A Travel Price Comparison for Canada Ottawa vs. Saskatoon for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Ottawa or Saskatoon?

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

Should I visit Ottawa or Saskatoon? 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.

Ottawa

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

Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a authentic, cultural, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Saskatoon travel costs.

Ottawa and Saskatoon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ottawa or Saskatoon?

Both Saskatoon and Ottawa have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Ottawa is more popular for its museums and attractions, while Saskatoon is known for its nightlife. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space. Saskatoon is popular for its agriculture and outdoor spaces.

How is Ottawa different from Saskatoon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Ottawa is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saskatoon is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Ottawa. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saskatoon. There are some museums and historical sites to check out such as Fort Battleford National Historic Site, Batoche National Historic Site, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre.

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

Foodies will find both Ottawa and Saskatoon both to be good destinations.

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.

Saskatoon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There's a great food scene around town with diverse restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can sample dim sum, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, and many more.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon Better for Nightlife?

Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon. There are enough clubs and bars around town to keep things entertaining. Most cater to a younger crowd, but the vibe is fun and full of energy.

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 Ottawa or Saskatoon?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Ottawa and Saskatoon.

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.

Saskatoon is a great destination for shopping. A number of brands have opened stores in the downtown area in recent years, so the shopping scene continues to grow and diversify.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ottawa or Saskatoon.

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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Saskatoon. It's filled with indoor and outdoor play areas. Make sure you check out the Nutrien Wonderhub as well as the countless playgrounds around town.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ottawa and Saskatoon make for a good place to visit.

Ottawa is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Saskatoon is a nice destination for couples. There are plenty of evening activities like dining out at a nice restaurant or taking in a show at the Persephone Theatre.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a good destination for backpackers. However, Saskatoon is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Saskatoon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this town in favor of more popular destinations.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon Better for Students?

Ottawa is a good destination for students. However, Saskatoon 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.

Saskatoon is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a good destination for its public transit. However, Saskatoon 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 Saskatoon. There is a bus system around town.

Is Ottawa or Saskatoon a more walkable city?

Ottawa and Saskatoon are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Saskatoon is somewhat walkable. The downtown is walkable and easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Saskatoon or Ottawa?

How long in Ottawa or Saskatoon?

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

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

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

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ottawa. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Ottawa or Saskatoon?

You'll find museums and food around the welcoming destination of Ottawa. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Saskatoon 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.

Five days in Ottawa or Saskatoon?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Ottawa. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saskatoon. 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.

A week in Ottawa or Saskatoon?

Ottawa is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Ottawa or Saskatoon?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Saskatoon. When comparing the sizes of Ottawa and Saskatoon, 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.