Ottawa is Canada’s fourth largest city and it attracts more than 7 million people each year. Ottawa is Canada’s capital city and is one of the best places in the whole of Canada to visit. I feel like everyone who is in Canada should visit Ottawa at least once.

Canada has many places which attract a lot of visitors but visiting Ottawa should be on everyone’s list. The population of Ottawa is around 1 million and it is 451 km far away from Toronto. Here are a few “Things to do in Ottawa”.

1. Exciting Things to Do at Ottawa Canada

1.1. Canadian War Museum

You can explore the Canadian war museum where you will be able to learn about the past of great Canada and what were the cultures there and how people there compared to now. It is always fun to know about the past culture and it’s very informative. The Canadian war museum is vast and you need to pace up or it will take at least 4 to 6 hours to explore everything in very good detail, so you have to minimize the time wasting as much as you can.

1.2. Parliament Hill and Buildings

If you’re ever in Ottawa, be sure to check Parliament hill and the buildings surrounding it. The architecture is pleasing for you to watch and you can also learn about the Canadian history hall.

1.3. Sunset at Andaz

The Andaz, Ottawa has one of the best sunsets you’ll ever see. If you are a fan of sunsets and you happen to be in Ottawa, this is a must-visit. You can click pictures and record videos too here of the sunsets.

2. Art at the National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is one of the country’s premier art institutions, located in Ottawa. The gallery is home to a world-renowned collection of American art, Canadian art, and European art.

3. Ottawa River by bus or raft

The Ottawa river is located in eastern Canada and extends more than 1600 km from its headwaters to where it meets the Saint Lawrence River near Quebec City.

The river passes through four different provinces along its journey Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

You can go for a bike ride or a walk to explore downtown Ottawa and you can follow the pathway to Rideau canal which cuts the city in two and makes its way to the Ottawa river.

Ottawa river is said to be one of the best rivers in the whole world and is very much under-appreciated. It used to be dirty before but now it is clean and very well maintained.

4. Major’s Hill Park

Major’s hill park is also known as the heart of Ottawa, when Canada’s day was celebrated in 1867 the fireworks were held here. It is one of the most beautiful parks you will ever see and it also has the best view of parliament hill from across the waters.

If you like clicking pictures and are a huge fan of nature you can visit here. It is quite a busy place sometimes but it is good to chill around and enjoy the atmosphere/Nature. You can also have a picnic with your group of friends or family here.

There are a lot of cleaning crew as well, they take care of the park and if the leaves fell they even clean that as well the park is very well maintained.

There are benches available as well to sit and enjoy the beautiful nature, you can chill here, if you like working alone peacefully then you will fall in love with this place. If you like spending your time alone too, it is good for you as well.

It is an ideal place to stroll and watch the colourslors of leaves change in the fall. You can also enjoy the fireworks competition here which is here every year in August.

5. Canada Aviation and Space Museum

If you are fascinated by aviation and space museums this s a must-visit, seeing the plane in real life is priceless. There are multiple planes there like fighter jets and it is very huge in real life compared to movies and series, you will get shocked if you see the size of the

fighter jet. The space museum section is very interesting too.

ambienceance is very rich in history and the information is documented with tons of interesting facts via plaques and signs. The staffs are very knowledgeable, friendly and informative they can let you get inside a few planes as well, which can be a very fun experience.

To top it off there is a whole section dedicated to Canada’s aviation contribution to space museums and exploration. This is a highly recommended one of the things to do in Ottawa.

you can go here with your kids as well despite there being no interest from them, they will enjoy it still for sure. It is one of the finest aviation museums in not just Canada but the whole world.

If you are from Ottawa you can ask for a museum pass from your local library for free entry for up to 2 adults and 2 kids.

6. Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, Canada

It does not matter if you are religious or not you should visit Notre dame cathedral basilica at least once, it is a very good experience. It is very beautiful and the design is very impressive you will for sure love it overall. It is said to be one of the most beautiful churches in Ottawa.

It is very calm and peaceful to be here and just forget about everything else. This will give you inner peace for sure. The practitioners are very friendly and welcoming too, no matter if you practice the religion or not.

7. Cruise along the Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a beautiful spot to stroll around. In winter the canal turns into a skating rink where people can skate for miles. It is a very beautiful place to click pictures of the reflections and you can just walk around for hours without worrying about the traffic.

The environment around Rideau canal is ridiculously good you can wander around here for peace of your mind. Rideau Canal is the world’s largest skating rink, the UNESCO world heritage site becomes the Rideau canal.

8. Rideau River

Rideau river gives Ottawa region a playground for the fun of great water. One can go boating, fishing, and kayaking. You can walk around the river too, it is always very soothing for your ears to listen to the sound of the river.

It is also one of the best places for swimming and you can also see the sunset very clearly from here. It is a great place for trying fun activities with your friends, family, or your loved ones.

9. Whitewater Rafting

everyone should try whitewater rafting once at least if they are in Ottawa. The guides available there are very professional and friendly they let you know how everything works there and guide you very nicely.

I would recommend bringing your phone or camera for clicking the pictures as there are a lot of places to click good pictures here while whitewater rafting. You will love this experience with your family. Ottawa city rafting is said to be one of the most famous in the whole world.

10. The Royal Canadian Mint

Royal Canadian mint is a must-do if you are in Ottawa or live here, the guide is very helpful here. The guides share an insane amount of knowledge and they are really smart. They are also kind and friendly all the time, showing care and care.

They are always ready for difficult questions they answer them very easily and are very tactful. Everyone gets surprised by seeing the displays and how it is presented, royal Canadian mint is a must for someone who is visiting Ottawa.

11. The Canadian Museum of History

Canadian museum of history is solely focused on Canadian history and not others like Royal Ontario Museum, if you want to learn about Canadian history then the Canadian museum of history is a must-visit in Ottawa.

The exhibits are also amazing and the children’s museum is also so much fun. You can book your tickets only and avoid the annoying lines there and it can also save you time then you will be able to explore more, Canadian museum of history is a must-visit.

12. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Canadian Museum/Canada agriculture and food museum is a very good place to hang out with your family. The staffs are very friendly and are happy to answer anything you ask and do not argue for no reason. You need to bring your food though as there is no food vendor here.

When you visit Canada’s agriculture and food museum you should be aware that you are not spreading germs to the animals and are not trying to harm them. It has various animals there too like cows, goats, etc. It features a great range of exhibits to emphasize Canadian agriculture such as canola, seed evolution, and oil. These are places where you get a lot of knowledge and it is always good to learn new things it should be on your list of things to do in Ottawa.

13. Explore Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum

This is a place where you should go with your family and kids, just be ready to explain everything. I think it is more interesting for the adults but you can take your kids as well. It looks very old and the environment here is very unique. You can even celebrate your birthday here and have quest time with your friends.

It is like going back 40 years and experiencing the cold war yourself, it is a must-have experience if you enjoy or like history. The Canadian museum of history is always fun to know. The staff is very friendly and they share everything that has happened before.

14. Gatineau Park

Gatineau park is a huge park with great hiking trails and beautiful vistas. The southern part is just a few minutes away from Gatineau park. The northern areas have a very nice view of Downtown Ottawa as well compared to the Southern part.

Try avoiding weekends when visiting Gatineau park as the parking is restricted and plan to go afternoon as most of the roads are closed earlier in the morning. On weekdays the parking is free but on the weekends it isn’t free.

15. Nordik Spa-Nature

If you visit Ottawa, you have to visit Nordik Spa if you visit it once I assure you it won’t be for just one time and you will come again. It can be busy during festivals but it is worth it. The bathrooms are very clean and the staff is very friendly as well they treat you very nicely and are not rude at all.

You can leave everything at the locker without being worried as it is very safe to keep your kinds of stuff there and you can be relaxed and not worry about your kinds of stuff.

16. Bytown Museum, Ottawa, Canada

Bytown Museum has a very friendly staff and a cute shop to swing by as you move along with the water. Staffs are very knowledgeable and they try to share their information as much as they can. It is an amazing Museum near the Canal.

The staff of Bytown Museum gets very excited when they see a new visitor and they treat them very nicely.

17. Fairmont Chateau Laurier Historic Display

Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a hotel that is very beautiful and looks very clean the ambience is very good as well from the moment you enter the lobby you get a feeling of being in a sanctuary. It was a warm and encompassing experience. The front desk tries to fulfil every request you make till your stay.

Buildings are one thing but the staffs make the real difference. Once you visit the Fairmont Chateau Laurier you will visit it once again that’s how beautifully the staff treats you, it’s good for celebrating birthdays too.

18. Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada

Canada Agriculture and Food museum is known as the central experimental farm a very well-maintained and very organized farm, and the staffs are friendly as well. Once you visit this place you will encounter a lot of newborn babies of animals.

It is brilliant if you spend a day of your time here and it is also fun interacting with animals, the interactive exhibits are fun as well but sometimes they can be closed as well it depends. You can ride your bike, walk or just stroll around and you won’t get bored for sure.

19. Explore the ornate Rideau Hall

Rideau hall is nice to walk around, play sports, and lounge. There is a lot of history on the site, both the gardens and the guided tours, it is worth checking it out. It is a good place for a weekend stroll or a good picnic spot as well. The park has a lot of trees planted there by leaders from different parts of the world.

20. Atelier Restaurant

The food is very interesting here and the 44 course is no joke! It is a lot of food and all very very different. The menu is fun and the interior of the Restaurant is very good as well. The vibes are very good here.

The staffs are very friendly and there are no delays. People also say that there is nothing like Atelier Restaurant in the whole of Ottawa, no joke. The menus are different according to the seasons.

The only minus part is there is no actual parking here so you have to either rent a cab and come or just be aware of this already.

21. Appreciate the works at Ottawa Art Gallery

You can visit the Ottawa art gallery when there is an open house and it is completely free then, there were also free food and coffee to take with you. Easy to spend a few just admiring the arts and reading the descriptions of the arts.

There are a few benches in the Ottawa art gallery so you can sit when you are tired or want to take a break for a while. I would recommend visiting it in the summer rather than the rainy and winter seasons because it is better at that time.

22. Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and technology museum is an awesome place for young kids to explore the progression of technology over time.

The museum has different sections which have different exhibits from a specific sector in technology from locomotives, sound, wearable technology, space museum, minerals, and many others. There is also a special dedicated section for young kids to explore and experiment with their creativity. This should be a must in your “things to do in Ottawa” if you’re into Science.

Conclusion

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and it has a lot of famous places there which people like to visit to gain information and explore new things. In Ottawa, there are places where you can learn about science and Technology, and experience good food from Atelier Restaurant and you can also get to watch art in an art gallery.

You can also learn about the history of Canada when you visit the museums of Ottawa, you can also visit one of the most beautiful parks in Canada whareh is Major’s hill park.

Last Updated on January 6, 2024 by Suchi