Thinking of visiting Ottawa, Canada this year? Here are some suggestions for things to do in Canada’s capital city.
Are you thinking about taking a trip to the capital city of Canada? Ottawa is a fantastic city with plenty to do and there really is something for everyone.
Ottawa has a bilingual population with many of the locals speaking both French and English. Many people who live in this city consider themselves to be French-Canadians due to how this country was first created. And when you visit this city, you will be stunned by its beauty and the fun that you can get up to.
In this post, I will tell you about some of the top things that you can do in Ottawa this year. This will include everything from how to get there to which museums are going to be the most entertaining.
Visit The Rideau Canal In Winter
The Rideau Canal is a must-see attraction in Ottawa year round but in the winter, it turns into something quite special which you are sure to love.
Have you ever wanted to go skating on the world’s largest outdoor ice skating rink? You can do exactly that in Ottawa if your visit happens to fall in the winter when the canal is frozen over. Even better, the rink is open 24-hours a day which means that you can skate in private or when everyone else is around having fun.
Make sure to visit Ottawa to give this a try – don’t worry if you have never been ice skating before as it is suitable for beginners.
Take The Plane There
Our next idea for things to do in Ottawa involves how you actually get there.
There are many airlines that offer flights to Ottawa including Porter Airlines which have some great deals on at the moment. So if you are interested in starting your trip to Ottawa off with something exciting, make sure to have a look at some of the flights here: www.flyporter.com/en-ca/book-flights/where-we-fly/canada/ottawa
Visit The Parliament
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada which means that when you are there, you can see the parliament building up close.
Parliament Hill is in the middle of the city centre and it has some stunning architecture which you will be sure to love if you like all things Gothic.
There are three main buildings and a large garden which you can take a look at and walk around. If you’d like to see inside, you can take a tour which will last less than an hour but show you everything that you need to see.
Make sure to add Parliament Hill to your list when you are visiting Ottawa this year.
Learn Some History
How much do you actually know about Ottawa? If you are not from Canada, then it is likely that you haven’t spent a long time learning about the history of this country or the cities within it.
And even if you have lived there your whole life you might not realise just how rich the history is. So why not spend some time learning about the history of Ottawa at one of the many museums when you visit this year?
Make sure to stop off at the National Gallery of Canada, The Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and you won’t regret it!
Try Some Foodie Spots
Do you consider yourself a foodie? If you do, then you are in luck as Ottawa has plenty to liven up your taste buds.
In Ottawa, you must try some BeaverTails along with some of the incredible toppings that street stalls will offer you. Also on the list is Poutine which comes with chips, gravy and cheese curds – you’re sure to love it. Poutine is famous around the world so why not give it a try when you visit Ottawa this year?
Along with the street food on offer in this city, you’ll also find plenty of fancy restaurants as well as those that aren’t so expensive. The food is pretty impressive in Ottawa so don’t miss out on trying some local dishes and tasting the food from further afield.
Visit The Château
In Ottawa, you can take a trip to the Fairmont Château Laurier which is a 666.000 sq. ft castle. This castle has now been transformed into a luxury hotel, but you can still catch a glimpse of the architecture and see what it might have been like when it was first built.
At this Château, there is everything from Roman columns to stained glass windows. You will be very impressed with what this has to offer so don’t miss out on having a look around. You could even book a room there if you are willing to part with a lot of cash!
See Some Sports
The final thing you must do in Ottawa this year is to visit some of the sports games that are on offer.
In Canada, ice hockey is the biggest sport and so you will come across many matches when you are there. You might struggle to get your hands on some tickets, so do plan ahead. Look out for teams such as the Ottawa Senators, The Ottawa Redblacks and the Ottawa Fury FC which are all very famous with the locals.
You should be able to find out some details about the latest sports games online. Make sure to try to book your tickets in advance to reduce the risk of being disappointed when tickets have sold out.
You will love the atmosphere at some of these games but if you can’t make it, at least visit a sports bar in Ottawa when a big game is on!
Final Verdict
If you are thinking about visiting Ottawa then you should make sure to try out some of the things that have made my list. You will love seeing the Château up close and getting to grips with the history of Canada and its capital city when you take a trip to one of the museums.
You should also make sure that you find time to see a sports game from one of the big teams when you are there. Canadians are typically known for their love of hockey so if you can make it to a game don’t pass up the opportunity.
Now that you know about all of the exciting things that you can do in Ottawa, you should go ahead and get planning your big trip.
Always remember to plan things in advance and try to get tickets for things online before you go.
Hopefully, you’ll have a great time in Ottawa when you visit!