Things to do in Ottawa

Ottawa

Ottawa Food Tours

Discover the culinary delights of Ottawa on an exciting food tour! Explore the streets of this beautiful city, tasting the amazing flavors on offer and learning about the stories behind the food. Along the way, you'll get to meet local chefs and artisans and learn about their unique cooking styles. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and embark on an unforgettable adventure through Ottawa's food scene!

Ottawa

Ottawa

Feeling peckish? Discover local produce and dishes, meet the area's top food artisans, and learn about what makes Ottawa a hidden gem on the culinary destinations map on this guided tour of Ottawa's ByWard Market. Listen to your informative guide as they narrate interesting stories and anecdotes about the history and culture of the bustling ByWard Market and vibrant local vendors. Visit the ByWard Market Pavilion, the Ottawa Letters, the York Street Plaza, the Courtyards, the Totem Pole of Canada, and more. Hear stories in either English or French about the ByWard’s rich history and the food traditions born from its evolution. Get the opportunity to taste three savory treats, two sweet dishes, and an afternoon tea to refresh you. Enjoy this delicious and informative food tour to truly get a taste of Ottawa!

Ottawa

Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum is Canada's national museum of military history. It's located west of Parliament Hill near downtown Ottawa. The museum is one of the world's most respected institutions for the study and understanding of international armed conflict. The museum provides a moving visitor experience that draws on real war stories as well as its immense collection of rare wartime artifacts and military memorabilia.

Ottawa

Canadian War Museum

Visit the Canadian War Museum and witness Canada's rich military history showcased through amazing artifacts, artwork, personal stories, photos, and interactive presentations. Tour the extensive permanent exhibitions and expand your knowledge of the conflicts that shaped Canada, Canadians, and the world. Rest and reflect in Memorial Hall, and discover the Museum's fascinating architectural theme. The War Museum’s four Canadian Experience Galleries are organized chronologically, from the earliest times to the most recent military operations. Each gallery highlights the ways in which past events have shaped Canada and Canadians, the brutal realities of organized human conflict, and the importance of remembrance and understanding. The exhibitions use the human experience of war — told mainly through the personal stories, artifacts, and the recollections of ordinary Canadians — to engage visitors in a personal dialogue about their country, its past, and its prospects.

Ottawa

Ottawa City Tour

Looking for the best way to get around Ottawa? Forget expensive taxi rides, just climb aboard one of the only open-top double-decker buses in Ottawa and get from A to B the breezy way. Enjoy a guided city tour of the Ottawa-Gatineau region all at your own pace, and discover the history of over 75 top sites and attractions in Ottawa, from Parliament Hill to Rideau Canal. There's a live guide, plus audio commentary. Hop on and hop off as many times as you like with either a 1-day pass, or a 2-day pass!

Ottawa

The Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa

Let your guide's lantern lead the way through Ottawa's spookiest spots as you hear tales of the city's best ghostly happenings. Will you hear the crying dolls or phantom footsteps reported to come from the Bytown Museum? Can you guess when you are standing on a hidden cemetery? Canada's capital has mysteries that may keep you up at night. After this tour, you'll never look at Ottawa the same way again.

Ottawa

Ottawa Bus Tours

Explore Ottawa in style on an unforgettable bus tour! Whether you're a local or a visitor, you'll get a comprehensive view of the city while learning about its history and culture. See some of Ottawa's most famous and beautiful sights, and get a unique glimpse of the area you may never have seen before. Enjoy a relaxing ride and let a knowledgeable guide take you to the city's most iconic locations.

Ottawa

Canadian Museum of Nature

Canada is all about nature and no trip to Ottawa is complete without a visit to the Canadian Museum of Nature, located in a beautiful castle in downtown Ottawa that once served as Canada’s Parliament. Discover all of Canada’s natural diversity over 4 floors of permanent galleries, and don't miss the special exhibitions that offer current insights into the natural world.

Ottawa

Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature's collections, plus a passionate team of scientists and researchers help us better understand our rapidly changing planet. Discover all of Canada’s dazzling natural diversity over 4 floors of permanent galleries. See giant dinosaur skeletons, Canadian mammals, stunning minerals, countless bird species and a real skeleton of a blue whale! Immerse yourself in Canada's Arctic in the Canada Goose Arctic Gallery. See live exhibits such as the Pacific Discovery Tank.

Ottawa

National Gallery of Canada

View a wide range of Canadian and Indigenous art. Attend educational programs and workshops for all ages.

Ottawa

Ottawa City Tours

Experience the capital of Canada in all its glory with an Ottawa city tour! Discover the rich history and culture of this vibrant city, while taking in its beautiful sights and sounds. Explore the city's many hidden gems, learn about its stories, and enjoy the local atmosphere. With the help of experienced guides, you can make the most of your visit to Ottawa and make wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.

Ottawa

Rideau Canal

Ottawa

Ottawa City Tour

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.

Ottawa

National Gallery of Canada

Visit the National Gallery of Canada, located in one of the country's famous public buildings near ByWard Market. View a diverse collection of Indigenous and Canadian art, along with works from various global artistic traditions. Explore contemporary and historical pieces like paintings, sculptures, photographs, and multimedia installations. Step into the reconstructed Rideau Street Chapel with its 40 recorded choir voices. Relax in the interior Garden Court. Walk to Kìwekì Point (formerly Nepean Point) behind the museum to find unique outdoor art, including the towering One Hundred Foot Line sculpture by Roxy Paine.

Ottawa

Ottawa Cruises

Explore the beautiful city of Ottawa with a cruise on the beautiful Rideau Canal! Feel the breeze in your hair and the sun on your face as you leisurely cruise along the historic canal. Enjoy the stunning views of the city and its landmarks, and take in the vibrant energy of the city. Come aboard today and see why Ottawa should be your next cruise destination!

Ottawa

Ottawa River Boat Cruise

As the best way to see Canada's national capital region since 1936, your ticket on this Ottawa River Boat Cruise will show you Ottowa like never before. Climb aboard, grab a beverage or a snack from the bar on the lower deck, and enjoy this open-air boat cruise as the crew take you by the city's most famous sights: the statue of famed explorer Samuel de Champlain, supreme court and parliament buildings, the Royal Canadian Mint, and even a close-up view of the fantastic Rideau Falls. Between sights, take in the beautiful scenery along the serene Ottowa River. See the lush green coastline and clear open skies that captured the imagination of some of the first European explorers. Learn about the history of the river as a vital transport system that helped to shape the modern metropolis of Ottowa today.

Ottawa

Rideau Canal Cruise

The Rideau Canal is a chain of beautiful lakes, rivers and canals winding 202 km from Kingston, at the head of Lake Ontario, to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. This cruise will let you discover the wonderful Rideau Canal, from Dow’s lake to the Ottawa River, surrounded by the region's natural richness, cultural heritage and historical landmarks. With over 30 years of navigation experience on the different waterways of the region, the experienced team will answer your questions and ensure your safety during your trip.

Ottawa

Ottawa

Spend an evening at Beechwood Cemetery National Historic Site filled with storytelling and eerie tales. Discover the darker history of the cemetery's early days and hear ghost stories connected to its inhabitants, with strange reports from staff that continue today. Go on an outdoor walk among crypts, headstones, and markers, culminating in a rare opportunity to tour inside the Mausoleum after sunset for a spine-tingling experience.

Ottawa

Ottawa

Prepare for a guided walking tour of Ottawa's supernatural past at the Bytown Museum, the city's oldest and most haunted building. Hear chilling tales of ghostly encounters from museum staff, visitors, and your tour guide. Head to the museum and listen to the ghost stories from the region, including those about the Rideau Canal, Barrack Hill Cemetery, and the Gatineau River.

Ottawa

Rideau River Provincial Park