Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southeastern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Wikipedia

Population 1,017,449 (Wikidata)

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Before you go

Emergency numbers in Canada

911AnyAll emergencies

Visas and entry What your passport needs for Canada

Tourist office · 1.5 km Tourisme Outaouais

Getting there

Where are you starting from?

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

Winterlude

February

For about two weeks each February, Winterlude (French: Bal de Neige) is the national capital's annual winter festival featuring ice carving and snow sculptures. The festival is spread throughout both Ottawa and Gatineau.

Official site
International Film Festival of Ottawa

March

Known as the IFFO, occurs for 12 days in March and showcases a selection of contemporary Canadian and international films

Official site
Ottawa Black Film Festival

March

Occurs in late March for two days and showcases a selection of African and Afro-diasporic films

Official site
The Tulip Festival

May

The Canadian Tulip Festival (French: Festival Canadien des Tulipes; Dutch: Canadees Festival van de Tulp) is a tulip festival held annually each May in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Official site Wikipedia
Ferrari Festival

June

In June, on Preston Street

Official site
Ottawa Jazz Festival

June

In late June

Official site
Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival

June

In late June
Canada Day

July

Celebrate Canada's birthday in Ottawa on July 1. While the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings is being renovated, the official spot to gather on Canada Day is Major's Hill Park.

Official site
Ottawa Bluesfest

July

The Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival that is held every July on LeBreton Flats in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Wikipedia
CityFolk Festival

September

The CityFolk Festival (known until 2014 as the Ottawa Folk Festival) is a folk music festival held annually in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Wikipedia
The Ottawa International Animation Festival

September

One of the largest animation festivals in the world, the OIAF is held in September

Official site
Ottawa Canadian Film Festival

November

OCan is a Film Festival in Ottawa that celebrates Canadian film with screenings in November, usually held at the ByTowne Cinema every year. It is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization.

Official site Wikipedia

4 more events

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Ottawa); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Markets

Byward Market

farmers market

No hours mapped

1.4 km from the centre

Markets mapped on OpenStreetMap, with their hours where someone has added them. Check locally before you go.

Somewhere to run

Getting around

Train stations: Ottawa 4.2 km

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Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.