What are the best things to do in Ottawa?
Top picks in Ottawa include Bank of Canada Currency Museum, Bytown Museum, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum. See the full list and itinerary on this Ottawa travel guide.
Why visit Ottawa
Travel guide for Ottawa, Canada — practical tips, places to visit, and planning help.
Ottawa is a stop in Canada, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 2 days. If time is short, prioritise Bank of Canada Currency Museum, Bytown Museum, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 110–240 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures
Weather
Diverse — temperate to subtropical
Experiences
Things to do in Ottawa
1
Bank of Canada Currency Museum
2
Bytown Museum
3
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
4
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
5
Canadian Museum of Nature
6
Canadian War Museum
Plan your trip
Ottawa itinerary (2 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Bank of Canada Currency Museum
- Visit Bytown Museum
- Visit Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Eat at BeaverTails
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Visit Canadian Museum of Nature
- Visit Canadian War Museum
- Eat at Ahora Mexican Cuisine
Budget
Ottawa trip cost
Budget
USD 50–85
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 110–240
per person / day
Luxury
USD 275–455+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Ottawa, Canada. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Ottawa
Estimated total (USD)
$3,090
≈ $1,545 per person · $441 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $180/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Ottawa mid-range ground costs (budget 50–85 · mid 110–240 · luxury 275–455+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
BeaverTails
Try the tasty BeaverTail, a fried-dough pastry associated with Ottawa, although a number of places claim to have created it. It's available
Ahora Mexican Cuisine
A good little Mexican canteen. It serves up mains, zippy margaritas, and drinks imported from Mexico.
La Bottega Nicastro
A fantastic little Italian specialty market, Nicastro's is a contender for the city's best $5 sandwiches, featuring amazing bread (esp. the
Di Rienzo
This little deli tucked away in Little Italy, a secret known to many locals, is famous for the best and freshest deli sandwiches in the city
Elgin Street Diner
A popular 24-hour diner. One of its specialties is the ESD (Elgin Street Diner) Poutine (though true Quebecers should probably abstain). Gen
Rangoon
A one-of-a-kind family-run Burmese restaurant with cheap lunch specials where you can get an appetizer, main course and a drink for about $1
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
- $$
ByWard Blue Inn
A B&B hotel in the picturesque Byward Market with refrigerators, microwaves, private balconies.
- $
Cartier Place Suite Hotel
Pet friendly downtown suite-style accommodations. Rooms provide small kitchens and seating areas. Hotel offers fitness center with pool and
- $
Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East
Complimentary internet access and parking. 395 guest rooms, each with wet bar. Indoor pool, whirlpool, 24-hour exercise room, and business c
DoubleTree by Hilton Ottawa Downtown
Modern hotel with an emphasis on energy conservation. Modern restaurant and banquet facilities. This location offers internet access.
- $
Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
Comfortable rooms in a partially-renovated hotel tower. On-site restaurant, fitness, and concierge services.
Shopping
- Rentabike
- Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
- Bike Dump
- RightBike/Cycle Salvation
- ByWard Market
- Sparks Street
Nightlife
- Clocktower Brewhouse
- Clocktower New Edinburgh
- Clocktower Westboro
- Pub Italia
- The Royal Oak
- Royal Oak Bank at Gloucester
Museums & culture
- Bank of Canada Currency Museum
- Bytown Museum
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- Canadian War Museum
In pictures
Ottawa gallery
Photos: No machine-readable author provided. Arctic.gnome assumed (based on copyright claims)., Suwannee.payne, Paul Tavares, John A. Brebner — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Ottawa travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Ottawa?
Late spring and early autumn for pleasant temperatures.
How many days do I need in Ottawa?
Plan at least 2 days in Ottawa for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Ottawa?
Popular stays in Ottawa include ByWard Blue Inn, Cartier Place Suite Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Ottawa cost?
On the ground in Ottawa (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 50–85 per person per day, mid-range about 110–240, and luxury about 275–455+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Ottawa, Canada. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
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