Canada’s capital, Ottawa, is a city with overwhelming charm. Living up to its status, Ottawa offers a variation of attractions that are suitable for travelers of different kinds. Witness the legacy of amazing national sites and drop by famous landmarks you often see on travel site banners, such as the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is rich in culture and heritage, coupled with international-level museums and creative galleries showcasing world-class level collections from Canada and all over the world. It is also a city that is constantly alive with celebration all year long. Whether you are here for creative or exciting purposes, there is always something for you. The popular attractions here include Canada’s National Museums Passport, which offers a glimpse into the country’s history, inclusive of its impressive architecture, aircraft collections, and groundbreaking technological development. If you would like to drink, never forget to drop by Chateau Lafayette, a classy tavern first opened in 1849. It consists of a hotel, restaurant, and pub. All in all, Ottawa is a place filled with great wonders. Even when you’re here all by yourself, there’s always a bevy of activities you can do to make your vacation a fruitful one. Here’s what we can recommend to you for a great vacation.
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1. Stroll around Ottawa in a double-decker bus

Hop onto a bilingual bus tour and explore Ottawa as many times as you like! The bilingual guide will give you a detailed explanation of Canada’s history, all the while allowing you to enjoy the beautiful landscape and the Ottawa city life on an open-top-double-decker bus. You will be guided to prominent landmarks such as museums, parks, galleries, and many more! You are more than welcome to hop off wherever you want to and hop back up again when the bus stops by again. This is bound to be a friendly ride that will give you more insights into the local lifestyle yet not lose out on the important parts of the city all at the same time.
Book Tours : Ottawa: Hop-On Hop-Off Guided City Tour Pass
2. hour Ottawa tour on an amphibious bus

Your day is bound to become better now that we are introducing you this one-hour bilingual guided tour in an amphibious bus! Yup, you heard that right! In this tour, not only would you get the chance to check out Ottawa both by land and by water, you will also get to witness the city landscape from multiple perspectives as it brings you around 75 prominent sites in the city. You will be spending 40 minutes on land where you will pass by the Rideau Hall. The remaining 20 minutes will bring you into the water where you will cruise along the river and check out the entirety of Ottawa from a totally different point of view. The tour is best recommended for travelers who would like to see everything Ottawa has to offer in a short time.
Book Tours : Ottawa: Bilingual Guided City Tour by Amphibious Bus
3. hour ghost walk and tour of the Old Carleton County Jail
For those who would like to experience a horrifying adventure in Ottawa, the Ottawa Ghosts and the Gallows Old Carleton County Jail Tour is something you must not miss. Taking the horror out of horrifying quite literally, the one-hour tour will terrify you with supernatural history as you drop by haunted spots and listen to legendary tales of faceless ghosts and assassination stories from your local guide. If you are interested in the supernatural, this is the tour you must check out.
Book Tours : Haunted Ottawa Jail Tour
4. Haunted walk through Downtown Ottawa
We have more horrifying recommendations on our sleeve. For this haunted walk, you will be taking a chilling 90-minutes walk through Downtown Ottawa as you experience the darker side of the town with your tour guide. Get to know the horrifying stories hidden in dark corners of the city and learn a history lesser-known by the public while dropping by historical landmarks in Ottawa all at the same time.
Book Tours : Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Ottawa Tour Guide

Ruby Roy
Welcome ! Montreal is one of only two regulated cities' in Canada for Licensed Professional guides. Always ask your guide for their license to practise. I am a veteran and most senior Montreal Licensed Expert Guide . I specialise in bespoke private experiences and tours. My guests are mainly luxury, diplomatic, protocol, public figures, corporate business travellers or well travelled guests... Read more
5. Bus tour around Ottawa's local craft breweries
Cheer to an afternoon filled with adventure and beer! In this bus tour, you will be visiting at least three local Ottawa craft breweries for exclusive city beers tasting. Great for travelers who would like to know more about local beers, the three-to-four hours’ tour will also enlighten you with some knowledge about beer-making as well as provide you with a sneak peek to how these masterpieces are brewed right from the masters themselves.
Book Tours : City Beers: Bus Tour of Ottawa Breweries
6. hour Ottawa night tour on a cruise

Trust us when we say Ottawa will turn into an entirely new city at night. In this three-and-a-half-hour night tour, relax on a cruise as you stroll your way down the Ottawa River, catching sight of various prominent local landmarks at the same time. A tour guide will fill you in with histories of these landmarks and you will also get the chance to take beautiful photos at Rockcliffe Park, Major’s Hill Park, and Napean Point. The highlight of this cruise tour is the lighting up of the Northern Lights, illuminating the Parliament Building with breathtaking images. It’s not something you get to see every day, so be sure not to miss this cruise if you would like to enjoy a magical night.
7. All-in-one package tour
Once you’re done with both land and water activities, it’s time to soar into the sky to put a good end to your Ottawa adventure. In this five-hour tour, you will get to enjoy a thrilling 10-minute helicopter ride that will show you the comprehensive landscapes of Ottawa and Gatineau. On top of that, you will also get to experience an adventure on land where you’ll take an insider tour of the Royal Canadian Mint and yet another water adventure with a one-and-a-half-hour river cruise down the Ottawa River. If you would like to enjoy Ottawa in different perspectives at once, this is the all-in-one package you are looking for.
Book Tours : Best of Ottawa Tour plus Helicopter Ride
8. Ax-throwing in Ottawa

For a more exciting experience, an ax-throwing activity might just live up to the expectation you always see on the big screen! Under a coaching session, pick the ax up and launch it through the air just to experience the impact and thrill of being close to an action-packed scenario. For safety purposes, make sure you are wearing closed toe shoes for the activity, The activity will take about an hour of your time and will be taking place in a shared area. But don’t worry, the coaching session will be totally personalized for you, so you can go ahead and have fun!
9. Ultimate whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River

Get ready for some close-to-nature adventure right here in Ottawa with this ultimate whitewater river rafting experience! Spend four hours battling with ferocious tides all the while guided by an expert guide. If you’re a first-timer, don’t worry. A safety briefing will be conducted prior to the activity and you will be under close supervision by water experts, so just dive in and let yourself have some water fun! At the end of your adventure, sit back and enjoy a BBQ lunch by the riverbank to celebrate your success! You will also get to catch a replay of your heroic self in the water while you are at it!
Book Tours : Ultimate Adventure Whitewater Rafting Ottawa River
10. Byward Market tasting experience
If you are in Ottawa, Byward Market is the place you should never miss. Take the chance to experience the best of this delightful market with this tasting tour, where you will be guided to nine prominent spots in the market itself and get to taste the best of Ottawa’s local delicacies. You will get to enjoy a variety of cuisines and titbits from different parts of the world, ranging from Indian, Japanese, Mexica, Italy, and of course, the local Canadian goodies. The tour is either in English or French, so remember to state your preference before booking!
Book Tours : ByWard Market Lunch Tasting Experience
Enjoy the best of Ottawa
Ottawa’s charms allow travelers to enjoy it in different ways and for different reasons, regardless of what they could be. There are footprints of art, history, adventure, technology, and lifestyle in every corner of the city. Have fun exploring the city and take the time to enjoy yourself throughout your trip here in Ottawa. It is bound to be an unforgettable vacation for many years to come!
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