on Date: 03-04-2026

12 Must-Visit Gems in Ottawa, Ontario

Discover the best of the Ottawa! Whether you’re looking to soak in the views at Guided Tours of the Senate of Canada Building or explore the vibrant Moving Forward mural in Confederation Square, this list covers the essential stops for your next ON (Ontario).

1.Guided Tours of the Senate of Canada Building

Address: 2 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8X5

images Guided Tours of the Senate of Canada Building

(9) user ratings total:

Vít Janda A very interesting tour with an experienced and funny guide.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

JOEY Rideauabout: 0.4 Km
Wolf Downabout: 1.4 Km
JOEY Lansdowneabout: 3.2 Km
Ratatouille Bistroabout: 0.7 Km
Torta Boyzabout: 3.2 Km
Petit Bills Bistroabout: 4.7 Km

2.Canada Science and Technology Museum

Address: 1867 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1G 5A3

images Canada Science and Technology Museum

(8856) user ratings total:

Daniel Capoferri Our family had a great time here. I highly recommend buying the City of Ottawas museum pass as it speeds up entry. Loads go see and do with a lot of interesting exhibits, labs, and demos made even more fun by the fact that we saw the Lego exhibit!
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

6IXTY WINGSabout: 26.1 Km
OCCO Kitchen & Barabout: 7.7 Km
Izakaya Shingenabout: 7 Km
Tosca Ristoranteabout: 6.9 Km
Mazarine Brunchabout: 7 Km
Le Casablancaabout: 7 Km

3.Lady Dive Tours

Address: 44 Sparks St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0R7

images Lady Dive Tours

(874) user ratings total:

Kamyar Yazdani Amazing experience in Ottawa! The bus turns into a boat and takes you on a beautiful river tour. Perfect for families. Special thanks to our guide Wendy and the professional team. Highly recommend!
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Restaurant e18hteenabout: 0.5 Km
Townabout: 1 Km
Cantina Giaabout: 2.4 Km

4.Jigsaw Escape Rooms

Address: 12 Byward Market Square #2, Ottawa, ON K1N 7A1

images Jigsaw Escape Rooms

(858) user ratings total:

Laura Martell Had an amazing time at Jigsaw Escape Room! The puzzles were clever, challenging, and really well designed. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms were immersive from start to finish. Such a fun experience and perfect for a group outing. Highly recommend!
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Aylas Social Kitchenabout: 3.5 Km
Giuliaabout: 1.6 Km
Absintheabout: 4.7 Km
Le Poisson Bleuabout: 2.2 Km
Zaks Dinerabout: 0 Km

5.ByWard Market District

Address: 55 Byward Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 1K1

images ByWard Market District

(8152) user ratings total:

Ellen Hoffman Lots cute shops to visit, prices of items all comparable with other shops. Many restaurants of all kinds of ethnic foods. Three level mall nearby and Parliament only 6 min walk.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Elgin Street Dinerabout: 1.6 Km
The Clarendon Tavernabout: 0.2 Km
Trofí Restaurantabout: 1.5 Km
Oh My Grillabout: 0.4 Km

6.Dundonald Park

Address: 516 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 5J9

images Dundonald Park

(809) user ratings total:

Oluchukwu Nancy Jidobu Wonderful Park, made my dream videos come true
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Ciao Italiaabout: 0.4 Km
No Forks Givenabout: 2.1 Km
Corner Peachabout: 0.9 Km
Citizenabout: 1.1 Km

7.Rideau Falls Park

Address: 50 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1M 2K1

images Rideau Falls Park

(766) user ratings total:

Rohit Shah Beautiful waterfall. Plenty of parking and also walkable distance from the Parliament building. There is a small walk near the falls that takes you around the Minto bridges to see the backwaters of the falls.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Forty oneabout: 2.6 Km
1 Elgin Restaurantabout: 2.3 Km
Aiana Restaurantabout: 2.6 Km
Gitanesabout: 3.4 Km

8.Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Address: 11 Aviation Pkwy, Ottawa, ON K1K 2X5

images Canada Aviation and Space Museum

(7523) user ratings total:

Leon A must-visit for any aviation or space enthusiasts. All the exhibits have small displays which detail not just the history, but also how the item came to be in the museums possession. It really adds life to the planes. The Canadarm in particular is well worth seeing in person. This particular one was the first used and flew 23 missions. Offers a tour every hour or so, and plenty of activities for both kids and adults. Very accessibility-friendly and has a café and gift shop.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Bier Marktabout: 6.6 Km

9.Earnscliffe National Historic Site of Canada

Address: 140 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 5A2

images Earnscliffe National Historic Site of Canada

(67) user ratings total:

Moments in Motion I visited Earnscliffe many years ago, and it’s a place that has stayed in my memory ever since. Even from the outside, the historic character of the building and its setting along the river make it stand out. There’s a quiet elegance to the property — the kind of heritage site you appreciate more the longer you look at it. Since it’s not generally open for public tours, most of the experience comes from walking the area, taking in the architecture, and reflecting on its place in Canada’s history. Still, it’s a meaningful stop if you’re nearby, and one of those places that reminds you how much history is woven into Ottawa’s neighbourhoods. I’ve been wanting to revisit, and it’s definitely on my list again — a simple, peaceful place to reconnect with the city’s past.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Vittoria Trattoriaabout: 11.2 Km
Chez Lucienabout: 1 Km
The King Eddyabout: 1.1 Km
Johnny Farinaabout: 2.4 Km

10.Ornamental Gardens

Address: 75 National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0Z2

images Ornamental Gardens

(632) user ratings total:

Yorulmaz Sinan Ornamental gardens are an enchanting escape into a world of color and tranquility. Visitors often rave about the lush landscapes, meticulously arranged flower beds, and the calming pathways that invite you to slow down and soak in the sights and scents. Whether it’s the vibrant seasonal blooms or the artfully crafted topiaries, the gardens offer a feast for the senses that’s hard to resist. You can take stunning photos and have a lot of fun. Highly recommended
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Burger Factoryabout: 5.1 Km

11.Ottawa Jazz festival Main Stage

Address: Confederation Park, Ottawa, ON K1P 5J2

images Ottawa Jazz festival Main Stage

(6) user ratings total:

Claire Medina We went to Jazzfest to see The Roots live, and it was absolutely incredible—such a powerful and mature performance! As fans in our late 30s, we really appreciated the energy, musicianship, and vibe of the entire night. The crowd was respectful, the atmosphere was fun but chill, and the sound quality was top notch. We decided to go for the Platinum Pass, and honestly—it was 100% worth it. The upgraded access made the experience so much more comfortable and enjoyable. If youre thinking about attending Ottawa Jazz Festival (or any jazz fest event), I highly recommend investing in the Platinum Pass, especially if you want a bit more ease and space. Overall, an amazing night. The Roots were everything we hoped for and more. We absolutely loved it and cant wait for next year!
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Cocotte Bistroabout: 0.3 Km
North & Navyabout: 0.9 Km
Riviera Ottawaabout: 0.4 Km
The Brig Pubabout: 0.7 Km

12.Confederation Square

Address: 53 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K6

images Confederation Square

(57) user ratings total:

BradinHK This is a important public space next to the Rideau Canal in the city centre of Ottawa. It is the location of several memorials and monuments. Within the triangular shaped urban square you will find the National War Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Valiants. Confederation Square is convenient to visit while sightseeing in the area and a place that you can easily spend 15-20 minutes monument viewing as part of your visit to Ottawa.
5 /5

Restaurant Food Near

Milestonesabout: 0.3 Km
NeXTabout: 29 Km
Lavender Grillabout: 0.6 Km
Aroma Mezeabout: 0.9 Km
Rabbit Holeabout: 0.6 Km