01

Day 01

Parliament Hill, the River & the Market

Downtown landmarks, the National Gallery, a canal cruise, and ByWard Market.

1. Morning

   Parliament Hill

   Start on Parliament Hill while the grounds are quiet, taking in the Gothic Revival buildings, the Centennial Flame, and, in summer, the Changing of the Guard on the lawn. It's the ideal orientation point for a first full day downtown.

2. Late Morning

   National Gallery of Canada

   Devote two hours to the Canadian and Indigenous galleries, the European masters, and Louise Bourgeois's giant Maman spider out front, a short walk along Sussex Drive from the Hill.

3. Lunch

   ByWard Market

   Lunch in the ByWard Market, where produce stalls, cafés, and food counters fill the streets around the historic market building, a lively pause before the afternoon cruise.

4. Afternoon

   Rideau Canal cruise

   Take a sightseeing cruise along the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gliding past Parliament, the Château Laurier, and the locks that step down to the Ottawa River.

5. Late Afternoon

   Nepean Point

   Climb to the redesigned Nepean Point lookout beside the gallery for a sweeping panorama of the Ottawa River, Parliament, and the Gatineau shore across the water.

6. Evening

   ByWard Market eats

   Close the day with Ottawa staples in the ByWard Market: a BeaverTails pastry where the treat was born in 1980, plus poutine or shawarma from the neighbourhood's late-night counters.

02

Day 02

National Museums & the Rivers

The Museum of History, the War Museum, and the Museum of Nature along the rivers.

1. Morning

   Canadian Museum of History

   Begin across the river in Gatineau at Canada's most-visited museum, home to the soaring Grand Hall of totem poles and the sweeping Canadian History Hall. Arriving at opening helps you outpace the day's school groups.

2. Late Morning

   Canadian War Museum

   Cross back to LeBreton Flats for the War Museum, whose Regeneration Hall and vast LeBreton Gallery of tanks and vehicles trace Canada's military story.

3. Lunch

   Little Italy

   Grab a casual lunch near LeBreton or in nearby Little Italy along Preston Street, an easy break between the riverside museums.

4. Afternoon

   Canadian Museum of Nature

   Ride to the castle-like Museum of Nature for its dinosaur, mammal, and mineral galleries and the life-size blue whale skeleton overhead.

5. Late Afternoon

   Rideau Falls

   Stroll to Rideau Falls, where the Rideau River drops in two curtains into the Ottawa River beside the leafy Rideau Falls Park.

6. Evening

   Elgin Street dinner

   Dine on Elgin Street, whose restaurants and pubs cover everything from ramen and tacos to modern Canadian cooking.

03

Day 03

Hintonburg, Wellington West & Westboro

Riverside trails, murals, boutiques, and celebrated independent dining in the west end.

1. Morning

   Ottawa River Pathway

   Walk or bike the Ottawa River Pathway west from the downtown core, a green ribbon of parkland, beaches, and river views threading through the west-end neighbourhoods.

2. Late Morning

   Hintonburg boutiques

   Explore the independent shops, galleries, and vintage stores of Hintonburg and its Wellington West strip, plus the murals of the city's designated arts district.

3. Lunch

   Elmdale House Tavern

   Settle in at the Elmdale House Tavern for oysters and pub fare, or choose from Wellington West's many acclaimed casual kitchens.

4. Afternoon

   Westboro

   Wander west into Westboro past design shops, outdoor outfitters, and cafés along Richmond Road, a stylish, unhurried afternoon of browsing.

5. Evening

   Wellington West dinner

   Head back to Wellington West for dinner, home to some of Ottawa's most lauded independent restaurants like Supply and Demand and Absinthe.

6. Evening

   Cocktail bar nightcap

   Finish with a drink at one of the area's inventive cocktail bars, soaking up the west end's easygoing creative vibe.

04

Day 04

Sandy Hill, the Campus & Rockcliffe

A hands-on science museum, a university campus, historic architecture, and a river lookout.

1. Morning

   Canada Science and Technology Museum

   Spend the morning at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, exploring its steam locomotives, the tilted Crazy Kitchen, and hands-on exhibits on space and invention, a highlight for all ages.

2. Lunch

   Sandy Hill cafés

   Grab lunch near the University of Ottawa, where student-friendly cafés and international spots line the blocks around Laurier and Rideau.

3. Afternoon

   University of Ottawa campus

   Wander the University of Ottawa campus in Sandy Hill, then stroll the surrounding streets of grand Victorian homes and embassies.

4. Late Afternoon

   Laurier House

   Tour Laurier House National Historic Site, the elegant home of prime ministers Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King, to see its period rooms and King's third-floor study, an architecture stop worth checking seasonal hours ahead.

5. Evening

   Rockcliffe Park Lookout

   Head out to the Rockcliffe Park lookout for a peaceful view over the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills across the water before heading back.

6. Evening

   Beechwood Avenue dinner

   Have dinner along Beechwood Avenue in New Edinburgh, or return toward the Market for the evening.

05

Day 05

Lansdowne, the Canal & Downtown Shopping

Stadium energy, the Experimental Farm, a canal-side afternoon, and downtown shopping to close the trip.

1. Morning

   Lansdowne Park

   Visit historic Lansdowne Park, home of the Redblacks and the Ottawa 67's, and its 1898 Aberdeen Pavilion. Take in the grounds, or catch a game if the schedule aligns with your trip.

2. Lunch

   The Glebe

   Lunch in the Glebe along Bank Street, from the shops and cafés at Lansdowne to the neighbourhood's bakeries and casual kitchens.

3. Afternoon

   Central Experimental Farm

   Head to the Central Experimental Farm, where the free Agriculture and Food Museum's barns, the Ornamental Gardens, and the Dominion Arboretum make an easy, budget-friendly pairing beside Dow's Lake.

4. Late Afternoon

   Dow's Lake & Rideau Canal

   Unwind at Dow's Lake, renting a paddleboat in summer or walking the Rideau Canal pathway, the same route that becomes the world's largest skating rink each winter.

5. Evening

   Sparks Street & Rideau Centre

   Finish shopping downtown along the Sparks Street pedestrian mall and at the CF Rideau Centre, passing the National War Memorial and the château-style Fairmont Château Laurier by the canal.

6. Evening

   ByWard Market farewell dinner

   End your trip with dinner in the ByWard Market's dense restaurant district; reserve ahead for its steakhouses and standout tables.