Canada’s most iconic address — Gothic Revival grandeur on a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River

Parliament Hill is not merely Ottawa’s most visited attraction — it is the symbolic heart of Canada itself. The three Gothic Revival buildings perched on a 170-foot limestone bluff above the Ottawa River draw approximately three million visitors each year, and for good reason: there is simply nowhere else in the country where the architecture, the history, the views, and the sense of civic occasion converge so powerfully. Free guided tours of the West Block and East Block take visitors through the House of Commons chamber, Senate chamber, and the extraordinary Library of Parliament — the only part of the original Centre Block that survived the devastating 1916 fire. The Peace Tower offers a panoramic view over the city and river that is among the finest urban vistas in Canada. In summer, the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place daily at 10AM on the main lawn, while the evening Sound and Light Show projects a bilingual story of Canada’s history directly onto the stone façade of the buildings. Note that major renovations of the Centre Block are ongoing until approximately 2030-31, but tours of the West Block and extensive grounds remain fully available.

► After the Hill, discover where to eat nearby — Ottawa’s Top 10 Restaurants →

A 202km UNESCO World Heritage waterway — boating in summer, the world’s largest skating rink in winter

The Rideau Canal is perhaps the single most remarkable feature of any Canadian city. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, this 202-kilometre waterway connecting Ottawa to Kingston was built between 1826 and 1832 as a military supply route and remains the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, still functioning along its original route with most of its hand-cranked original locks intact. In Ottawa, the canal’s most famous stretch runs through the heart of the city, passing Confederation Park, the National Arts Centre, and Dow’s Lake before winding south through the Glebe neighbourhood. In summer, this corridor becomes a paradise for boaters, cyclists, paddlers, and strollers, with Parks Canada lock operators in period-appropriate attire operating the original hand-cranked mechanisms. In winter, the canal transforms into the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink — officially recognized by Guinness World Records at 7.8 kilometres — a phenomenon that draws hundreds of thousands of skaters each year during the legendary Winterlude festival. Access to the canal pathway is free year-round, with boat cruises, canoe rentals, and skating equipment available seasonally.

► Explore Ottawa’s best shopping near the canal — Top 10 Shopping Malls in Ottawa →

Canada’s national art museum — Moshe Safdie’s glass masterpiece housing 90,000 works and the iconic Maman spider

Designed by Canadian-Israeli architect Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, the National Gallery of Canada is one of the most architecturally striking museum buildings in the world — a soaring composition of glass and granite that appears to grow organically from its site on Sussex Drive, with views across to the Alexandra Bridge and the Canadian Museum of History beyond. The collection of over 90,000 works spans Indigenous art, Canadian historical painting, the legendary Group of Seven, European masters, and cutting-edge contemporary installations. The reconstructed Rideau Street Chapel — a 19th-century Gothic Revival interior relocated inside the gallery — is one of the most unexpected and moving spaces in any museum. Outside, Louise Bourgeois’s Maman, a 30-foot bronze spider, has become one of Ottawa’s most photographed landmarks and a favourite with children. Guided tours run daily for adults, and the Open Studio offers hands-on art activities for families. Admission is free on Thursday evenings after 5PM.

Canada’s powerful national memorial to military history — tanks, wartime stories, and a 40-minute sunbeam on Remembrance Day

The Canadian War Museum stands as one of the most affecting buildings in Ottawa — its angular, scarred-earth exterior by Moriyama & Teshima was designed to evoke the devastations of war, with a series of small windows along the façade that spell “Lest We Forget” in Morse code. Inside, four major gallery wings trace Canada’s military history from pre-Confederation conflicts through to modern peacekeeping operations, with a vast lower-level gallery housing an extraordinary collection of military vehicles: tanks, artillery pieces, aircraft, and — most famously — Hitler’s staff car. The personal accounts woven throughout every exhibition transform what might have been dry military history into deeply human stories of courage, sacrifice, and the moral complexity of war. The Memorial Hall is among the most moving spaces in any Canadian institution: at exactly 11:00AM on November 11 each year, a precisely engineered beam of sunlight illuminates the headstone from the grave of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. Allow a minimum of three to four hours, and take advantage of free admission on Thursday evenings after 5PM.

► After the museum, find a perfect brunch spot nearby — Ottawa’s Top 10 Breakfast & Brunch →

Canada’s most visited museum — the Grand Hall’s totem poles and sweeping river views make it unmissable

Just across the Alexandra Bridge in Gatineau, Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History is Canada’s most visited museum and arguably its most important cultural institution. Douglas Cardinal’s undulating sandstone building — its curves meant to evoke the land masses shaped by wind and water — is spectacular from the Ottawa side of the river, and even more extraordinary up close. The Grand Hall houses the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, with Pacific Coast Indigenous houses and carvings in a soaring space overlooking the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill. The Canadian History Hall traces the country’s story from the earliest peoples through to the present day. The Canadian Children’s Museum is one of the best family attractions in the city, with immersive environments that transport children to different cultures around the world. A CINÉ+ theatre, Easter egg hunts, and regular family programming make this a venue that rewards multiple visits throughout the year.

Ottawa’s buzzing 200-year-old market district — BeaverTails, local cheese, fresh produce, and the city’s best street energy

The ByWard Market has been the social and commercial heart of Ottawa since 1826, and nearly two centuries later it remains the city’s most visited neighbourhood destination, drawing millions of locals and tourists each year with an irresistible combination of fresh food, independent shops, street art, and genuine neighbourhood energy. The historic market building — still operating as a farmers’ market with fresh produce, local cheese, maple products, and flowers — is surrounded by over 600 independent businesses occupying the Victorian brick buildings that line the district’s streets. This is where to find BeaverTails — the iconic fried pastry shaped like a beaver’s tail, topped with cinnamon sugar, Nutella, or maple butter — as well as fresh-shucked oysters, local craft beer, maple-infused chocolates, and hand-made crafts by local artisans. By evening the same streets that bustle with daytime shoppers transform into one of Ottawa’s most lively entertainment districts, with restaurants, patios, and bars filling the warm months with irresistible outdoor energy. Walking the ByWard Market is completely free and genuinely one of the great pleasures of any Ottawa visit.

Hold pure gold in your hands — a fascinating 45-minute guided tour through Canada’s official coin-making headquarters

The Royal Canadian Mint’s Ottawa headquarters is one of those rare attractions that offers something genuinely unique: the chance to hold a pure gold bar worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in your own hands. The Mint’s 1908 Gothic Revival building on Sussex Drive is itself a striking landmark, and the 45-minute guided tours take small groups of approximately twelve visitors through the production floor via elevated walkways, watching the striking of commemorative coins, gold and silver bullion, and medals from above. The guides are knowledgeable and entertaining, walking visitors through the history of Canadian coinage from the earliest colonial currency to the most recent commemorative releases. Note that circulating coins are produced at the Winnipeg facility, not here, so what you’ll see in Ottawa is the collector coin and bullion operation — which includes the remarkable sight of gold blanks being processed. The Mint was recognized as a 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winner, placing it in the top 10% of attractions globally. Book tours in advance as group sizes are small and time slots fill quickly.

Dinosaur fossils, a blue whale skeleton, and live leaf-cutter ants — five floors of natural wonder inside a Victorian castle

Housed in the spectacular Victoria Memorial Museum Building — a castle-like structure completed in 1912 whose Romanesque tower is one of downtown Ottawa’s most recognizable silhouettes — the Canadian Museum of Nature delivers five floors of extraordinary natural history across beautifully designed gallery spaces. The dinosaur gallery features Canada’s original fossil collection, including specimens discovered in Alberta’s Badlands that rank among the finest in the world. The Water Gallery’s blue whale skeleton is a sight that stops visitors in their tracks — the sheer scale of the creature suspended overhead is breathtaking. The Bug Gallery features live leaf-cutter ants and an extensive specimen collection, while the Arctic Gallery provides insight into the ecosystems that define Canada’s north. Free extended hours on Thursday evenings make the museum especially accessible for families, and interactive exhibits throughout ensure that younger visitors remain genuinely engaged across the entire five-floor experience.

The Governor General’s official residence — manicured grounds, a rose garden, and 10,000 trees planted by the world’s famous visitors

Rideau Hall has served as the official Canadian residence of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General since Confederation in 1867, making it one of the most historically significant addresses in the country. The 175-room mansion and its surrounding 36 hectares of magnificently maintained grounds are a remarkable open secret: the grounds are freely accessible during daylight hours year-round, offering one of the most peaceful and beautiful walks in Ottawa. Over 10,000 trees grace the property, many planted by visiting heads of state and royalty over more than 150 years — each labelled with the name of its planter. A private greenhouse, extensive rose garden, and vast manicured lawn create a setting that feels worlds away from the city’s busy centre, despite being minutes from Parliament Hill. Free guided tours of the interior are available on select dates, offering access to the beautifully appointed state rooms and their remarkable collection of Canadian artwork and decorative arts. The seasonal “Days Open” events are particularly popular and provide the fullest access to the mansion’s interior.

Ottawa’s most breathtaking interior — 370 hand-carved wooden statues, stunning stained glass, and twin Gothic spires since 1832

One of the most beautiful interiors in Canada, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica has anchored the corner of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick Street since 1832, its twin Gothic spires visible from Parliament Hill and across the Ottawa River. The cathedral is the oldest church in Ottawa and the mother church of the Archdiocese, but it draws visitors of all faiths and none — the interior is simply too extraordinary to miss. The nave is lined with 370 hand-carved wooden statues of saints and biblical figures, and the vaulted ceiling soars above a sequence of stained-glass windows that flood the interior with coloured light at different hours of the day. The high altar is a masterwork of 19th-century Quebec craftsmanship. Architects and art lovers will appreciate the building’s Temperate Gothic style, while families will find the experience quietly awe-inspiring. The Basilica is also known for its Luminara light shows, immersive evening projections that transform the façade during special events. Entry is free, and the cathedral is typically open to visitors daily.

► After sightseeing, explore Ottawa’s vibrant nightlife — Ottawa’s Top 10 Dance Clubs →

How many days do you need in Ottawa to see the main tourist places?

Three to four days allows you to comfortably cover the highlights on this list without rushing. On day one, focus on Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal locks, and the National Gallery. Day two is ideal for the Canadian War Museum and Canadian Museum of History across the river. On day three, explore the ByWard Market, visit the Royal Canadian Mint and Notre-Dame Basilica, and walk or cycle along the canal. Day four works well for the Canadian Museum of Nature, Rideau Hall grounds, and any attractions you want to revisit. Ottawa is exceptionally walkable and compact, so distances between most downtown attractions are short.

What are the best things to do in Ottawa for free?

Ottawa is remarkably generous for free attractions. Parliament Hill guided tours are completely free and require only advance booking. The Rideau Canal pathway is free year-round, including the world-famous winter skating rink. Walking Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica costs nothing. Rideau Hall grounds are freely accessible during daylight hours. The ByWard Market is free to explore. The National Gallery and Canadian Museum of Nature both offer free Thursday evening admission after 5PM, while the Canadian War Museum extends free Thursday hours to 8PM. Taken together, you can spend multiple full days in Ottawa without spending a cent on admission.

Is Ottawa good for families with young children?

Ottawa is arguably the best Canadian city for family travel. The Canadian Museum of History houses the Canadian Children’s Museum — one of the finest dedicated children’s museum experiences in the country. The Canadian Museum of Nature has live insect exhibits, dinosaur fossils, and interactive galleries that engage children across all ages. The Rideau Canal offers skating in winter and paddle boating in summer. Parliament Hill’s Changing of the Guard is colourful and memorable for children. The ByWard Market provides a sensory-rich outdoor experience with BeaverTails and street food that delights younger visitors. Most national museums offer family programming, workshops, and kids’ activities throughout the year.

What is the best time of year to visit Ottawa?

Ottawa rewards visitors in every season. Summer (June through August) is peak season — the weather is warm, Canada Day on July 1st transforms Parliament Hill into the country’s greatest party, and the ByWard Market and Rideau Canal pathway are at their most vibrant. Spring brings the spectacular Canadian Tulip Festival in May, when over one million tulips bloom across the city. Winter is magical: the Rideau Canal skating rink opens in January and the Winterlude festival fills February with ice sculptures and outdoor events. Autumn sees the city’s trees turn extraordinary colours along the canal and in Gatineau Park. There is genuinely no bad time to visit Ottawa.

Is the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa or Gatineau?

The Canadian Museum of History is technically located in Gatineau, Quebec, just across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill — but it is considered a core Ottawa attraction and is easily accessible by a short walk across the Alexandra Bridge, by bus from downtown Ottawa, or by summer water taxi from the Rideau Canal locks. The crossing takes roughly 10–15 minutes on foot and the views of Parliament Hill from the Quebec side are among the finest in the capital region. Many visitors combine it with the Canadian War Museum in a single day, as both are served by the O-Train’s Pimisi and nearby stations.