About Ottawa

Ottawa is Canada’s capital, a city steeped in culture, where you’ll discover Canada’s proud heritage, where you’ll hear both English and French spoken, as you marvel at the impressive national sites, famous landmarks, world-class museums, and galleries displaying national collections and unique exhibitions from around the world.

Whether you’re here for a short term rental or longer term relocation you’ll appreciate the easy cosmopolitan vibe in this city, known for being both welcoming and walkable.

Explore the distinctive local neighbourhoods, including the historic ByWard Market that by day boasts a bustling farmers’ market and chic shops, where you’ll be inspired to take advantage of your fully equipped kitchen. By night the ByWard transforms, humming with activity at the restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.

Ottawa is a destination alive with celebration, beginning each year with February’s Winterlude, continuing through May’s Canadian Tulip Festival, heating up July 1 with the biggest Canada Day celebration in the country, and going all-out with headliner summer music festivals.

This city is an urban centre on the edge of nature where you can enjoy the great outdoors just outside your furnished apartment, and nearby, in the surrounding country side. This is also a city that enjoys the finer things in life, with a culinary community that’s earning wide acclaim, unique boutiques and shopping districts, a lively local music and art scene, and always exciting nightlife.

Splurge at the beautiful Château Laurier Hotel, a charming spot to enjoy high tea, and said to be haunted by the ghost of Charles Melville Hays, the president of the company that built the hotel. Hays died on the Titanic, 12 days before the hotel's opening.

If you’ll be staying over the winter months you’ll want to lace up your skates and glide along the Rideau Canal, the world’s longest skating rink, while in the summer, you’ll want to you boat, stroll or bike along the canal to really enjoy the view.

For a breath of fresh air, you won’t want to miss a visit to Gatineau Park. This unbelievable 363-square kilometre park offers activities for the entire family, where you can opt to drive and stop at the various lookouts overlooking the Ottawa valley or stretch your legs along the many walking or hiking trails that vary in difficulty.

No visit would be complete without a visit to Parliament Hill, home to Canada’s Parliament and a fantastic opportunity to take in the architecture. You’ll also want to make time for a visit to the National Peacekeeping Monument, the world’s only monument to peacekeepers, to the National War memorial dedicated to King George the VI in 1939, as well a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the oldest church in Ottawa.

For those with a sweet tooth, a visit to the Ottawa Sugar Bushes, the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario just west of Ottawa, is an absolute must where you can learn about the process while you stock up on all things maple.

For the bibliophile, a visit to the National Library and Archives, is sure to delight as this library, established in 1953 collects, preserves and promotes the published literature of Canada, and has acquired more than 60 million manuscripts and government records. While the art lover will surely appreciate the treasures housed in the National Gallery of Canada that include an extensive collection of art, featuring paintings by the Group of Seven, Rembrandt and many others.

And for the betting kind, there’s the Casino du Lac Leamy, a large casino & hotel complex situated right over the Quebec border in Gatineau (a short drive from downtown) that features slot machines, game tables, restaurants and bars

Know Ottawa

April 2017 Events in Ottawa
Posted March 24th, 2017
 
Find out what’s happening in Ottawa during the month of April 2017.  Read More

Sparks Street Downtown Ottawa's Linear Town Square
Posted March 17th, 2017
 
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Ottawa’s Best New Restaurants
Posted March 10th, 2017
 
Restaurant critic Anne DesBrisay reveals her list of the top 10 best new restaurants in Ottawa.  Read More

March Break 2017 Activities in Ottawa
Posted March 3rd, 2017
 
Bring the family to enjoy these March Break activities in and around Ottawa!  Read More

Red Bull Crashed Ice Slams Into Ottawa
Posted February 17th, 2017
 
Imagine the world’s best athletes competing for the ultimate title during the final showdown on the iconic locks of the Rideau Canal, overlooking Parliament Hill and the famous Chateau Laurier.  Read More