Top 10 Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Ottawa

January 22, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 1670 Views

Ottawa is the national capital city of Canada. The city sits on the bank of a river of the same name on the southern side of Ontario. Some of the top things to do in Ottawa include exploring museums, nature conservation parks, waterfalls and historical buildings.

The town was built upon traditional Anishinàbeg Algonquin territory. The region is also a conjunction point for several rivers which saw the development of the region as a transportation center as well as a trade center. Even today, some of the best places to visit in Ottawa are along the river and canals. The city’s name comes from Algonquin word Odawa, which means “to trade”. This name was bestowed upon the city in 1826. Before that it was known as Bytown. You can learn more about the city’s history at Ottawa tourist attractions like the Bytown Museum.

You can learn about all of Canada’s history in this town. Being the country’s capital city, things to see in Ottawa also include national museums concerning political history, natural history, war history, aviation history, agricultural history and so on. You can see all of these listed in the sections below.

The city is surrounded by some of the most fascinating outdoor places in the country. You get to explore landscapes, mountains, waterfalls, forests, swamps and more. Hiking, trekking and camping at these beautiful sites are among the most fun things to do in Ottawa. If you are feeling a little adventurous you can head for whitewater rafting, skiing, ice skating, kayaking and more. There are enough activities in Ottawa to keep you engaged and entertained for a few days.

If you don’t want to step out of the city, there are still fun places to go in Ottawa. You have all the usual venues for entertainment like theaters, clubs, bars, sporting venues, theme parks, casinos and more.

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Table of Contents

Top 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Ottawa in 2 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Canadian War Museum (Musée canadien de la guerre)

This museum details the history of arms and battles in Canada. It is one of the most intimidating things to see in Ottawa. You would need about 2 hours for this museum.

I suggest you can book your Entrance Ticket of Canadian War Museum in advance.

2. Canadian Museum of Nature (Musée canadien de la nature)

This museum of natural history covers subjects such as botany, zoology, paleontology, mineralogy, geology and more. You would need 2 hours for the nature museum when you visit Ottawa.

3. Rideau Canal

This canal side is among the best places to visit in Ottawa. People come here for pleasant sights and peaceful walks during summers. They come for ice skating and several snow activities in winter. You can easily spend a couple of hours alongside the canal.

I suggest you should book a ticket of Rideau Canal Cruise in advance.

4. Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Musée de l’Aviation et de l’Espace du Canada)

As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to the history of flying machines. The museum features several fighter jets, airplanes, bomber planes and more. It is one of the top Ottawa tourist attractions.

Day 2

1. Parliament Hill (Colline du Parlement)

This area holds the parliament buildings of the country. These buildings are known for their Gothic revival architecture and their role in the history of the country. It is an integral part of Ottawa sightseeing. You would need about an hour for Parliament Hill.

2. National War Memorial (Monument commémoratif de guerre du Canada)

This monument is dedicated to the Canadian soldiers and civilians who have lost their lives for the country. You would need 15 to 20 minutes to pay respect to the heroes at this memorial during Ottawa travel.

3. Bytown Museum (Musée Bytown)

This museum is dedicated to the history of Bytown area which is considered the point of origin for the city. The museum itself is housed in the city’s oldest stone building. It is among the best places to go in Ottawa to learn about the city’s history.

4. Major’s Hill Park

This is the oldest public park in the city. It is a tranquil green space with spaces for a lot of activities in Ottawa. You can easily spend an hour or so here.

5. National Gallery of Canada (Musée des beaux-arts du Canada)

This art gallery exhibits paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs originating from North America and Europe. You can see works by iconic artists like Andy Warhol, Edgar Degas, Prudence Howard and many more. It is among the top Ottawa tourist places and requires at least 2 hours to explore.

6. ByWard Market (Marché By)

This market is the happening hub of fun things to do in Ottawa like shopping, entertainment, street food and dining. It is one of the oldest and largest public markets in the country. You would need 2 to 3 hours to explore this market.

If you are looking for more places to see in Ottawa, check out the section below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions and activities to explore in and around the city.

Things to do in Ottawa

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Ottawa

National Gallery of Canada
Canadian Museum of History
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian War Museum
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Diefenbunker Cold War Museum
Rideau Hall
Bytown Museum
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Notre Dame Cathedral and Basilica
Ottawa Art Gallery
Peace Tower
Bank of Canada Museum
The National War Memorial
Laurier House National Historic Site
Canadian Children Museum
Library of Parliament
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
Watson’s Mill
Billings Estate National Historic Site
Goulbourn Museum
Carleton University Art Gallery
Pinhey’s Point Historic Site
Symmes Inn Museum
Royal Canadian Mint
First Baptist Church
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
National Holocaust Monument
Residence of the Prime Minister of Canada
Osgoode Township Museum
Orange Art Gallery
Beechwood Cemetery
Beckwith Heritage Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Ottawa

Mer Bleue Bog
Mount Pakenham
Prince of Wales Falls
Lac Meech
Fitzroy Provincial Park
Dow’s Lake
Pink Lake
Rideau Falls
Lac Beauchamp Park
Hog’s Back Park
Pinhey Forest
Mill of Conservation Area
Morris Island Conservation Area
Baxter Conservation Area
Jack Pine Trail
South march Highlands Conservation Forest
Remic Rapids Park
King Mountain
Chaudiere Falls
Stony Swamp
Leamy Lake
Lac Beauchamp
Fltcher Wildlife Garden
Conroy Pit
Mud Lake
Chapman Mills Conservation Area

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Ottawa

Casino de Lac Leamy
Calypso Theme Waterpark
Central Experimental Farm
Saunders Farm
Dominion Arboretum
Confederation Park
Andrew Haydon Park
Interzip Rogers Zipline
Strathcona Park
Little Ray Nature Center
Shenkman Arts Center
Lansdowne Park

Shopping in Ottawa

Byward Market
CF Redeau Center
Sparks Street
Bayshore Shopping Center
The Glebe
Stittsville Carp Road Flea Market
Westboro Village
Wellington West

Beaches & Islands in Ottawa

Petrie Island Beach
Mooney’s Bay Park Beach
Britannia Beach
Westboro Beach
Shirleys Bay
Parc de Cedres

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Ottawa

Hiking
Trekking
Boating
Whitewater Rafting
Skiing
Snowshoeing
Ice Skating
Zipline

Sightseeing in Ottawa

Rideau Canal
Parliament Hill
Major’s Hill Park
Jacques Cartier Park
Nepean Point
Alexandra Bridge
Champlain Lookout
Petrie Island Park
Commissioners Park
Vincent Massey Park
Confederation Square
Wesley Clover Park
Parliament of Canada
Maplelawn Garden

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Ottawa

Les Fougeres
Town
Edgar
Gitanes
Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner
Table Sodam
Supply and Demand
Shawarma Palace
Heartbreakers Pizza
Fraser Cafe
Soif
Semsem
Meat Press
Fairouz
Di Rienzo
Riviera
Rangoon
Atelier
Sansotei Ramen
Tavern on the Hill
Tamis Cafe
Zoe’s Lounge
Union Local 613
Allium
Fauna
Gezellig
Whalesbone
Next
Erling’s Variety
Sidedoor

Where to Stay in Ottawa?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Ottawa. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Ottawa.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Ottawa

How to Reach Ottawa?

By Air

Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is the easiest option for Ottawa travel if you are coming from abroad. You can get direct flights form London, Frankfurt, Toronto, Orlando, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, Tampa, Boston, Charlottetown, Newark, Quebec City, Washington DC, Chicago and more. You have the options of buses and cabs to reach places in the city from the airport.

By Road

You can get trains from several towns and cities to visit Ottawa. You would have to check the schedules of the national rail network. The bus network is far more widespread. You can also get Ottawa sightseeing bus tours from nearby towns.

If you plan to travel by car, you should pick between routes 417, 7, 15 or 416.

By Water

You will find boat rides running between Ottawa and Kingston running along Ottawa and St. Lawrence river.

Image Reference

Canadian War Museum (Musée canadien de la guerre) – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
Canadian Museum of Nature (Musée canadien de la nature) – Douglas Sprott / Flickr
Rideau Canal – Shawn Kent / Flickr
Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Musée de l’Aviation et de l’Espace du Canada) – Alan Wilson / Flickr
Parliament Hill (Colline du Parlement) – festivio / PixaBay
National War Memorial (Monument commémoratif de guerre du Canada) – Caribb / Flickr
Bytown Museum (Musée Bytown) – Douglas Sprott / Flickr
Major’s Hill Park – adam w / Flickr
National Gallery of Canada (Musée des beaux-arts du Canada) – Timothy Neesam / Flickr
ByWard Market (Marché By) – Paulo O / Flickr