8 Best Things to do in Ottawa, Ontario 

Looking for the best things to do in Ottawa? You’re in the right place!

Canada’s capital is often overlooked in favor of cities like Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver, but we think it’s one of the country’s most underrated destinations. From fascinating museums and beautiful historic buildings to food tours, river cruises, and outdoor adventures, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a long weekend.

Whether you’re visiting in the middle of summer or wrapped up for Ottawa’s famous winter, this city has something to offer in every season. Here are our favorite things to do in Ottawa to help you plan the perfect trip!

Ottawa at a Glance

Ottawa is packed with museums, historic landmarks, and beautiful outdoor spaces, but it’s also a surprisingly easy city to explore. Before you start planning your trip, here are a few things we think every first-time visitor should know.

Important Tip: Stay downtown if you can!

Base yourself downtown: For first-time visitors, we think downtown is the best area to stay. You’ll be close to major sights like Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and ByWard Market, plus plenty of restaurants and cafés. Ottawa does have public transportation, but staying central makes it much easier to explore the main sights on foot.

Consider a sightseeing pass: Ottawa is home to seven national museums, so history and culture lovers will have plenty to keep them busy! If you’re planning to visit several attractions, check out the 1- or 3-day Visit Ottawa Pass. It bundles multiple attractions together and can be a convenient way to save money while sightseeing.

Check the weather before you pack: Ottawa has four very distinct seasons, and the weather can seriously change how you experience the city. Summers can be hot and humid, while winters are cold and snowy. Check the forecast before your trip and pack accordingly, especially if you’re planning to spend lots of time outdoors.

How I Would Spend Three Days in Ottawa

Ottawa is packed with fascinating history, beautiful outdoor spaces, great food, and some of Canada’s best museums, making it an ideal destination for a city break. Three days gives you plenty of time to experience the highlights without feeling rushed. After exploring Canada’s capital ourselves, this is how we’d spend the perfect 3 days in Ottawa!

Day 1: Start your Ottawa trip with this guided city tour of Ottawa’s key attractions, which includes a cruise along the Rideau Canal. Afterward, visit one of Ottawa’s national museums and end the day with rooftop drinks, Italian food, and old-school arcade games.

Day 2: Begin the morning with a walk along the Ottawa River Pathway, then taste your way around ByWard Market on this walking food tour. Spend the afternoon exploring Fairmont Château Laurier before relaxing on a fun tiki boat cruise.

Day 3: Spend your final morning exploring Ottawa on a bike tour, then head out of the city to hike in Gatineau Park before finishing the trip with craft beer and dinner at one of Ottawa’s most popular brewpubs.

Things to do in Ottawa 

1. Taste your way around ByWard Market

If you ask us, one of the best ways to get to know a new city is through its food, and this walking tour is the perfect introduction to Ottawa’s culinary scene. Set in the heart of the historic ByWard Market, you’ll spend three hours exploring one of Canada’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods while sampling a delicious mix of local specialties!

Along the way, you’ll try everything from the iconic BeaverTail pastry and Canada’s famous poutine to artisan cheese, maple syrup, molasses-glazed duck, and a few other tasty surprises. There’s even a secret dish that’s only revealed on the day, so we won’t ruin the surprise. 

Of course, this tour is about much more than the food. As you wander through the bustling market and surrounding streets, your guide will share stories about Ottawa’s history, culture, and local food scene, pointing out hidden gems that you might otherwise walk straight past.

We also love the small group size, as it creates a much more personal atmosphere and gives you plenty of opportunities to chat with your guide. The timing couldn’t be better either. Starting at 11 am, it works perfectly as an early lunch and leaves the rest of your afternoon free to explore Ottawa’s museums, Parliament Hill, or the Rideau Canal. Just make sure you arrive hungry! 

2. Discover Ottawa’s best sights: Parliament Hill, a canal cruise, and Rockcliffe Park 

If you’re visiting Ottawa for the first time, this tour is one of the easiest ways to experience the city’s biggest highlights without having to plan a thing! It’s a fantastic introduction to Canada’s capital, combining a guided city tour with a scenic canal cruise.

Over the course of four hours, you’ll visit many of Ottawa’s most iconic landmarks, including Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, the beautiful Fairmont Château Laurier, and the upscale neighborhood of Rockcliffe Park. Along the way, your guide shares fascinating stories about the city’s history, politics, and architecture, bringing each stop to life with plenty of local insight.

One of our favorite parts of this tour is the Rideau Canal cruise, which offers a completely different perspective on Ottawa. Gliding along this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wonderfully relaxing experience, and you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the city that you simply can’t get from the road. If you’re visiting outside the boating season, don’t worry. The canal cruise is replaced with a visit to either the Canadian War Museum or the Canadian Museum of History, so it’s still excellent value year-round.

We also love that this is a small-group tour, making it feel much more personal than a large coach excursion. With hotel pickup and drop-off included, everything is taken care of, leaving you free to sit back and enjoy the sights!

3. Check out Ottawa’s Museums

Ottawa is home to seven national museums, so if you enjoy history, science, art, or nature, you’ll be spoiled for choice. If you’re planning to visit more than one, we highly recommend picking up a Visit Ottawa Pass, which gives you entry to multiple museums with either a 1-day or 3-day pass. It’s a great way to save money while seeing some of the city’s best attractions.

Here are the museums we think are worth adding to your itinerary:

• National Gallery of Canada: Home to one of the country’s most impressive art collections, featuring everything from Indigenous and Canadian masterpieces to works by Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh. The giant spider sculpture outside is an Ottawa icon in its own right.

• Canadian Museum of History: Located just across the river in Gatineau, this is Canada’s most visited museum. It tells the story of the country’s past through fascinating exhibits, while also offering some of the best views of Parliament Hill.

• Canada Science and Technology Museum: A fun, interactive museum where you can explore everything from space exploration and transportation to communications and innovation. It’s especially great if you’re traveling with kids.

• Canada Aviation and Space Museum: Aviation enthusiasts will love this museum’s collection of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts, showcasing Canada’s aviation history alongside fascinating space exploration exhibits.

• Canada Agriculture and Food Museum: One of Ottawa’s most unique attractions, this working farm lets you meet farm animals, watch demonstrations, and learn about Canadian agriculture right in the middle of the city.

• Canadian Museum of Nature: Housed in a beautiful historic castle-like building, this museum features everything from huge dinosaur skeletons and sparkling minerals to live insects and Canadian wildlife.

• Canadian War Museum: Widely regarded as one of Canada’s best museums, this powerful attraction explores the country’s military history through immersive galleries, personal stories, military vehicles, and thought-provoking exhibits.

4. Explore the city on two wheels

If you’re short on time or simply want to get your bearings, this guided bike tour is one of the best ways to explore Ottawa. The city is incredibly bike-friendly, with hundreds of kilometers of dedicated cycling paths, making it easy to cover far more ground than you would on foot.

Over the course of two hours, you’ll cycle between many of Ottawa’s most famous landmarks, including Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, the National War Memorial, Rideau Hall, and the picturesque Rideau Falls. You’ll also follow sections of the Rideau Canal and ride through the lively ByWard Market, giving you a fantastic overview of the city in a relatively short amount of time.

One of the things we love most about this tour is that it’s not just about sightseeing. Your guide shares fascinating stories about Ottawa’s history, architecture, and culture along the way, helping you appreciate the landmarks far more than you would from simply reading an information board.

The pace is relaxed, with plenty of stops for photos and commentary, so you don’t need to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy it. If you’d like a little extra help, electric bikes are also available. Plus, with a maximum group size of just 12 people, the experience feels friendly and personal, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions throughout the ride.

Whether it’s your first morning in Ottawa or you’re looking for a fun introduction to Canada’s capital, this bike tour is hard to beat. 

5. Go kayaking in the Ottawa Ecological Reserve 

Most people visit Ottawa for its museums and historic landmarks, but not many realize there’s a peaceful wildlife sanctuary just minutes from downtown. So if you’re looking to escape the city for a couple of hours, this guided kayak tour is one of the most unique things to do in Ottawa!

You’ll paddle through the tranquil waters of the Ottawa Ecological Reserve, a protected wetland that’s home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for painted turtles basking on logs, graceful great blue herons, playful beavers, and plenty of other birds and animals that call this peaceful corner of the city home. It’s hard to believe you’re so close to downtown!

No previous kayaking experience is needed, and the pace is relaxed, making this tour suitable for beginners as well as more experienced paddlers. Your guide will lead the way while sharing fascinating insights into the reserve’s ecosystem, local wildlife, and conservation efforts, helping you spot animals and appreciate the area’s unique biodiversity.

We especially love how different this experience feels from Ottawa’s more traditional attractions. After a morning exploring museums or Parliament Hill, getting out onto the water is a fantastic way to slow down and experience another side of Canada’s capital. It also tends to sell out, so don’t wait too long to grab your spot!

6. Visit Ottawa’s Castle: The Fairmont Château Laurier

One of Ottawa’s most recognizable landmarks is the Fairmont Château Laurier, a stunning castle-like hotel that has been welcoming guests since 1912. Sitting beside Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, it’s one of the city’s most photographed buildings and well worth visiting, even if you’re not staying overnight.

If your budget allows, spending a night here is a bucket list experience. The historic hotel combines grand architecture with luxurious rooms, making it one of the most iconic places to stay in Canada. You can find the best prices on Booking.com! 

However, you don’t need to be a hotel guest to experience the château. You can join the 75-minute Secrets of the Château guided tour to learn about the building’s fascinating history, admire its elegant interiors, and hear stories about the famous guests who have stayed here over the years. If you’d rather explore independently, simply wander through the beautiful lobby and public spaces, stopping to read the historical plaques dotted throughout the building.

For an extra-special treat, we recommend booking afternoon tea beneath the hotel’s soaring ceilings or stopping by one of its restaurants or cocktail bars for a drink. It’s a wonderful way to soak up the atmosphere while taking a break from sightseeing!

Whether you visit for an hour or spend the night, the Fairmont Château Laurier is one of those places that perfectly capture the elegance and history of Ottawa. Don’t miss it! 

7. Relax on a tiki bar cruise on the Ottawa River 

If you’re looking for something a little different, why not swap a traditional sightseeing cruise for a floating tiki bar? This fun Ottawa River experience is one of the city’s most unique attractions, and definitely the most fun way to explore! 

Step aboard your tropical-themed boat and cruise along the Ottawa River while taking in beautiful views of the city skyline. With multiple departures available throughout the day, we’d recommend booking a sunset or evening cruise if you can. This way, you’ll get to watch the sun go down, and the city light up as you drift along the water, which makes the experience even more memorable.

The atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed, making it feel more like spending time with friends than joining a guided tour. There’s a licensed bar onboard where you can purchase drinks, and you’re also welcome to bring your own food along! One of our favorite features is the Bluetooth speaker, which lets you play your own music so you get the soundtrack you want for your cruise.

Although it’s all about having fun, you’ll still enjoy fantastic views of Ottawa from the water, giving you a completely different perspective of the city than you’d get on foot. This is the perfect tour for groups of friends, and we think it would be a really fun way to celebrate a special occasion. 

8. Spend a day outside at Gatineau Park

If you fancy escaping the city for a day, head to Gatineau Park, a huge outdoor playground just a 15-minute drive from downtown Ottawa. Covering an incredible 361 square kilometers (139 square miles), it’s the second most visited park in Canada and a must-visit for anyone who loves spending time in nature!

The park is beautiful year-round, but it’s especially popular during the summer and fall. Summer brings warm weather that’s perfect for hiking and picnicking, while autumn transforms the forest into a spectacular display of red and gold. It’s one of the best places in the region to experience Canada’s famous fall colors, although both seasons can get busy, so we’d recommend arriving early.

There are trails to suit every ability level, but Pink Lake Trail is one of the park’s standout walks. This easy loop takes you to a beautiful turquoise lake, with boardwalks and viewpoints offering fantastic photo opportunities along the way. If you’re after something a little more adventurous, Wolf Trail is a great moderate hike with panoramic views over the Ottawa Valley, while Luskville Falls Trail rewards your efforts with a picturesque waterfall. 

You can spend a couple of hours here, or make a full day of it! Either way, Gatineau Park is the perfect reminder that some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery is right on Ottawa’s doorstep.

Where to Stay in Ottawa

Staying downtown is our top choice when visiting Ottawa since you’ll be within easy reach of the city’s biggest attractions, restaurants, and museums. There’s also a great mix of historic hotels and practical apartment-style stays to choose from. To make things easy, we’ve picked three of our favorite Ottawa hotels for different budgets.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier – $$$ 

Fairmont Chateau Laurier easily turns your stay into a fairytale because not only does it look like a castle, but everything inside makes you feel like royalty for the day, from the staff and the six different dining spots to the high afternoon tea and grand interiors. No wonder guests here included King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana of Wales.

What makes it more fun is that it’s been home to lots of prime ministers through the years, too. Also, the views are really something, with many rooms overlooking Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River. Expect to pay around $240+ CAD per night, which isn’t bad considering the level of luxury here. Secure your luxury stay in Fairmont Chateau Laurier here!

Lord Elgin Hotel – $$ 

If you love historic stays as much as we do, Lord Elgin Hotel is an easy choice. In fact, this was our first pick in Ottawa, and we’d happily stay again. It’s super central, right across from Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre, with historic sights, downtown, and the Rideau Canal all within easy reach.

Inside, it’s nicely renovated, with spacious rooms, a gift shop, a lap pool, plus there’s a Starbucks attached if that’s more your thing. We especially love the library in the lobby; the fireplace here makes a pretty great spot to curl up on a cold night. Prices here typically range from $200 to $450+ CAD per night. Lock in your room here and explore right from your doorstep!

The Arlo, BW Signature Collection – $ 

The Arlo, BW Signature Collection is a no-brainer if you like having more space and the option to cook your own meals now and then. The apartments come with fully equipped kitchens, which makes this place ideal for families and longer stays. You also get free breakfast, either dine-in or to-go.

For longer stays, we love the 24-hour self-service laundry room, which is a handy perk you don’t often find at hotels. Staying here puts you right in downtown Ottawa, near Queen St. Fare, an indoor food hall you definitely need to check out while you’re there. Prices start at around $200+ CAD per night. Reserve your apartment at The Arlo, BW Signature Collection here!

Want even more great options? Check out all the hotels listed for Ottawa here!

Related Read: If you’re still deciding where to base yourself, check out our complete guide on where to stay in Ottawa for a breakdown of the best areas and hotels for every budget!

Whether you’re tasting your way through ByWard Market, cruising along the Rideau Canal, exploring Canada’s national museums, or escaping the city for a hike in Gatineau Park, Ottawa has so much to offer! We loved how easy it was to mix history and sightseeing with great food and outdoor adventures, and we hope this guide helps you make the most of your time in Canada’s capital.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other Canada travel guides! As locals, we’ve explored all over the country and love sharing our favorite tours, itineraries, places to stay, and practical tips to make planning easier. Or take a look at some of our favorite guides below for even more inspiration!

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