9 Best Places to Visit in Ottawa (From a Local)

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Ottawa is a great city to visit in Canada, but most people don’t realize there’s more to do than visiting Parliament. Both Canadians and foreigners often associate the city with government, and forget all the other amazing places you can visit that aren’t on Parliament Hill.

I’ve visited Ottawa my whole life from Toronto, and moved here in 2021. I’ve spent years exploring the city’s best popular spots and hidden gems, and I want to share them with you.

Of course I’ll include popular spots like Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, but we’ll also go off the beaten path to my favourite noodle spot in Kanata and the only spot you can see cows in Downtown Ottawa.

Let’s start planning your perfect Ottawa trip!

View of Parliament Hill and the main Parliament building through a metal fence on top of a green hill in Ottawa.

1. Parliament Hill

We’re kicking off this list with a classic: you can’t miss Parliament Hill when you visit Ottawa.

The iconic buildings are a national historic site and feature stunning Gothic architecture. Plus, it’s free to visit! You can take a tour of the buildings or simply stroll around the grounds and snap some photos.

At 10 am every morning during the summer, there is a changing of the guards ceremony that’s also free to attend. In winter, at night the Parliament Buildings become the backdrop for one of the best Christmas Lights displays in Ottawa.

Since it’s such a central location, Parliament Hill is an easy place to stop while you’re Downtown. I recommend popping down to the Rideau Canal Walkway beneath the Parliament Buildings to get the best pictures of them on top of the cliff. It’s especially pretty at twilight.

You can also view it from Major’s Hill Park, which neighbours the Art Gallery of Ontario. I recommend combining a day at Parliament with a trip to the AGO.

Rideau Canal pathway view of people skating on the Rideau Canal in winter in Ottawa. There is a bridge over the ice as people skate at midday on the frozen canal.

2. Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a stunning place to visit in Ottawa. But since it’s a giant canal that runs around the downtown core, there’s a lot of places to visit along it.

I recommend heading down to the Dominion Arboretum beside Dow’s Lake. Here you’ll be able to see the tulips from the Canadian Tulip Festival and go for summer bike rides along the canal. You can also rent kayaks here in the summer and paddle your way down the canal.

In winter, the canal freezes and becomes the world’s longest outdoor skating rink. This is a popular spot for getting on the canal and houses one of the huts where you can rent skates.

I love walking my dog along the canal. When he was a crazy puppy, we’d go all the way around the city just to tire him out enough that he wouldn’t eat my baseboards. It took about 90 minutes all told.

If you don’t have a dog with you, you can stop by the Experimental Farm located at the Dominion. It’s got cows, pigs, and more for the whole family to explore. This was my favourite place in Ottawa as a kid – I even tried to feed the cows my Barbies!

Golden retriever at the Beaver Pond in Kanata, outside of Ottawa. This is a popular hiking trail with the dog looking out over the reeds in the beaver pond.

3. Kanata

Kanata is a suburb 30 minutes West of Ottawa. I moved there after my first year living right beside Parliament became too much with a puppy.

Kanata is a hidden gem most tourists never visit, which is a shame because it’s home to some of the best hiking in Ottawa and the best noodles.

Kanata Noodle House is a must visit. I get laksa every week from there for like $20 and it lasts me 3 meals because it’s giant!

Nearby, you can explore the Beaver Pond and South March Highland to walk off some of the food you just ate. Both are very dog friendly – although the latter requires dogs to be on leash. They’re open year round and are easy to explore in winter.

Pair a visit to Kanata with a stop at the Diefenbunker Museum in Carp (the suburb directly beside Kanata). This is a Cold War museum that features military artifacts and exhibits.

Red golden retriever sitting on a rock at Wolf Trail in Gatineau Park. He is wearing a red leash connected to the owner behind the camera. Green maple trees surround him and there's a view of the Gatineau Park in the distance beyond the hill.

4. Gatineau Park

I know it’s weird to say one of the best places to visit in Ottawa isn’t even in Ottawa, but it’s true! Ottawa is the gateway to Gatineau. Drive 30 minutes north of the city, or take the leaf peeping bus in fall, to go on the city’s best hikes.

Ottawa kind of unofficially claims Hull and Gatineau as part of the city, like bonus suburbs.

I took my dog almost every weekend during summer of 2022, and we still go regularly, to hike the different trails.

The easiest that’s still fun is the Mackenzie King Estate. A harder one that I loved in spring is Luskville Falls. In winter, many of the trails become cross country ski and snowshoe trails. I’ve only snowshoed on them, and they’re very well maintained.

In the summer, it’s a perfect spot for camping in Ottawa.

Gatineau is also just north of Chelsea, which has cute little cafes with amazing hot chocolate and sausage rolls.

Nina throwing her arms up in the air at Petrie Island in Orleans, Ottawa. The beach is soft sand with calm waters behind Nina in her overalls.

5. Orleans

To the East of Downtown Ottawa is Orleans. It’s home to Mer Bleue Bog which is one of the most popular interpretive walks in the city. Many people call it a “hiking” trail, but since it’s a boardwalk I don’t really agree.

I see it as a great walking trail though.

My next favourite thing in Orleans is Petrie Island Beach. The white sand really doesn’t feel like it belongs in Canada. In the summer, this is a hugely popular beach with locals.

The shallow area makes the Ottawa River warmer than in other spots, so it’s easy to swim.

Don’t forget to stop for beer! Stray Dog Brewing Company and Orleans Brewing Company are both based here. My roommate often made us stop on our way home from hikes to have a bevvy before going home.

Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa. View of the main room with large wooden totem poles carved to look like different species of animals.

6. Hull

The best museum in Ottawa hands down is the Canadian Museum of History in Hull. It’s just across from Parliament Hill, so you get great views of the whole city.

I’ve been a number of times and between the permanent and rotating exhibits, I always feel like I need to spend more time there to see it all.

My favourite are the totem pole in the lobby. They often have local Indigenous Peoples come to teach about their culture in front of them on holidays, like Canada Day.

You can easily spend a whole day, but you’ll need at least 2 hours to really enjoy the museum.

Just beside the museum is the Interprovincial Zipline where you can zip between Quebec and Ontario.

Two donuts in a box from Suzy Qs in Ottawa. One is chocolate with white streaks across the top. The other is a white donut with a pink glaze on top with a white squiggle of icing.

7. Westboro and Wellington Village

Wellington is my favourite area of Ottawa. It and Westboro are home to local boutiques and the best brunch spots in the city.

If you enjoy food at all, you need to get yourself down to Chesterfields to try their eggs benedict. I’ve eaten through their menu twice over now and I’ve yet to find anything that isn’t delicious.

Shoppers will enjoy the small businesses with one of a kind items, and great souvenir options.

The area is more residential than Downtown, but it still has a lot going on. It’s always just busy enough to feel lively, and there are always new spots for food popping up.

Some other classics of the village are: Suzy Q’s Donuts, Strawberry Blonde Bakery, Wellington Diner, and TacoLot.

ByWard Market in Ottawa. Old red brick building that houses the indoor market, with people walking by. BeaverTails stand outside where you can buy pastries.

8. ByWard Market

ByWard is a market dating back to the 1800s. Now it’s less of an open air market – except on weekends in the summer when extra stalls open up – and more of an indoor experience.

It’s one of the best places to get fresh meat, seafood and bread in the city. It’s home to a cafe where Barack Obama got a cookie once and it blew up on social media.

My favourite thing to get here is a BeaverTail from the stand outside the market. I’ve got a serious sweet tooth, so I’m always snacking on the cinnamon sugar versions.

Another favourite of mine in the area is Level One Game Pub. It’s a boardgame cafe on the 2nd level, and a video game cafe on the 1st level. They have the best deep fried mac and cheese bites, and the best chicken fingers in all of Ottawa.

Blue and white ice cream from mooshu in Ottawa in a cup

9. The Glebe

The Glebe is one of the most popular neighbourhoods for young locals to live in. It’s just south of Downtown Ottawa – sometimes still considered a part of Downtown.

The area is more unique than downtown, with small businesses and a lot of alternative stores.

And it’s home to amazing food.

I’m a big fan of the St. Rita and Jericho. For ice cream, stop by Moo Shu for their unique flavours.

It’s also where you can find the Natural History Museum. I went with my friends once and was shocked at how big the place was! You can spend 1-2 hours easily just walking without reading anything, but you’ll need longer if you really want to deep dive into any of the exhibits.

Conclusion

If you visit in summer, be sure to spend your time in Gatineau Park. In winter, I’d focus on Kanata and the Rideau Canal areas.

But no matter where you go in Ottawa, you’ll be surprised by how many things there are to do.

Everyone told me I’d be bored when I moved out from Toronto, but I found it more accessible to actually do the things than in Toronto. It’s easier to get around, more affordable, and there’s more variety in the activities.

I hope this inspires you to make a trip to Ottawa a reality. Be sure to check out the best time to visit though!

Ottawa Travel Planning Guide

🚑 Should I buy Ottawa travel insurance?

100% YES! — There’s a misconception that Canada has “free healthcare” for everyone. Nope! Only Canadians. So you’ll need to get travel insurance to visit Ottawa. I recommend this one.

💧Can you drink the tap water in Ottawa?

Yes – ish — While you can technically drink the tap water in Ottawa, as a local I don’t recommend it. Old hotels especially can have some nasty things in their pipes. Instead, get a filtered water bottle. (Read more)

🚙💨 Do I need to rent a car in Ottawa?

Yes — Renting a car in Ottawa is one of the best ways to get around! You’ll be able to see more of the city and beyond, like the epic hiking trails. I recommend Discover Cars for the cheapest rates possible.

📲 Do I need to know French in Ottawa?

Nope! — The primary language of Ottawa is English. While French is also spoken and on some signs, you can easily get by without knowing any French. (Read more)

🏩 What’s the best way to book my Ottawa accommodations?

For Ottawa hotels, Booking is the best site. If you’re considering an Ottawa Airbnb, don’t forget to also check VRBO, which is often cheaper than Airbnb. My #1 hotel recommendation in Ottawa is the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

✈️ What’s the best site to buy Ottawa flights?

For finding cheap Ottawa flights, I recommend Skyscanner. You can even set a price alert to find out when flights are on sale.

🎫 Do I need a Visa for Ottawa?

Likely Not — U.S. and most European Passport holders don’t need a Visa to visit Canada.

📍 Where is Ottawa? And what’s nearby?

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located in Ontario. It’s right on the border of Quebec. It’s about 2 hours from Mont Tremblant, 3 hours from Montreal, or 5 hours from Toronto. You can take a road trip to get to other places or fly.