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

Should you visit Ottawa or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Ottawa or Victoria? 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 welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Victoria

Victoria is a cultural, scenic, and relaxing city. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Victoria travel costs.

Ottawa and Victoria: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ottawa or Victoria?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Victoria than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Victoria, Victoria has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Victoria is very popular for its nightlife and hiking, while Ottawa attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Victoria is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its colonial buildings and public parks. It is also well known for Butchart Gardens. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Ottawa different from Victoria?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Ottawa is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Victoria is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Victoria is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several popular museums like the Royal BC Museum and Craigdarroch Castle. Also make sure you check out the Parliament Buildings.

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

Foodies will find both Ottawa and Victoria both to be nice 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.

Victoria offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find tons of fresh seafood around town. Make sure you try to the Dungeness crab, wild caught salmon, and fish chowder.

Is Ottawa or Victoria Better for Nightlife?

Victoria 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 Victoria. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town. Most offer a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy a cold drink in a casual setting.

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 Ottawa or Victoria Better for Hiking?

Victoria is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Victoria is a good destination for hiking. There are many outdoor spaces and parks that offer local hiking trails. This is a great way to experience the scenic beauty of the area.

Ottawa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ottawa or Victoria?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Ottawa and Victoria.

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.

Victoria is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of larger shopping malls as well as local boutiques and farmer's markets.

Is Ottawa or Victoria Better for Families?

Victoria 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 Victoria. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and get the energy out. Walking trails are popular. You can also do the Malahat SkyWalk which offers impressive views. Cadboro-Gyro Park has a playground, zip-line, and picnic areas. Another hightlight for kids is a visit to the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. If the weather isn't cooperating, you can visit the BC Aviation Museum.

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 Victoria Better for Couples?

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

Victoria makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city offers many great activities for couples such as a visit to Hatley Park and Castle. The city is also famous for its many flower gardens which are best visited in spring. Kayaking, hiking, and exploring are also favorite activities for couples.

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 Victoria Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa and Victoria are both nice destinations for backpackers.

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

Victoria is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a few hostels around town that attract the backpacker and budget traveler crowd.

Is Ottawa or Victoria Better for Students?

Ottawa is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Victoria is not popular with students.

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

Victoria is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Victoria is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Victoria. While there are buses, it's best not to count on them because they're not particularly reliable.

Is Ottawa or Victoria a more walkable city?

Victoria 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.

Victoria is a very walkable destination. Many of the sights are close by and easy to walk to.

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 Victoria Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Victoria or Ottawa?

How long in Ottawa or Victoria?

It's fun to spend time in either Ottawa or Victoria. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Victoria due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Ottawa, and 3-4 days is enough time in Victoria.

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

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

One day in Ottawa or Victoria?

The city of Ottawa offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Victoria. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ottawa or Victoria?

Ottawa is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ottawa, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Victoria 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 Victoria?

Ottawa is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

Ottawa is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Victoria. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ottawa and Victoria, we can see that Victoria 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria 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 Victoria Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ottawa or Victoria?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Victoria. When comparing the sizes of Ottawa and Victoria, 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 Victoria?

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 Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Ottawa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Victoria because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Ottawa is a little warmer than Victoria in the summer. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around 21°C (71°F) in July, and Victoria fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In July, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Victoria. Ottawa gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ottawa or Victoria in the Autumn?

Both Victoria and Ottawa during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Victoria this time of year.

In the autumn, Ottawa is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ottawa in October average around 9°C (48°F), and Victoria averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Ottawa usually gets more rain in October than Victoria. Ottawa gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ottawa or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ottawa and Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Victoria for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In January, Ottawa is generally much colder than Victoria. Daily temperatures in Ottawa average around -10°C (14°F), and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Victoria receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Ottawa usually receives less rain than Victoria. Ottawa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ottawa or Victoria in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Ottawa as well as Victoria.

Ottawa is cooler than Victoria in the spring. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around 6°C (44°F) in April, and Victoria fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Ottawa usually gets more rain in April than Victoria. Ottawa gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Victoria and Ottawa