1. The Historic ByWard Market!

With over 600 shops and businesses, the ByWard Market is a unique blend of fine dining, delicious snacks, baked goods, and the not-to-be-missed Beaver Tails or Obama Cookies.

ByWard Market is actually older than the Canadian Nation. While it has changed drastically over the years to meet the changing trends and needs of Ottawa, this market has always been the ‘go-to’ meeting place for Ottawans in search of high-quality food, cutting-edge trends, and boutique stores. There is a bustling outdoor market to sample high-end organic produce, fresh flowers, and plenty of eclectic shops catering to all interests – and at night, the area is well known for its cosmopolitan nightlife scene.

Perfect for brunch, lunch, dinner, or even later, the ByWard Markets is a refreshing alternative to today’s bland and boring downtown shopping mall experience.

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2. Heart Of Canada At Parliament Hill!

Not just a collection of some of the most exquisite Gothic Revival architecture in the world, Parliament Hill in Ottawa is the beating heart of the Canadian Nation. And a true landmark of Canada.

To truly understand how such a dynamic and multicultural state can exist, opt for one of the many daily free tours of the parliament (on a first-come, first-served basis) to get a look inside and discover the history, art, and function of Canada’s parliament including the senate, house of commons and library. Just wandering the grounds is an awe-inspiring experience. If you are traveling to Ottawa in the summer, be sure to time your visit to catch the daily changing of the guard.

In December, the Parliament building is also covered in hundreds of thousands of lights for the Christmas Lights Across Canada festivities. Throughout the year, there are various other celebrations and performances that take place on the lawn here. Whether you are a Canadian or a visitor, everybody can learn something from a visit here.

3. The Rich History Of Canada From Pre-Colonization Through To The Modern Day!

As the most-visited museum in Canada – and arguably the most important – the Canadian Museum of History is a drawcard all on its own with outstanding exhibits focused on First Nations, Canadian, and world history.

Whether you have only a few hours or entire days, the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa offers a critical retrospective on the events which led to the formation of the Canadian state and since, given visitors a greater awareness of Canada, it’s identity and place in the world. It’s hard to oversell this museum as I was truly blown away by its expertise, scale (with over four million documents and artifacts) and open willingness to reflect on less savory parts of their history, which many would rather forget. If you only have time to do one thing in Ottawa, then this should undoubtedly be it.

4. Art At The National Gallery Of Canada!

With a great mix of contemporary, indigenous, modern, and historic art from practically every era, the National Gallery of Canada has something for everyone.

This is undisputedly the largest collection of Canadian Art in the world. Of particular interest are the Inuit and Aboriginal art collections, which offer an exact point of difference to other world-class galleries around the world.

Set inside a striking glass and granite building overlooking Parliament Hill – designed by esteemed architect Moshe Safdie of Habitat 67 in Montreal fame – a visit here is worth it alone just for the building. If you are short of time, you simply can’t miss the instantly recognizable Louise Bourgeois Maman (1999) piece outside the main entrance, now an icon for modern Ottawa.

With over 40,000 pieces over multi-levels, an on-site cafe, and a well-curated set of exhibitions and events, art lovers should plan a day to make their way through this extraordinary attraction. Sure, kids might disagree with me – but for culture lovers, you can’t leave this off any list of fun things to do in Ottawa.

5. Many Expanses Of Wild Nature In Canada!

As the second-largest country in the world, with a ridiculous amount of expansive nature, biomes, and animals, it is impossible to see them all, which is where a trip to the Canadian Museum of Nature comes in.

With over 14.6 million (yes, million) specimens, this museum brilliantly showcases the botany, mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology of Canada in a modern and fun manner suitable for all ages.

Thanks to a recent multi-million dollar upgrade with the addition of many new interactive exhibits and a dazzling ‘glass lanternn’, there is no better place to get a real understanding of the scale or relationships in the Canadian wilderness — and why it is so important we protect it. There is also a modern exhibition hall with regularly changing exhibitions and an IMAX cinema showing nature documentaries meaning there is a nice mix of locals and visitors here and a vivacious feel during the week!

6. The Historic Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Where it all started, Ottawa (or ByTown as it was initially named) would simply not exist without the Rideau Canal, a monumental 19th-century construction spanning over 200 kilometers. Built primarily for military purposes to protect against an American invasion that never happened, the Rideau Canal is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved example of a slack water canal in North America.

Today it is still used – but for boat tours on the Rideau Canal or pleasure cruises – and offers something for everyone, whether it is a fabulous winter vacation or picnicking and tanning in the summer. The Rideau Canal cuts through the heart of Ottawa, and there is a legendary trail along its length, which is a great way to explore the city from a new perspective.

To truly understand the scale of the grand endeavor and the effect it had on Ottawa and Canada, a visit to the ByTown Museum is recommended, which sits conveniently next to the Rideau Locks under Parliament Hill in Ottawa’s oldest stone building.

7. Luxury With Ottawa’s Bargain Price Hotels!

Compared to nearby Toronto, or other cosmopolitan cities in North America, Ottawa has rather affordable hotels – many of which have been built recently with funky designs coinciding with Ottawa’s high tech boom.

Given the downtown and surrounding suburbs are so walkable, there is no real ‘bad location’, and a comparable hotel in Toronto is generally 50-100% more expensive, so take advantage of this situation as I’m sure it won’t last!

I stayed at (and loved) the Alt Hotel Ottawa – a modern, high-rise hotel with everything you could need, great funky design and two blocks from Parliament Hill – but to really spoil yourself I recommend the Fairmont Château Laurier, the iconic grand limestone property overlooking the Rideau Canal, or the HI Ottawa Jail Hostel set in a 19th-century former jail if you want something unique but are still searching for budget accommodation in Ottawa.

8. Partake In Libations In Some Of The Trendiest Locations In Canada!

As you can probably gather by now, Ottawa is not as straight-laced as you might expect and has a lot of cool places and events to explore for yourself.

Far from a museum city where you retreat to your hotel room at night, Ottawa has plenty of vibrant nightlife spots for a casual drink, to enjoy the sunset or to party the night away. And yes, the after-work cocktail game here is on point!

One of the most popular places is the Copper Spirits and Sights rooftop lounge with fabulous city views and delicious craft cocktails. There are also plenty of other less obvious and utterly places if you ask around and do some research.

I’ll help you out with a few of my favourites though: the Saturday Drag Show at Lookout Bar (Ottawa’s all-inclusive gay club), the Clocktower Brew Pub to sample the craft-brew scene in Canada in a friendly environment or the Rainbow, an international known live blues venue at ByWard Markets. And if a night out isn’t one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa – then I totally give up!

9. Ottawa With A City Beer Bus Tour Of Breweries!

After all the serious sightseeing (and cycling!), you’ll be in need of a drink! Luckily, this 4-5-hour tour will offer plenty of opportunities for that! But be warned: this is a brewery tour for serious beer aficionados, or those who are aiming to become serious beer aficionados. It’s a long time to spend learning about beer ingredients and brewing processes, so make sure you’re ready for that. For us, it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Ottawa. The city has plenty of breweries to choose from – you’ll visit about 3 – and you’ll meet a fun bunch of people who love beer as much as you do.

At each brewery, you’ll spend time on a tour, learning about how they make their product, before moving on to the tasting. There are tasting note cards provided so you can keep track of what you tried – and remember the name of your favourite one! You’ll leave with new friends and a new-found appreciation for Canadian craft beer, trust us. The organizers, Brew Donkey, are friendly and offer excellent customer service. Just make sure you line your stomach before heading out!

10. The Canadian War Museum

This modern building is home to thoughtful exhibitions about conflict and its impact on countries, and humanity at large. With textured walls reminiscent of a bunker and the striking copper cladding, you can’t help but notice the Canadian War Museum.

This is particularly true at night when the flickering lights spell out ‘Lest We Forget’ and ‘CWN’ in Morse Code (both English and French). This original perspective continues inside, with the permanent exhibitions taking visitors on a journey through Canadian military history.

There are over 3 million items commemorating the triumph and despair of war throughout the ages. Starting with a gallery covering early conflict through settlement to 1885, continuing with the South African and First World Wars, on to the Second World War and the lengthy aftermath of the Cold War, these galleries are interactive and engaging spaces.

Visitors often enjoy the tanks and airplanes, but the audio recordings are particularly evocative. There’s a deeper understanding of armed conflict than you find in a lot of war museums, so it’s worth setting aside several hours to explore.

11. Ottawa Express City Bike Tour!

OK, we know we go on about seeing a city from the water, but seeing it on a bike is just as brilliant (and probably better exercise, let’s be honest!). A bike tour is a fun way to engage with a new city.

You get to see the major highlights of Ottawa but also can take regular breaks from the sightseeing in the form of a relaxing cycling session. It’s a wonderful way to experience daily life in a city, in addition to the touring advantages. Gliding along a leafy street by the canal, taking in the scenery and watching people on their commutes, you feel like you’re really part of your destination.

Amidst this glorious feeling, you’ll also get the chance to learn more about the top attractions around you. This two-hour tour will take you to the War Memorial, Parliament Hill, past significant museums and galleries, and over the river to Gatineau. Fun and energetic guides somehow catch their breath to tell you more about the places you visit, keeping you laughing even after the toughest patches of cycling (don’t worry, it’s never that strenuous!).

It’s a perfect thing to do in Ottawa for families or people who like their city-breaks at a leisurely pace!

12. The Spooky Shivers On The Original Haunted Walk Of Ottawa

When you think about ghost walks, your mind might jump to lousy acting, and cheap jump scares – think again! This fascinating tour is actually one of our favourite things to do in Ottawa because it manages to combine historical accuracy with some genuinely blood-curdling tales of the city.

Starting near Parliament Hill, your guide will take you to some of the oldest places in the city and show you a completely different side to its unusual appearance! One of the great things about a haunted walk is that it offers an alternative viewing of a city, and this Ottawa tour is no exception.

The guides keep you totally enthralled along the way, interacting with participants to involve them in all of the stories. You’ll learn about the famous haunted high school, why the Rideau Canal is haunted, and hear the story of the landmark hotels connection to the the Titanic.

Whether you’re a true believer (in ghosts) or just love history, this tour will keep you hooked until the last chilling tale has finished.

13. Rideau Canal Cruise

We’ve already mentioned the spectacular Rideau Canal, a 202-km-long feat of engineering that links Ottawa to Kingston and remains the oldest working canal system in North America. Amazingly, of the total length, only 19km is entirely human-made as the rest of it utilised existing rivers and lakes.

After visiting the Bytown Museum for the background to its construction, the best way to enjoy it, obviously, is from the water, so make time on your itinerary for this lovely Rideau Canal Cruise. This one-and-a-half-hour tour takes you along a stretch of the canal from Dow’s Lake to the Ottawa River in a quirky blue cruise ship with snacks and an engaging tour guide.

The views of the riverbanks from the boat are attractive and culturally fascinating. It’s the perfect perspective to see top sights like the National Arts Centre, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the University of Ottawa campus. It’s a relaxing trip with excellent commentary from the guides, which give you lots of extra information about what you’re passing in a fun and educational manner.

You know what we always say – if you want to really enjoy a city, see it from the water!