11 Fun Things To Do In Ottawa

Enjoying Ottawa Is A Capital Idea  

Ottawa is a historic city. Being our nation’s capital, you would probably think that one of the best things about the city is the large number of sites that pay tribute to the founding and history of our home and native land. As it turns out, this assumption is correct, and historic sites are a massive part of Ottawa tourism. There are many historic sites and places to see and learn about the country as a whole. After a lot of thought, our brokers have put together a list of 11 fun things to do in Ottawa, whether you’re just visiting the city or are local and just looking for something to do.  

1. Parliament Hill And The Peace Tower  

One of the first things that comes to mind when people think about Ottawa is that it is where the Parliament buildings are. The Parliament houses are where the Governer General, Prime Minister, Speaker Of The House, The Senate, The House of Commons, and other government officials work. While meetings about how tax dollars should be spent probably don’t sound that exciting, dropping by for a visit and catching a glance at a building that has so much history can be one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa.  

The building that makes up the Canadian Parliament is the Centre Block, which was built in 1927, and the large clock tower, called the Peace Tower, which is even older having been built in 1920. Parliament Hill is important and historic enough to warrant a visit if you’re in the area, even if you’re just dropping by for a few quick photographs.  

2. National Gallery Of Canada  

Plenty of cities have art museums that showcase impressive and creative pieces by local artists. While these are often neat places to visit, one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa features a display on the art scene that’s even more impressive. Originally built in 1880, the Gallery moved to its current location in 1988. The museum’s vast collection contains over 75,000 works of art; making it one of the largest art museums in North America. It’s not just an Ottawa art gallery but an art gallery for all of Canada.  

It features a wide variety of art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, decorative art, and more, making it one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa regardless of your artistic tastes. The Gallery also greatly expanded its collection of Indigenous Art to focus on this very important cultural touchstone to our nation’s founding. Guided tours are also available, and occasionally, different forms of live shows take place, giving the area a wide variety of entertainment choices that everyone can enjoy.  

3. See A Senators Or Redblacks Game  

One of the most fun things for sports fans to do in Ottawa is to watch a hockey or football game. Both of the most prominent sports teams from Ottawa have massive cultural ties to the country, making them both a patriotic activity and a fun thing to do in Ottawa. It’s well known that the Ottawa Senators play hockey, which is one of Canada’s national games, and were founded in 1992. However, they are named after a much older team, also called the Ottawa Senators, who existed from 1917 to 1934. They also take great pride in their name, which has national roots within the city.   

On a similar note, the Redblacks are the third CFL team to call Ottawa home and play in one of the very few leagues left in the world made up of purely Canadian teams. For those unaware, the CFL has vastly different rules than the American game, making it a great celebration of Canadian culture.  

The two teams also play at opposite times of the year, with the Redblacks playing outside in warm weather months while the Senators play indoor games during the colder months, meaning that you will almost certainly be able to grab a ticket to a game for one of these two teams.  

4. Ottawa Zipline  

With all of the impressive sights there are to see in Ottawa, you’d probably like to see as many as you can while you’re there. If you’re someone who likes a bit of thrill, you might be hoping for a way to see it all at once and get the blood pumping. If this sounds like your cup of tea, the Ottawa Zipline is perhaps one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa.  

The Ottawa Zipline is a 1,200-foot-long thrill ride that takes people 120 feet above the Ottawa River and even crosses provincial borders, allowing people to spend some time very briefly over Gatineau, Quebec. Depending on the conditions, these zip lines can travel up to 50 km/h, meaning those looking for high-speed thrills will likely get their fill in this fun activity.  

5. ByWard Market Square  

Byward Market Square is one of the longest-standing communities in Ottawa, dating back to 1827 before Canada gained its independence. Over 600 businesses affiliate themselves with this four-block-long location every year. During its peak, it sees over 50,000 visitors each weekend, indicating how many people think this is one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa.  

A wide variety of businesses operate here. If you want to fill your belly with delicious food, specialty food shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs are here. If you’re into style, the many boutiques, hair salons and aesthetic salons will likely catch your attention. There are also many boutiques and unofficial museums here. Accessible by public transit, car and on foot, there is something for everyone here.  

6. Ottawa River  

This river has a lot more history than you might think. You might assume it was named after the city, but in fact, it’s the other way around: the city was named after the river (the city was called Bytown until 1855). The Ottawa River took its name from the Algonquin word “Adawe,” meaning “to trade,” since, at the time, the river was the most significant trade route in Eastern Canada.  

The river is still a tourist destination today, making it one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa if you want to see the city’s sights. It’s also a great place to take your boat, as it is often filled with boats, canoes, and kayaks in the summer. In addition to these activities, the river is still connected to its natural roots, being the natural habitat for over 80 different species of fish. The river is also a beautiful site when frozen over in winter.  

7. Royal Canadian Mint  

Founded in 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint is where every single Canadian coin is made. While there is a location in Winnipeg, the headquarters of the mint is in Ottawa. This HQ offers a 45-minute guided tour and a wide range of exhibits, making it one of the fun things to do in Ottawa. This includes a look at the facilities, displays, and even the production floor where the coins are made. Tours are also available both in English and French.  Group tours are also available for those who want to travel in packs, with allowances for extra time if requested.  

8. Haunted Walk  

Are you looking for fun things to do in Ottawa that will give you the thrill of Halloween at any time of the year? Instead of throwing on your favourite scary movie for the fiftieth time, why not try something new? The Ottawa Haunted Walk gives a wide variety of spooky adventures, allowing you to pick the one that’s right for you.  

The walks are sorted by category to give you an idea of what you want to get into. The offerings include ghost tours, group tours, paranormal adventures, public investigations and city tours. Do you want to go for the classic Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa, as storytellers in cloaks use lanterns to guide you through haunted landmarks? You may want to hear stories of ghostly encounters as you explore the Ghosts of Bytown Museum. Or would you prefer to go from room to room in Billing Estate National Historic Site or do a Paranormal Investigation at SDG jail? Virtual events are also offered for those who prefer that type of experience. With each walk rated in spookiness from one to five, you can find a tour that’s either the spooky situation that will finally get you, something tame enough to be fun activities for kids or anything in between.   

9. Canadian War Museum  

Officially established in 1942, and with origins going back to 1880, one of the largest Ottawa attractions is the Canadian War Museum. This historic Canadian museum is a place for people to learn about Canada’s military history and respect those who sacrificed for our country. The museum has over 3 million war-related historic attractions, including works of art dedicated to war and Canadian soldiers, sound and visual recordings, written documents, and artifacts and specimens from the battlefield. The museum has over 500,000 visitors annually, making it one of the country’s most-visited museums. 

10. The City’s Canals 

Being right by the Ottawa River has created the opportunity for several canals to be built within the city. The most well-known is the Rideau Canal, in downtown Ottawa, a 202-kilometre-long canal made up mostly of small natural rivers connected by multiple man-made inlets. 

One of the best ways to see the canals is through an Ottawa boat cruise. These tours generally take a little over an hour and often show bits of the Ottawa River and Dow Lake while giving beautiful views of several landmarks in between, including Parliament Hill. Group rates are available if you bring enough people with you. 

11. Ottawa Tour Bus 

The canal isn’t the only place where you can have a guided tour of the city that shows you more than just what’s around the water. Something else that’s among the fun things to do in Ottawa is the series of Ottawa Tour buses available to those who want to see spectacular views of this historic city. Multiple different bus tours are available for those who want to see the beauty of the city. 

Many of these tours go into Gatineau, Quebec, while also acting as an Ottawa city tour, and are in both official languages, making them great fun regardless of which of the official languages you would prefer to communicate in. One of these options is an amphibious bus tour, providing a great mix for those who want to experience a fun tour that takes place both in the water and on dry land. 

Enjoy What Our City Has To Offer 

Overall, many of the fun things to do in Ottawa are based around exploring the history of the true north, strong and free. Whether you want to see it on land, walk around with a guide letting you know interesting facts about how something works, get a view from the water, or get a bird’s eye view, there’s plenty to see. Plenty of fun Ottawa activities will allow you to explore Canadian history, which any proud patriot would love to experience.