Photo: Óðinn · CC BY-SA 2.5 ca
7 Days · in Ottawa
Seven Days in Ottawa: The Complete City Itinerary
A full week lets you experience Ottawa the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighbourhood days. The first five days cover downtown and Parliament Hill, the national museums, the creative west side, the leafy east end around Rideau Hall, and the Glebe along the canal. Days six and seven then reach the Italian cafes of Preston Street, the food and culture of Chinatown, the Central Experimental Farm, and the Sparks Street mall. You'll eat across the city's signature traditions, BeaverTails, shawarma, poutine, and dim sum, and see its art, history, and green spaces. Each day stays geographically tight, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.
Day 01
Parliament Hill, the Canal & Downtown
Downtown landmarks, the National Gallery, a canal cruise, and river views.
Morning
Parliament Hill
Start on Parliament Hill, walking the lawns past the Centennial Flame and Gothic Revival buildings, the ideal orientation to downtown Ottawa.
Late Morning
National Gallery of Canada
Spend two hours with the Group of Seven, Indigenous art, and Louise Bourgeois's giant Maman spider out front, just across from the ByWard Market.
Lunch
ByWard Market
Lunch in the historic ByWard Market, where food stalls and cafes fill the blocks moments from the afternoon cruise dock.
Afternoon
Rideau Canal Cruise
Take a Rideau Canal boat cruise along the UNESCO World Heritage waterway for an easy primer on the city, narrated by local guides.
Late Afternoon
Nepean Point
Climb to Nepean Point beside the gallery for sweeping views over the Ottawa River, Parliament, and the Gatineau hills.
Evening
BeaverTails & ByWard dinner
Close with a BeaverTails pastry where the treat was born, then dinner in the market, toasting your first day.
Day 02
Museums & the Ottawa River
The Museum of History, the War Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the canal locks.
Morning
Canadian Museum of History
Cross to Gatineau for the Grand Hall's towering totem poles and the Canadian History Hall; arrive early to beat the groups.
Late Morning
Canadian War Museum
Continue to LeBreton Flats for the War Museum's sobering galleries and the vast LeBreton Gallery of tanks and artillery.
Lunch
Wellington Street cafes
Lunch downtown along Wellington and Sparks Streets, with quick counters and sit-down spots near Parliament.
Afternoon
Canadian Museum of Nature
Walk to the castle-like Museum of Nature for its dinosaur hall, blue whale skeleton, and mineral gallery.
Late Afternoon
Ottawa Locks & Bytown Museum
Stroll to the flight of eight locks below the Chateau Laurier, where the Rideau Canal steps down to the Ottawa River past the Bytown Museum.
Evening
Elgin Street dinner
Dine along Elgin Street, one of the city's liveliest strips, with options from ramen to modern Canadian.
Day 03
Hintonburg & Wellington West
River pathways, murals, boutiques, and acclaimed independent dining on the west side.
Morning
Ottawa River Pathway
Walk or bike the Ottawa River Pathway west from downtown amid parkland, beaches, and skyline views back toward Parliament.
Late Morning
Wellington West boutiques
Browse independent shops and galleries along Wellington Street West, and spot murals on the side streets of the Hintonburg arts district.
Lunch
Parkdale Market
Grab lunch around the Parkdale Market, a year-round public market ringed by casual, well-loved spots.
Afternoon
Hintonburg galleries
Wander Hintonburg's design shops, cafes, and artist studios for a stylish, unhurried afternoon.
Evening
Wellington West dinner
Dine along Wellington West among some of the city's best independent restaurants, from Supply and Demand to Absinthe Cafe.
Evening
Cocktail nightcap
End with a drink at a neighbourhood cocktail bar and the area's laid-back creative energy.
Day 04
Rockcliffe, Rideau Hall & the East
A hands-on aviation museum, a viceregal residence, and grand leafy streets.
Morning
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Explore historic aircraft, bush planes, and space exhibits at this enormous, hands-on museum at the Rockcliffe airfield.
Lunch
Beechwood Avenue
Lunch along Beechwood Avenue in New Edinburgh among neighbourhood cafes and bakeries.
Afternoon
Rideau Hall
Tour the grounds of Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence, with its gardens, greenhouse, and free guided visits.
Late Afternoon
Rockcliffe Park
Wander the leafy lanes and grand homes of Rockcliffe Park, then pause at the Rockeries and the lookout over the river.
Evening
Rideau Falls
Walk to Rideau Falls, where the Rideau River drops in twin curtains into the Ottawa River beside Green Island.
Evening
New Edinburgh dinner
Enjoy dinner in New Edinburgh or nearby before heading back downtown.
Day 05
The Glebe, Lansdowne & Dow's Lake
Stadium grounds, canal-side shops, an arboretum, and a riverside falls.
Morning
Lansdowne Park
Tour Lansdowne Park and TD Place stadium, home to the Redblacks and 67's, or catch a game if the schedule lines up.
Lunch
The Glebe
Lunch in the Glebe along Bank Street's cafes, bakeries, and casual restaurants.
Afternoon
Dow's Lake & Dominion Arboretum
Rent a paddle boat on Dow's Lake, then wander the Dominion Arboretum and Commissioners Park, ablaze with tulips each May.
Late Afternoon
Hog's Back Falls
Walk to Hog's Back Falls to see the Rideau River tumble over ancient rock, an easy and scenic pairing.
Evening
Bank Street shopping
Browse the Glebe's independent shops and record stores along Bank Street near the canal.
Evening
Glebe dinner
Dine in the Glebe's restaurant-lined blocks; reserve ahead for the neighbourhood's top tables.
Day 06
Little Italy, Chinatown & the Farm
Italian and Chinese neighbourhoods, a historic farm, and Preston Street dining.
Morning
Little Italy / Preston Street
Start on Preston Street in Little Italy, lined with espresso bars, delis, and Italian restaurants, a walkable neighbourhood corridor.
Late Morning
Chinatown Royal Arch
Walk to Somerset Street West and the ornate Chinatown Royal Arch, gateway to a vibrant strip of Asian shops and eateries.
Lunch
Somerset dim sum
Enjoy dim sum, pho, or hand-pulled noodles at one of Chinatown's many acclaimed family-run restaurants.
Afternoon
Central Experimental Farm
Head to the Central Experimental Farm, a working farm and national historic site with ornamental gardens and greenhouses in the heart of the city.
Evening
Preston Street dinner
Return to Preston Street for an Italian dinner among Little Italy's celebrated trattorias.
Evening
Gelato nightcap
End with gelato or a nightcap along Preston Street's lively sidewalks.
Day 07
Sparks Street, the Canal & Farewell
Downtown strolls, a free museum, and flexible time for favourites.
Morning
Sparks Street Mall
Explore the Sparks Street pedestrian mall, Canada's first, with its patios, buskers, and historic facades near Parliament.
Late Morning
Bank of Canada Museum
Browse the free, interactive Bank of Canada Museum to see the national currency collection at your own pace.
Lunch
Downtown shawarma
Grab a shawarma, Ottawa's beloved fast lunch, at one of the downtown spots the city is known for.
Afternoon
Confederation Boulevard
Walk Confederation Boulevard past the Supreme Court, the Chateau Laurier, and Major's Hill Park for a final loop of landmarks.
Late Afternoon
Rideau Canal Skateway
In winter, skate a stretch of the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world's largest skating rink; in summer, walk or cycle the same route.
Evening
Farewell dinner downtown
End the week with a favourite Ottawa meal, poutine, a fine-dining tasting menu, or a steakhouse, before departing.