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

Should you visit Ottawa or Toronto?

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

Should I visit Ottawa or Toronto? 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 cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant, cultural, and diverse city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Ottawa and Toronto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ottawa or Toronto?

You'll generally find more things to do in Toronto than Ottawa. Toronto is bigger than Ottawa, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Toronto is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its art and culture, diverse cuisine, and multi-cultural population. Also, Toronto is famous for the CN Tower. Ottawa is well known for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Ottawa different from Toronto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Toronto 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 Toronto?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Toronto has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with landmarks and museums such as the CN Tower and the Royal Ontario Museum. Ripley's Aquarium is a highlight for many visitors. It's near the CN Tower and has an underwater tunnel. The city is also filled with art galleries and cultural sights. Another must is a visit to Casa Loma and, of course, the Toronto Zoo.

Many visitors head to Ottawa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

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

Toronto has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The food scene is as diverse as the city itself. You'll find classic Canadian favorites like peameal bacon sandwiches and beavertails, as well as almost any international cuisine you could want. Make sure you try the dim sum, roti, and street hot dogs.

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 Ottawa or Toronto Better for Nightlife?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

People head to Toronto just to party. It's a diverse nightlife scene, with upscale lounges, dive bars, live music, and high energy nightclubs. Popular areas for nightlife include King Street, the Ossington Strip, College Street, and Kensington Market.

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 Toronto?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Toronto specifically to go shopping. Shopping is huge here, with plenty of options available that range from large malls to vintage stores or flea markets. Eaton Center on Yonge Street is a major shopping area. Yonge Street is also home to more than 600 retail stores.

Ottawa is a great destination for shopping. 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 Ottawa or Toronto Better for Families?

Toronto 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 Toronto. Kids will enjoy the city's many family-friendly museums like the Royal Ontario Museum or the Ontario Science Center. Younger kids will have fun playing at the Centreville Theme Park while all ages will love a day at Canada's Wonderland. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a highlight for many families as well.

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 Ottawa or Toronto Better for Couples?

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

Toronto makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This city is full of energy, and couples can enjoy amazing meals, impressive shows, and romantic outings. You can picnic at a park or check out the view from CN Tower. There are also dinner cruises and live theater.

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 Ottawa or Toronto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Toronto 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 Toronto. There are a number of hostels around town and there's often a good crowd of 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 Ottawa or Toronto Better for Students?

Toronto is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Many students frequent Toronto. The city has a good number of universities that attract students from around the globe. This is a very livable city with a lot of diversity and plenty of entertainment options.

Ottawa is popular with students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

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

Toronto is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Toronto can get you around easily. Union Station is the hub of the city's transportation system, which includes subways, buses and streetcars.

You'll find some public transit in Ottawa, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Ottawa or Toronto a more walkable city?

Toronto 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.

Toronto is a very walkable destination. It's a pedestrian-friendly city that is great for exploring on foot. The waterfront area has a walkway and there are cycling trails around town as well.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Toronto or Ottawa?

How long in Ottawa or Toronto?

Both Ottawa and Toronto have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Toronto than in Ottawa. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ottawa, and 3-7 days is enough time in Toronto.

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

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

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

One day in Ottawa or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ottawa or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Ottawa or Toronto?

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.

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

A week in Ottawa or Toronto?

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.

Toronto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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 Ottawa and Toronto, we can see that Toronto is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Toronto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Toronto 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 Ottawa Expensive? and Is Toronto Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ottawa or Toronto?

Toronto has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Ottawa and Toronto, 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 Ottawa or Toronto?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Ottawa or Toronto in the Summer?

Both Toronto and Ottawa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Ottawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Toronto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Ottawa is around the same temperature as Toronto. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ottawa in July average around 21°C (71°F), and Toronto averages at about 21°C (70°F).

It's quite sunny in Toronto. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. Ottawa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto during summer. Ottawa gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 281 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Toronto. Ottawa gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ottawa or Toronto in the Autumn?

Both Toronto and Ottawa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Ottawa for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Toronto because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Ottawa is generally cooler than Toronto. Daily temperatures in Ottawa average around 9°C (48°F), and Toronto fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Ottawa often gets less sunshine than Toronto. Ottawa gets 116 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 153 hours of full sun.

Ottawa usually gets more rain in October than Toronto. Ottawa gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ottawa or Toronto in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ottawa and Toronto. The winter months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Toronto this time of year.

It's quite cold in Toronto in the winter. The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. Ottawa is much colder than Toronto in the winter. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around -10°C (14°F) in January, and Toronto fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

Ottawa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto during winter. Ottawa gets 93 hours of sunny skies, while Toronto receives 87 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Ottawa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Toronto. Ottawa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ottawa or Toronto in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Ottawa as well as Toronto. Also, many travelers come to Toronto for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Ottawa is around the same temperature as Toronto. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ottawa in April average around 6°C (44°F), and Toronto averages at about 7°C (44°F).

In the spring, Ottawa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Toronto. Ottawa gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Toronto receives 179 hours of full sun.

Ottawa usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Toronto. Ottawa gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Toronto receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Toronto and Ottawa