Ottawa

Descriptions of Ottawa read like an appealing dating profile: dynamic, gregarious, bilingual, likes kids and long walks along the river. In person, the attractive capital fits the bill.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

National Gallery of Canada
Ottawa
The National Gallery is a work of art in itself: its striking ensemble of pink granite and glass spires echoes the ornate copper-topped towers of the…
Canadian Museum of History
Ottawa
Allow plenty of time to experience this high-tech, must-see museum across the river, in Hull, Québec. Documenting the history of Canada through a range of…
Canadian War Museum
Ottawa
Fascinating displays twist through the labyrinthine interior of this sculpture-like, modern museum, tracing Canada's military history with the nation's…
Parliament Hill
Ottawa
Vast, yawning archways, copper-topped turrets and Gothic-Revival gargoyles dominate the facade of the stunning lime-and-sandstone parliament buildings…
Canadian Museum of Nature
Ottawa
This imposing baronial building houses one of the world's best natural history collections, which the vast museum brings to life with modern and…
Notre Dame Cathedral-Basilica
Ottawa
Built in the 1840s, this shimmering tin-topped house of worship is the oldest church in all of Ottawa and the seat of the city's Roman Catholic archbishop…
Laurier House National Historic Site
Ottawa
This copper-roofed Victorian home built in 1878 was the residence of two notable prime ministers: Wilfrid Laurier and the eccentric Mackenzie King. The…
Ottawa Locks
Ottawa
The series of steep, step-like locks between the Château Laurier and Parliament Hill marks the north end of the 200km Rideau Canal, which flows all the…