What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Ottawa, Canada.
Photo: Splash of Rain / Pexels
Ottawa is Canada's capital, a compact city built around government, museums and the Rideau Canal. Visitors spend their time moving between Parliament Hill, the National Gallery and ByWard Market, with Gatineau's Canadian Museum of History just across the river in Quebec. The city is calm and walkable, suited to travellers who like history and architecture without big-city chaos. September and May bring mild temperatures and fewer crowds, making them the best months to visit.
Two to three days cover the main sights: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery and ByWard Market. Add a day for the war or nature museums, or a half-day trip to Gatineau's history museum.
Downtown (Centretown)
The seat of Canada's federal government sits on a bluff above the Ottawa River, with Gothic Revival buildings and wide lawns. The Centre Block is closed for a long renovation, so free guided tours run in other parliamentary buildings instead. The grounds and riverside paths are open for walking.
Downtown to Glebe
This UNESCO World Heritage canal runs through the city centre, with locks next to Parliament Hill. In summer people walk, cycle or take boat trips along it. In winter part of it often becomes a skating route, though this depends on how cold the season is.
Lower Town
Canada's national art museum, in a glass-and-granite building with views of Parliament Hill. It has large collections of Canadian and Indigenous art as well as European works. Louise Bourgeois's giant spider sculpture, Maman, stands outside.
Lower Town
One of Canada's oldest public markets, with produce stalls, food shops, cafés and restaurants spread over several streets. It is a good place for a meal or a casual walk, and it stays lively in the evening.
Gatineau, Quebec
Across the river from Parliament Hill, this museum covers Canada's human history. The Grand Hall holds a large collection of totem poles from the Pacific Northwest. You can walk there over the Alexandra Bridge.
LeBreton Flats
A modern museum on Canada's military history, from early conflicts to recent peacekeeping. It has tanks, artillery and personal stories from soldiers and civilians. The building itself is designed to feel stark and reflective.
Centretown
Housed in a castle-like heritage building, this museum has fossil galleries, a blue whale skeleton, and halls on birds, minerals and Arctic life. It works well for families and on cold or rainy days.
Lower Town
Ottawa's oldest church and the seat of the city's Roman Catholic archbishop. Its twin silver spires are easy to spot. Inside, the blue vaulted ceiling with gold stars and the carved woodwork are the main features.
New Edinburgh
The official residence of the Governor General of Canada. Visitors can walk the landscaped grounds and see trees planted by visiting leaders, and guided tours of the house are offered.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4°C / -13°C | 11 days (76 mm) | 4.9 h/day | 2.0/10 |
| February | -2°C / -12°C | 12 days (74 mm) | 6.1 h/day | 2.1/10 |
| March | 3°C / -7°C | 12 days (76 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| April | 11°C / 0°C | 13 days (105 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 4.0/10 |
| Best month: May | 20°C / 8°C | 11 days (91 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| June | 24°C / 13°C | 13 days (115 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.4/10 |
| July | 27°C / 17°C | 13 days (108 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| August | 25°C / 17°C | 13 days (121 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 7.4/10 |
| Best month: September | 22°C / 13°C | 9 days (76 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 8.1/10 |
| October | 14°C / 7°C | 12 days (104 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| November | 6°C / 0°C | 12 days (76 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 1.9/10 |
| December | 0°C / -6°C | 13 days (88 mm) | 3.8 h/day | 1.4/10 |
Days top out near -3.5°C with lows of -12.7°C and 11 rain or snow days; score 2, tough weather from deep cold makes this a hard month to enjoy outdoors.
Highs reach only -2°C with 11.9 days of precipitation; score 2.1, still deep winter cold that limits comfortable sightseeing.
Highs climb to 3.3°C but lows stay at -6.6°C with 11.5 wet days; score 2.6, a cold, slushy transition month.
Highs reach 11.1°C though lows near freezing (0.4°C) and 12.6 rain days, often the wettest month with 105mm; score 4, an okay shoulder month.
Highs of 19.5°C, lows of 7.9°C and 11 rain days with 10.4 sun hours; score 7.8, the best month for mild, bright conditions.
Warm highs of 23.7°C, lows 13.4°C, 12.9 rain days and 10.8 sun hours; score 7.4, a good month for warm outdoor time.
Hottest month with highs of 26.7°C, lows 17.1°C and the most sun at 12.1 hours, though 13.3 rain days; score 7, good despite frequent showers.
Highs of 25.2°C, lows 16.7°C and the wettest totals at 121mm over 12.8 rain days; score 7.4, still good and warm despite the rain.
Highs of 21.9°C, lows 13.2°C and drier at just 9.3 rain days; score 8.1, the top-rated month with warm, calmer weather.
Highs drop to 14.3°C, lows 6.9°C, 12.4 rain days and sun hours fall to 6.4; score 5.3, an okay cooling month.
Highs of just 6.2°C and lows below freezing at -0.3°C, with 11.8 wet days and only 5 sun hours; score 1.9, raw, grey cold sets in.
Highs of 0.2°C, lows -6.3°C, 12.6 precipitation days and the least sun at 3.8 hours; score 1.4, deep winter cold and dark days return.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Canada →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers
This old market district sits just east of Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, with food stalls, restaurants and bars on its streets. You can walk to most major sights and museums from here. It gets loud late at night, especially at weekends, so light sleepers should ask for a quiet room.
Good for first-timers, business travellers, walkers
Centretown is the central grid south of Parliament Hill, with offices, shops and the Bank Street and Elgin Street strips. It puts you close to the canal, the government buildings and many restaurants. Some blocks feel quiet and office-like in the evenings and at weekends.
Good for families, couples, quiet stays
The Glebe is a leafy residential area south of Centretown, beside the Rideau Canal, with independent shops and cafés along Bank Street. It feels calm and local, and Lansdowne Park hosts events and a farmers' market. It is a longer walk or a bus ride to Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market.
Good for students, budget travellers, quiet streets
Sandy Hill lies east of the ByWard Market, around the University of Ottawa, with older houses and tree-lined streets. It is close to the centre but calmer than the Market. Choice of places to stay is more limited, and the area can feel busy with students during term.
Good for repeat visitors, food and coffee fans
Hintonburg is west of downtown, along Wellington Street West, with small restaurants, breweries, galleries and cafés. It feels like a lived-in neighbourhood, and it is near the Ottawa River pathways. You will need transit or a bike to reach the main downtown sights.
Good for families, outdoor lovers, shoppers
Westboro is further west, with shops along Richmond Road and easy access to the Ottawa River and its beaches and paths. It is relaxed and residential, good for a slower stay. It is the furthest option here from Parliament Hill, so expect a bus or light rail ride for sightseeing.
A flat, fried pastry stretched into the shape of a beaver's tail and topped with sugar, cinnamon, or chocolate. The original stand sits in the ByWard Market, a popular stop for a sweet snack any time of year.
Fries covered in cheese curds and gravy, a Canadian classic found on menus across Ottawa. Many diners and pubs in the city serve their own version, often late at night after a night out.
Ottawa has a strong Lebanese food scene, and shawarma wraps are a lunchtime staple in the ByWard Market area. Locals line up at small counters for a quick, filling meal.
Hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled onto a stick, eaten as a treat at sugar shacks in the Ottawa region. It is tied to the maple syrup season in early spring.
A chocolate-dipped sablé cookie named after a visit from a US president, sold at a bakery in the ByWard Market. It has become a local souvenir treat for visitors walking through the market.
Yes, August works well, with a score of 7.4 out of 10. Days average 25.2°C with 16.7°C lows, and there are around 12.8 rain days with 121mm of rain, the wettest month of the year. Sun hours sit at 10.9, so expect warm, humid conditions with frequent short showers.
September and May score highest, at 8.1 and 7.8 out of 10. September has mild highs of 21.9°C, lows of 13.2°C, and only 9.3 rain days, the driest stretch of the year. May brings 19.5°C highs and 7.9°C lows as spring arrives, with 10.4 sun hours a day.
Yes, Ottawa winters are cold. January highs average -3.5°C and lows drop to -12.7°C, with similar numbers in February and December. Sun hours fall to 3.8–6.1 a day in these months, and all three score 2.1 or below, reflecting the dark, frozen conditions typical of a Canadian capital winter.
Plan for 2 to 3 days to cover the main sights. Parliament Hill takes 2–3 hours, the National Gallery of Canada 2–4 hours, and ByWard Market 1–3 hours. Add a half day for the Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau if you want a fuller trip.
Rain falls on roughly 9 to 13 days every month, year-round. June, July, and August are the wettest by volume, with 108mm to 121mm of rain each, while September is driest with 76mm over 9.3 days. There's no single dry season, so pack for showers whenever you visit.
Enter to search · Esc to close