Exploring Ottawa
National Museums
- Tour of Parliament Building
- Museum of Nature
- National Art Gallery
- Museum of Science and Technology
- Canadian War Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
- Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
- Royal Canadian Mint
- Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum
- Bank of Canada Museum
Local Museums
- Billings Estate National Historic Site
- Watson’s Mill
- Nepean Museum
- Bytown Museum
- Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
- Fairfields Heritage House
- Pinhey’s Point Historic Site
- Vanier Museopark
- Osgoode Township Museum
- Goulbourn Museum
Places to Explore Downtown
- Parliament Hill
- Byward Market
- Major Hill Park
- Sparks Street
- Rideau Canal
- Corkstown Bridge Love Locks
Family Attractions / Events
- Change of Guard
- High Tea at Chateau Laurier
- Pirate Adventure
- Ottawa River Boat Ride
- Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Day Trips Within an Hour from Ottawa
- Bonnechere Caves
- Parc Omega
- Upper Canada Village
- Mont Cascades Water Park
- Gatineau Caves
- Saunders Farm
- Karter’s Korner Go Karts
- Logos Land Resort
- Pembroke Heritage Murals Walking Tour
- Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush
Spring and Summer Festivals and Special Events
Festivals and Events
- Tulip Festival
- Inspiration Village
- Franco Ontarian Festival
- Escapade Music Festival
- RCMP Musical Ride
- MosaiCanada 150
- Canada Day Celebrations
- Cirque Du Soleil – Volta
- Casino Du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light
- CityFolk Festival
- Blues Fest
- Ottawa Children’s Festival
- Ottawa Fringe Festival
- Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival
- Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill
- Glowfaire Festival
- Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
- Jazz Festival
- Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
- Kingdom of Osgoode Medieval Festival
Multicultural Festivals
- Ottawa Italian Week Festival
- Ottawa Lebanese Festival
- Ottawa Asian Fest – Chinese Night Market
- Ottawa Greek Festival
- Indonesian Festival
Living Like a Local
Family Indoor Attractions
- Xtreme trampoline
- Funhaven
- Cosmic Adventures
- Kids Kingdom
- Midway
- Clip ‘N Climb
- Sky Zone
- Altitude Gym
Family Outdoor Attractions
- Calypso Water Park
- Valley view Little Animal Farm
Parks
- Andrew Hayden Park
- Gatineau Park
- Dow’s Lake
- Garden of The Provinces
- Brewer Park
Beaches with Lifeguards
- Britannia Park and Beach
- Westboro Beach
- Mooney’s Bay Beach
- Petrie Island Beach
Where to Stay
Downtown Ottawa Hotels
- Andaz Ottawa Byward Market
- Albert at Bay Suite Hotel
- Alt Hotel Ottawa
- Fairmont Chateau Laurier
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Best Western Plus Ottawa Downtown Suites
- The Westin Ottawa
- Ottawa Marriott Hotel
- Lord Elgin Hotel
- Delta Hotels by Marriott
Hotels in Ottawa Area
West:
- Brookstreet Hotel
- Town Place Suites by Marriott
South:
- Hampton Inn by Hilton
- Hilton Garden Inn
East:
- Holiday Inn Express and Suites Ottawa East
Food and Drink
Restaurants
- Vittoria Trattoria
- Allium
- Blue Cactus
- Gazelling
- Atelier
- Zen Kitchen
- Occo Kitchen
- Fraser Cafe
- NeXT
- Aperitivo
Satisfying your sweet tooth
- La Brioche
- Moo Shu Ice Cream
- Beavertails Hut
- Rideau bakery
- Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana
- Le Moulin de Provence
- Boko Bakery 26
Mommy Time
Top 10 Day Spas
- York Street Spa
- The Spa
- Au Naturel Spa
- Holtz Spa
- Renu Spa Urban Retreat
- Strathmere Day Retreat and Spa
- Carte Blanche Haute Coiffure
- Serenity Salon and Spa
- March House Spa
- Le Nordique
Biggest Shopping Malls
- Tanger Outlets
- Bayshore Shopping Centre
- Rideau Shopping Centre
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre
- Carlingwood Shopping Centre
- Place D’Orleans
Unique Shopping Districts
- Chinatown
- The Glebe
- Little Italy
- Ottawa Trainyards
- Sparks Street
- Westboro
Favourite websites to find everything you need to plan your visit to Ottawa
- Ottawa Festivals
- Ottawa Tourism
- Ottawa 2017 – Festivities
- City of Ottawa – Visitor Guide
- Ottawa Start – List of events
- Ottawa Kids
- Kids in the Capital
- Savvy Mom – Ottawa
- To Do Canada – Ottawa
- Narcity – Ottawa
- BONUS: Lonely Planet – Ottawa
- BONUS: Government of Canada – Ottawa
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Travel blogs are starting to be my latest obsession mainly because of all the information that you guys include. Perfect to just come to one blog with all the info thank you so much!!
I love scrolling through travel blogs myself. you can discover so many new places 🙂
I’d love to go visit there some time! Very helpful post! Thanks!
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Oh how I would love to live in some of those buildings.
They are pretty grand, aren’t they?
Amazing resources here! And I love the pictures. I really never knew anything about Ottawa before, but I am tempted to check it out now.
It is truly an amazing place. I love playing tourist here (even though it’s my home town 🙂 )
I would love to go to one of the museums or take a stroll through the parks.
I feel super prepared if I ever visit! Thanks for the great tips.
I could not afford to travel yet outside Asia but looking forward to explore other parts of the world. The photos you posted made me feel like I was there already. Of the festivals you posted, I got excited the most with the Tulip Festival. I love that flower so much.
This is the most comprehensive Ottawa guide i’ve read and its cool. Every needed info is here! You can already make your own guide book 🙂
Wow there is so much to do! I’m so looking forward to travelling Canada for the first time next year!
I have traveled to Toronto but never to Ottawa, I need to put that on my list the next time I head to CA. Gorgeous pics 🙂
Sounds like you could never get bored in Ottawa. If we ever visit I know we would love the history museums. My husband is a fan of history. The Tanger outlets would be on my list. I love shopping anywhere I go.
Wow, there is so much to do here! You’d need a solid chunk of time to really enjoy everything it has to offer. Such a beautiful place!
It’s such a beautiful city! I’ve been to Toronto but not Ottawa, Wow!
These are a lot of activities, wow! Seems like there is a lot to do and explore in Ottawa! I would love to go there one day.
What an amazing resource for visitors to Ottawa! The architecture of the buildings look so grand and beautiful!
I think on my last (and only trip) to Ottawa in 2010 I only done 3 or 4 of the things in this list! The city has so much to offer, but I cant wait to get back out there next year 🙂
This is quite a comprehensive list of attractions in Ottawa. I had no idea there was so much in this city. It must have taken a lot of research.
this is an amazing guide! if you printed this off you wouldn’t need to google anything! nice work!
We’re really looking forward to visiting Canada. Looks like Ottawa has plenty to offer. Great guide with tons of info. Thanks!
I’ve never thought of visiting Ottowa before but seems like there’s plenty to see and do there!
Wow, there seems to be a lot to do in Ottowa! I guess I need to add it to my travel list. Thanks!
Love lists like these. Ottawa looks like a fantastic place to explore, thanks for sharing 🙂
Ottowa is Packed! Laying all the attractions out like this makes it seem like you’d need weeks there to accomplish them all.
You sure would! It’s truly a wonderful place to visit 🙂 (and to live)
You really done a good job
I have always wanted to visit Ottawa. I’d love to check out the shopping malls and even some of the bakeries. I’d also love to visit Ottawa during a time when there is a festival going on. I enjoy going to festivals.
This was such a thorough guide! I truly appreciate the effort that you put into making sure you left nothing out, and now I feel like I must visit Ottawa! Your photos are stunning as well
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