Top 20 Best Things to Do in Ottawa
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Top 20 Best Things to Do in Ottawa

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Trip.Best is a collection of travel rankings that takes into account the travel choices and genuine preferences of hundres of millions of Trip.com users. It is updated monthly based on real data.
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  • Rideau Canaltop_1
    󰺂6.5
    Ottawa2.9 km from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoRecommended winter activities in Ottawa | Jan 2026-Mar 2026
    trip best small logoNo. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ottawa
    Highlights:
    󱓊World-class outdoor ice rink
    󰋄Historic canal replaces St. Lawrence
    4.4/5
    胡di 卖火柴的老男孩胡di 卖火柴的老男孩

    The canal is a landmark of Ottawa. When you come to Ottawa, you must check in here. The surrounding buildings are beautiful and record the history of Canada. The canal is a landmark of Ottawa. When you come to Ottawa, you must check in here. The surrounding buildings are beautiful and record the history of Canada. The canal is a landmark of Ottawa. When you come to Ottawa, you must check in here. The surrounding buildings are beautiful and record the history of Canada.

  • Thousand Islandstop_2
    󰺂6.2
    Leeds and Grenville United Counties>100 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ottawa
    Highlights:
    󱓊5-language tours on cruise
    󱨜Over 1800 islands create unique lakescape
    4.7/5
    老少皆宜(程世荣)老少皆宜(程世荣)

    Canada's Thousand Islands, also known as the Thousand Islands, is a beautiful landscape in North America. Various small islands stand in the blue water of the Thousand Islands. It is a great feeling to take a cruise in the lake.

  • Parliament Hilltop_3
    󰺂6.2
    Ottawa371m from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 1 of Night Attractions in Ottawa
    Highlights:
    󰀆Summer daily guard change ceremony
    󱓊Watch daily summer guard ceremony
    4.5/5
    圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃

    Parliament Hill is the office of the Canadian government and is usually closed to the public. Now there is a light show every night at 5:30, which projects pictures with constantly changing colors and music. The whole show is about 10 minutes long and is played in a loop all night.

  • National Gallery of Canada
    4
    󰺂5.8
    Ottawa900m from downtown
    trip best TravelHotspot logoNational Gallery of Canada reopens | 2025
    Highlights:
    󱨜Canadian & European art treasures
    󱓊Piano & orchestral vocal performances
    4.3/5
    黛米有米黛米有米

    When visiting Ottawa, the capital of Canada, the National Gallery is a must-visit, a feast of art. The European Pavilion is the most worth staying in, with masterpieces by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh and other famous artists on display in the museum. [Value for money]

  • ByWard Market
    5
    󰺂5.5
    Ottawa942m from downtown
    Highlights:
    󱨜Historic district market by Ottawa River
    󱨜Vibrant nightlife & fresh produce
    󱨠42% positive reviews
    4.7/5
    圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃

    The Byward neighborhood is centered around the Byward Market, which is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, and a Quanjude store. The stalls in the Byward Market are small, and they sell food, clothing, handicrafts, and tourist souvenirs. On one side of the market is Obama's Internet celebrity bakery, and on the other side is a cafe and chocolate chain Rocky Mountain.

  • Rideau Hall
    6
    󰺂5.4
    Ottawa2.7 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ottawa
    Highlights:
    󱓊79-acre park with seasonal beauty
    󰋄Governor's Mansion tour experience
    4.2/5
    圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃圣热尔韦昂瓦列尔周勃

    The Governor General of Canada is the highest leader of the country and the representative of the British monarch in Canada. The Governor General's Palace is free to visit, but reservations are required in advance. There are staff to guide you through the tour and give explanations, which takes about an hour. There is a bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II riding a horse on the roundabout outside the gate.

  • The National War Memorial
    7
    󰺂5.1
    Ottawa311m from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰋄Join rallies at Federation Square
    Honoring Canadian martyrs' sacrifices
    󱨠36% positive reviews
    4.6/5
    M25***40M25***40

    The National War Memorial is a must-see when visiting downtown Ottawa. It only takes a few minutes, but this great memorial to those who have died in Canada's wars is worth a visit to express our gratitude.

  • Canadian Museum of Nature
    8
    󰺂5.0
    33.85
    Ottawa1.2 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Ottawa
    Highlights:
    󱨜Dinosaur fossils & ancient relics
    Victorian architecture & Canadian history
    󱨠33% positive reviews
    4.8/5
    M25***40M25***40

    After visiting the War Museum, it is natural to visit the Natural History Museum. For children, this is really a good place to understand and get close to nature. Many things in books appear in reality, and there are intuitive and scientific explanations.

  • Royal Canadian Mint
    9
    󰺂4.8
    Ottawa1.1 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󱨜Pure gold maple leaf coin
    󰀆Make & take home coins
    󱨠26% positive reviews
    4.5/5
    小思文小思文

    The Royal Mint is also a place you can visit. It is an important coinage place in Canada. It cannot be visited here. The external buildings are quite old. Currently, paper money is the main currency. The previous metal currency is becoming less and less common inside this foundry.

  • Centennial Flame
    10
    󰺂4.5
    Ottawa273m from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰋄Symbol of Canada's eternal flame
    Experience Canada's political history atmosphere
    󱨠46% positive reviews
    4.3/5
    小思文小思文

    The Eternal Flame is a place with a strong commemorative nature. There is something similar to a torch in this place. There is a flame on the ground in the central square all year round to commemorate some people during the war. It is very obvious in winter and at night.

What Best Things to Do are there in Ottawa?
These are all Best Things to Do in Ottawa:Rideau Canal, Thousand Islands, Parliament Hill, National Gallery of Canada, ByWard Market
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Ottawa?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Ottawa include:Rideau Canal:4.4, Thousand Islands:4.7, Parliament Hill:4.5, National Gallery of Canada:4.3, ByWard Market:4.7
At what locations in Ottawa can Best Things to Do in Ottawa be found?
The Best Things to Do in Ottawa are mainly located in:Rideau Canal:Ottawa, Thousand Islands:Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Parliament Hill:Ottawa, National Gallery of Canada:Ottawa, ByWard Market:Ottawa
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