What to Do in Ottawa (a Local’s Guide).
I spent my teenage years in Ottawa, living here a total of 8 years. It’s a city I know well. Coming back was a chance to revisit the places that make Ottawa special.
In this post I cover the best things to do in Ottawa and give you a few tips on visiting Canada’s capital city. I also go a bit further afield – there’s some beautiful nature just outside the capital.
I also give you a few tips on getting to/around Ottawa. There’s been a few recent changes that have made Ottawa much more navigable. I’ll also give you some hotel and restaurant recommendations.
What to Do in Ottawa
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is Ottawa’s most famous building: a huge gothic style building that houses Canada’s government. Built between 1859 – 1876, it has similarities in style to the Parliament building in Budapest and the Houses of Parliament in London. The building also sits on a hill high above the Ottawa river, making it among the most photographed buildings in Canada (the only rival being Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City).
As a teenager I had a school trip here and got to meet Pierre Elliott Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous Prime Ministers. You likely won’t get a shake a Prime Minister’s hand these days, but you can get a free guided tour of Parliament (you can book your ticket here).
Note: there was a ton of construction going on in Ottawa when we were there in July of 2025. Our photos aren’t great. Construction won’t be finished anytime soon, they’re saying it might only be completed in 2031.
The Rideau Locks and Rideau Canal
Just a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal is a great place to walk and jog. It is at its most popular in winter when people skate down the canal. In the summer, cyclists like to ride their bikes alongside the canal – when I was a kid I would bike all the way down the canal to Mooney’s Bay Beach (still a great thing to do if you have a bike. If you want to rent a bike, RentABike has bicycle services right next to the canal).
Note: The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, granted because of the ingenuity of its engineering; built in 1832, it provided for a water route between Ottawa and Kingston, circumventing the St.Lawrence river. It has a total length of 202 km and was a built as a backup in the case of an American invasion following the war of 1812.
If you’re on foot, it’s worth a walk. If coming from Parliament Hill, I’d recommend walking down to the locks. From there walk the Rideau Canal until you get to Lisgar Collegiate Institute (it’s where I went to school). The school was built in 1843 and predates Parliament Hill.
Note: You can continue on if you wish but I’d advise you have a bike or roller skates otherwise it’ll just be long and monotonous. Attractions further on the canal include Dow’s lake (a good place to have a drink on a terrace) and Mooney’s Bay Beach (for a swim on the Rideau river).
Elgin Street
From Lisgar Collegiate Institute, you can walk to Elgin Street. This area has always been trendy with lots of little bars, restaurants and cafes as well as the historic Lord Elgin Hotel. There are some outdoor patios in the summer if looking for a place to take a break. After seeing Elgin Street, continue the few blocks back (in the direction of Parliament Hill) and head to the National War Memorial.
National War Memorial
This memorial was first built to commemorate Canadians who died in World War I but it has been updated to also commemorate Canadians killed in other wars (2nd World War, Korea and Afghanistan).
Fairmount Chateau Laurier
One of Canada’s most famous hotels, this hotel was built in 1912 and named after Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister at the time. It looks like a castle, built in French Renaissance style with Gothic features.
Byward Market
One of Canada’s largest public markets and, today, a foodie destination with lots of little restaurants featuring all kinds of cuisine. Byward Market Plaza is pretty and happening on a nice day.
Note: we had lunch at the Aude Dubliner, just across from the plaza. Lissette had the fish and chips with their lager brew, I had the bacon cheeseburger with the amber beer. All was fantastic.
National Gallery of Canada
This art museum holds Canada’s largest collection of art, much of it Canadian and Native but also international. They often hold exhibits, many years ago Lissette and I came here for a Van Gogh exhibit.
Even if not an art fan, you should come to see and building and the art exhibits from the outside. And right behind the National Galery is Kiweki Point (formerly Nepean Point) which has great viewpoints looking out at the Ottawa river and Parliament Hill.
Note; there’s a nice restaurant nearby in Major’s Hill Park called Tavern on the Hill. Good food and great views.
Cross the Alexandra Bridge to Hull
This bridge connects Quebec and Ontario. Crossing it you’ll have great views over the river and looking up at Parliament Hill.
The Canadian Museum of History
Technically across the river in Hull, this museum is one of Canada’s best. It has an incredible hall featuring totem poles and exhibits covering Canada’s history from the First Nations people to the arrival of Europeans to North America.
Museums in Ottawa: I’ve mentioned the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of History. Other museums: the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Science and Technology museum, Diefenbunker cold war museum. Ottawa’s museums are well done and fun: for those with kids I recommend the War Museum, Museum of Nature and the Science and Technology Museum.
Gatineau Park
Again, this is across the river in Quebec and you’ll need a car or a bike to get here. Gatineau Park is a pretty, hilly park that also has historical relevance. It holds the Mackenzie King Estate (Mackenzie King is the longest serving Canadian prime minister, serving 3 terms in the early 1900’s) as well as the conference center at Meech Lake. But its highlights are two geographical spots: Pink Lake is a small beautiful lake with emerald-coloured water. A lot of people come here to walk the trails around the lake. The Champlain Lookout has beautiful views over the countryside and the Ottawa river.
A few more photos from around Ottawa:
Practical Information on Travelling to Ottawa
How long to stay in Ottawa: 2 or 3 days is enough to get a good overview of Ottawa and see the highlights.
Getting to Ottawa: In the past, I would have recommended the bus. But because of Ottawa’s new O-train (a light rail network which I write about below) I recommend taking the train. Every day there are 5 trains doing the Quebec City – Montreal – Ottawa route and it is much more comfortable than the bus. See Via Rail for schedules. For cheaper prices, book early. Prices get higher as you get closer to your travel dates.
Ottawa’s O-train. The O-train links the train station to downtown stations and you can get to the center in minutes (about 10 minutes from Tremblay station – where the train station is – to Parliament station). There are automated ticket machines OR, if you have a Canadian debit or credit card, you can pass those on the sensors to get through the gates. The O-train was a great way to get to our hotel, it took us 20 minutes door-to-door from the train station.
Where to Stay: For a unique stay, the Fairmount Chateau Laurier has a great location. If you’re in Ottawa one night I would recommend it for the novelty of staying in a Châteauesque hotel. Another great historic hotel is the Lord Elgin Hotel. I like the location of this hotel Another recommended hotel is where we stayed on this trip: Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown. A very good hotel but I wouldn’t recommend it if sharing a room with someone you don’t know (the bathroom situation affords no privacy. Ridiculously planned. But if you can get past that it’s a very good hotel).
Eating in Ottawa: There are lots of good eating options in Ottawa and some of the best neighborhoods are around Elgin Street, the Byward market and in China Town (centered on Bronson Avenue and Summerset St. It’s where you’ll see the China Town arch). China Town has some authentic Chinese restaurants and is the place to eat Dim Sum. Personal recommendations: I mentioned the Aude Dubliner at the Byward Market. We also had a great meal at Kalinga (Indian food downtown just a few minutes from the Alt Hotel). Excellent and portions are big, we had enough for 2 meals.
Summarizing: I’ll be honest – the construction currently going on around Parliament Hill really takes away from the beauty of the city. But Ottawa is still a place that is worth visiting for a few days.
Related: A Local’s guide to Montreal
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Canada
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