Ottawa Attractions

Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are top travel destinations in Canada, attracting hundreds of thousands of travelers year after year. The Canadian capital, Ottawa, is often overlooked as a vacation spot. The sixth largest city in Canada, with its 880,000 residents, may not be as big and modern as other Canadian cities, but it is cozy and beautiful.

It is home to numerous historical sites, government buildings, and national landmarks that represent significant milestones in Canadian history.

The city's location along the Rideau Canal is stunning. You can explore the city easily on foot or by bike. Ottawa's food scene is also famous and very diverse.

At the end of the article, you will find a city map of Ottawa with all the important tips and highlights.

Enjoy my tips for 48 hours in Ottawa!

To enter Canada, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This costs only 7 CAD (approximately 5 Euros) and is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

-> Apply for eTA directly here

You can only fly directly to Ottawa from Germany from Frankfurt with Air Canada. The flight takes eight hours.

Ottawa is also easily reachable by train or car. It takes four hours by car from Toronto and only two hours from beautiful Montreal.

FLIGHTS BOOKING ✈️ We always look for affordable flights on Kayak. Here you can find my tips for booking cheap flights. Make sure to specify checked luggage, as Basic flights only include carry-on baggage. This initially distorts the price and shows a lower rate.

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is only 20 minutes from downtown. You can take Bus Line 97 or OC Transpo regularly from the airport to the city center.

It is said that Ottawa is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. Since I haven't seen them all, I can't say for sure. But I know that the location between three picturesque rivers and the border of Ontario and Québec is wonderful. I really enjoyed my time here!

Here are my highlights that you must see:

Parliament Hill is the political heart of Canada and the official residence of the charming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Parliament building, built in gothic style, sits on the hill overlooking the Ottawa River. It is a sight to behold from afar.

The complex consists of the main building, which houses the Senate, House of Commons, and the Parliament Library.

The Canadian Parliament and the Peace Tower attract countless visitors, especially in the summer. Everyone sits on the grass to watch the changing of the guard ceremony, similar to London. It's a main attraction of the city.

At 10 AM, the bagpipes start playing, followed by marching music as the guards come in step. The entire procedure lasts about 30 minutes.

You should check out the library inside, which is adorned with opulent carvings.

Tip: Take a tour of Parliament. Note: Bring only small bags, as backpacks are not allowed for security reasons. From the 90-meter-high Peace Tower, you get a 360-degree panoramic view of Ottawa and the Gatineau Mountains.

ByWard Market is named after Lieutenant Colonel John By and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Ottawa. The market, located in the heart of Ottawa, has been around since 1840 and is a must-visit.

Here you can find not only a fruit and vegetable market but also numerous food stalls, street performers, and plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants surrounding it.

Tip: Try a fresh bagel from the oven topped with salmon. Yummy!

The Rideau Canal has eight locks on its way down to Lake Ontario. In the summer, you can enjoy watching boats navigate the locks. We sat here on a very warm summer day, sipping coffee and watching the many boats pass by.

In winter, the canal freezes over. The main attraction then is ice skating on the canal. With a skating rink that is 7.8 km long, it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest naturally frozen skating rink in the world. Wow, that must be fantastic!

The impressive castle-like luxury hotel sits grandly along the Rideau Canal across from Parliament Hill. During my trip, I stayed here. The Hôtel Fairmont Château Laurier opened in 1912 and is THE traditional 5-star hotel in Ottawa. Of course, a stay here doesn't come cheap, as you pay for the name.

Tip: You can get an excellent view of the Rideau Canal and its eight locks from the terrace, perfect for photography.

Before you enter, you must pass by a colossal spider that weighs 2 tons. 'Maman' is a work of art by artist Louise Bourgeois. The gallery is located right on the Ottawa River in Canada's capital.

Every Thursday from 5 - 8 PM, admission is free.

Here you can learn more about Indigenous peoples and the First Nations, Canada's first settlers. They came via the first 'Trans-Canada Highway,' the Ottawa River, to trade goods and replenish supplies.

Some artifacts from excavations are displayed in the museum.

Here are a few insider tips for Ottawa that I couldn't find in any travel guide.

The museum at Carp was built during the Cold War as a nuclear bunker for the Prime Minister and VIPs. Today, you can visit the Cold War Museum.

Additionally, exhibitions and special events take place, such as film nights showcasing classics, themed nights like Casino à la James Bond, and much more.

-> Website: diefenbunker.ca/en

If you have limited time in Ottawa, you can explore the downtown area on foot or book a tour with a local - basically an insider.

I generally look at what tours are offered on Get Your Guide. You can book tickets directly and print them or load them onto your smartphone.

Are you looking to be active? Then take a bike tour through Ottawa. It's worth it!

You get a fantastic view from above with a flight on a vintage biplane!

Tours start at just 65 CAD with Ottawa Biplane Adventures. What can I say? The experience of flying over Ottawa in an open Waco from 1940 is fantastic!

And if you're already at the airfield, you can also visit the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Here, besides historical aircraft, you can see a special exhibition where you can view the spacesuit and personal items of our astronaut Alexander Gerst!

-> Visit Ottawa Biplane Adventures' website

Ottawa's food scene is predominantly focused on organic offerings. Savour Ottawa is a city-wide initiative that serves products from local farms.

In Ottawa, there are accommodations for every budget.

Since I was invited by Destination Canada to stay in Ottawa, we were accommodated at the historic and famous Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel. Its location along the Rideau Canal and directly by Parliament is excellent. The hotel is one of the best in the city and is priced in the upper range.

In general, hotels in downtown Ottawa are quite expensive. For a night in a good hotel, you should budget around 120 Euros.

Unfortunately, there is no guidebook specifically for Ottawa. If you're taking a road trip in Eastern Canada, I recommend the Dumont Travel Guide Canada - The East.

I find this series by Dumont excellently organized and informative!

I also like to buy the picture atlas from Dumont before my trips. It covers many images and specific themes with maps. I also bought the Picture Atlas of Canada for the East, written by a journalist friend with whom I sat at the aforementioned canal enjoying the sun!

The downtown area is not very large and is quite easy to navigate. You can basically explore everything on foot.

At least 2 months in advance:

What was your highlight? If you have any further tips, I'd love to hear your comment at the end of this article. If you're planning your trip and have questions, feel free to leave them here as comments!

Here I have compiled more facts and figures about Ottawa that also surprised me.

Here you will find a city map with all the highlights for 48 hours and my tips:

Ottawa is located in Eastern Canada in the province of Ontario. Known places nearby include the Gatineau Mountains and Bells Corners.

Both English and French are spoken.

You can fly from Frankfurt/Main to Ottawa with one stopover in Toronto in about 14-15 hours. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Germany.

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