Touristy Fun

Find an interactive map of all the points of interest below using this link!

Arts and Culture

There is SO much good stuff to do. We really love the hop-on, hop-off double-decker tour bus for a nice little history-fuelled drive around the city, which is even more worth it if you want to go to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum because it’ll drop you off right at the door and pick you up again when you’re done. Nerds should probably also check out the Canada Science and Techno Museum. 

On the note of museums: a lot of museums in Ottawa have free admission between 5 and 7 p.m. on Thursdays if you happen to be in town a few days early! 

Other cool tours that we’ve liked in the past include the (kinda pricey but serenely beautiful) canal cruise (on a 100% electric ship!). We’ve also always wanted to do the Amphibus tour (it’s exactly what it sounds like) but haven’t gotten around to it yet. 

We’re big fans of the Museum of Nature downtown, which has an amazing permanent bird exhibit and pretty good exhibits on dinosaurs, climate change, and the ocean. Sometimes they even have owls. 

Any military nerds should go directly to the Canadian War Museum, do not pass go, do not collect $200. It has an amazing hangar for large war vehicles and the windows are small squares that spell out messages in Morse code. 

Parliament’s Centre Block is closed for renovations, but you can still tour West Block or the Senate. We also recommend wandering through Major’s Hill Park and around and through the greenspace behind the National Gallery (Dessa loves the lightning bolt there). If you’re in this area, you should definitely check out the Locks, and, if you’re interested in early Ottawa history, check out the Bytowne Museum. 

From Parliament Hill downtown, it’s actually a very easy walk over the footbridge and into literally another province to visit to the Museum of History, which is pretty much exactly as it says on the label with the added benefit of beautiful architecture and an IMAX theatre.   

The National Gallery is one of Dessa’s highest recommendations; make a point to search out the Rideau Chapel, the Canadian Impressionist wing, and “Voice of Fire”. Actually, you know what, just ask Dessa to go with you and she’ll show you. Even if you don’t go in, you really should wander down and ogle at the giant spider outside, because we guarantee she’s bigger than you think. It’s also free on Thursday evenings, but it’s worth going during the day to get quieter crowds.

Restaurants

For burgers and fried chicken sandwiches, we love Umbrella Burger; for tacos, El Camino and Hugo Taco; if you’re looking for steak, we’ve heard Al’s is good and they have a cute little patio; the Atomic Rooster has a great Reuben and always an interesting selection of art on the walls; for brunch, which is the most important meal of the day anyway, we like Wilf & Ada’s, the Manx, Duke’s (especially the hashbrowns), Eggspectations (especially the smoked meat benny and the breakfast burger) and Elgin Street Diner; Elgin Street Diner is a must-visit 24-hour diner that we recommend for your very first post-airplane meal once you’re in town, and the poutine is not to be missed lightly; you can get very good perogies from House of Targ and play a little pinball besides; circle back to the Manx after dark for a lamb curry wrap, the largest portion of potato wedges you could ever dream of, and our local beer of choice (Pink Fuzz, or Sunsplit, both deliciously citrusy); for a quick sandwich lunch, we are begging you to go to Subito (deli sub) or Paninairo (Italian sandwich on focaccia).