Ottawa has Gothic Parliament buildings, major museums and a Rideau Canal that becomes a 7-km skating rink in winter. Tulips bloom in spring, and the city is easy to combine with Montreal.
Good to know
- Rideau Skateway opens when ice is 30 cm thick, usually January to February.
- The Canadian Tulip Festival is in May.
- Most museums are free on certain evenings; check schedules.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Free tours of Centre Block and the Library of Parliament; light show in summer.
UNESCO canal that becomes a skating rink in winter and a bike path in summer.
Canadian art and the giant spider sculpture Maman.
Pedestrian mall in the heart of downtown with shops, cafes and bars and a patio scene in summer.
Across the river, with Indigenous heritage and a great hall of totem poles.
Hiking, biking and cross-country skiing 15 minutes from downtown, with lookouts over the Ottawa Valley.
Historic market with beavertails, restaurants and bars.
Powerful exhibits on Canada's military history.
Over a million tulips bloom beside the canal each spring.
Governor General's residence, open for tours.
Independent restaurants and bakeries along Richmond Road.