All citiesOttawa Things to do and walking itinerary
Canada Ottawa travel guide
24 things to do in Ottawa, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Ottawa
- National Gallery of Canada — museum of art in Ottawa, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Carleton University — university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Canadian Museum of History — museum in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Canadian Museum of Nature — natural history museum in Ottawa, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Canadian War Museum — national museum in Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- National War Memorial — Canadian national war memorial in Ottawa (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Rideau Hall — (officially Governor House) is the official residence of the Canadian monarch (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica — church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum — aviation museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Bank of Canada Museum — museum in Ottawa, Ontario (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography — gallery in Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- National Holocaust Monument — monument in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Peace Tower — bell and clock tower at the centre of Canada's Parliament buildings, in Ottawa (visit ≈ 40 min)
- St Joseph Cathedral — cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gatineau (visit ≈ 35 min)
- St. Patrick's Basilica, Ottawa — church in Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Memorial to the Victims of Communism — monument in Ottawa, Canada (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum — agricultural museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Confederation Park — park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Major's Hill Park — park in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 45 min)
- St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church — church in Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Ottawa Mosque — mosque in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 30 min)
- St John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine — Catholic church building and national sanctuary in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Christ Church Cathedral — Anglican cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Peacekeeping Monument — monument in Ottawa, Canada (visit ≈ 15 min)
2-day Ottawa walking itinerary
Starting point: ByWard Market. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 8.9 km · 11,960 steps · 1 h 58 min on the way): National War Memorial → Canadian Museum of Nature → Bank of Canada Museum → Canadian War Museum
- Day 2 (≈ 7.7 km · 10,330 steps · 1 h 42 min on the way): Canadian Museum of History → National Gallery of Canada → Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica → Rideau Hall
Where to stay in Ottawa
- ByWard Market: Market, restaurants and a walk to Parliament.
- Centretown: Central, hotels and the O-Train.
- The Glebe: Boutique shops by the Rideau Canal.
- Sandy Hill: Quiet, historic houses and the university.
- Little Italy: Italian restaurants and a relaxed vibe.
- Westboro: Local cafés and shops near the river.
Getting from the airport to Ottawa
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier (YOW): O-Train (with transfers) ≈ 45 min; taxi ≈ 20 min
Getting around
The core is walkable; O-Train and OC Transpo buses take Presto or contactless cards. In winter you can skate the canal.
Classic places to eat
- BeaverTails: The original ByWard stand; cinnamon-sugar pastry.
- Zak’s Diner: 1950s-style diner; breakfast and milkshakes.
- Elgin Street Diner: Late-night poutine.
- Shawarma Palace: Ottawa’s beloved chicken shawarma.
- The Manx: Cosy Elgin Street pub; whisky and brunch.
- Chez Lucien: A locals’ burger pub in ByWard.
Romantic views
- Major’s Hill Park (Sunset): A grassy hill looking over Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River.
- Rideau Canal (Evening): Walking paths along the canal, with skating in winter.
- Kìwekì Point (Nepean Point) (Sunset): From the point you see the river and the Parliament skyline.
- Alexandra Bridge (Evening): The steel bridge’s footpath looks back at the Parliament buildings.
Good to know before visiting Ottawa
- Fine: Cannabis is legal, but carrying it across any border, including to the US, is a crime.
- Fine: Open alcohol in public is banned in most places.
- Fine: Declare all food, plant and animal products at customs.
- Warning: Follow wildlife rules in nature: bears are real, never leave food out.
- Warning: Winters bring extreme cold and snow; dress for it.
- Price tags exclude sales tax, added at the till.
Extra rules for Ontario
- Warning: The legal age for cannabis is 19; public drinking is generally banned.
- Transit uses the PRESTO card or contactless payment.
- Emergency: 911
- Plugs: A/B, 120V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping 15–20% is expected in restaurants.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Canada, Wikivoyage — Canada, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Ottawa travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Ottawa?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 19 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Ottawa?
- Highlights: National Gallery of Canada, Carleton University, Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Museum of Nature and Canadian War Museum. The map has 24 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Ottawa?
- ByWard Market: Market, restaurants and a walk to Parliament. Other options: Centretown, The Glebe, Sandy Hill, Little Italy and Westboro.
- How do you get from the airport to Ottawa city centre?
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier (YOW): O-Train (with transfers) ≈ 45 min; taxi ≈ 20 min
- How do you get around Ottawa?
- The core is walkable; O-Train and OC Transpo buses take Presto or contactless cards. In winter you can skate the canal.
- What is the emergency number in Ottawa?
- Emergency: 911.
- Do you tip in Ottawa?
- Tipping 15–20% is expected in restaurants.
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