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


Ottawa is the national capital city of Canada. The city sits one the bank of a river of the same name in 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 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.

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.

Canadian War Museum

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

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

Canadian Museum of Nature

3. Rideau Canal

This canal side is among the best places to visit in Ottawa. People come here for pleasant sight 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.

Rideau Canal

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.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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 the Parliament Hill.

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.

National War Memorial

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.

Bytown Museum

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.

Major’s Hill Park

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

This art gallery exhibits paintings, sculptures, drawings, 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 top Ottawa tourist places and requires at least 2 hours to explore.

National Gallery of Canada

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.

ByWard 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

  1. National Gallery of Canada
  2. Canadian Museum of History
  3. Canadian Museum of Nature
  4. Canadian War Museum
  5. Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  6. Canada Science and Technology Museum
  7. Diefenbunker Cold War Museum
  8. Rideau Hall
  9. Bytown Museum
  10. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
  11. Notre Dame Cathedral and Basilica
  12. Ottawa Art Gallery
  13. Peace Tower
  14. Bank of Canada Museum
  15. The National War Memorial
  16. Laurier House National Historic Site
  17. Canadian Children Museum
  18. Library of Parliament
  19. Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
  20. Watson’s Mill
  21. Billings Estate National Historic Site
  22. Goulbourn Museum
  23. Carleton University Art Gallery
  24. Pinhey’s Point Historic Site
  25. Symmes Inn Museum
  26. Royal Canadian Mint
  27. First Baptist Church
  28. Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
  29. National Holocaust Monument
  30. Residence of the Prime Minister of Canada
  31. Osgoode Township Museum
  32. Orange Art Gallery
  33. Beechwood Cemetery
  34. Beckwith Heritage Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Ottawa

  1. Mer Bleue Bog
  2. Mount Pakenham
  3. Prince of Wales Falls
  4. Lac Meech
  5. Fitzroy Provincial Park
  6. Dow’s Lake
  7. Pink Lake
  8. Rideau Falls
  9. Lac Beauchamp Park
  10. Hog’s Back Park
  11. Pinhey Forest
  12. Mill of Conservation Area
  13. Morris Island Conservation Area
  14. Baxter Conservation Area
  15. Jack Pine Trail
  16. South march Highlands Conservation Forest
  17. Remic Rapids Park
  18. King Mountain
  19. Chaudiere Falls
  20. Stony Swamp
  21. Leamy Lake
  22. Lac Beauchamp
  23. Fltcher Wildlife Garden
  24. Conroy Pit
  25. Mud Lake
  26. Chapman Mills Conservation Area

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Ottawa

  1. Casino de Lac Leamy
  2. Calypso Theme Waterpark
  3. Central Experimental Farm
  4. Saunders Farm
  5. Dominion Arboretum
  6. Confederation Park
  7. Andrew Haydon Park
  8. Interzip Rogers Zipline
  9. Strathcona Park
  10. Little Ray Nature Center
  11. Shenkman Arts Center
  12. Lansdowne Park

Shopping in Ottawa

  1. Byward Market
  2. CF Redeau Center
  3. Sparks Street
  4. Bayshore Shopping Center
  5. The Glebe
  6. Stittsville Carp Road Flea Market
  7. Westboro Village
  8. Wellington West

Beaches & Islands in Ottawa

  1. Petrie Island Beach
  2. Mooney’s Bay Park Beach
  3. Britannia Beach
  4. Westboro Beach
  5. Shirleys Bay
  6. Parc de Cedres

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Ottawa

  1. Hiking
  2. Trekking
  3. Boating
  4. Whitewater Rafting
  5. Skiing
  6. Snowshoeing
  7. Ice Skating
  8. Zipline

Sightseeing in Ottawa

  1. Rideau Canal
  2. Parliament Hill
  3. Major’s Hill Park
  4. Jacques Cartier Park
  5. Nepean Point
  6. Alexandra Bridge
  7. Champlain Lookout
  8. Petrie Island Park
  9. Commissioners Park
  10. Vincent Massey Park
  11. Confederation Square
  12. Wesley Clover Park
  13. Parliament of Canada
  14. Maplelawn Garden

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Ottawa

  1. Les Fougeres
  2. Town
  3. Edgar
  4. Gitanes
  5. Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner
  6. Table Sodam
  7. Supply and Demand
  8. Shawarma Palace
  9. Heartbreakers Pizza
  10. Fraser Cafe
  11. Soif
  12. Semsem
  13. Meat Press
  14. Fairouz
  15. Di Rienzo
  16. Riviera
  17. Rangoon
  18. Atelier
  19. Sansotei Ramen
  20. Tavern on the Hill
  21. Tamis Cafe
  22. Zoe’s Lounge
  23. Union Local 613
  24. Allium
  25. Fauna
  26. Gezellig
  27. Whalesbone
  28. Next
  29. Erling’s Variety
  30. Sidedoor

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, Washington, 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 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 can 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.


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