Ottawa is Canada's capital. With over a million citizens, it is Canada's fourth-largest city, and Ontario's second-largest city. Across the Ottawa river is Gatineau, Quebec.

While most Ottawans are English-speaking, 15% speak French natively, making Ottawa Canada's largest Francophone city outside of Quebec. Visitors come to Ottawa to see Parliament Hill, as well as the national museums.

Understand

The Peace Tower, Parliament Hill

History

Ottawa started as a humble lumber town called Bytown; it was named after Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers who oversaw the construction of the Rideau Canal, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, much of which was done by hand, between 1826 and 1832. Lumber mills were built along the Ottawa River in the mid-nineteenth century and those brought employment and wealth to the growing population. The centre of action then, as now, was the Byward Market. While it is still the centre of the city's nightlife, it has changed appreciably from the rough and tumble early days of brothels and taverns.

In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of Canada. The choice was controversial, partly because it sidestepped the rivalry between Toronto and Montreal (then, as now, Canada's largest cities), and partly because the new capital was still a tiny outpost in the middle of nothing much — an American newspaper famously commented that it was impregnable, as any invaders would get lost in the woods looking for it.

Unlike Canberra in Australia or Washington, D.C. in the United States, Ottawa is not part of a special federal district. There is an official National Capital Region containing Ottawa, Gatineau, Quebec across the Ottawa river, and surrounding areas in both provinces. However that matters only for federal programs like the NCC (National Capital Commission); the two cities have separate municipal governments and are parts of different provinces. Each has its own Wikivoyage article.

During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the telephone was demonstrated to the Canadian public for the first time here and the city was electrified. The first electric streetcar service was started in 1891. A menu from 1892 states that, "the first instance in the entire world of an entire meal being cooked by Electricity" was in Ottawa.

Today, the major economic sectors are the public service, travel and tourism and the high-tech industry, which has earned the city the name "Silicon Valley North". Ottawa has remained a green city and is situated at the confluence of three rivers (Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau) and of the Rideau Canal. Many residents make regular use of Ottawa's parks and green spaces, bikeways and cross country ski trails. Many national attractions are located in Ottawa: Parliament Hill, the National Library and Archives, the National Gallery, and the Museums of History, Contemporary Photography, Nature, War, and Science & Technology.

Climate

Ottawa
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       64     −6 −15       52     −4 −13       65     2 −7       68     11 1       81     19 7       91     24 13       89     26 16       88     25 14       87     20 10       79     13 3       77     5 −3       74     −2 −10 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm See the Ottawa 7-day forecast at Environment Canada
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.5     21 5       2     25 9       2.6     36 19       2.7     52 34       3.2     66 45       3.6     75 55       3.5     79 61       3.5     77 57       3.4     68 50       3.1     55 37       3     41 27       2.9     28 14 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Visitor information

In addition to the Capital Information Kiosk, the tourist office's eager helpers can be found in public places, ready to answer questions in French or English. You can identify them by their blue uniforms with white question marks ("?").

• 1 Capital Information Kiosk, 90 Wellington Street (opposite Parliament Hill), ☏ +1 613-239-5000, toll-free: +1-844-878-8333, cik-kic@pch.gc.ca. 10AM-5PM daily. Excellent first stop for all kinds of tourist information, in friendly and fluent English and French. This is the office which issues free tickets for tours of the Parliament buildings. free. (updated May 2016)

Get in

By plane

• 1 Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW  ^IATA), 1000 Airport Parkway Private (around 10.2 km south of downtown), ☏ +1-613-248-2125, comments@yow.ca. Ottawa's main airport has regular flights from most major Canadian and many American cities. Services outside North America, however, are limited to a daily flight from London Heathrow and a daily flight from Frankfurt with Air Canada, plus seasonal service from London Gatwick. The airport also offers US Customs Pre-clearance facilities to allow for seamless domestic and international connections through US airports.  

In addition direct air links and connections, Air France, KLM, and Swiss International Airlines provide shuttle bus services between Ottawa and Montreal that facilitate connections with their flights to Montreal Trudeau International Airport. This trip takes about two hours. Via Rail operates a free on-demand shuttle bus from Trudeau International Airport to the Dorval train station nearby. You can then travel to Ottawa by rail.

ATMs and a currency exchange booth are available in the arrivals hall (lower level). There is one International Currency Exchange (ICE) branded ATM near the baggage carrousels which charges higher transaction fees and offers poor exchange rates and one Royal Bank ATM near the washrooms with lower transaction fees and better exchange rates. There is a 24 hour baggage storage facility (Pars 2000) in the arrivals hall. Luggage can be stored for $5 per day or $8 overnight. There is also an information booth in the arrivals hall.

There are a number of restaurants and a few bars inside the departures area.

Ground transportation

• Public transit - To reach downtown via public transit, take bus 97 (the only bus at the airport, outside at arrivals at pole #12) to Hurdman Station, and transfer to the O-Train Confederation Line (direction: Tunney's Pasture) to downtown stations: Lyon, Parliament or Rideau. To get to the Ottawa Train Station, take bus 97 to Hurdman Station and transfer to the O-Train Confederation Line (direction Blair) to Tremblay Station, the next O-Train stop, which is next door to the train station. The bus fare is $3.50 which gives you 1½ hours of unlimited bus travel or $10.50 for an all-day pass. If you don't have a Presto card, exact change is required; remember to ask the bus driver for a transfer to use as proof of payment for fare inspectors.
• Taxi - A taxi to downtown hotels should cost between $25 and $35, while a taxi to nearby hotels should not cost more than $10. Uber and Lyft serve the airport and a ride to downtown hotels should cost between $20 and $25.
• Car rental - Most of the major international car rental agencies have a presence in the parking garage across from the airport terminal.

By bus

• 2 Ottawa Central Station, 265 Catherine Street (1.5 km south of downtown near Highway 417), ☏ +1-613-238-6668. 5:00am to 2:45am. Ottawa Central Station is the city's main bus terminal and serves buses from Greyhound Canada, Ontario Northland, Autobus Gatineau and Transcollines.  

The bus terminal is downtown on the corner of Catherine Street and Kent Street, between Bronson Avenue and Bank Street. Though the bus terminal is downtown, a 15-20 minute walk will get you to most hotels and downtown attractions. Alternatively, a 5-10 minute local bus ride will do the same. (Bus #6 or #7 from a stop on Bank Street at Catherine Street, one block east of the terminal, will take you to Parliament and Rideau O-Train stations in downtown Ottawa.)

A taxi to most downtown hotels should cost between $8 and $15. OC-Transpo buses are much cheaper but payable in cash (change not available) or Presto fare card. A daily bus pass is also available for purchase on the bus. There are also car rental agencies near the terminal.

• Greyhound Canada, toll-free: +1-800-661-8747. Offers regular service from Montreal ($29 one-way in 2020, with departure on the hour from 6AM to midnight), as well as service to Toronto and other cities in North America. In 2020, a coach from Toronto cost between $45.50 one-way, $72 return (5 to 6 hours, 8 coaches a day). There are discounts for seniors (62+), students, children (2-11), and advance purchase. Greyhound buses coming from Montreal also usually make an intermediary "University of Ottawa" stop (which is at Laurier Station near the corner of Laurier Avenue East and Waller Street) before going to the Catherine Street terminal. This stop is closer walking distance to the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal, and Parliament Hill, and is a more central city transit hub. It may be necessary to request the stop with the driver. (updated Jun 2020)
• Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Connects Ottawa to a number of smaller regional centres in Northern Ontario, such as North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie most days of the week. (updated Jun 2020)
• Autobus Gatineau, toll-free: +1-888-880-0439. Operates a weekday morning commuter shuttle service to smaller regional centres in the Outaouais region of West Quebec (to the north of Ottawa), such as Wakefield, Kazabazua, Gracefield, Maniwaki and Grand-Remous. (updated Jun 2020)
• Transcollines, toll-free: +1-866-310-1114, info@transcollines.ca. Operates a weekday Intercity-148 morning commuter shuttle service to smaller regional centres in the Pontiac region of West Quebec (to the northwest of Ottawa) along the Ottawa River. The service operates along Quebec Highway 148, serving Luskville, Quyon, Bristol, Shawville, Bryson, Campbell's Bay, Litchfield, Fort-Coulonge, Mansfield, Waltham and Isle-aux-Allumettes. (Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the service temporarily operates only on request. Reservations must be placed by phone or email by noon on the day prior to travel.) (updated Jun 2020)

By train

See also: Rail travel in Canada

Walking downtown from Ottawa station It is possible to get downtown from the main train station on foot, although it requires a bit of navigation. This path should not be taken alone after dark and may be flooded after periods of intense rain or snow melting. Have a street map with you so you can locate yourself once you have reached Strathcona Park. The station to Strathcona Park takes about half an hour (2½ km). Another half hour from the park to downtown. A map is available online. On exiting the station, walk along the west (left-hand) arm of the vehicle loop and across the Transitway bridge. Before reaching Tremblay Road, take the bike path to your left going west. The path will take you along the bus lanes and will pass over Riverside Drive. You will merge with a path coming up from Riverside Drive; continue walking west, away from the street. Shortly after that, you will come to a fork; go right (north) and continue until you see a pedestrian bridge on your left. Take the pedestrian bridge over the Rideau River. Immediately after the pedestrian bridge, turn right towards the north. Take the paved bike path, go under the highway bridge and keep following the Rideau River northward for about 1 km. Once you reach the end of the path, you are in Strathcona Park. Use a street map or an on-line map service to find your way from Strathcona Park to your downtown destination; at the north end of the park is Laurier Avenue, a major east-west street; parallel to it and several blocks north is Rideau Street.

• 3 Ottawa station (XDS  ^IATA), 200 Tremblay Road (4 km east of downtown), toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Daily 5:30AM to 11:30PM. Passenger train service is run by Via Rail in Canada and the main train station in Ottawa is less than ten minutes from downtown by car, taxi or O-Train. There are six trains daily from Montreal and intermediate points, with five trains daily from Toronto and points in between. Service is reduced on Saturday, Sundays and holidays. The station has a lounge for Business class ticket holders and a small cafe offering coffee, pastries, and light meals.  

To reach downtown from the station, passengers can take the light rail (Tunney's Pasture direction) from Tremblay O-Train Station, next door to Ottawa Station. The trip should take about 10 minutes. Tremblay Station has O-Train ticket vending machines which accept cash and credit cards. Taxis are also available and should cost about $10-15 for a trip downtown. There is a phone kiosk offering car rentals.

• 4 Fallowfield station, 3347 Fallowfield Road (southwest of downtown), toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Daily 5:30AM to 11:30PM. Ottawa also has a secondary station (Fallowfield station) in the western suburb of Barrhaven, convenient for Nepean and Kanata points. All trains to Toronto stop at Fallowfield; two of the six weekday trains to Montreal originate or terminate at Fallowfield.  

Fallowfield Station is around 10 kilometers to the west of Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, making it the closest railway station to the airport. The airport is accessible by taxi or car in around 15 minutes. By comparison, OC Transpo buses departing from the adjacent Fallowfield bus station head north to downtown before looping back south to the airport and generally take more than an hour.

It is also possible to cycle from Fallowfield to the airport (over relatively flat terrain) in about 33 minutes. The route begins by heading south to Fallowfield Road, turning left and eventually crossing Woodroffe Avenue. Then turn left again and follow the path which bends to the right in front of the Via train tracks. The trail continues along the tracks and through a wooded area to Prince of Wales Drive and Black Rapids Lockstation on the Rideau River.

From there, turn left and cautiously ride up Prince of Wales Drive north to Hunt Club Road and turn right. Be especially careful at the intersection and on the bridge, as traffic moves quite quickly and it is not particularly friendly for cyclists. Continue down Hunt Club, turn right in front of the Days Inn by Wyndham and finally ride down Paul Benoit Drive through the employee parking lot to the lower level arrivals area.

By boat

Sailing up the Rideau Canal

The Ottawa River is navigable to Ottawa from Montréal, but is blocked to the west by rapids in Ottawa-Hull. There are no ferry services to Ottawa. However, there is a tourist-oriented water taxi that runs between Ottawa and Hull for about $6 one way.

The city is also accessible via the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which runs from the St. Lawrence River at Kingston to the Ottawa River at Ottawa where it empties via a series of locks. It is possible to dock at Dow's Lake Pavilion and at points along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River near downtown.

By car

By car, Ottawa is about a 4½-hour trip from Toronto via the 401 and 416 highways. Highway 7 is shorter (405 km (252 mi) vs. 450 km (280 mi)) but this more scenic route through Peterborough is two lanes almost all the way, saving you no time.

Montreal is 2-3 hours away via Highway 417, the Trans-Canada Highway.

From the American border at Prescott-Ogdensburg, it is 45 minutes to Ottawa's western suburbs (at the opposite end of Highway 416). Interstate 81 is 60 km (40 miles) further upriver in the Thousand Islands.

Get around

Public transit

Ottawa rapid transit map.

OC Transpo operates the city's bus service and the O-Train, a light rail system consisting of two lines. The Confederation Line (Line 1, red in maps), which began service in 2019, runs west-east with an underground segment through the city centre. The Trillium Line (Line 2, green) runs from the south. The lines meet at Bayview station. The bus rapid transit system, called the Transitway, has service as frequent as 1 to 2 minutes at rush hour.

The O-Train Confederation Line runs east-west under the downtown area served by Lyon, Parliament, Rideau and uOttawa O-Train stations. If you are going to the Byward Market, get off at Rideau O-Train Station. To go north-south, take bus route 6 or 7 along Bank Street from either Parliament or Rideau O-Train stations.

The Confederation Line is new and uses a new model of trains. This has lead to many breakdowns as the system develops; on occasion, as many as half the trains are not operational. When service on the Confederation Line is degraded, OC Transpo takes buses off of other routes to run supplementary or replacement service; the "R-1" and "S-1" buses stop at the O-Train stations when they run.

OC Transpo has a webpage to look up schedules and maps for all the O-Train and bus routes mentioned above. It also has a Customer Service Centre on the 3rd floor of the Rideau Centre, above the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive in downtown Ottawa. There are others at major bus stations: Lincoln Fields in the west end, Place d'Orleans and St. Laurent in the east.

Fares

As of October 1, 2019, the cash fare for regular routes is $3.60 for adults and youth (13-64), $2.70 for seniors (65+), $1.85 for children (6-12). (Fares are 5 cents cheaper if paying by Presto card.) Seniors can ride the OC Transpo system free on Wednesdays and Sundays (except Para Transpo). Children 5 and under always ride for free. Payment is by exact change or the Presto card. If you pay cash, get a transfer to act as proof of payment for fare inspection. Your fare allows you to ride any buses and the O-Train for roughly 1½ hours, longer at night. Stop-overs and return trips are permitted.

A day pass ($10.50) is good for buses and the O-Train. On weekends and holidays, up to two adults and four children (age 11 and under) can share a day pass. Buy the pass from the bus driver using exact cash or Presto card. (If you're using the card to pay for a day pass, you must ask the driver before tapping the card to the reader, or it will deduct a normal fare instead). Day passes are also available from ticket vending machines at O-Train stations and at customer service centres.

O-Train stations (except Bayview station) have ticket vending machines that issue a single-ride ticket. The O-Train ticket acts as a transfer which expires 90 minutes after purchase.

You can buy a Presto card for $6 (non-refundable) plus a minimum $10 balance at a Customer Service Centre, at selected Loblaws grocery stores or Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies, by phone (☏ +1-877-378-6123) or online (for delivery in Canada only). Have a Customer Service Centre add the birth date to a Presto card for a senior or a child to qualify for fare discounts. The Presto card (but not any balance that you load onto it) is also valid in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton.

Presto card readers are available on buses at the front door (and also at the rear door of long, articulated buses) and on O-Train platforms. Paying the fare by tapping the Presto card on the reader will also record a 1½ hour transfer period on the card. Tap your Presto card every time you board a vehicle. Upon the first tap, the Presto machine will momentarily display the fare deducted and the Presto balance remaining. When you tap within the transfer period, the Presto machine will display the minutes left in the transfer period.

Service to Gatineau

On weekdays (excluding holidays), OC Transpo bus 15 connects Lyon O-Train Station to Gatineau, Quebec terminating in front of the Canadian Museum of History (stop: Laurier / Élisabeth-Bruyère); it uses OC Transpo fare media, including Presto, even when boarding in Gatineau.

Many Gatineau buses (marked "STO" - Société de transport de l'Outaouais) come into Ottawa, run along Wellington Street and pass by the Byward Market. They can be caught near Lyon, Parliament and Rideau O-Train stations. The colour schemes for the two transit systems are different, red and white for OC Transpo but blue and white for STO. OC Transpo and STO accept each other's transfers including O-Train tickets. STO accepts an OC Transpo transfer recorded on a Presto card; however, STO will not accept Presto to pay the fare on its own buses. STO accepts the OC Transpo day pass but not as a group pass.

By taxi

Taxis are easy to find downtown; elsewhere, phone for a cab. All taxis should have a meter and the base charge is $2.45, and overall rates are quite high compared to most other North American cities. A ride from downtown to the airport will be costly, running between $25 and $35 for a trip that will take less than a half-hour outside of peak traffic periods. Cabs will not take credit cards for fares below $10. Most cab drivers know Ottawa well, but have clear instructions if you're going anywhere in the suburbs as many developments in the outskirts are relatively new. Ottawa cabs aren't supposed to pick up customers off the street on the Quebec side; the converse applies to Quebec cabs in Ottawa. You may phone a Quebec cab if you are in Ottawa and vice versa.

Uber and Lyft are available in Ottawa.

By car

Parking at most attractions is convenient, though on-street parking in downtown areas is at a premium (more expensive than most other cities in North America). If you are driving to downtown on the weekend, parking is free in the garage at the World Exchange Plaza. There are entrances to the garage on Metcalfe Street and on Queen Street. A map is useful if you are going to be driving around downtown as many of the streets are one-way. Drivers in Ottawa are rated as some of the worst in Canada, often failing to signal for lane changes or making illegal turns into far lanes rather than the closest lane.

Most major car rental companies have several offices in Ottawa with all of them represented downtown and at the airport.

Driving while talking on your cell phone is illegal in Ontario unless you use a hands-free system.

On foot

Ottawa is a great city to explore on foot, though in winter you need good clothes and warm boots to consider it. With pedestrian-friendly streets and the density of attractions, a car is expensive and unnecessary for the most part. An excellent place to start any tour of Ottawa is the Capital Information Kiosk, at 90 Wellington Street, directly across from the Parliament buildings. They have maps and brochures for most tourist attractions in Ottawa, many of which are within walking distance.

Popular pedestrian areas, especially during spring and summer months, are the various streets in the Byward Market. Sparks Street, running through downtown parallel to the Parliament Buildings, is a popular pedestrian area during the day and night, particularly in the spring and summer months.

Guided walking tours are available with Ottawa Walking Tours, which include some history and other tidbits of trivia not commonly known. Especially popular is the Haunted Walk of Ottawa that provides a variety of walking tours focusing on the city's darker and more offbeat past.

Ottawa is a city with a truly continental climate. In winter, exposed skin can freeze in minutes or less, so layer up on the clothing and protect yourself by wearing a hat (toque or hunters cap), gloves and boots. Despite being slightly closer to the North Pole than the equator, summer temperature and humidity can be oppressively high, so bring water if you're doing any amount of walking or cycling. If you are on the public pathways near the canal or the river, there are drinking fountains to refill your bottles. Also, don't forget the mosquito repellent.

If you happen to be in Ottawa around early June, make sure you check the website of Jane's Walk Ottawa, an annual festival of free neighbourhood walking tours organised by volunteers. Jane's Walk is a pedestrian-focused event that improves urban literacy by offering insights into local history, planning, design, and civic engagement through the simple act of walking and observing. They are a lot of fun and you will hear stories that you won't find in any guide book.

By bicycle

Bicycling is one of the best ways to see Ottawa up close. You can cover a lot of ground, stop anywhere to sight-see, and enjoy the ambiance of the city. The downtown is very well-served by protected cycling infrastructure, and paths run along the canal and the rivers, including into Gatineau on the Quebec side. In the summer, the downtown bike corridor on Laurier Ave counts 70,000 bike rides a month. The bike routes along the canal see around 350,000 bike rides a year. Again, you may want to start immediately opposite Parliament Hill to pick up a map of the area (in the World Exchange Plaza's NCC booth in the main hallway) or find a bicycle rental. Cycling to the attractions around downtown Ottawa is a great way to get around, but don't ignore the Gatineau side of the river. The city has several attractions along the river including the Museum of History and if you want to really stretch your legs, Gatineau Park has many great cycling paths; the Champlain Look Out has a wonderful view over the Ottawa Valley.

Rentals

There are usually a few options for renting bicycles downtown, including:

• 1 Rentabike, 2 Rideau St (Located across from the hotel Château Laurier, below the Plaza Bridge and next to the Rideau Canal), ☏ +1-613-241-4140, rentabike11@outlook.com. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-6PM. Well-equipped bike rental service. From this central location, pathways along the Rideau Canal are suitable for cycling south or north. (updated Jul 2020)
• 2 Bike Dump, 407 Catherine St (Catherine at Percy Street. 3 blocks west of Ottawa Central Station bus terminal), ☏ +1-613-231-2317. (updated Jul 2020)
• 3 RightBike/Cycle Salvation, 473 Bronson Avenue (Bronson south of Gladstone Ave), ☏ +1-613-722-4440, rightbike@causewayworkcentre.org. (updated Jul 2020)

You can also get a bicycle for shorter time periods via VeloGo bike sharing system. About 20 bike stations are to be found mainly in downtown Ottawa and a bit further south along the canal and Dow's Lake. There are also several across the Ottawa River in Gatineau. Velogo is designed for short trips; find pricing on their website.

Capital Pathway

The city is criss-crossed by over 170 km of multi-use bike paths, shared with pedestrians and in-line skaters. Dogs on leash are allowed along many of the paths, but only if the owner is on foot. Many paths are unlit at night, so careful that you don't ride into a leash between the dog and its owner. The maximum speed on the pathways is 20 km/h (13 mph).

The National Capital Commission closes 50 km of roadways to cars every Sunday during the summer from Victoria Day (late May) to Labour Day (early September) allowing for cycling, in-line skating and walking on these roadways. For route suggestions, check local bloggers websites:

• http://gobiking.ca/
• https://ottawavelooutaouais.com/

OC Transpo has bicycle racks on the front of many buses (seasonally). You can load your bike on the rack and then ride the bus for the normal passenger fare. The O-Train will take bikes as well, in the forwardmost car.

The City of Ottawa has bike repair stations in public spaces along paths and across from City Hall, at libraries and community centres. The stations consist of a pump and the most important tools, connected to a base with steel cables.

Long time advocacy group Bike Ottawa (since 1984) maintains an extensive website with a set of interactive bicycle route maps that rate all bicycle routes through Ottawa and Gatineau on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being child-friendly and 4 being very stressful. They also make available information on infrastructure progress. Contact them also with questions about routes, concerns and popular destinations. Although it is a volunteer-run organisation, they are usually fairly fast in responding. #ottbike is the commonly used hashtag on social media.

See

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill, Canada's house of democracy

The National War Memorial near Parliament Hill

The primary attraction for most visitors is 1 Parliament Hill.   Parliament Hill is in the middle of downtown Ottawa, overlooking the Ottawa River. Not only is the building a fine example of the Gothic revival style, it makes an excellent starting point to visit all other points of interest in the area.

• The Changing of the Guard takes place daily on the lawns of Parliament at 9AM during the summer. The Governor General's Foot Guards can also be seen at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at Rideau Hall.

Tours of the building are available daily with multiple tours (in English and French) available at staggered times throughout the day. If you have a group of greater than 10 people, you must make a reservation in advance by reserving online or by calling the reservations office at +1 613-996-0896. The admission is free, but you need tickets (one for the Centre Block, one for the East Block) which you get at the office. The office opens at 9am, but because of the interest in the summer, you should stand in line at least at 8.30am or even earlier. It can take an hour or more until you reach the desk and get your tickets.

• The Centre Block closed for renovation in early 2019, and is expected to remain closed for a decade.
• From July 2 to Labour Day (early September), tours of the East Block are available; tour guides take you through the restored offices of some of the Fathers of Confederation (Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir George-Etienne Cartier, Governor General Lord Dufferin and the original Privy Council Office) explaining the beginnings of the Dominion of Canada while historical characters let you in on the daily lives of Canada's past politicians. Tours last about an hour and free same-day tickets can be picked up at the Info-tent on the Hill by West Block.
• If there are no more tickets available, or you have to wait for your time, a fine self-guided walking tour around the grounds of Parliament Hill will keep you busy. Free booklets are available at the visitors' centre.
• One of the nicer, unexpected views, looking from the bottom up, can be accessed at the back of the Parliament Buildings—that vantage point also provides a river view of the Canadian Museum of History, across the river in downtown Gatineau (a sector that was formerly the city of Hull).
• Behind the Parliament Buildings at sunset is a sight to remember. You can walk by the Rideau Canal locks (at the east corner) and visit the Bytown Museum at the level of the canal.
• The locks separate Parliament Hill from the Chateau Laurier, a former railway hotel (see below).
• Mosaika Parliament Hill Sound & Light Show. Developed by the National Capital Commission, the Sound & Light Show is a 30-minute film about Canada projected on the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. Bleacher seating is available and no reservations or tickets are required. There is one show nightly until September at 21:30. 

Museums

There are many national museums and galleries in Ottawa and neighbouring Gatineau. All museums in Ottawa have free admission on Canada Day, July 1, although they are generally very crowded then.

• 2 Bank of Canada Currency Museum, 30 Bank St, ☏ +1 613-782-8914, museum@bankofcanada.ca. 10AM-5PM. Free. (updated Apr 2018)
• 3 Bytown Museum, 1 Canal Ln (at the Rideau Canal locks between Parliament Hill and Chateau Laurier), ☏ +1 613-234-4570. Victoria Day weekend-Thanksgiving Day: F-W 10AM-5PM, Th 10AM-9PM. Rest of year: Tu-Su 11AM-4PM. A small museum at the foot of Parliament Hill with a focus on Ottawa's early history. $6 adults, $4 seniors/students/youth, $3 children 5-12, $15 families (2 adults plus three children under 18), free for children 4 and under. Free admission Th 5PM-9PM from Victoria Day-Thanksgiving Day. (updated Jan 2017)
• 4 Canada Agriculture Museum, 861 Prince of Wales Dr, ☏ +1 613-991-3044, toll-free: +1-866-442-4416. Exhibitions: 9AM-5PM daily late Feb-late Nov. Animal barns: 9AM-5PM daily all year. A working animal farm in the city. You can visit animal barns, see various demonstrations and exhibitions, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon. The museum also has a playground and picnic area. It is very popular with young children and a welcome change of pace for kids who have seen enough history after visiting some of the other sights. $7 adults, $6 students/seniors, $4 children 3-14, $16 families (2 adults and 3 children), free for children under 3. Seniors free on Tuesday. Admission to animal barns is by donation during time of year when the exhibitions are closed. (updated Jan 2017)
• 5 Canada Aviation Museum, 11 Aviation Parkway (at Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport), ☏ +1 613-993-2010, +1 613-990-7530 (TTY), toll-free: +1-800-463-2038, fax: +1 613-993-3655. 10AM to 5PM, daily, closed Tuesdays. Former RCAF base with civilian and military aircraft ranging from pre-World War I to modern, including 1920s-1940s bush planes, war planes from both World Wars and the Cold War, surviving components of the 1950s' Avro Arrow interceptor and Space Shuttle Endeavor's Canadarm, a Canadian-built robotic arm. Guided tours, boutique. $15, student/seniors $13, Youth (ages 3-17) $10. (updated Jan 2017)
• 6 Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St. K2P2R1, ☏ +1 613-566-4700, toll-free: +1-800-263-4433. Tu W F-Su 9AM-5PM; Th 9AM-8PM. Open on some holiday Mondays. Galleries of fossils, mammals, birds and geology among others. Free admission Thursdays after 5PM and all day Canada Day (July 1st) $13.50 adult (general admission). (updated Jan 2017)
• 7 Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, ☏ +1 819-776-7000, toll-free: +1-800-555-5621. Sept–June: M–W F–Su 9:30AM–5PM, Th 9:30AM–8PM. June–Sept: M–W F–Su 9:30AM–6PM, Th 9:30AM–8PM. The museum presents Canada's involvement in armed conflict beginning with battles between the French and British, through to the World Wars, Korea, and the country's current involvement in NATO and UN operations. $12 for adults. A joint War Museum and Museum of History ticket $18 (good for one entry into each museum in a three-day period). Free on Th after 6PM, and on November 11.  
• 8 Carleton University Art Gallery, St. Patrick's Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive, ☏ +1 613-520-5611. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su noon-5PM. free. (updated Aug 2017)
• 9 Diefenbunker - Canada's Cold War Museum, 3911 Carp Rd, Carp (from Ottawa, take Hwy 417 west to exit 144, then go north on Carp Rd, watch for the sign on the left side of the road), toll-free: +1-800-409-1965. Self-guided tours 11AM-4PM daily. Built to protect the government from nuclear attack, this once-secret bunker is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. "Diefenbunker" is a play on "Diefenbaker", the Canadian prime minister in the 1950s who authorized the construction of the facility. In addition to preserving and promoting Canada's Cold War history, the museum offers a variety of visitor programs and services. You can learn, play or shop as you discover the bunker's secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. Guided tours by reservation only. If you do not have access to a vehicle and are willing to do a 50 minute bus ride plus pay a $30 taxi, you can # take the OcTranpo #95 or #97; # Transfer to the #93 at Lincoln Fields; # Get off at the Legget / Ad. 515 stop; # Walk 3 minutes to Brookstreet Hotel; # Take a taxi to the Diefenbunker. $14 adults, $13 seniors, $10 students , $8 youth 6-18, $40 families (2 adults plus 3 youth), free for children 5 and under. (updated Jan 2017)

National Gallery of Canada (left) and Ottawa Cathedral

• 10 Laurier House National Historic Site, 335 Laurier Ave., ☏ +1 613-992-8142, toll-free: +1-888-773-8888, Laurier-House@pc.gc.ca. May 1-Jun 30: Th-M 10:00-17:00. 1878 house that is the former residence of two Canadian prime ministers: Sir Wilfrid Laurier (for whom the house is named) and William Lyon Mackenzie King. Adult $3.90, Senior (65+) $3.40, Youth (17 and under) free. (updated Apr 2018)
• 11 National Gallery, 380 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-990-1985. Photography, traditional and modern art from Canadian and international artists. Housed inside a glass building with a giant spider structure on the outside. Free admission Th after 5PM. (updated Jan 2017)

Jacques Plante's Goalie Mask on display in the Science and Technology Museum

• 12 Science and Technology Museum. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. Several displays are popular with children, including massive locomotives inside the building and electricity demonstrations. Re-opened on November 17, 2017, after years of renovations because of a mould problem, this museum is even more family-friendly than it was before its forced closure. Adult $17, Youth (3-17) $11, Senior (60+) / Student $13. (updated Nov 2017)

Professional sports

• 13 Ottawa 67's, TD Place Arena, 1015 Bank St, ☏ +1 613-232-6767. Ontario Hockey League (OHL) 
• 14 Atlético Ottawa, TD Place Stadium, 1015 Bank St. Replacing the city's former Ottawa Fury FC is this club owned by Spanish soccer giants Atlético Madrid. Unlike Fury FC, which played at the second level of US soccer (the USL Championship), Atlético Ottawa will play in the domestic Canadian Premier League.  
• 15 Ottawa Harlequins, Twin Elm Rugby Park. Rugby Canada Super League  
• 16 Ottawa RedBlacks, TD Place Stadium, 1015 Bank St, ☏ +1 613-232-6767, fan@ottawaredblacks.com. Canadian Football League (CFL) 
• 17 Ottawa Senators, Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Dr, Kanata, ☏ +1 613-599-0250. National Hockey League (NHL) 

Parks

Ottawa has dozens of neighbourhood parks and other parcels of green space in the urban core.

• 18 Nepean Point, Alexandra Bridge (behind the National Gallery). Daily 08:00-23:00. A quiet place to watch the sun set, or to take photos of Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, the Museum of History, and the Royal Canadian Mint from angles that don't usually end up in the tourist brochures. Nepean Point is also home to a statue of Samuel de Champlain, and the Astrolabe Theatre (one of the better places to watch the fireworks from on July 1). However, the point is not accessible if you're in a wheelchair. (updated Feb 2020)
• 19 Strathcona Park, 25 Range Rd. Strathcona Park is at the eastern end of the Sandy Hill neighbourhood, and is the centerpiece of "Embassy Row". Be sure to see the Lord Strathcona Fountain at the park's north end, and Stephen Brathwaite's play structure (which looks like a ruined building in miniature) in the middle of the park. (updated Feb 2017)
• 20 Commissioners Park (at Preston Street & Queen Elizabeth Drive near Carling O-Train station). Located adjacent to Dows Lake, where you can rent boats, it features the Festival of Tulips in May. In summer, there are a number of flower beds with flowers arranged by colour in attractive patterns. (updated Sep 2017)
• 21 Hartwell's Lockstation (west side of Carleton University, 400m from Carleton O-Train station). Pictoresque lock station within a park along the Rideau Canal. One could walk across the locks and continue north to Dows Lake near Carling O-Train station, or northwest to the Canada Agriculture Museum. (updated Sep 2017)

Other attractions

• 22 Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-991-4422, toll-free: +1-866-842-4422. Residence tour (without reservations): Apr 30-Jun 26: Sa Su 10AM-4PM, Jun 27-Sep 5: 10AM-4PM daily (unguided open-house tours available Jul-Aug), Sep 6-Oct 30: Sa Su noon-4PM. Advance reservations required for tours at any time from Nov-Apr, and weekdays May-Jun and Sep-6-Oct 30. Grounds tour: 8AM-1 hour before sunset daily. The official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her representative the Governor General of Canada. The grounds and the residence are open to the public for tours. Reservations are recommended during low season (September 1 - April 30). Free. (updated Jan 2017)
• 23 Royal Canadian Mint, 320 Sussex Drive (a five-minute walk north of the National Gallery), ☏ +1 613-993-8990, toll-free: +1-800-276-7714. 9AM-6PM. Canada's commemorative and collectable coinage is minted here (circulation coinage is minted in Winnipeg), as were the medals for the 2010 Olympics. Tours are available, and there is no charge if you only want to visit the boutique. Price varies depending on day of the week and age of person, group discount rates available. (updated Jan 2017)
• 24 Supreme Court of Canada. Canada's highest court and the best example in Ottawa of Art Deco architecture. Its marble Grand Entrance Hall is particularly impressive. The visit includes a tour in the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada hearing room. The visits last about 30 minutes and are provided by law students hired at the Court. The Court is a 5-minute walk from Parliament. Tours are offered in French on the half hour and in English on the hour. No reservations are needed between May 1 and August 30. Visitor reservations are required between September 1 to April 30. Free. (updated Jan 2017)
• 25 24 Sussex, 24 Sussex Drive. The official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. While you cannot enter the building, you can look through the fence from the outside. (updated Apr 2019)

Do

There are walking tours to introduce you to the capital area.

• Ottawa Walking Tours offers historical guided walks of Ottawa's downtown core with special stops at areas of historical significance. Tours acquaint guests with the history of the city and allow visitors to learn more about Ottawa’s history, architecture and colourful political characters. Tours are offered year-round and reservations are required. For more information, call +1 613-799-1774.
• The Haunted Walk of Ottawa offers tours focusing on Ottawa's infamous haunts and darker history. Hear tales of hauntings at some of Ottawa's most well known locations, including the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Bytown Museum and the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Cloaked guides lead guests through the city streets by lantern light-the perfect atmosphere for a good ghost story. Tours run year-round, rain or shine. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, call +1 613-232-0344.

If you enjoy the outdoors, especially if you are a cyclist, you should definitely visit Gatineau Park just across the river from Ottawa. Bicycles can be rented during the summer months at Rentabike, 2 Rideau St (under Rideau St on the east side of the canal). Ottawa and the surrounding area boasts over 170 km of public paved trails on which you can run, bike, walk or rollerblade. If you are looking for a place to start, head to the nearest waterway: paved trails line both sides of the Ottawa River, the Rideau Canal, and the Rideau River. The Trans Canada Trail enters Ottawa through the outskirt communities of Carleton Place and Stittsville, then joins up with the Ottawa River at Brittania Bay (near Carling Avenue at Bayshore Drive). It follows the river 13 km east to Parliament Hill, then crosses over to the Quebec side, extending into and beyond Gatineau Park.

Skating on the Rideau canal

• 1 Rideau Skateway. In winter, go skating on the largest outdoor skating rink in the world, the Rideau canal. Skates can be rented, and refreshments purchased, from vendors right on the ice. This is also a great place to enjoy a "beaver tail" (a sweet pastry). free, skates can be rented.. 
• Skiing. The city's trail system serves as an excellent cross-country ski trail system, as do the nearly 200 km of groomed ski trails in Gatineau Park. Downhill skiing is available across the river in three near-by sites: Camp Fortune (180 m vertical), Edelweiss (200 m vertical) and Mont Cascades (165 m vertical). 
• Yoga on the Hill. During the summer months, a free weekly yoga class is offered on Parliament Hill most Wednesdays beginning at noon. The class is very popular—sometimes attracting more than a thousand people—so it's recommended to arrive a bit early to claim a spot on the grass. Yoga mat recommended but optional. 
• Maple Syrup. In early spring (typically March), when the daytime temperatures are above freezing and night temperatures are below freezing, consider visiting a sugarbush for fresh maple syrup. There are many to choose from in the region if you have a car to drive out of the city. 
  • 2 Vanier Museopark Sugar Shack, 200- 300, avenue des Pères Blancs, Vanier, ☏ +1 613-842-9871, info@museoparc.ca. Sa Su 9AM-2PM, March and April only. The Vanier Museopark's "Sugar Shack" offers the sugarbush experience without needing to leave the city. Reservations can be made at the website. 
• Doors Open Ottawa, doorsopen@ottawa.ca. Doors Open Ottawa, the second-largest Doors Open architectural event in North America, takes place during the first weekend in June. Over 100 buildings (many of which are normally closed to the public, such as embassies, official residences, museum storage buildings, and city infrastructure facilities) open their doors to the public, offering free admission to part or all of the premises. Most participating buildings also allow photography. While the event takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM, not all buildings are open both days. (updated Jan 2017)

Day trips to Québec

Since Ottawa is located on the provincial border, daytrips to neighbouring Québec can be made easily.

• Gatineau - Right across the Ottawa River. The Canadian Museum of History is worth a visit. The nightlife in the Old Hull neighbourhood is often considered superior to Ottawa's, with a handful of loud clubs but also a decent offering of artistic cafés with good local live music.
• Gatineau Park is directly north from Hull; the Camp Fortune and Edelweiss ski areas are also north of the city, near Chelsea and Wakefield respectively. Wakefield is a picturesque artist town on the side of the Gatineau River. Rich with cultural offerings and beautiful natural surroundings (especially in autumn).
• Buckingham is downriver from Gatineau in the east, as one of the more accessible venues for rural maple sugar shack camps.
• Aventure Laflèche, ☏ +1 819 457-4033. A superb destination for outdoor activities in the Gatineau Hills year-round. A community-owned non-profit company that offers beautiful nature trails, tours of the historical Laflèche caves, and the province's largest aerial park for the adventurous (includes several ziplines). Calling ahead for reservations is strongly recommended. 
• Eco-Odyssée, ☏ +1 819 459-2551. Another great option for nature lovers close to Wakefield. A water maze that's great for learning about the local marsh environments. 
• Great Canadian Bungee. For the adventure-inclined. 

Shows

Ottawa has many movie theatres to choose from, but there are also a few that specialize in "foreign" films (i.e., not American), early releases, old returning films and specialty films. The Bytowne Cinema is on Rideau Street near King Edward. The Mayfair Theatre is at 1074 Bank St. near Sunnyside. In addition, the Canadian Film Institute screens films at several venues for the specialist film crowd.

Ottawa has lots of live theatre entertainment. That includes the National Arts Centre in English and French, the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the Ottawa Little Theatre.

• 3 The National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St, ☏ +1 613-947-7000, toll-free: +1-866-850-ARTS (2787). Also provides a major venue for dance and orchestral performance.  
• 4 The Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC), 1233 Wellington St W (corner of Holland), ☏ +1 613-236-5196, info@gctc.ca.  
• 5 Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave (one block south of Rideau), ☏ +1 613-233-8948, info@ottawalittletheatre.com.  

Jazz and blues lovers can find what they are looking for in these Ottawa music calendars: jazz shows and blues-jazz calendar. Venues include Vineyards in the Byward Market, GigSpace near Little Italy, and the Options Jazz Lounge in the Brookstreet Hotel (in Kanata). Many other venues offer jazz weekly or occasionally; see this club list . Find Blues at the Rainbow in the Byward Market and Irene's Pub in the Glebe.

For Folk music, see the Ottawa Folk Music Events listings.

Ottawa is host to over 60 festivals and events per year, including:

• Ottawa Jazz Festival. In late June. 
• Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. In summer, one of the largest in the world 
• Bluesfest. Also in summer: The largest blues festival in Canada. It also features rock, pop and world music, and attracts visitors from Atlantic Canada and New England. 
• The Fringe Festival. Another summer offering. 
• Winterlude. Winter fun featuring ice carving and snow sculptures 
• The Tulip Festival. A spring bonanza of flowering bulbs, given annually by the Dutch government, and a concert series featuring well-known Canadian rock and other popular music groups. 
• Ferrari Festival. In June, on Preston Street. 
• Canada Day. Celebrate Canada's birthday in Ottawa on July 1. While the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings is being renovated, the official spot to gather on Canada Day is Major's Hill Park. (updated Feb 2020)
• Pirate Adventurs, 588 hog's back road, ☏ +1 613-859-5199. June-Oct. Join the swashbuckling crew of Pirate Adventures for an interactive theatre and cruise along the Rideau Canal at Mooney's Bay. Pirate costumes, face paint and new pirate names for all as the captain and his crew hunt for sunken treasure whilst fending of mischievous pirates! 

Learn

The two best known universities in the city are Carleton University and the bilingual University of Ottawa. Bilingual St. Paul's University is a Catholic university with ties to the University of Ottawa, offering various degrees in theology and social sciences. Dominican University College is a Dominican university where theology and philosophy can be studied at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, also in English or French. There is also Algonquin College and the francophone Cité Collégiale.

• 1 Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, 1385 Woodroffe Avenue (take the transitway to Baseline Station, and walk across Woodroffe Ave. Route 88 is a popular way of getting here), ☏ +1 613-727-4723.  
• 2 Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive (the OTrain "Trillium" line stops on-campus at Carleton Station, or take bus routes 10 or 7), ☏ +1 613-520-2600.  
• 3 Dominican University College (Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology), 96 Empress Ave (just north of Chinatown), ☏ +1 613-233-5696. A Roman Catholic college of philosophy and theology, affiliated with Carleton University since 2012.  
• 4 La Cité collégiale, 801 Aviation Parkway, ☏ +1 613-742-2483, toll-free: +1-800-267-2483. The largest French-language college in Ontario.  
• 5 Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street (OC Transpo Route 5), ☏ +1 613-236-1393, toll-free: +1-800-637-6859. A bilingual Catholic Pontifical university, federated with the University of Ottawa.  
• 6 University of Ottawa (uOttawa), Tabaret Hall, 75 Laurier Avene East (the O-Train has stops on campus at uOttawa Station), ☏ +1 613-562-5700, toll-free: +1-877-868-8292, fax: +1 613-562-5323. (updated Feb 2020)

Work

The Federal Government is the region's largest employer with the high-tech sector firmly in second place. Unless you are a Canadian resident, you will need a work visa to work in Ottawa, and some Federal Government jobs require Canadian citizenship. Most Federal Government jobs require applicants to be bilingual in English and French.

Buy

ByWard Market

• 4 ByWard Market (downtown, located east of the Canal and Sussex Drive, north of Rideau). Among other things, this is a farmer's market; in summer, stalls selling fresh produce and flowers line the streets, and maple syrup bought at the farmer's market costs half the price of the same bottle sold at souvenir shops elsewhere in the Byward Market or anywhere else in the city. It is also a craft and tourist market with a range of shops and the city's busiest entertainment district with restaurants, pubs, bars and many street performers. Interesting to see it first during the day (when it's a shopping destination) and then in the evening (when it's a nightlife destination).  
• 5 Sparks Street. A pleasant pedestrian street one block off Parliament Hill; a common tourist thoroughfare for seeing the sights. Along this street you'll find the majority of the tourist shops selling postcards, magnets, and maple syrup. The Astrolabe Gallery, located on this street, is a treasure trove of antique maps and vintage posters. There are several outdoor cafés and restaurants to choose from.  
• 6 Westboro Village. A stretch along Richmond Road in the "near west" of Ottawa from Golden east to Tweedsmuir has become a popular tourism and shopping zone with several outdoor stores (clothing and equipment), restaurants and coffee shops. Notable shops include the Mountain Equipment Coop, Ten Thousand Villages, Starbucks, Bridgehead (fair trade coffee), Kitchenalia, a chocolatier and several others.  
• 7 Bank Street Promenade. Great mix of stores ranging from chain restaurants to specialty shops. District extends from Wellington St to Gladstone Ave. 
• 8 Wellington West. Wellington West is the commercial district of Hintonburg and Wellington Village, located in the west end between Little Italy and Westboro. It is home to independent businesses in Ottawa, such as boutiques, restaurants and food shops, and local art galleries, as well as the Parkdale Market. Notable shops include Hintonburger, Suzy Q, Elmdale Tavern and several others. 

Larger shopping malls include the Rideau Centre (downtown), St. Laurent Shopping Centre (East Central), Place D'Orleans (East End), the Bayshore Shopping Centre and Carlingwood Mall (West End).

The last Saturday in May, Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood hosts the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale. Hundreds of residents set up tables in their garages or on their lawns and sell used goods ranging from household knick-knacks to electronics to clothing. Businesses in the area also hold sidewalk sales, and vendors sell artwork, baking, and refreshments. Driving and parking during the sale itself is unnecessary and nearly impossible. Arrive on foot or park and walk into the neighbourhood. For parking, and for the best deals (especially on larger items like furniture), arrive early. The event is bustling by 8AM but continues well into the afternoon. Vendors are encouraged to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Eat

Ethnic foods from around the world are available at a wide variety of restaurants and street vendors throughout the city. The Byward Market area has a wide selection of different cuisines; the Chinatown area is along Somerset West (#2 bus from downtown) between Bronson Ave. and Preston St; Little Italy runs along the length of Preston Street, from Carling Avenue to Albert Street (#2 to Somerset & Preston or #3 along Preston).

Ottawa's claim to culinary fame: a beavertail with sugar and cinnamon

• 1 BeaverTails, 69 George Street, ☏ +1 613-241-1230, ottawabywardmarket@beavertails.com. Su-W 10AM-8PM, Th 10AM-11PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight. Try the tasty BeaverTail, a fried-dough pastry associated with Ottawa, although a number of places claim to have created it. It's available in sweet and savoury versions, topped with cinnamon, sugar, icing sugar, etc. In the winter, many places will offer it on the canal. During the summer, the only places downtown to offer it are in the Byward Market on George St., and a small counter in a corner of the Canadian Museum of History. There are a variety of toppings and the taste of the beaver tail stands out more with the classic sugar & cinnamon. However, the locals' favourite is the Killaloe Sunrise, a topping of cinnamon sugar and lemon juice. (updated Feb 2017)

Try a poutine from Smoke's Poutinerie, or a shawarma from one of the many around the city. Local favourites include Shawarma Palace and 3 Brothers.

Coffee shops are found throughout the city, and include dozens of two specialty chains Second Cup and Starbucks, in addition to the mainstream Tim Horton's (seemingly planted at every intersection). Bridgehead is a fair trade coffee house and can be found at a half dozen or so locations. Try their small double shot lattes, which are significantly better than their competitors'. There are several coffee houses in Little Italy, on Preston Street. One of the most popular, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston Street, +1 613-594-5303), also houses an award-winning pastry shop. Bar Robo on Somerset St under the Chinatown arch offers locally-roasted coffee during the day, along with fresh croissants and donuts.

Budget

Ottawa has a lot of shawarma (kebab and fixings in pita bread) restaurants and most of them will serve up a great shawarma for around $5. Their busy times are typically weekdays at lunch-hour, and on weekends after the bars close. The Byward Market and Elgin St. have several restaurants to choose from. Shawarma Palace, on Rideau St and in several suburban locations, are another popular choice.

The usual range of diners, bagel shops and fast food restaurants can be found in shopping areas throughout the city. You will also find "chip wagons" or "chip trucks" parked in various locations around the city at lunch time. They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage-in-a-bun, pogos (corn dogs - deep fried, breaded hot dogs on a stick), chips (French fries) and poutine (French fries covered with cheddar cheese curd and gravy - very popular in Quebec and eastern Ontario).

At lunch time, Di Rienzo and La Bottega Nicastro will sell you a good $5 sandwich; opinion is split among locals as to which is better, but they're both very good. If you're in town for a few days, try them both.

• 2 Ahora Mexican Cuisine, 307 Dalhousie Street (between York and Clarence), ☏ +1 613-562-2081. 11:30AM to 10PM. A good little Mexican canteen. It serves up mains, zippy margaritas, and drinks imported from Mexico. 
• 3 Bobby's Table, 255 Montreal Road, ☏ +1 613-740-9333. M-F 6AM-3PM, Sa Su 7AM-3PM. Smoked meat sandwiches on rye bread and old-fashioned baked cheesecake are Bobby's specialties. The smoked meat is Montreal-style done well, and the cheesecake is worth going out of your way for (unless you have a coconut allergy). You can get a generous lunch for $20 and be served in either French or English. 
• 4 La Bottega Nicastro, 64 George Street (ByWard Market), ☏ +1 613-789-7575. M-W 9AM-6PM, Th-F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM,. A fantastic little Italian specialty market, Nicastro's is a contender for the city's best $5 sandwiches, featuring amazing bread (esp. the focaccia) usually baked on the premises. The sit-down lunch kitchen is also well worth a visit. (updated Jan 2017)
• 5 Di Rienzo, 111 Beech Street (at Champagne St.), ☏ +1 613-729-4037, fax: +1 613-321-8689. M-F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa Su 8AM-7PM. This little deli tucked away in Little Italy, a secret known to many locals, is famous for the best and freshest deli sandwiches in the city for $5 (taxes included). During the week the lineup can stretch outside the packed little store, but they are arguably the fastest sandwich makers anywhere so don't worry about a long wait. There is also another newer location run by the family at Meadowlands Drive and Fisher Avenue. (updated Jan 2017)
• 6 Elgin Street Diner, 374 Elgin Street (just north of Gladstone), ☏ +1 613-237-9700. Always open. A popular 24-hour diner. One of its specialties is the ESD (Elgin Street Diner) Poutine (though true Quebecers should probably abstain). Generally, poutine is French fries, served with cheese curds and gravy on top; they have several versions including the addition of caramelized onions and bacon, Montreal smoked meat, Philly steak, a four cheese blend or Chili. The substitution of mashed potatoes fried with onions and seasoning (called their home fries), or onion rings instead of regular French fries is also an option. Expect the adventure to set you back $6–8 depending on toppings. The diner's hamburgers/cheeseburgers are significantly better than typical fast food fare, and breakfast is served 24/7 365 days a year with no exception. (updated Jan 2017)
• 7 Rangoon, 114 Gloucester Street (near O'Connor), ☏ +1 613-680-8821, info@rangoonrestaurant.ca. M-Th 11AM-9PM; F 11AM-10PM; Sa 4PM-10PM. A one-of-a-kind family-run Burmese restaurant with cheap lunch specials where you can get an appetizer, main course and a drink for about $10! Try the fish noodle soup (mohingha), chicken curry or eggplant curry. A real hidden gem. 
• 8 Shanghai Restaurant, 651 Somerset Street West (a few doors east of Bronson), ☏ +1 613-233-4001. W-F 4:30PM-10PM, Sa 4:30PM-2AM, Sunday 4:30PM-10PM. A local favourite since 1971, when it was the only Chinese place in the area that is now Chinatown; it is still run by the same family. It boasts drag-queen karaoke on Saturday nights, frequent vernissages for Ottawa's up-and-coming artists, and some of the best Asian cuisine in town. (updated Jan 2017)
• Warehouse in the heart of Byward Market is popular among students. Great meals including a burger, fries and tap water, are served for just $5. Only drinks are a bit on the expensive side with around $6. Busy every day of the week, especially after 8PM when it is mostly a bar.
• For the best non-traditional Canadian eats, head down Somerset street (West) near Bronson to the heart of Chinatown. Here you have a choice of places for Vietnamese, Thai, Cantonese, etc. Vietamese soup-houses, Pho Bo Ga and Pho Bo Ga La, are well-rated. The Yangtze Restaurant and Chu Shing Restaurant (across the street from it) are large box Chinese restaurants popular with Ottawa's Chinese clientele. The Jadeland Restaurant is a small popular Chinese restaurant set in a converted house and has been well reviewed for its tasty dishes and low prices. Another good source for ethnic foods is the stretch on Rideau between King Edward and the bridge to Vanier. You can find Middle Eastern, African and Asian food here.
  • 9 Pho Bo Ga 2, 843 Somerset Street West (near Rochester), ☏ +1 613-234-7089. 10AM-2AM. (updated Feb 2017)
  • 10 Pho Bo Ga L.A., 784 Somerset Street West (between Lebreton and Booth), ☏ +1 613-230-2931. 10AM-10:30PM. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 11 Yangtze, 700 Somerset Street West (just west of the Imperial Arch that spans Somerset), ☏ +1 613-236-0555, fax: +1 613-236-6825. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 12 Oriental Chu Shing Restaurant, 691 Somerset Street West (just west of the Imperial Arch that spans Somerset), ☏ +1 613-233-8818. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 13 Jadeland, 625 Somerset Street West (near Percy Street, east of the core Chinatown), ☏ +1 613-233-0204. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. (updated Jan 2017)
• For Indian, there is Rose's Cafe (in the Byward Market and one on Gladstone), but also try Curries (Gloucester and O'Connor, between Bank and Elgin near the business district). For a somewhat higher-end buffet experience, yet authentic, try Host India on Montreal Rd. For Indian food from Kerala state, try Coconut Lagoon on St. Laurent Blvd. (in the same price range as Host India), ranked #1 on Food Network's "10 Popular Indian Restaurants in Canada".
  • 14 Rose's Café Also, 349 Dalhousie Street (ByWard Market), ☏ +1 613-241-8535. (updated Feb 2017)
  • 15 India Curry House, 114 Gloucester Street (Gloucester and O'Connor, between Bank and Elgin near the business district), ☏ +1 613-598-6970. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 16 Host India, 622 Montreal Road (two blocks west of the Montfort Hospital), ☏ +1 613-746-4678. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 17 Coconut Lagoon, 853 St. Laurent Boulevard (just north of McArthur), ☏ +1 613-742-4444, info@coconutlagoon.ca. Coconut Lagoon serves Kerala cuisine, subtly different from other South Indian styles (although people kept asking for Butter Chicken so it's on the menu as well). The restaurant's executive chef and owner Joe Thottungal took the silver medal at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2017, and the gold medal at the Gold Medal Plates Culinary Competition 2016. There are vegan-friendly dishes on the menu. (updated Jan 2017)
• 18 Zak's Diner, 14 Byward Market Square, ☏ +1 613-241-2401, bywardmarket@zaksdiner.com. Always open. The best milk-shakes are found at Zak's, a 24-hour diner in the Byward Market. They're really good, made with ice-cream, and for the $6.99 they cost you get a large glass full plus the shaker with what didn't fit in the glass. Other dishes are quite good, with a "more calories for your money" attitude (as illustrated by the massive amount of milkshake served), which is nicely honest about fast food; however it may seem a bit expensive as the burgers start at $14.49 and if you add on the paid extras you can easily get in excess of $19. Late on week-end nights (2-3AM), it's packed as people go for their after-bar poutine. (updated Apr 2019)
• Rideau Bakery coffee bar, 384 Rideau Street. As of July 2019, the Rideau Bakery is no longer in business. (updated Jul 2019)

Mid-range

Major restaurant areas can be found on Elgin Street, on Bank Street in Centretown, on Bank Street in the Glebe, in Westboro and in the Byward Market, with entrees ranging from $12–25. Similar restaurants can be found in major suburban shopping areas too.

• 19 The Empire Grill, 47 Clarence Street, ☏ +1 613-241-1343. Has a great patio in the summer and delicious food year-round. Expect to pay more than $25 for an entree. $30 main courses. 
• 20 The Highlander Pub, 115 Rideau Street (in the Byward Market), ☏ +1 613-562 5678, highlanderpub@hotmail.com. 11AM-2AM. A solid restaurant with good pub fare, and traditional Scottish food, such as haggis. They also feature over 250 single malt Scotches as well as many spirits, wines and beers. Live music Wednesdays through Saturdays. Monthly whisky tastings. It has a warm, friendly environment, with plenty of patio room. An average tab for a full meal for 2 should be about $40. (updated Apr 2019)
• 21 Johnny Farina's, 216 Elgin Street, ☏ +1 613-565-5155. Italian food 
• 22 Santé Restaurant, 45 Rideau St (at the corner of Rideau and Sussex, across from the Rideau Centre,). Santé is a cosmopolitan yet casual. It’s a delicate line to walk, but Santé Restaurant does it with panache - offering exotic Asian Fusion and Thai cuisine in a comfortably elegant setting. 
• 23 Vineyards. In the Byward Market. An excellent restaurant with the widest selection of world beers and wines in Ottawa. 
• The Works. Hard to argue that these are not the best burgers around. The selection is top notch and toppings are bountiful. Also served are delicious onion rings, milk shakes and cold beer, all in a funky industrial decor. Choose your burger from the traditional beef, elk, vegetarian, or other options. Expect to pay $20 or more for a burger with sides, and not to regret it. They're becoming an Ontario-wide chain, but Ottawa is where the Works started, and where they have their largest market penetration (seven locations as of January 2017). There are three locations where tourists in Ottawa might stumble across them; these are the ones listed below. 
  • 24 The Works - The Glebe, 580 Bank Street (just south of Highway 417), ☏ +1 613-235-0406. Su-W 11AM-10PM, Th-Sa 11AM-11PM. 
  • 25 The Works - Manor Park, 363 St Laurent Boulevard (corner of Hemlock), ☏ +1 613-748-0406. 11AM-10PM. 
  • 26 The Works - Westboro Village, 326 Richmond Road (corner of Churchill), ☏ +1 613-564-0406. Su-W 11AM-10PM, Th-Sa 11AM-11PM. 
• 27 Malone's Lakeside Bar & Grill, 1001 Queen Elizabeth Dr (at the Dows Lake Pavilion), ☏ +1 613-232-1001. Seating overlooking beautiful Dows Lake; lunch specials offered. Moderately priced. (updated Sep 2017)
• 28 Taqueria La Bonita, 1128 Cadboro Rd (just off Ogilvie, near the Gloucester Centre), ☏ +1 613-695-7373. Su-W 11AM-9PM, Th-Sa 11AM-10PM. If you're looking for Mexican cuisine (not Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex) in Ottawa, they're worth the drive out of downtown. La Bonita is a small restaurant - while you don't need to make reservations, they're recommended during busy hours. $20-$40 plus alcohol. (updated Nov 2017)

Splurge

Ottawa has excellent options for fine dining if you feel like spending a bit extra. Budget C$150 for a three course dinner for two, including wine and gratuity.

• 29 Beckta, 226 Nepean Street (downtown Ottawa). Excellent modern restaurant with a variety of tastes centred on locally available foods. Also features an extensive wine list. 
• 30 E18hteen, 18 York Street (in the Byward Market), ☏ +1 613-244-1188. An upscale, modern restaurant and bar located in a renovated 19th century heritage building. It is the place to see and be seen. 
• 31 Merlot, 100 Kent Street (At the Marriott Hotel). Merlot has received glowing reviews for its cuisine and is Ottawa's only revolving restaurant. 
• 32 Signatures, 453 Laurier Ave. East, ☏ +1 613-236-2499. At Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, Tu-Sa 5:30PM–10PM, is a French restaurant with a five-diamond rating from CAA/AAA that is considered among the very best in the city. 
• 33 The Wellington Gastropub, 1325 Wellington Street West (Westboro), ☏ +1 613-729-1315. Weekdays 11:30AM-2PM and 5:30PM-9:30PM, F 11:30AM-2PM and 5:30PM-10PM, Sa 5:30PM-10PM. A small second-floor walk-up in Westboro, the Wellington Gastropub changes its menu daily and has over a dozen craft and microbrewery beers on tap. Three-course table d'hôte $35 at lunch or $53 at supper, plus alcohol and gratituty. (updated Jan 2017)

Vegetarian and vegan

• 34 CafeMyHouse, 1729 Bank St. At offers vegan friendly cuisine and is located within 10 minutes of the airport and of the train station. The restaurant specializes in brunch and lunch options, and average around $15 a meal. 
• 35 Govinda's Restaurant, 212 Somerset St. E (just E of King Edward, off the University of Ottawa campus), ☏ +1 613-565-6544. M-F 5PM–8PM, Su yoga festival 5PM–8PM. offers a simple vegan buffet. The best cheap eats in town. Operated by ISCKON (Hare Krishna movement). $5-7 per person. (updated May 2016)
• 36 The Green Door, 198 Main St, ☏ +1 613-234-9597, fax: +1 613-234-6771, info@thegreendoor.ca. Tu–Su 11AM–9PM. At offers a vegetarian and vegan buffet and is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Ottawa. It offers private and communal tables. 
• 37 Perfection-Satisfaction-Promise, 167 Laurier Ave E. (Near University of Ottawa, Sandy Hill), ☏ +1 613-234-7299. M-Tu 8AM-8PM, W 8AM-5PM, Th-F 8AM-8PM, Sa 4PM-9PM. Fully vegetarian with a great vegan selection. "Unquestionably some of the best vegetarian food in the city" - Ottawa Xpress, 2007. $6.50-12.00. 
• 38 Pure Kitchen Ottawa, 357 Richmond Road, ☏ +1 (613) 680-5500. Hip restaurant serving vegetarian and vegan food. Wraps, burgers, rice bowls, salads. Bar offers juice, beer, wine. Reservations only for parties of 6 or more. Second location in Centretown at 340 Elgin Street. (updated Nov 2016)
• 39 So Good Restaurant, 717 Somerset Street West (2 blocks West of Bronson), ☏ +1 (613) 223-0138. Has a separate vegetarian menu (dishes are also vegan unless stated) and there are many choices. Try anything "Wu Se" (peanut sauce). $10. (updated May 2016)
• 40 The Table, 1230 Wellington Street West (across the road from the GCTC), ☏ +1 (613) 729-5973. M–F 11AM–9PM, Sa–Su 11:30AM–9PM. In the Westboro neighbourhood, also offers a vegetarian buffet with many vegan options. Meals are priced by weight. by weight, $12 or so for a full plate.. 

Drink

The most popular bar areas are in the Byward Market, along Wellington Street in Westboro, along both Elgin Street and Bank Street between Somerset and Gladstone in the Centretown area, and further south on Bank. There are pubs and bars scattered throughout the city as well.

You can also take a small trip over the Ottawa river to Gatineau. Bars on Ottawa side close at 2AM, though the province of Quebec has a last call of 3AM, an exception is made in Gatineau where bars also close at 2AM. Quebec has a lower minimum age to purchase alcohol (18, vs. 19 in Ontario) and sells beer in corner stores. Ottawa police often set up checkpoints near the bridges to catch drunk drivers returning from Quebec after closing time.

Smoking (both traditional and e-cigarettes, also called "vaping") of tobacco or cannabis is not permitted in Ontario or Quebec restaurants and bars, or on the patios of bars in Ottawa.

Bars and nightclubs

• 1 Barrymores Music Hall (Barrymore's), 323 Bank Street (south of Somerset), ☏ +1 613-695-8488. An old converted movie theatre, their 80s night is the place to be in Ottawa on Sundays. They also have a 90s night on Thursdays and live concerts on most other nights (updated Jan 2017)
• Club 292, 292 Elgin St. 
• 2 Dominion Tavern, 33 York Street, ☏ +1 613-241-7706. M-Sa 11AM-2AM; Su 11AM-midnight. Simple beers and some pool: picture your friend's basement apartment, even serving 40s of beer. (updated Jan 2017)
• E18hteen, 18 York St. See their listing in the "Eat" section. 
• Foundation York St. in the alley behind E18hteen. Restaurant during the week that is open for lunch and dinner. Excellent food and one of the only restaurants in Ottawa to serve fondue. On Friday and Saturday nights it transforms into an upperclass nightclub. Dress to impress, no logos or running shoes, and be prepared to spend a few bucks on drinks.
• 3 The Lookout Bar, 41 York Street (ByWard Market), ☏ +1 613-789-1624. Su-M 2PM-10PM, Tu-Sa 2PM-2AM. They have a very popular "bois night" on Thursday that attracts lots of people. Friday and Saturday are mostly lesbian nights. (updated Jan 2017)
• 4 Mercury Lounge, 56 Byward Market Square (between George and York Streets), ☏ +1 613-789-5324. An awesome bar that changes its themes nightly ranging from African beats to hip-hop to house (depending on the night). Spread out over 3 (relatively small) floors, this bar offers different DJs and atmospheres throughout. Hump Night is one of the best gay nights in the city and occurs on Wednesday (4$ cover). (updated Jan 2017)
• 5 Options Jazz Lounge at Brookstreet, 525 Legget Drive (in the Brookstreet Hotel), ☏ +1 613-271-1800, toll-free: +1-888-826-2220, info@brookstreet.com. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM. Located off the main lobby of the Brookstreet Hotel. A relaxing and sophisticated lounge. (updated Jan 2017)
• 6 The Standard Luxury Tavern, 360 Elgin St (three blocks north of the Canadian Museum of Nature), ☏ +1 613-232-6274, fax: +1 613-232-9265, info@thestandardtavern.com. M-F 4PM-2AM, Sa Su 10AM-2AM. A restaurant during the day, pumping club/lounge at night. The Standard is popular Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with a different style of music each night. Friday is excellent old-school and modern hip-hop/R&B while Saturday is a little of everything. Excellent beer tap selection and daily drink specials. (updated Feb 2017)

Pubs

Since the mid-1990s there has been an explosion in Irish-/British-style pubs across the city.

• 7 The Black Thorn, 15 Clarence Street (at Tin House Court), ☏ +1 613-241-0712. Closed for renovations. Upscale, great food, huge patio with good views. (updated May 2017)
• 8 Chez Lucien, 137 Murray St (corner Dalhousie), ☏ +1 613-241-3533. 11AM-2PM, daily except Christmas and Boxing Day. one of the few pleasant, non-faux-Irish pubs downtown (a favourite along with the Manx). Serves good pub fare (including excellent fries), can get busy especially after work. A good selection of microbrew beers. (updated Jan 2017)
• Clocktower Brewhouse. A microbrewery with five locations throughout the city. Excellent beer at a good price with a very tasty and well priced menu. 
  • 9 Clocktower Byward Market, 89 Clarence Street (between Dalhousie and Parent), ☏ +1 613-241-8783, info.clarence@clocktower.ca. M-F 11:30AM-midnight; Sa 10:30AM-midnight; Su 10:30AM-11:45PM. 
  • 10 Clocktower Elgin, 200 Elgin Street (near Lisgar, across from City Hall), ☏ +1 613-724-4561, info.elgin@clocktower.ca. M-F 11AM-midnight, Sa Su 10AM-midnight. 
  • 11 Clocktower Glebe, 575 Bank Street (the north end of The Glebe, just south of Highway 417), ☏ +1 613-233-7849, info.bank@clocktower.ca. M-F 11:30AM-midnight; Sa 10:30AM-midnight; Su 10:30AM-11:45PM. The original Clocktower Brewhouse, this is the location with the clock tower and the brew house. 
  • 12 Clocktower New Edinburgh, 422 MacKay Street (corner of Beechwood), ☏ +1 613-742-3169, info.mackay@clocktower.ca. M-F 11:30AM-midnight; Sa 10:30AM-midnight; Su 10:30AM-11:45PM. 
  • 13 Clocktower Westboro, 418 Richmond Road (corner of Berkley), ☏ +1 613-680-5983, info.westboro@clocktower.ca. M-F 11:30AM-midnight; Sa 10:30AM-midnight; Su 10:30AM-11:45PM. 
• 14 D'Arcy McGee's, 44 Sparks Street (at Elgin). Beautiful architecture with impressive food selection (updated Jan 2017)
• 15 Irish Village Group (Heart & Crown, Peter Devine's), 67 Clarence Street (at Parent Ave.), ☏ +1 613-562-0674. M-F 11AM-2AM, Sa Su 9AM-2AM. Ottawa's largest pub complex, including the eponymous Irish Village (loud, lots of live music) and The Heart and Crown. The fish and chips has a generous serving of fish. (updated Jan 2017)
• 16 The Lieutenant's Pump, 361 Elgin Street (corner of Waverly), ☏ +1 613-238-2949. M-F 11:30AM-2AM; Sa Su 8:30AM-2AM. British pub with a good variety of food selections and inexpensive draught. (updated Jan 2017)
• 17 The Manx, 370 Elgin street, ☏ +1 613-231-2070. Great microbrews, wide Scotch selection, bohemian/hipster feel. 
• 18 Minglewoods, 14 Waller Street (The corner of Waller St and Rideau St). A great place to drink for cheap! Pitchers of domestic and premium beers are priced under $11 so if you're on a budget this is the place to go. It is close to the University of Ottawa so many students frequent Minglewoods between or after class. There is a good selection of pub fare, also for reasonable prices. On the weekend there is a packed dance floor on the second level. 
• 19 Patty Boland's Irish Pub & Eatery, 101 Clarence Street (between Parent and Dalhousie), ☏ +1 613-789-7822. 11AM-2AM. Feels like an old tavern, but big. Friday and Saturday nights Patty's has live music so expect to pay cover, and mandatory coat check in the winter. During the musician breaks there is a dance floor with Top 40 music. (updated Feb 2017)
• 20 Pub Italia, 434 1/2 Preston Street (near Dow's Lake and the Experimental Farm), ☏ +1 613-232-2326. M-Sa 11AM–1AM; Su noon-midnight. An Irish/Italian pub with hundreds of bottled beers listed in its "Beer Bible", especially Belgian. Decent pizza and pastas, but other places in Little Italy have better - you're going here for the beer, not the food. Intimate faux Medieval/Gothic décor; a bit strange, but the patio is very nice. 
• 21 Quinns Ale House (Quinn's), 1070 Bank Street (Beside the Mayfair Theatre), ☏ +1 613-523-2200. Daily 4PM-2AM. A small but cozy sports bar and pub located next to the Mayfair Theatre. Expect good pub fare, a nice ambiance and good selection of beers. (updated Feb 2017)

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Barefoot Hostel, 455 Cumberland St (a block south of Rideau St.), ☏ +1 613-237-0336, bfh@barefoothostel.com. Check-in: before 10PM. A clean, modern 16-bed hostel located downtown. Female-only since September 2016. Included for use is a mini-kitchen (no stove), back patio with lounge chairs, common room with a huge HDTV, computer (with internet), free WiFi, plush bed linens, lockers and three shared bathrooms. Rates start at $30 per night per person and you can book online. The check-in desk is at The Swiss Hotel, around the corner at 89 Daly Ave. Make sure to check their website or Twitter page for promotions. $30-$42. (updated Apr 2019)
• 2 Ottawa Backpackers Inn, 203 York Street, ☏ +1 613-241-3402, toll-free: +1-888-394-0334, info@ottawahostel.com. Part of Backpackers Hostels Canada, includes kitchen, free wireless internet and free coffee/tea. In a converted house into hostel, in the market block. The staff and the atmosphere are very friendly. Allergy warning: they have a cat $25/night for regular dorm beds, more for semi-private and private rooms. 
• 3 Ottawa Jail Hostel, 75 Nicholas Street (across the street from the Rideau Centre), ☏ +1 613-235-2595, toll-free: +1-866-299-1478, fax: +1 613-235-9202. A member of Hostelling International, this hostel is in the old Ottawa Jail; the bedrooms are actually old jail cells. Most rooms have shared washrooms. It's close to the Byward Market and downtown. Tours available. Breakfast of coffee, tea, bagels, fruit included. $29/dorm for HI members, $34 for non. Single cells $38/40. Double rooms $93/$103. 

Mid-range

• 4 Albert at Bay Suite Hotel, 435 Albert Street (corner of Bay St.). The building is nicely located downtown within easy walking distance of the main attractions, shops and restaurants. The hotel itself is a converted apartment building where you'll find large one and two bedrooms suites. Rates range from $119/night to $229/night for the one and two bedroom suites respectively. 
• 5 Auberge King Edward Bed and Breakfast, 525 King Edward Avenue (downtown beside the University of Ottawa and a 5 minute walk from the Rideau Canal). Well-preserved Victorian architecture packed with character. Free parking and WiFi. $105–135 (plus taxes). 
• 6 Australis Guest House, 89 Goulburn Avenue, ☏ +1 (613) 235-8461. Check-in: 1PM/flexible, check-out: 11AM. Run by an Australian expat, this 2-room B&B gets praise for fresh-cooked breakfast. Located about 1km east of Byward Market, 2 km east of Parliament Hill. Free Wifi. Limited parking available, ask. $109-129. (updated May 2016)
• 7 Avalon Bed and Breakfast, 539 Besserer St (Near Rideau and Charlotte), ☏ +1 613-241-6403. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. A well-reviewed downtown Ottawa bed-and-breakfast. Turn of the century home with modern decor. A 15-minute walk to the Byward Market. Free parking and WiFi. $95-145. 
• 8 Best Western Victoria Park Suites, 377 O'Connor Street (near Elgin Street, downtown near the Museum of Nature). $100. 
• 9 ByWard Blue Inn, 157 Clarence Street, toll-free: +1-800-620-8810. A B&B hotel in the picturesque Byward Market with refrigerators, microwaves, private balconies. $150-200, parking $8-15/day. 
• 10 Cartier Place Suite Hotel, 180 Cooper Street. Features unique pet friendly downtown suite lodging accommodations minutes from Parliament Hill. Discover unique studios, one or two bedrooms, and VIP suites with Jacuzzis, close to tourist attractions. 
• 11 Comfort Inn Ottawa West (Kanata), 222 Hearst Way (20 min from Downtown, Highway #417, Exit 138 Eagleson Road), ☏ +1 613-592-2200, fax: +1 613-591-9600, cn270@whg.com. Check-in: 11AM, check-out: 3PM. Offers guests free breakfast, free parking, and free internet. 
• 12 Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East, 200 Coventry Rd (off of Hwy 417), ☏ +1 613-741-9862. Complimentary high speed internet access & complimentary parking. 395 guest rooms, each with wet bar. Indoor pool, whirlpool, 24-hour exercise room, 24-hour business centre and The Market is also open 24 hours. Bistro and meeting facilities on-site. 
• 13 Novotel Hotel, 33 Nicholas Street (located across the street from the east side of the Rideau Centre on Nicholas Street), ☏ +1 (613) 230-3033, toll-free: +1-855-677-3033, fax: +1 (613) 760-4765, novotelottawa@novotelottawa.com. Modern hotel with an emphasis on energy conservation. Modern restaurant and banquet facilities. This location has free internet kiosks in the main lobby open to the public. $188/night. 
• 14 Sheraton Ottawa Hotel, 150 Albert St (Downtown). Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Sheraton Ottawa Hotel is located in the heart of downtown - steps from Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, and other major attractions. Each room features the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, and the Link@Sheraton lobby connectivity hub offers complimentary internet and PC workstation use. From $109. 
• 15 Shirley Samantha's Bed & Breakfast, 28 Carlotta Avenue (From Hwy. 417 take Exit 117 Vanier Parkway; north on Vanier Parkway to McArthur Avenue, left on McArthur to Marguerite Avenue, left on Marguerite. Then right on Carlotta Avenue.), ☏ +1 613-745-2105. Check-in: as arranged, check-out: 11AM. On a quiet residential street, within walking distance from downtown and half a block from the Rideau River cycling/walking path. Two queen-bedded rooms, one with ensuite, the other with private bath. Centrally air conditioned, complimentary parking, snacks and WiFi. Delicious breakfasts featuring home baking. $70-120 per night. 
• 16 Swiss Hotel, 89 Daly Avenue (Located Downtown Ottawa, at the corner of Daly and Cumberland.), ☏ +1 613-237-0335, toll-free: +1-888-663-0000. A charming, cozy, 22-room hotel located in the heart of Ottawa. The Inn was built in 1872 from limestone in a 19th-century Vernacular Classical Revival. Swiss Hotel offers traditional Swiss hospitality with modern comfort. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, rooms are equipped with iPads. Optional healthy buffet breakfast is offered daily with Bircher-Muesli and fresh ground Swiss espresso. $117-228/night depending on room quality and timing. 
• 17 University of Ottawa, 90 University Private. From May to August, university housing is offered as hotel-like guest rooms in one of its newer housing complexes. Rideau double room $130; 90U suite with bath $120; dorm with shared bath, $40. 
• Delta Ottawa City Centre, 101 Lyon Street North, ☏ +1 613-237-3600. Check-in: 3.00, check-out: 12.00. Sleek 1967 modernist hotel tower on the quieter west side of the city centre, within walking distance of most major sites, and with good access to public transport. Rate includes wireless Internet access. Underground parking available on-site at an additional cost of $22/day. (updated Oct 2017)

Splurge

Chateau Laurier (left) and Parliament Hill overlooking the Ottawa River

• Andaz Ottawa, 325 Dalhousie Street, ☏ +1 613-321-1234. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10AM. Owned by Hyatt, extremely well located, otherwise unremarkable. $150. (updated Jul 2018)
• 18 Arc, Slater Street (near Parliament Hill). A trendy boutique hotel with prices to match its style. 
• 19 The Brookstreet. In Kanata is a newer luxury hotel and resort popular with technology companies and visiting sports teams. Facilities include a full-service spa with 11 treatment rooms, a championship golf course (The Marshes), a European PGA-approved short course (Marchwood), a four-diamond restaurant (Perspectives) and a fitness studio with whirlpools, steam rooms and indoor and outdoor pools. 
• 20 Fairmont Chateau Laurier (just east of Parliament Hill). The city's grand old hotel: its oldest and most famous luxury hotel as well as one of its landmarks. Rooms facing west overlook the Rideau Canal locks and have stellar views of the Parliament buildings. This hotel once housed the offices of CBC Radio in Ottawa and the studio of well-known portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh. Several framed Karsh photographs are hung in the hotel lounge. His (and his wife's) home suite is now available for guests and displays a small sampling of framed prints on the walls. (updated Apr 2019)
• 21 Lord Elgin, 100 Elgin Street, ☏ +1 613-235-3333, toll-free: +1-800-267-4298, reservations@lordelgin.ca. Centrally located on Elgin Street across from the National Arts Centre, a stone's throw from Parliament Hill, and one of Ottawa's two classic hotels (the other being the Chateau Laurier). While it has "splurge" rates, most rooms are reasonably priced. Good value, and a Starbucks off the lobby. (updated May 2019)
• 22 The Ottawa Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent St (near Parliament Hill), ☏ +1 613-238-1122, toll-free: +1-800-853-8463. The Ottawa Marriott Hotel is in downtown Ottawa one block from the Parliament Buildings and steps away from museums and shopping. This Ottawa hotel includes a revolving restaurant, Kids’ Zone, an indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre. From $154. 
• 23 The Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Dr (near Parliament Hill), toll-free: +1-866-716-8101, ottawa@westin.com. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: noon. This newly renovated hotel is also connected to the Rideau Centre and the Ottawa Convention Centre by a walkway. It is steps from Parliament Hill and the Byward market and each of the 496 rooms features the ten-layer Heavenly Bed. Rates start at $159/night. 

Connect

The area codes for Ottawa are 613 and the overlay code 343. Hull (819, overlaid with 873) has the full Ottawa local calling area. Ten-digit dialling (area code+local number) is required for all local calls.

Most coffee shops, hotels, and public library branches have free wi-fi Internet access, although the speeds may be slower than you're accustomed to. There are internet cafes throughout the city.

Stay safe

Ottawa is a very safe place to live and visit, so if you use common sense it is at least as safe as any other city. There are many tourists in the city, especially in summer months, and there are very few incidents of robbery or assault.

There have been incidents on buses and at transit stations of violence and swarmings/robberies, even during daytime hours. OC Transpo has hired new constables and placed plainclothes security and cameras on select buses and trains to counter the problem. Use common sense, especially when riding at night, every transit station has multiple emergency call boxes. After dark, take extra care in areas near downtown such as Lowertown East, and also Hintonburg, Vanier, Bayshore, Ledbury, Heatherington, Caldwell and South Keys. These neighbourhoods are known to have gang presence and drug problems. (Ledbury, Heatherington, and South Keys have nothing in the way of tourist draws, anyway.) The section of Rideau Street between Sussex Drive and King Edward Avenue is infamous for homeless people and panhandlers (they'll thank you and wish you a good day, even when you don't give), though this rarely causes problems for anyone. Ottawa is generally very safe, but like any other city it has bad apples.

Ottawa is the fourth coldest capital city by annual average temperature, but it has the second coldest January, only topped by Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Add to that nearly 3 m (10') of snow per average winter and throw in an ice storm from time to time, winter can be a challenge but locals do a great job of handling it particularly with recreation. Summers are (normally) short, warm and at times hot and humid. Humidity in the summer can make the heat feel unbearable, while humidity in the winter, coupled with wind chills, can make the cold feel very brutal. Dress for the weather and don't forget to cover your head and ears with a warm hat. Ottawa is not a very fashion-minded city, but in winter, everyone throws in the towel.

See also: Cold weather

Cope

Embassies and High Commissions

• Albania, 130 Albert St, Ste 302, ☏ +1 613-236-3053, fax: +1 613-236-0804. 
• Argentina, 81 Metcalfe St, ☏ +1 613-236-2361, fax: +1 613-235-2659, ecana@mrecic.gov.ar. M-F 9AM-5PM. 
• Armenia, 7 Delaware Ave, ☏ +1 613-234-3710, fax: +1 613-234-3444. 
• Australia, 50 O'Connor St, Ste 710, ☏ +1 613-236-0841, fax: +1 613-236-4376. 
• Austria, 445 Wilbrod St, ☏ +1 613-789-1444, fax: +1 613-789-3431. 
• Azerbaijan, 275 Slater St, Ste 904, ☏ +1 613-288-0497, fax: +1 613-230-8089. 
• Bangladesh, Suite 1100, 350 Sparks St, ☏ +1 613-236-01318, fax: +1 613-567-3213, bangla@rogers.com. 
• Belarus, 130 Albert St, Ste 600, ☏ +1 613-233-9994, fax: +1 613-233-8500. 
• Belgium, 360 Albert St, Ste 820, ☏ +1 613-236-7267, fax: +1 613-236-7882. 
• Bolivia, 130 Albert St, ☏ +1 613-236-5730, fax: +1 613-236-8237. M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM. 
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, 130 Albert St, Ste 805, ☏ +1 613-236-0028, fax: +1 613-236-1139. 
• Bulgaria, 325 Stewart St, ☏ +1 613-789-3215, fax: +1 613-789-3524. (updated Jun 2018)
• Chile, Suite 1413, 50 O'Connor St, ☏ +1 613-235-4402, fax: +1 613-235-1176, echile.canada@minrel.gov.cl. 
• China, 515 St. Patrick St, ☏ +1 613-789-3434-791-0511, fax: +1 613-789-1911, chinaemb_ca@mfa.gov.cn. 
• Colombia, Suite 1002, 260 Albert St, ☏ +1 613-230-3760, cottawa@cancilleria.gov.co. 
• Costa Rica, Suite 701, 350 Sparks St, ☏ +1 613-562-2855, fax: +1 613-562-2582, embcr@costaricaembassy.com. 
• Croatia, 229 Chapel St, ☏ +1 613-562-7820, fax: +1 613-562-7821. 
• Cuba, 388 Main St, ☏ +1 613-563-0141, fax: +1 613-563-0068, embacuba@embacubacanada.net. Tu-F 9AM-1PM. (updated Jun 2018)
• Czech Republic, 251 Cooper St, ☏ +1 613-562-3875, fax: +1 613-562-3878. 
• Denmark, 47 Clarence St, ☏ +1 613-562-1811, fax: +1 613-562-1812. 
• Dominican Republic, Suite 301, 121 Richmond St West, ☏ +1 416 369-0403, fax: +1 416 369-0403, infodominicanconsulate@gmail.com. M-F 8AM-3PM. 
• Ecuador, Suite 230, 99 Bank St, ☏ +1 613-563-8206, fax: +1 613-563-8206, embassy@embassyecuador.ca. 
• Egypt, 454 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, ☏ +1 613-234-4931, fax: +1 613-234-9347, egyptemb@sympatico.ca. 9AM-4PM. 
• Estonia, 260 Dalhousie St, Ste 210, ☏ +1 613-789-4222, fax: +1 613-789-9555. 
• Finland, 55 Metcalfe St, Ste 850, ☏ +1 613-288-2233, fax: +1 613-288-2244, embassy@finland.ca. M-Th 9AM-noon, 1PM-3PM; F 9AM-11:30AM. 
• France, 42 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-789-1795, fax: +1 613-562-3735. 
• Germany, 1 Waverley St, ☏ +1 613-232-1101, fax: +1 613-594-9330. 
• Greece, 80 MacLaren St, ☏ +1 613-238-6271, +1 613-238-6273, fax: +1 613-238-5676. 
• Guyana, 151 Slater St, Ste 309, ☏ +1 613-235-7240, +1 613-235-7249, fax: +1 613-235-1447. 
• Hungary, 299 Waverley St, ☏ +1 613-230-2717, fax: +1 613-230-7560. 
• Iceland, 360 Albert St, Ste 710, ☏ +1 613-482-1944, fax: +1 613-482-1945. 
• India, 10 Springfield Rd, ☏ +1 613-744-3752, fax: +1 613-744-0913, hicomindia@hciottawa.ca. 
• Indonesia, 55 Parkdale Avenue, ☏ +1 613-724-1100. (updated Jan 2018)
• Ireland, 130 Albert St, Ste 1105, ☏ +1 613-233-6281, fax: +1 613-233-5835. 
• Italy, 275 Slater St, 21F, ☏ +1 613-232-2401, fax: +1 613-233-1484. 
• Jamaica, 151 Slater St, Ste 1000, ☏ +1 613-233-9311, fax: +1 613-233-0611. 
• Japan, 255 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-241-8541. 
• Latvia, 350 Sparks St, Ste 1200, ☏ +1 613-238-6014, fax: +1 613-238-7044. 
• Lithuania, 150 Metcalfe St, Ste 1600, ☏ +1 613-567-5458, fax: +1 613-567-5315. 
• Mauritius, 2918 Southmore Dr E, ☏ +1 613-737-7322, fax: +1 613-737-0690. 
• Mexico, Suite 1000, 45 O'Connor St, ☏ +1 613-235-8988, fax: +1 613-235-9123, info@sre.gob.mx. M-F 9AM-5PM. 
• Morocco, 38 Range Rd, ☏ +1 613-236-7391. M-F 9AM-4PM. (updated Jun 2018)
• Nepal, 408 Queen Street, ☏ +1 613-680-5513, fax: +1 613-422-5149, nepalembassy@rogers.com. 
• Netherlands, 350 Albert St, Ste 2020, ☏ +1 613-237-5030, fax: +1 613-237-6471. 
• New Zealand, 99 Bank St, Ste 727, ☏ +1 613-238-5991, fax: +1 613-238-5707. 
• Nigeria, 295 Metcalfe St, ☏ +1 613-236-0521, +1 613-236-0523, fax: +1 613-236-0529. 
• North Macedonia, 130 Albert St, Ste 1006, ☏ +1 613-234-3882, fax: +1 613-233-1852, ottawa@mfa.gov.mk. 
• Norway, Suite 1300, 150 Metcalfe St, ☏ +1 613-238-6571, fax: +1 613-238-2765, emb.ottawa@mfa.no. M-F 9AM-3PM. 
• Pakistan, 10 Range Rd, ☏ +1 613-238-7881, fax: +1 613-238-7296, parepottawa@rogers.com. 
• Panama, Suite 300, 130 Albert St, ☏ +1 613-236-7177. 
• Paraguay, 161 Slater St, ☏ +1 613-557-1283, fax: +1 613-567-1005, embassy@embassyofparaguay.ca. M-F 9AM-4PM. 
• Peru, Suite 1901, 130 Albert St, ☏ +1 613-232-3062. 
• Philippines, 30 Murray Street, ☏ +1 613-233-1121, fax: +1 613-233-4165. 
• Portugal, 645 Island Park Dr, ☏ +1 613-729-0883, fax: +1 613-729-4236, sconsular.ottawa@mne.pt. M-F 9AM-1PM, admission by appointment only (email for appointment). (updated Jun 2018)
• Romania, 655 Rideau St, ☏ +1 613-789-3709, +1 613-789-5345, fax: +1 613-789-4365. 
• Russia, 285 Charlotte St, ☏ +1 613-235-4341, +1 613-236-1413, fax: +1 613-236-6342. 
• Saint Lucia, ☏ +1 416-203-8400. Saint Lucian consular service is provided from their office in Toronto. (updated Jun 2018)
• South Africa, 15 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-744-0330, fax: +1 613-741-1639. 
• South Korea, 150 Boteler St, ☏ +1 613-244-5010. M–F 9AM-noon, 1PM-5PM. 
• Spain, 74 Stanley Ave, ☏ +1 613-747-2252, fax: +1 613-744-1224. 
• Sri Lanka, Suite 1204, 333 Laurier Ave, ☏ +1 613-233-8449, fax: +1 613-238-8448, slhcit@rogers.com. M-F 9AM-4:45PM. 
• Sweden, 377 Dalhousie St, ☏ +1 613-244-8200, fax: +1 613-241-2277, sweden.ottawa@gov.se. M-F 9AM-noon. 
• Switzerland, 5 Marlborough Ave, ☏ +1 613-235-1837, fax: +1 613-563-1394. 
• Syria, 46 Cartier St, ☏ +1 613-569-5556. 
• Trinidad and Tobago, 200 First Ave, ☏ +1 613-232-2418, fax: +1 613-232-4349. 
• Turkey, 197 Wurtemburg St, ☏ +1 613-789-4044, +1 613-789-3440, fax: +1 613-789-3442. 
• Ukraine, 310 Somerset St W, ☏ +1 613-230-2961, fax: +1 613-230-2400. 
• United Kingdom, 80 Elgin St, ☏ +1 613-237-1530, fax: +1 613-237-7980. 
• United States, 490 Sussex Dr, ☏ +1 613-238-5335, fax: +1 613-688-3082, OttawaACS@state.gov. 
• Uruguay, Suite 901, 350 Sparks St, ☏ +1 613-234-2727, fax: +1 613-234-2727, embassy@embassyofuruguay.ca. 
• Venezuela, 32 Range Rd, ☏ +1 613-235-5151. 
• Vietnam, 55 MacKay St, ☏ +1 613-236-0772, fax: +1 613-236-2704. M-F 9:30AM-5PM. 
• Zambia, 151 Slater St, ☏ +1 613-232-4400, zhc.ottawa@bellnet.ca. 
• Zimbabwe, 332 Somerset St W, ☏ +1 613-421-2824, fax: +1 613-422-7403, zimottawa@zimfa.gov.zw. M-Th 9AM-4PM, F 9AM-1PM. The Embassy of Zimbabwe in Ottawa. 

Go next

Just across the river from Ottawa is the city of Gatineau, which has the stunning Canadian Museum of History and some mighty good restaurants too. It is the centre of the Outaouais region which includes the lovely village of Wakefield, and Gatineau Park with its high cliffs and deep, clear lakes. A little further west is the Pontiac where you will find small rural towns and rafting expeditions. There is a bus service from Ottawa and Gatineau to the Pontiac. You can cycle from Quyon to Pembroke on 72 km of railway bed turned into a bike trail. Stop by the Shawville Fair in late August/early September.

To the south and east of Ottawa is a large flat rural area consisting mostly of small commuter towns, agricultural villages, and the occasional woodland. This lowland stretches all the way to Montreal (roughly 165 km to the east) and the United States border (just shy of a hundred kilometres to the south). The Rideau Canal runs through it. Among the many scenic towns are Merrickville, which has a good claim to the name "Canada's prettiest village," and Perth with its mills and heritage buildings.

Going west beyond Kanata, the village of Carp (about 40 minutes away, in West Carleton) houses the surreal Cold War "Central Emergency Government Headquarters" (the Diefenbunker), now a museum and listed under "Museums" above. Beyond that is the Ottawa Valley region, towns and farms, then the Madawaska Highlands wilderness area starting about 90 km from Ottawa. In that area is Calabogie, a ski resort in winter and lake resort in summer. A little further on is another wilderness recreation area, Algonquin Provincial Park.

Beyond the Ottawa region lie other Canadian cities, such as:

• Montreal, the largest city in Quebec and the largest French-speaking city outside of Europe, is 200 km east.
• Toronto, Canada's largest city, is about 500 km to the southwest.
• Kingston, about 200 km to the southwest, on the way to Toronto. A university town with historic limestone buildings.

If you're interested in a very different destination, Ottawa is one of the very few cities south of the 60th parallel that has regular scheduled air service - and the only one with direct air service - to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut.

Routes through Ottawa

Kingston ← Smiths Falls ←	W  E	→ END
END ←	W  E	→ Alexandria → Montreal
North Bay ← Arnprior ←	W  E	→ Limoges → Becomes → Montreal
Peterborough ← Carleton Place ←	W  E	→ END
END ←	N  S	→ Kemptville → Prescott
Montreal via ← Gatineau ←	N  S	→ ENDS at Macdonald-Cartier Bridge