Travel Guide of Ottawa in Canada by Influencers and Travelers

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of southern Ontario.

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The Best Things to Do and Visit in Ottawa

TRAVELERS TOP 10 :

1 - Gatineau

   6 km away

Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province after Montreal, Quebec City, and Laval.

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2 - Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal, also known unofficially as the Rideau Waterway, connects Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. It is 202 kilometres in length.

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3 - Boat Tours in Ottawa

Spend two hours aboard a luxury yacht to discover the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau from the Ottawa River! From the Jacques-Cartier Marina, near the Lady Aberdeen Bridge in Gatineau, you will have the pleasure of taking a boat tour on the Ottawa Rive...

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4 - Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History is Canada's national museum of human history. It is located in the Hull area of Gatineau, Quebec, directly across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.

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5 - Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill, colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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6 - Tours & Sightseeing | Gray Line Ottawa Meeting Point

Is it a bus? Is it a boat? No! it's somehow... both! Amphibus is the most unique way to see the stunning scenery of Ottawa, by land and on the water. Unlike most buses, Amphibus can transform into a smooth-sailing watercraft at a moment's notice. Hop aboard and see the beautiful region of Ottawa-Gatineau on a unique historical adventure in the great outdoors. A friendly, knowledgeable guide will give you the backstory of over 75 important sites dotting in this picturesque area, with full narration and humorous anecdotes connecting you to the scenery during this one-hour tour.

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7 - Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica

The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada located on 385 Sussex Drive in the Lower Town neighbourhood. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.

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8 - Jacques-Cartier Park

Jacques-Cartier Park is a park in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, along the Ottawa River. It is at the base of the Alexandra Bridge, facing the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

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9 - Unusual Activities in Ottawa-Gatineau

Get ready for a unique and exciting experience with Lady Dive Ottawa's amphibious tour of Ottawa! This combined adventure will allow you to explore the city's main attractions both on land and on water, offering a totally new perspective of Canada's ...

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10 - Bytown Museum

The Bytown Museum is a museum in Ottawa located on the lower locks of the Rideau Canal at the Ottawa River, just below Parliament Hill.

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11 - Britannia Beach

   10 km away

Britannia Beach is a small unincorporated community in the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District located approximately 55 kilometres north of Vancouver, British Columbia on the Sea-to-Sky Highway on Howe Sound. It has a population of about 300.

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12 - Helicopter tours in Ottawa

   6 km away

Discover the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau from the air during a panoramic helicopter flight on the border between the provinces of Quebec and Ontario! Héli-Tremblant offers you the opportunity to admire the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau from ...

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13 - Rideau Canal National Historic Site

The Rideau Canal, also known unofficially as the Rideau Waterway, connects Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario. It is 202 kilometres long.

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14 - 615 Ottawa 32

   9 km away

Montreal is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city.

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15 - Zip-Lining in Ottawa

Cross the Ottawa River in a unique way with the world's first interprovincial zip line linking Ontario and Quebec! Approximately 36 meters (120 feet) high and almost 400 meters (1,300 feet) long, this zip line crossing the Ottawa River will offer you...

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16 - Aylmer

   12 km away

Aylmer is a town in Elgin County in southern Ontario, Canada, just north of Lake Erie, on Catfish Creek. It is 20 kilometres south of Highway 401. The mayor is Mary French. Aylmer is surrounded by Malahide Township.

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17 - Mer Bleue Bog

   15 km away

Mer Bleue Bog is a 33.43 km² protected area east of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Its main feature is a sphagnum bog that is situated in an ancient channel of the Ottawa River and is a remarkable boreal-like ecosystem normally not found this far south.

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18 - Wesley Clover Parks

   16 km away

The Wesley Clover Parks are recreational parklands in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, located at the intersection of the 416 and 417 highways in the former city of Nepean.

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19 - Chelsea

   19 km away
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20 - Canadian Tire Centre

   23 km away

Canadian Tire Centre is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, located in the western suburb of Kanata. It opened in January 1996 as The Palladium and was also known as Corel Centre from 1996 to 2006 and Scotiabank Place from 2006 to 2013.

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21 - Wakefield

   30 km away

Wakefield is one of many villages of the Municipality La Pêche, with the village centre on the western shore of the Gatineau River, at the confluence of the La Pêche River in the Outaouais region of the province of Quebec in Canada.

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22 - Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette

   39 km away

Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette is a municipality in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais Regional County Municipality, straddling the eastern banks of the Du Lièvre River.

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Pictures and Stories of Ottawa from Influencers

20 pictures of Ottawa from Marc-Olivier Jodoin, Clark Young, Alesia Kazantceva and other travelers

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Why should you visit Ottawa ?

Travel to Ottawa if you like:

  🗼 Landmark     🚴 Cycling     🏘️ Town     🏞️ Waterway     🌴 Jungle     🏖️ Ocean  

How to visit Ottawa ?

To reach Ottawa, most travelers fly into the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) which is well connected to various cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Alternatively, you can take a train or bus from nearby cities like Montreal or Toronto. VIA Rail and Greyhound offer regular services to Ottawa.

Booking in advance is highly recommended for popular attractions such as the Parliament Hill guided tour (free, but requires reserving a ticket), the Canadian Museum of History, and the National Gallery of Canada. During the summer months, be sure to reserve your spot on one of the scenic Ottawa River cruises.

The costs of visiting Ottawa can vary depending on your preferences. Entry fees for attractions like the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History range from $12-$20 CAD. Budget travelers can expect to spend approximately $100-$150 CAD per day, while mid-range to luxury travelers can expect to spend between $200-$400 CAD.

Some of the best things to do in Ottawa include exploring the historic ByWard Market, visiting the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and attending one of the many festivals like Winterlude, Canadian Tulip Festival, or Canada Day celebrations. Nature enthusiasts can head to Gatineau Park for hiking, biking, and skiing opportunities.

For a memorable dining experience, try the locally-sourced Canadian cuisine at Play Food & Wine or indulge in a gastronomic delight at Atelier. For a more casual meal, head to El Camino for delicious tacos and tequila.

When it comes to accommodations, the Fairmont Château Laurier offers a luxurious stay in a historic castle-like setting. For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Alt Hotel Ottawa, which offers modern amenities and a central location. Airbnb is also a popular choice for a variety of budgets and preferences.

Off the beaten path:
One unusual travel experience to have in Ottawa is exploring the Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum. This underground bunker was built during the Cold War to protect Canadian government officials in case of a nuclear attack. Today, it serves as a unique museum showcasing the history of that era. For a more nature-oriented off-the-beaten-path experience, visit the Mer Bleue Bog, a beautiful and rare ecosystem that offers hiking trails and birdwatching opportunities amidst an otherworldly landscape.

Learn More about Ottawa

 Ottawa has long been an agricultural and forestry region

A city with a tumultuous past, it was first called Bytown

The city was the scene of legendary battles between the Irish and French Canadians. 
Today, however, Victorian Ottawa is the dominant feature of Uptown, while Francophone Ottawa comes alive in Lowertown.

Ottawa owes its undeniable cachet to Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier who dreamed of making it the Washington of the North.
The historic buildings, including the neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings (on the hill overlooking the Ottawa River), as well as the many green spaces, set it apart from other North American cities. 

• The Rideau Canal, which winds its way through the heart of the city, is a popular place for residents and visitors to relax.

Ottawa deserves to be rediscovered. In 2017, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, the city redoubled its efforts to attract visitors. 

Museums got a makeover, restaurants flourished, hotels blossomed, and Wellington's newest trendy neighborhood has all the cultural and culinary attractions of the moment.
Located on the border of Ontario and Quebec, this serene city offers the traveler the best of both cultures. It's the perfect opportunity to feel the pulse of Canada.

Ottawa, located in the Ontario region, is the beautiful capital of Canada. 

It is a city of water and nature, with the Rideau Canal at its heart, which separates the western part from the eastern part. The canal is a great place for picnics and walks along its banks in the summer, or for skating on its frozen waters in the winter. Boat tours are often organized to visit Ottawa in an original way.

Parliament, which has become the city's landmark, sits on a hill overlooking the Ottawa River: the splendid blue-roofed gothic building sits atop this small, leafy hill.

This part is called the Upper Town. The east side of the main canal borders Lowertown, a neighborhood influenced by both English and French culture.
The streets are worth exploring, especially for the Chateau Laurier and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

• The Byward Market is also an important center of activity, with its open-air merchants' stalls surrounded by shopping streets, restaurants, and cafés.

The Governor's official residence, Rideau Hall, is located in a beautiful 40-hectare garden, set back from downtown. 

Rockcliffe Park, across the street, is no match for it, with its wide green lawns. In addition to walking or biking, you can also take advantage of the lookouts and enjoy a remarkable view of the river in the foreground and Quebec in the distance.

The many national museums are well worth a visit: Inuit and Canadian art is on display, as well as dinosaur fossils and other curiosities.
The National Museum of Civilization, for example, contains impressive totem poles.

• Sporting activities are available all year round: from kayaking in summer to sledding in winter. 

Finally, one of the particularities of the city is to cultivate a lot of tulips, a festival is even organized every year!

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Ottawa

Ottawa : What to visit?

• The Byward Market is a place to go. 

The name encompasses one of Canada's oldest markets, and the area surrounding it. 
This is the area for foodies, with several bars, bistros, restaurants, and refreshment stands in the heart of the market. 

Don't miss the city's many museums, including :

• The Canadian Museum of Nature
• The Museum of History, the War Museum,
• The Fine Arts Museum.

Ottawa is also a great city for cycling: a good way to discover the capital with your family!

• The Rideau Canal is an exciting UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can even skate for free in winter. 
• Parliament Hill of course is not to be missed. 

If you want to discover a little more of the region's nature, you can go to Gatineau Park, with its flamboyant colors in the fall.
Among the many neighborhoods with different attractions, the city's Chinatown is special: it mixes Canadian architecture and Asian totems for a superb result.

Ottawa : What to eat?

• If you visit Ottawa, you must try a BeaverTail. 

Don't worry, it has nothing to do with the friendly animal, except for the shape of this delicious pastry.
You'll find them in the ByWard Market where they were invented in 1978, with a variety of fillings: cinnamon, sugar, chocolate, banana, and candy. 

• Many maple syrup cookies are made in stores around the city. 

• The "Poutine" is a traditional preparation, composed of fries, cheese, and a creamy sauce on top.

Ottawa : What to bring back?

The best place to find what you want to take home is undoubtedly the Byward Market area. 
Dozens of stalls await you, with a little bit of everything: plants, fruits, and vegetables, but also beautiful crafts.
Nearby stores with fashion items allow those with a bigger budget to buy some nice pieces.

 In another genre, you can take home the famous maple syrup, which will be a perfect accompaniment to the pancakes you will try to make when you get home.

   Where to Stay in Ottawa

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Discover more travel spots to explore around Ottawa

  🗼 Landmark spots     🐾 Wildlife spots     🏘️ Town spots     🏞️ Waterway spots     🌲 Forest spots     🚴 Cycling spots     🌆 Skyline spots     🌉 Bridge spots     🌲 Plain spots     Ferris wheel spots     🌴 Jungle spots     🌊‍ Ocean spots     🌉 Arch bridge spots     🏞️ Reservoir spots     🏞️ River spots     Rowing spots  

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