Discover things to do in Ottawa.
Ottawa may be Canada’s capital, but it still feels refreshingly down-to-earth. With its stately government buildings, peaceful riverfront, and bilingual charm, it’s a city where culture meets calm.
Whether you’re riding bikes along the Rideau Canal or exploring historic museums in the afternoons, your trip itinerary should match the moment. We cut through the noise and filtered out the fluff.
These are the top 5 activities travelers genuinely rave about.
Top 5 picks from the Foresyte community.
#5 Express City Tour
Shared by Yusuf – 44 ❤️
“Short on time, long on charm. This express tour hit the big stuff — Parliament, ByWard Market, Rideau Hall — with just enough storytelling to make each stop feel alive. It’s not trying to be deep, just delightful. And that’s exactly what we needed between meals.”
#4 Oh Canada, Eh!?
Shared by Joselyn Scott – 63 ❤️
“Dinner theater is usually hit or miss — but this one? Total hit. Campy, charming, and self-aware in all the right ways, Oh Canada, Eh!? had us singing along between bites of maple-glazed roast and laughing harder than expected. Is it a little ridiculous? Yes. But Hot Take In a heartbeat.”
#3 Floating Tiki
Shared by Tessa Holloway – 97 ❤️
“Yes, it’s a literal tiki bar… floating down the river. No, we didn’t expect to love it this much. This was joy in its purest form: sunset views, silly drinks with paper umbrellas, and new friends you swear you’ll keep in touch with (even if you don’t). You can’t take yourself too seriously on a floating tiki — and that’s kind of the point.”
#2 Outside in Ottawa
Shared by David Aguilar – 102 ❤️
“Start your day where locals go to breathe — along the Rideau Canal, where morning joggers and couples in conversation pass under golden-leafed trees. The air is fresh, the city still quiet, and somehow, you already feel part of it all. Grab a coffee from a riverside café and watch the light shift across Parliament Hill, like the city’s slowly waking up just for you.”
#1 Ottawa City Tour
Shared by Joselyn Scott – 221 ❤️
“We usually skip tours — but this one made us believers. It wasn’t just sights; it was stories. From the scandalous past of Chateau Laurier to secret war-time operations at Diefenbunker, our guide had us laughing, gasping, and rethinking everything we thought we knew about Canada’s capital. Pro tip: sit near the front for the juiciest anecdotes.”
Smarter trip planning starts here.
Finding the right experiences shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt. Foresyte cuts through the noise to surface the places that matter — fast. Just share your travel vibe, and we’ll guide you to the moments worth remembering.
