Holiday in Ottawa
City in Canada — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇨🇦
Country
Canada
Type
City
Best time to travel
May to October (especially May for the Tulip Festival, September-October for Indian Summer). Winter for Rideau Canal skating.
Budget/day
100-180 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Ottawa (YOW, approx. 8-10 h with a layover via Toronto, Montreal, or direct from Frankfurt). Also accessible by train from Toronto (4.5 h) or Montreal (2 h).
Deals for Ottawa:
What makes Ottawa special as a destination?
Ottawa, Canada's capital at the confluence of the Ottawa River, Rideau River, and Rideau Canal, surprises with a mix of political significance, nature, and bilingual charm. The city, with nearly one million inhabitants, lies on the border between Ontario and Québec — English and French merge here in everyday life. Parliament Hill majestically overlooks the Ottawa River: the neo-Gothic buildings with the Peace Tower are Canada's political heart and offer free tours. Just a bridge away is Gatineau in Québec — home to the Canadian Museum of History, one of Canada's most visited museums. Ottawa is a city of museums: the National Gallery of Canada (with the iconic glass spider by Louise Bourgeois in front), the Canadian War Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Nature offer world-class exhibitions, mostly with free admission. The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, transforms in winter into the world's longest skating rink (7.8 km) — officials and students skate to work, BeaverTails (fried dough pastries) in hand. In summer, one can kayak between the locks. The annual Winterlude Festival and the Canadian Tulip Festival in May (with over a million tulips) are legendary.
What are the top highlights in Ottawa?
The top highlights in Ottawa include Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal (UNESCO), National Gallery of Canada, ByWard Market, Musée canadien de l'histoire.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Parliament Hill
Canada's neo-Gothic Parliament building overlooking the Ottawa River: free tours, changing of the guard in summer, and sound & light show in the evenings.
Rideau Canal (UNESCO)
In winter, the longest skating rink in the world (7.8 km), in summer a picturesque waterway — Canada's most photographed UNESCO World Heritage Site.
National Gallery of Canada
Glass palace with the famous spider sculpture Maman in front: Canada's largest art collection from the Group of Seven to contemporary art.
ByWard Market
Canada's oldest continuously operated market since 1826: maple syrup, local specialties, flowers, and bars and restaurants in the evening.
Musée canadien de l'histoire
Directly across in Gatineau: Canada's history from the First Nations to today — the most visited museum in the country.
Gatineau Park
Wilderness 15 minutes from Parliament: hiking, swimming in Lac Philippe, autumn foliage, and cross-country skiing in winter — nature right at your doorstep.
Hotels in Ottawa
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Reise-SIM für Ottawa
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Ottawa?
The best time to visit Ottawa is May to October (especially May for the Tulip Festival, September-October for Indian Summer). Winter for Rideau Canal skating.. 20-30 °C, warm and sunny with thunderstorms In winter: -15 to -5 °C, cold and snowy, often below -20 °C
Recommended travel time
May to October (especially May for the Tulip Festival, September-October for Indian Summer). Winter for Rideau Canal skating.
Summer
20-30 °C, warm and sunny with thunderstorms
Winter
-15 to -5 °C, cold and snowy, often below -20 °C
How much does a holiday in Ottawa cost?
Budget travellers: 50-80 €/day, mid-range: 100-180 €/day, luxury: 250-500 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
50-80 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
100-180 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
250-500 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Ottawa?
Flight to Ottawa (YOW, approx. 8-10 h with a layover via Toronto, Montreal, or direct from Frankfurt). Also accessible by train from Toronto (4.5 h) or Montreal (2 h).
Book a package holiday to Ottawa
Compare thousands of package holidays to Ottawa and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Ottawa?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Many museums are free — National Gallery, War Museum, and others have regular free admission days (Thursday evenings).
Rent skates at the Rideau Canal — possible everywhere in winter, BeaverTails (fried dough pastry with cinnamon) are a must.
Cycle to Gatineau — the bridge to Québec can be crossed in 5 minutes, Gatineau Park is ideal for day trips by bike.
Tulip Festival in May — over 1 million tulips bloom at Commissioners Park. Canada's thanks to the Netherlands since 1945.
Enjoy bilingualism — in Ottawa both work, but a Bonjour opens doors particularly on the Gatineau side.
What should you eat in Ottawa?
Typical specialities in Ottawa: BeaverTails — fried dough pastries in beaver tail shape with cinnamon, sugar, or Nutella: Ottawa's iconic street snack., Poutine — fries with cheese curds and gravy: Québec's national dish, available on every corner in Ottawa., Shawarma — Ottawa's unofficial street food No. 1: more shawarma restaurants per capita than in any other Canadian city., Maple Taffy — hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled up with sticks: available at ByWard Market and during the Winterlude Festival., Obama Cookie — famous since Obama's visit: Le Moulin de Provence at ByWard Market sells the maple leaf cookie with maple syrup glaze..
These specialties you must try!
