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

Should you visit Ottawa or Winnipeg?

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

Should I visit Ottawa or Winnipeg? 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. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Ottawa travel costs.

Winnipeg

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

Ottawa and Winnipeg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ottawa or Winnipeg?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Winnipeg than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Winnipeg, Winnipeg has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Ottawa is popular for its history, politics, and green space. Winnipeg is popular for its festivals, culture, and railway connections. It is also home to The Forks.

How is Ottawa different from Winnipeg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Winnipeg and Ottawa.

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.

Many visitors head to Winnipeg specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are some unique museums around town including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Other popular museums are the Manitoba Museum and the Manitoba Children's Museum.

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

Foodies will find both Ottawa and Winnipeg 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.

Winnipeg offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a wide variety of restaurants around town that serve a mix of local dishes and international cuisines. A must-see part of the city is the historic Forks Market.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg Better for Nightlife?

Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg. The city has an active nightlife, even during the winter months. You'll find dance clubs, bars, and pubs around town that are popular with locals and visitors alike.

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 Winnipeg?

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

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.

Winnipeg is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town, from boutiques to big box shops and even some outlets.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ottawa or Winnipeg.

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 Winnipeg. Kids will love a visit to the Assiniboine Park Zoo or the Manitoba Children's Museum. There are a number of parks and playgrounds around town as well as the Prairie Dog Central Railway. There are many kid-friendly restaurants in the city as well.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ottawa and Winnipeg 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.

Winnipeg is a nice destination for couples. Many couples enjoy wandering through Assiniboine Park. There are also many romantic restaurants and spas for couples.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa and Winnipeg are both good 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.

Winnipeg is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While it's often overlooked by backpackers, there are a couple of hostels around town.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg Better for Students?

Ottawa is a city with good options for its student-friendly activities. However, Winnipeg is not popular with students.

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

Winnipeg is not popular with students.

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

Ottawa is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Winnipeg is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Ottawa offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Public transit is generally limited in Winnipeg. There's a bus system around town, but many visitors prefer to have a vehicle.

Is Ottawa or Winnipeg a more walkable city?

Ottawa is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Winnipeg is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

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

Winnipeg is generally not very walkable. While there are a few walkable neighborhoods, the city itself is not particularly walkable, particularly during the cold winter months.

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

Should I spend more time in Winnipeg or Ottawa?

How long in Ottawa or Winnipeg?

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

Families should spend more time in Ottawa than Winnipeg. 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 Winnipeg. 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 Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg?

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 Winnipeg. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ottawa or Winnipeg?

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.

Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg?

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 Winnipeg. 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 Winnipeg?

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 friendly destination of Winnipeg. 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 Winnipeg, we can see that Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Winnipeg 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 Winnipeg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ottawa or Winnipeg?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Winnipeg. When comparing the sizes of Ottawa and Winnipeg, 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 Winnipeg?

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 Winnipeg in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ottawa and Winnipeg. Many visitors come to Ottawa in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Winnipeg for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Ottawa is generally around the same temperature as Winnipeg. Daily temperatures in Ottawa average around 21°C (71°F), and Winnipeg fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Winnipeg this time of the year. In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ottawa usually receives less sunshine than Winnipeg during summer. Ottawa gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Winnipeg receives 328 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ottawa or Winnipeg in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Ottawa as well as Winnipeg. Most visitors come to Ottawa for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Winnipeg because of the shopping scene.

Ottawa is a little warmer than Winnipeg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ottawa averages around 9°C (48°F) in October, and Winnipeg fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the autumn, Ottawa often gets less sunshine than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 116 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winnipeg receives 147 hours of full sun.

Ottawa usually gets more rain in October than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ottawa or Winnipeg in the Winter?

Both Winnipeg and Ottawa are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. 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 Winnipeg this time of year.

It's quite cold in Winnipeg in the winter. The weather in Ottawa can be very cold. In the winter, Ottawa is much warmer than Winnipeg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ottawa in January average around -10°C (14°F), and Winnipeg averages at about -17°C (2°F).

Ottawa usually receives less sunshine than Winnipeg during winter. Ottawa gets 93 hours of sunny skies, while Winnipeg receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Ottawa usually receives more rain than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ottawa or Winnipeg in the Spring?

Both Winnipeg and Ottawa during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Ottawa is generally a little warmer than Winnipeg. Daily temperatures in Ottawa average around 6°C (44°F), and Winnipeg fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In Winnipeg, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Ottawa often gets less sunshine than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Winnipeg receives 248 hours of full sun.

Ottawa usually gets more rain in April than Winnipeg. Ottawa gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Winnipeg receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Winnipeg and Ottawa