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.
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.
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.
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 the 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, 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.
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
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.
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
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