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Major city · Canada

Ottawa

Give Ottawa 2 nights: one full day for Parliament Hill and the national museums, one for the canal, ByWard Market and Gatineau. Add a third only in winter for skating or in May for tulips.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Ottawa is Canada's capital and fourth-largest city, sitting where the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau rivers meet. Nearly all of the headline sights — Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, the Canadian Museum of History — cluster within a walkable core, so two nights cover the essentials. Winter brings the Rideau Canal skateway; late May brings the tulip festival. See the Ottawa-Rideau travel guide for the canal corridor itself.

basic guide: no trip line yet
32 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
avoid Jan–Feb unless you want deep cold and ice; Jul–Aug for heat and humidity
Airport
YOW
Nights
2
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Ottawa911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Ottawa, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant main courseC$20–35 (≈ US$15–30)
  • BeerBeer in a ByWard Market barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Metro or bus rideO-Train or bus single fareC$4.05 (≈ US$3)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry, one of the national museumsC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)(check)
  • Budget bedHostel or budget double, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomC$350 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$100 (≈ US$75) · Mid C$200 (≈ US$150) · High C$350 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Parliament Hill and the Changing the Guard ceremonyRideau Canal, a UNESCO site that freezes into a skating rinkNational Gallery of CanadaCanadian Museum of History across the river in GatineauByWard Market food and nightlifeWinterlude festival and tulip season
Airports
YOW Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International (About 10 km (6.2 mi) south of downtown. O-Train Line 4 plus Line 2 plus Line 1 reaches downtown stations; taxi $25–35; rideshare $20–25.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −5°C (23°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −3°C (27°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    3°C (37°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  5. May

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    27°C (81°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  10. Oct

    Best*

    13°C (55°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    6°C (43°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    −2°C (28°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (27°C (81°F)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Ottawa: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−5°C (23°F)

−14°C (7°F)

0 rd

Feb

−3°C (27°F)

−13°C (9°F)

0 rd

Mar

3°C (37°F)

−7°C (19°F)

0 rd

Apr

11°C (52°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

May

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Jun

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

12 rd

Jul

27°C (81°F)

16°C (61°F)

11 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

15°C (59°F)

10 rd

Sep

21°C (70°F)

10°C (50°F)

11 rd

Oct

13°C (55°F)

4°C (39°F)

12 rd

Nov

6°C (43°F)

−2°C (28°F)

12 rd

Dec

−2°C (28°F)

−9°C (16°F)

0 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

O-Train Line 1 runs east-west through downtown (Lyon, Parliament, Rideau stations). Buses fill the gaps. Fares are about $4.05 cash or $12 for an all-day pass; a Presto card is cheaper per ride and exact change is required on buses. Downtown is compact enough to walk between Parliament Hill, ByWard Market and the canal.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Gatineau and the Canadian Museum of History

go

Door to door: About 30 min

STO bus across the Ottawa River from Rideau / Wellington, about 15 min

In Quebec, so a different province on the same trip. Pair with a walk along the river.

Merrickville

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive or VIA Rail to Smiths Falls then a taxi, about 1 h by car

Small canal village with locks; best in summer.

Almonte

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive west on Highway 417 then north, about 45 min

Riverside town with falls and small museums.

Smiths Falls

go

Door to door: About 1.25 h

VIA Rail from Ottawa station, about 1 h

Canal town with a railway museum; car-free option.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

ByWard Market / Lowertown

Walk to Parliament Hill, restaurants and nightlife. Best for a first visit.

Centretown

Quieter, still walkable to the Hill and the canal; good mid-range hotels.

The Glebe

Residential, near the canal and Lansdowne; better for a longer stay.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$80–120 (≈ US$60–90)excluding bed
Mid
C$150–250 (≈ US$110–190)excluding bed
High
C$300 (≈ US$250)+ excluding bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × C$190C$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$200C$800
O-Train day pass, one day2 × C$12C$24
Taxi YOW airport to downtown1 × C$30C$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$128
Trip total≈ C$353 per person per day, bed includedC$1,412≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars converted to USD at about 1.36 CADSales tax (13% HST) is added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
Museum entry, one of the national museumsC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)(check)
Restaurant main courseC$20–35 (≈ US$15–30)
Beer in a ByWard Market barC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)
O-Train or bus single fareC$4.05 (≈ US$3)
Taxi downtown to YOW airportC$25–35 (≈ US$19–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Ottawa is a safe capital; the practical risks are winter cold, icy sidewalks and canal ice that is not yet thick enough. Watch your footing on the ByWard Market cobbles after rain or snow.
  • Winters are long and cold: average highs sit between -7 and -10 C, with cold snaps below -20 C; pack a real coat and boots.
  • The Rideau Canal skateway only opens when the ice is thick enough — check the National Capital Commission before you plan around it.
  • Summer can bring heatwaves near 33 C; carry water and use the canal paths in the morning.
  • Parliament Hill buildings and the Changing the Guard schedule change; check before you go.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

OttawaOttawa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

Ottawa has embassies and high commissions for most countries, plus the US Embassy near Parliament Hill. Check the address before visiting.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • O-Train or bus within downtown: about C$4.05 (≈ US$3) single or C$12 (≈ US$9) day pass
  • YOW airport to downtown: C$25–35 (≈ US$19–30) taxi or C$20–25 (≈ US$15–19) rideshare, about 25 min
  • VIA Rail Ottawa to Montreal: about C$50–90 (≈ US$40–70) economy, 2–2.25 h (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Excusez-moi — Excuse me (ex-koo-zay MWAH)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ottawa. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–early Oct · avoid Jan–Feb unless you want deep cold and ice; Jul–Aug for heat and humidity · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources