Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa travel guide

Canada's capital, and the world's largest skating rink

Find flights to Ottawa See fares from $91

Airports: YOW Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Region: Canada
Best time to visit: May for the tulip festival, June to September for warm weather and Canada Day on 1 July.
Shortest flight: 1h from Toronto
Round trips from: $91 (live)
Time zone: America/Toronto

About Ottawa

The city centre sits where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River. Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market are within a few blocks of each other, and most of the national museums — the National Gallery, the Canadian Museum of History across the river, the War Museum — are walkable or a short bus ride apart. Across the bridge is Gatineau, in Quebec, which means a different province, a different language and Gatineau Park's hills fifteen minutes from downtown.

Getting in: Macdonald-Cartier International is about 10 miles south of downtown. A taxi runs roughly C$35 and takes 20 minutes; city buses connect to the centre, and the O-Train network has been extended toward the airport. Ottawa is also an easy train city — VIA Rail reaches Toronto in about four and a half hours and Montreal in under two.

This is a government town, which shapes it: quiet on weekends, busy midweek, and hotel rates that swing with the parliamentary calendar rather than the tourist season. Summer is the obvious time, but the Winterlude festival in February and the canal skateway are the things that are genuinely unlike anywhere else.

Best time to visit

May for the tulip festival, June to September for warm weather and Canada Day on 1 July. February for Winterlude and the canal skateway, when it is cold enough to freeze — which is not guaranteed every year.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Downtown / Centretown, ByWard Market, The Glebe, Westboro, Gatineau.

Flights to Ottawa: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to YOW usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	1h 35m	$248	$111 · Tue, Nov 3	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	2h 10m	$288	$117 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Boston (BOS)	1h 35m	$258	$119 · Wed, Dec 9	Search dates →
Orlando (MCO)	3h	$268	$126 · Wed, Nov 11	Search dates →
Toronto (YYZ)	1h	$158	$91 · Wed, Dec 2	Search dates →
Vancouver (YVR)	4h 50m	$268	$241 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Ottawa

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)Ottawa · Medium airportYOW

What to do in Ottawa

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Parliament Hill
The Gothic Revival seat of government above the river. Free tours run year-round, with the Changing of the Guard on summer mornings.
2
The Rideau Canal Skateway
In February the canal becomes a 4.8-mile skating rink through the middle of the city, with stalls selling hot drinks and pastry on the ice.
3
ByWard Market
A market since 1826 — produce and crafts by day, the city's densest concentration of bars by night.
4
The national museums
The National Gallery, the Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau, and the War Museum. Several are free or nearly so.
5
Gatineau Park
Fifteen minutes from downtown in Quebec — hiking, lakes, and the best fall colour within reach of any Canadian capital.

Ottawa weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

23° / 8°

Cold and snowy; Winterlude and the skateway.

Spring

55° / 37°

Tulip festival in May; the city thaws late.

Summer

80° / 60°

Warm and humid; Canada Day fills the centre.

Fall

57° / 41°

Excellent colour in Gatineau Park; quiet and good value.

Travel tips for Ottawa

Hotel rates follow the parliamentary calendar, not the tourist season. Weekends are often cheaper than midweek.
The canal skateway depends on a hard freeze and the season is shorter than it used to be. Check it is open before booking a February trip around it.
Crossing to Gatineau puts you in Quebec — a different province with different sales tax and a French-first environment.
Canada Day on 1 July fills the city. Book far ahead or avoid the week entirely.
Several national museums are free on certain evenings; check before paying for admission.

Ottawa flights: frequently asked questions

Can you skate on the Rideau Canal?

Yes, when it freezes hard enough — usually for several weeks in January and February, centred on the Winterlude festival. The season depends entirely on the weather and has been shorter in recent years, so confirm it is open before planning a trip around it.

Is Ottawa easy to get around without a car?

Yes. The centre is walkable, Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market are a few blocks apart, and buses and the O-Train cover the rest. A car only helps for Gatineau Park.

How far is Ottawa from Toronto and Montreal?

VIA Rail reaches Montreal in under two hours and Toronto in about four and a half. Flying to Ottawa is often no more expensive than flying to Toronto and taking the train, and we compare both when you send us your dates.