Not sure what to do on your next vacation? Check out this list of the top 15 activities in Ottawa, Canada, that you won’t want to miss! From strolling around and exploring parks, all the way up through sightseeing tours and historical landmarks – we’ve got something for everyone. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
The Best Thing To Do in Ottawa, Canada
Parliament Hill
- Address: Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A9, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (32091)
- Phone: +1 613-992-4793
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PMTuesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PMWednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PMThursday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PMFriday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed
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Top 15 Things To Do Ottawa, Canada
Canadian Museum of Nature
- Address: 240 McLeod St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (9629)
- Phone: +1 800-263-4433
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PMTuesday: ClosedWednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PMThursday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PMSunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Reviews:
This place is so huge, with so many things to explore that you can easily spend 4 hours there or more.
clean, beautiful, up to date.
There are lots of interesting knowledge filled things to view and read about.
Terrific place for kids: there are interactive stations everywhere… not just computers, but also a binocular station in the bird area, turtle viewers for jellyfish vs plastic bags, touching water creature station, real ice sculpture to walk through and touch.
The staff are so approachable and so helpful. They actually like to help and do so with a smile.
To add to its many amazing features, its also free every Thursday after 5.
Memberships are available and a good deal if you plan to come at least 3 times in the year but keep in mind that will not include parking fees.also you may receive a discount if you’re an ingenium pass holder.
I will definitely recommend visiting it.By Tina C (9 months ago)Visiting the Canadian Museum of Nature has been one of my best experiences yet. The museum has four floors. Each floor has 2 sections facing each other. The first floor has the skeleton of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. The second floor shows aquatic life. Other floors show the birds, mammals, and the early man.There are live creatures, animations and 3D displays which make the exhibits look so real. The videos, photos, and descriptions at the base of each exhibit provides an enjoyable learning experience.
I also visited the Planet ice exhibition where I learnt about the way of life of the Inuit. It is so important to know the role of ice and indeed other elements in maintaining the ecosystem so that we can do our bit to stop climate change.Don’t forget to visit the cafe on the first floor. You can grab something to eat, and also shop for mementos: clothing, mugs, toys, jewellery, games and notebooks! I will certainly visit again with my children.
By Onyinyechi Ibelegbu (7 months ago)Parking was the biggest issue and no dedicated line for ticket holders. You need a better system. Within the first 30min the first parking lot was full and the ticketing machine was broken for the second lot. (To the right of the entrance doors). This was a 20min wait before they just let us enter the parking lot without tickets. This meant that when we left we paid full $28 price for parking when I only stayed a couple hours. For the inside experience…The sections were amazing. I love the interactivity for the kids. Very engaging. The visuals and exhibits were great.By James Kirby (7 months ago)I had never been to a museum before and I’m so glad this was my first opportunity. This is the best place and it’s packed full of information. I loved all the displays and my most favourite was the mammals. They have a breastfeeding room complete with a changing station. It’s very hard to find that now a days, the staff are very knowledgeable and super friendly. Thank you!!!By Kristen Horner (9 months ago)Oh my! I visited this museum on Thursday without paying a penny! It was all free… I was amazed by seeing the variety of stuff they have in the museum, the architecture, live creatures and realisticness of the handmade animals. It absolutely worth the visit. Take your child with you, as this place has so much to learn from.By Amy K (7 months ago)
Canadian War Museum
- Address: 1 Vimy Pl, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (7275)
- Phone: +1 800-555-5621
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMWednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Reviews:
Amazing experience, the place is vast so better pace yourself based on the period you are interested in, otherwise allocate a good 5 to 6 hours to cover everything in detail.
An excellent cafeteria is also available with a treats menu appealing to both kids and adults.
There are a few interactive exhibits as well as a lot of artifact’s including an original copy of the “treaty of Versailles”, a document crucial to the fomentation of the 2nd world war, Hitler’s Mercedes amongst a few others.
A great experience overall.
By Hrishikesh Shrivastaw (6 months ago)What a fantastic place to learn about Canada’s role in past wars. The place was clean, interactive and had many interactive exhibits. The hall full of vehicles and Armour was cool as well! It’s very large so make sure you wear comfy shoes!By Jer Green (Greener) (8 months ago)So much information and visual displays to take in! Several interactive areas as well, and that tank gallery with the jet suspended from the ceiling?! Can’t be beat. We have to go again because we couldn’t fit it all in with one visit! Also, the underground parking is like driving into a bunker – so cool!By Sue Maynard (4 months ago)Its nice place. It has all the word war I and II history and few tanks they have maintained in their ground level that is very much fascinating. Do visit once if you are in OttawaBy ashwini kapse (7 months ago)Very interesting and informative. The only thing I would recommend is that you need 3-4 hours to see it properly. Also there is quite a bit of reading you will have to do to get the best experienceBy Amardeep Sarang (6 months ago)
National Gallery of Canada
- Address: 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (7262)
The National War Memorial
- Address: Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5A4, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (3265)
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
- Address: 385 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 1J9, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (2682)
Major’s Hill Park
- Address: Mackenzie Ave, Ottawa, ON K1N 1G8, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (2017)
Royal Canadian Mint
- Address: 320 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G8, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1732)
Ottawa Sign, ByWard Market
- Address: 6 York St, Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z6, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1612)
Centennial Flame
- Address: 111 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1357)
Rideau Canal, Locks 1 – 8 – Ottawa
- Address: Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1245)
Bank of Canada Museum / Musée de la Banque du Canada
- Address: 30 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G9, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1051)
Ottawa Art Gallery
- Address: 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON K1N 0C5, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (915)
Bytown Museum
- Address: 1 Canal Ln, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (365)
The Corktown Footbridge
- Address: Corkstown Footbridge, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (340)
Terry Fox Statue
- Address: 90 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5L1, Canada
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (129)
That’s it for our list of the best things to do in Ottawa, Canada! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers too!
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The Parliament Hill is under construction for 10 years, so there’s no access to the buildings and you can only walk around and view the building.
The Parliament Hill’s architecture is amazing. It is so impressive when you walk around and see the beautiful details.
I would love to come back when the renovations are done and go inside the building and have a full tour and hear more about the history of it.
Great tourist destination! It’s under refurbishments right now, however if you go the the back of the west block, you can get good pictures. Lots of protests happening right now, daily ones. However, they stay at the front, so the west and east blocks are good to go to. Also, there’s an amazing walking trail behind the center block, great views.
So huge and so clean with no rush. Less traffic, building awesome. Adjacent buildings are too beautiful. Worth to see and will visit Ottawa again if get chance.
Parliament hill is my best experience with respect to places. Great experience. We were returning from Montreal and thought have a in car view of city. We loved it so much that we stayed one more night here. Great experience.
Amazing light shows during Christmas. There are construction going on at this point yet it doesn’t dull the beauty of the majestic parliament. Can’t wait to go in after the renovation.