You haven't truly experienced Ottawa unless you've been to 8 of these 13 tourist spots
Ottawa is home to some of Canada's most iconic tourist attractions and must-see landmarks. From Parliament Hill to the many iconic museums, there's no shortage of things to see and do in Ottawa.
But how well do you know Canada's capital? Whether you've visited once or twice or you've lived in the city for quite a while, there are some spots you just have to visit to truly experience the city.
Can you really say you've experienced Ottawa to its fullest if you haven't journeyed around to the city's most iconic spots? How many of these emblematic Ottawa tourist spots can you cross off your list?
Here are 13 quintessential tourist spots in Ottawa that are an essential part of your visitor (or local) bucket list.
Parliament Hill
Price: Free
Address: 111 Wellington St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Parliament Hill is the crown jewel of the capital — the crème de la crème of Ottawa landmarks, if you will. It's on the back of any postcard you've ever sent from the nation's capital.
It's important to note that the Centre Block is undergoing renovations for several years, so the building is closed to visitors and Canada's parliamentarians currently meet in West Block.
Free guided tours of the other buildings are available to the public, which take approximately 40 minutes and can be booked through the Parliament of Canada website. Alternatively, you can explore the Hill on your own, checking out the many statues and monuments scattered across the grounds and taking in the panoramic views of the Ottawa River.
Rideau Canal
Price: Free
Address: Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Did you know that Ottawa is home to the longest skating rink on Earth? It's true! The Rideau Canal truly is one of the most quintessential tourist spots in the city.
The best part about it is that it connects many key parts of the city through its winter skateway and its adjacent walking paths. Whether it's skating to work, enjoying a picturesque stroll along the water or boating down the long UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal is a hotspot for locals as much as for tourists.
The Rideau Canal is one of those things that makes Ottawa the charming city that it is.
Byward Market
Price: Free
Address: Byward Market, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Byward Market is Ottawa's oldest public market and was constructed by Lieutenant Colonel John By, who'd originally come to Ottawa to build the Rideau Canal in 1827. In the modern day, the Byward Market is Ottawa's main entertainment district and one of its biggest tourist destinations.
The Market is a great spot to grab some grub or shop through the various farmers-market-style vendors located throughout the space. At night, the location transforms from a tourist spot into the heart of the city's nightlife.
Rideau Falls
Price: Free
Address: Rideau Falls Park, 50 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Did you know that Ottawa is home to some majestic, beautiful and elegant waterfalls? The spot where the Rideau River flows into the mighty Ottawa River is marked by the mesmerizing and breathtakingly gorgeous Rideau Falls.
Despite being the eponym of countless destinations in the city — the Rideau Canal, Rideau River, Rideau Street and even Rideau Centre shopping mall — these magnificent falls are a hidden gem to many locals, which makes them even more special. There's nothing quite like feeling the mist of a waterfall on your face. It's a great spot to walk around and take in the views as you can see the Ottawa-Gatineau skyline in the distance.
Rideau Hall
Price: Free
Address: 1 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Rideau Hall is the closest thing Canada has to the United Kingdom's Buckingham Palace. This elegant stone mansion sits on a large acreage embedded within one of Ottawa's wealthiest neighbourhoods and is the official residence of the Governor General.
Take a walk through the beautiful park-like 79-acre property to take in the true beauty of one of Ottawa's most distinguished structures. Free guided tours are available from May to September and can be booked through their website.
If you're a fan of shows like Bridgerton, Downton Abbey or The Crown, this national historic site is a must-see.
Rideau Canal Locks
Price: Free
Address: 3 Canal Ln., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Okay, first off, the Rideau Canal is great enough on its own, but take a look at this feat of civic engineering. Wedged between the symbolic Parliament Hill and the elegant Chateau Laurier are Rideau Canal Locks 1-8, which act as the grand entrance to the Rideau Canal.
It's quite possibly Ottawa's most underrated landmark. There's nothing quite like sitting around watching the locks fill up and drain as boats flow through them.
It's a great place to head down to while walking around Ottawa's beautiful downtown. Walking on the little walkways as the lock doors are closed while looking at the Gatineau skyline over the Ottawa River is an experience worth a fortune!
National Gallery of Canada
Price: $20 per adult (free on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.)
Address: 380 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Canada's national art gallery, sat right on the banks of the Ottawa River, is one of the nation's finest art museums.
Walk through each exhibit and take in the bits and pieces of breathtaking and iconic Canadian art. From picturesque depictions of the beautiful Canadian wild by the famous Group of Seven and interrelated displays of Canadian and Indigenous art to mesmerizing sound sculptures in the reconstructed Rideau Chapel, it's a beautiful place to be.
Major's Hill Park
Price: Free
Address: Mackenzie Ave, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Across the street from the Chateau Laurier and a short walk from the National Gallery, Major's Hill Park is one of the city's most beloved parks.
On a sunny, blue-skied day, Major's Hill Park is jam-packed with picnickers, Frisbee throwers, bench-sitters and simple walk-throughers. Due to the park's popularity, it's a great place to hang out with friends or even meet new ones!
Senate of Canada
Price: Free
Address: 2 Rideau St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Right across from the Chateau Laurier and the Rideau Centre is a tall Romanesque structure standing proud — another incredibly underrated Ottawa landmark.
Before becoming the Senate of Canada, the building was originally Ottawa's Union Station and acted as the opening gates to many visiting tourists, even welcoming Elvis Presley in 2019. When Parliament Hill's Centre Block, the historic meeting place for the Senate of Canada, began undergoing its current rehabilitation project, the Senate was temporarily moved into where it is today.
Guided tours through the Senate of Canada are available to members of the public at no cost and can be booked through its website.
Canadian Museum of History
Price: $23 per adult (free on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.)
Address: 100 Laurier St., Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: Located directly across from the breathtaking Parliament Hill on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River is the Canadian Museum of History.
Take a walk-through of one of the largest collections and displays of Canada's vibrant and dark history. This beautiful museum is incredibly worthy of a whole day-long visit to truly take in every exhibit.
If you're already in downtown Ottawa, it is highly recommended to walk across the historic Alexandria Bridge, as it's currently open to pedestrians and cyclists only and is a great way to take in the beauty of both the Ottawa and Gatineau skylines.
Sparks Street
Price: Free
Address: Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Sparks Street is Canada's first-ever fully pedestrianized street, originally closed to traffic in 1967.
Nowadays, it's primarily used for festivals such as the iconic Winterlude, when the pedestrian mall is transformed into a winter wonderland filled to the brim with elegant ice sculptures, or various food festivals like RibFest.
Throughout Sparks Street are plenty of small cafes and restaurants spread out among the many government buildings that call the pedestrian mall home.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Price: $18 per adult (free on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m.)
Address: 240 McLeod St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Canadian Museum of Nature is located directly in the heart of Ottawa's Centretown and it's one of Ottawa's crown jewels in terms of architecture.
You can browse through each carefully curated exhibit, consisting of various dinosaur fossils, ant colony displays and various other displays of Canada's vast natural history.
Canadian War Museum
Price: $21 per adult (free on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.)
Address: 1 Vimy Pl., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Canadian War Museum is one of Ottawa's newest museums, and one of the most unique, with a one-of-a-kind collection of war artifacts.
You can tour through exhibits filled with a large variety of military artifacts to honour and remember those lost in the various wars Canadian soldiers fought and died in. Every exhibit is built to highlight defining moments of military history in Canada.
Happy exploring!
Drinking coffee on Ottawa's Thursty Pedaler party bike.