Explore Ottawa: Iconic Sites, Hidden Gems, and Seasonal Activities

The Rideau Canal is a long and historically significant waterway that twists through the downtown core of Ottawa. The canal connects the city to major nearby bodies of water, including the Ottawa River and Lake Ontario. The canal itself dates back to 1832 when it was used as a military defense system, but today the canal serves as a year-round recreational attraction.

In warmer months, people walk, bike, or ride on the walkways that line the canal, or boat and paddle through the water itself. In the colder seasons, the river freezes over and transforms into an expansive public ice-skating rink that weaves through the city. Map

Ottawa’s Parliament Hill is a complex of buildings that plays host to Canada’s federal legislature. The expansive array of striking, neo-Gothic structures sits on the edge of the Ottawa River in the core of central, downtown Ottawa. The buildings, while functioning as the official government body, are open to the public for guided tours that go through the interior of the historical complex and around the lush gardens and monuments that cover the grounds.

Throughout the summer, daily performances of Changing of the Guard occur at Parliament Hill. This elaborate and colorful event, complete with a marching routine, demonstrates Canada’s authentic royal uniforms and is accompanied by a musical performance.

Parliament Hill and Buildings Wellington St, Ottawa, Canada, Phone: 613-992-4793

Considered one of the premiere art galleries in Canada, the National Gallery of Canada is a prized collection located in downtown Ottawa. The building itself, a massive construction of glass and granite, is recognized for its contribution to Ottawa’s spectacular skyline.

In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada named the gallery one of the top 500 Canadian buildings built in the last one thousand years.

The gallery interior holds one of the most notable collections of Canadian art, including painting, prints, drawings, modern and contemporary art, sculptures, and photographs. A significant number of American and European works are also on site. The gallery has a series of permanent exhibits and rotating works.

National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, Canada, Phone: 613-990-1985

Recommended Activities for Families

Formally known as the Tower of Victory and Peace, the tower known colloquially as Peace Tower extends over 300 feet high and is a distinctive component of the Ottawa skyline. Situated in the core of Ottawa’s Parliamentary Hill, the Peace Tower contains a focal bell and clock, and it serves as an icon of the country; Peace Tower is even featured on Canada’s twenty-dollar bill.

Peace Tower replaced Victoria Tower, which burned down in 1916 and was rebuilt in the ornate Victorian Gothic style to complement the remaining Parliamentary complex buildings. The tower is considered a memorial to the Canadian soldiers who died during the First World War, and contains extensive symbology, design features, and architectural details depicting Canadian history.

Peace Tower, Wellington St, Ottawa, Canada, Phone: 613-992-4793

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is located at the Ottawa Rockcliffe Airport. Home to a vast array of military and civilian aircraft, the museum’s collection demonstrates an extended period of Canadian aviation history, beginning in the pioneer era, covering both World Wars, and reaching to the present day.

Vintage bush planes from the 1920, 30s, and 40s are a primary attraction, along with military crafts that flew during both World Wars and the Cold War. The most popular attraction is the museum’s exhibit on the Avro Arrow interceptor’s remaining pieces, which date to the 1950s.

The museum also contains a Space Shuttle Endeavor’s Canadarm, the Canadian built robotic arm that was once installed on the International Space Station. Guided tours, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and films are also available on site.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Rockcliffe Airport, 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, Canada, Phone: 613-993-2010

The Canadian Museum of Nature is a museum of natural history based in Ottawa. The museum provides education and insight into a variety of topics through interactive activities and interpretive, educational tours. Information about temporary, visiting, and rotating exhibits are available on the website calendar.

Permanent exhibits include skeletons and demonstrations on dinosaurs in the Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery, while the Vale Earth Gallery depicts geological forces, the rocks and minerals that shape the planet, and the changes they underwent over time. Additionally, a mammal gallery displays mounts of several significant well-known creatures in Canada, including moose, grizzly bears, caribou, cougars, and others.

Other features explore marine life, aviary species, live insects, and more. Each gallery hosts several displays and exhibits along with information and interactive opportunities.

Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St, Ottawa, Canada, Phone: 613-566-4700

For Park Lovers

On the banks of the Rideau Canal at the mouth of the Ottawa River sits Major's Hill Park. A downtown based urban green space, Major’s Hill Park is situated among several of the most notable buildings in Ottawa, including Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, the U.S. Embassy, and the Byward Market.

Paved walking paths, a series of historical interpretive panels, carefully tended gardens, open grass land, and picnic facilities make this park a widely used space. The Major's Hill Park is also the home to Ottawa’s Canada Day celebrations, and it hosts numerous other events throughout the year.

If you are a photographer, don't miss:

Hog's Back Falls, whose formal name is Prince of Wales Falls, is a series of waterfalls along the Rideau River outside of downtown Ottawa. Serving as an urban green space, the park is composed of several heritage locations, including a pavilion and historical displays with interpretive information.

The park has several miles of hiking trails and walking paths, along with picnic tables and a concession stand that has snacks available for purchase. The park opens in May and closes in December, but the on site facility availability may vary based on weather.