Best things to do in Ottawa, including free and rainy-day options

Ottawa is a two- to three-day city built around a compact downtown: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the ByWard Market sit within a 20-minute walk of each other. The national museums are the reason to add a day, and most of the outdoor highlights cost nothing.

If you have one day, do Parliament Hill in the morning, walk the canal and ByWard Market after lunch, and finish at the National Gallery or the Canadian Museum of History. If you have three days, give each museum cluster a half day and keep one morning for Gatineau Park or a day trip west.

Prices are 2026 estimates in Canadian dollars. Museum admission changes and some sites run free evenings, so confirm before you go.

Parliament Hill is the obvious starting point and the grounds are free to walk. Guided tours of the buildings run on a booked, timed basis while restoration work continues, so check the official schedule before you build a day around it. The view down to the Ottawa River and across to Gatineau is the city's best free panorama.

The Rideau Canal cuts through downtown and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In summer it is a walking and cycling corridor with boat traffic; in winter, once the ice is thick enough, it becomes a skating route. The opening date moves with the weather, usually sometime in January, and the season can end in late February or early March. Skate rental is available on the canal in season (check).

The ByWard Market is the eating and drinking quarter: cafés, patios, a covered market hall and evening bars. It is free to wander and the best place to start a night out. For where to eat in detail, see the Ottawa food page.

The national museums are the rainy-day backbone. The National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau, the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature each need two to three hours. Admission is charged, with occasional free windows, so check current hours and prices.

Gatineau Park, just across the river in Quebec, is the closest big green space: hiking and cycling trails, lookouts and autumn colour. It is free to enter, though parking and shuttle fees apply at busy times (check).

West of the city, Perth and Smiths Falls are small Ontario towns on the Rideau Canal system, reachable by car or by train from Ottawa. They suit a relaxed half day if you have already covered the downtown core.

Ottawa is a cheaper city than Toronto for sightseeing because the outdoor core is free. Budget for museum admissions, transit and food rather than attractions.

A museum-heavy day with two paid sites plus lunch and transit lands around CAD 60–80 per person (2026 estimate). A free day of Parliament Hill, the canal and the Market costs only what you eat and drink. Gatineau Park is free to enter but parking or a shuttle fee applies in peak season (check).

Book Parliament tours and any timed museum entry in advance in summer and on holiday weekends. Walk the downtown core rather than driving it: parking is limited and the sights are close together.

Winter changes everything. Dress for wind off the river, check the canal skating status daily, and keep one indoor block in reserve. In summer, the canal and park paths are best early before the heat and crowds.