couples still honeymoon at this iconic destination. There are boat tours, nature trails, luxury hotels, and even wineries to explore.

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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Niagara Falls and Ottawa are good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Niagara Falls. There's a hostel or two where you can stay for cheap and meet other travelers.

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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa Better for Students?

Ottawa is a popular place for students. However, Niagara Falls 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.

Niagara Falls is not popular with students.

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

Both Niagara Falls and Ottawa offer good public transit options.

Niagara Falls has a few public transit options. There is a bus system through town.

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

Is Niagara Falls or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Niagara Falls and Ottawa both are good when exploring on foot.

Niagara Falls is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the attractions and close together by the falls, so it's relatively walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Niagara Falls?

How long in Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

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

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

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

One day in Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Niagara Falls. 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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Niagara Falls. 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 Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the iconic destination of Niagara Falls. This city 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 Tours for Seniors to Canada, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

When comparing the travel costs between Niagara Falls and Ottawa, we can see that Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Niagara Falls or Ottawa?

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

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

In the summer, Niagara Falls is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Niagara Falls in July average around 23°C (74°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).

In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Niagara Falls. In the summer, Niagara Falls often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 306 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.

Niagara Falls usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Niagara Falls or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Niagara Falls and Ottawa. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Niagara Falls this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ottawa for the shopping scene.

In October, Niagara Falls is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Niagara Falls average around 12°C (54°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Niagara Falls usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Niagara Falls gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Niagara Falls usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Niagara Falls or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Niagara Falls as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Niagara Falls 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. Be prepared for some very cold days in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Niagara Falls averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In the winter, Niagara Falls often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 89 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.

Niagara Falls usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Niagara Falls or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Niagara Falls are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Niagara Falls in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Niagara Falls is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Niagara Falls in April average around 10°C (49°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Niagara Falls gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Niagara Falls usually receives around the same amount of rain as Ottawa. Niagara Falls gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Niagara Falls