Ottawa

History

Ottawa started as a humble lumber town called Bytown; it was named after Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers who oversaw the construction of the Rideau Canal, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, much of which was done by hand, between 1826 and 1832. Lumber mills were built along the Ottawa River in the mid-nineteenth century and those brought employment and wealth to the growing population. The centre of action then, as now, was the Byward Market. While it is still the centre of the city's nightlife, it has changed appreciably from the rough and tumble early days of brothels and taverns.
In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of Canada. The choice was controversial, partly because it sidestepped the rivalry between Toronto and Montreal (then, as now, Canada's largest cities), and partly because the new capital was still a tiny outpost in the middle of nothing much — an American newspaper famously commented that it was impregnable, as any invaders would get lost in the woods looking for it. Unlike Canberra in Australia or Washington, D.C. in the United States, Ottawa remains part of Ontario province instead of being a special federal district.
During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the telephone was demonstrated to the Canadian public for the first time here and the city was electrified. The first electric streetcar service was started in 1891. A menu from 1892 states that, "the first instance in the entire world of an entire meal being cooked by Electricity" was in Ottawa.
Today, the major economic sectors are the public service, travel and tourism and the rapidly growing high-tech industry, which has earned the city the name "Silicon Valley North". Ottawa has remained a green city and is situated at the confluence of three rivers (Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau) and of the Rideau Canal. Many residents make regular use of Ottawa's parks and green spaces, bikeways and cross country ski trails. Many national attractions are located in Ottawa: Parliament Hill, the National Library and Archives, the National Gallery, and the Museums of History, Contemporary Photography, Nature, War, and Science & Technology.

Climate

Visitor information

In addition to the Capital Information Kiosk, the tourist office's eager helpers can be found in public places, ready to answer questions in French or English. You can identify them by their blue uniforms with white question marks ("?").

• Capital Information Kiosk

  phone: +1 613-239-5000
  address: 90 Wellington Street
  Excellent first stop for all kinds of tourist information, in friendly and fluent English and French. This is the office which issues free tickets for tours of the Parliament buildings.

By plane

• Macdonald-Cartier International Airportis Ottawa's main airport with regular arrivals and departures from most major Canadian and many American cities. Services outside North America, however, are limited to a daily flight to London Heathrow and a daily flight to Frankfurt with Air Canada, plus seasonal service to London Gatwick. Air France, KLM, and Swiss International Airlines provide shuttle bus services between Ottawa and Montreal that facilitate connections with their flights operated from Trudeau International Airport. This trip takes about two hours. Via Rail operates a shuttle bus from the Dorval train station to nearby Trudeau International Airport. This free shuttle service allows one to travel from Ottawa to Dorval (a suburb of Montreal) by rail, and then transfer directly to the airport on a dedicated on-demand bus.

Macdonald-Cartier is easily reached by public transit or taxi and most of the major car rental agencies have a presence at the airport terminal in the parking garage. A taxi to downtown hotels should cost between $25 and $35, while a taxi to nearby hotels should not cost more than $10.
To reach downtown via public transit, take bus 97 (the only bus at the airport, outside at arrivals at pole #12) to Hurdman Station, and transfer to the O-Train Confederation Line (direction: Turnney's Pasture) to downtown stations: Lyon, Parliament or Rideau. (Effective October 6, 2019, bus 97 no longer goes downtown.) To get to the train station, take bus 97 to Hurdman Station and transfer to the O-Train Confederation Line (direction Blair) to Tremblay Station, the next O-Train stop, which is next door to the train station. The bus fare is $3.50 which gives you 1½ hours of unlimited bus travel or $10.50 for an all-day pass. If you don't have a Presto card, exact change is required; remember to ask the bus driver for a transfer to use as proof of payment for fare inspectors.

By bus

There is a Voyageur/Greyhound terminal in Ottawa with regular service to Montreal (departure on the hour from 6AM to midnight), Toronto and other cities in North America. The bus terminal is downtown on the corner of Catherine Street and Kent Street, between Bronson Avenue and Bank Street. Though the bus terminal is downtown, a 15-20 minute walk will get you to most hotels and downtown attractions. Alternatively, a 5-10 minute local bus ride will do the same. (Bus #6 or #7 from a stop on Bank Street at Catherine Street, one block east of the terminal, will take you to Parliament and Rideau O-Train stations in downtown Ottawa.)
Greyhound Canada buses coming from Montreal also usually make an intermediary "University of Ottawa" stop (actually at Laurier Station near the corner of Laurier Avenue East and Waller Street) before going to the Catherine Street terminal. This stop is closer walking distance to the Byward Market, the Rideau Canal, and Parliament Hill, and is a more central city transit hub. It may be necessary to request the stop with the driver.
In 2014, a coach from Toronto cost between $34 and $73 ($48 with a Hostelling International discount) and took 5 to 6 hours. There were 8 coaches a day.
A taxi to most downtown hotels should cost between $8 and $15. OC-Transpo buses are much cheaper but payable in cash (change not available) or Presto fare card. A daily bus pass is also available for purchase on the bus.

By train

Passenger train service is run by Via Rail in Canada and the main train station in Ottawa, (XDS), is less than ten minutes from downtown by car, taxi or O-Train. There are six trains daily leaving for Montreal and intermediate points, with five trains daily to Toronto and points in between. Service is reduced on Saturday, Sundays and holidays. Tremblay O-Train Station is next door to Ottawa Station allowing train passengers to conveniently continue downtown via the O-Train Confederation Line. Tremblay Station has O-Train ticket vending machines.
Ottawa has two train stations, the Ottawa Station near downtown, and a secondary station, , in the western suburb of Barrhaven, convenient for Nepean and Kanata points. All trains to Toronto stop at Fallowfield; two of the six weekday trains to Montreal originate or terminate at Fallowfield.
It is possible to get downtown from the main train station on foot, although it requires a bit of navigation. This path should not be taken alone after dark and may be flooded after periods of intense rain or snow melting. Have a street map with you so you can locate yourself once you have reached Strathcona Park. The station to Strathcona Park takes about half an hour (2½ km). Another half hour from the park to downtown. A map is available online.
#On exiting the station, walk along the west (left-hand) arm of the vehicle loop and across the Transitway bridge.
#Before reaching Tremblay Road, take the bike path to your left going west.
#The path will take you along the bus lanes and will pass over Riverside Drive.
#You will merge with a path coming up from Riverside Drive; continue walking west, away from the street.
#Shortly after that, you will come to a fork; go right (north) and continue until you see a pedestrian bridge on your left.
#Take the pedestrian bridge over the Rideau River.
#Immediately after the pedestrian bridge, turn right towards the north.
#Take the paved bike path, go under the highway bridge and keep following the Rideau River northward for about 1 km.
#Once you reach the end of the path, you are in Strathcona Park.
#Use a street map or an on-line map service to find your way from Strathcona Park to your downtown destination; at the north end of the park is Laurier Avenue, a major east-west street; parallel to it and several blocks north is Rideau Street.

By boat

(WT-en) Jpatokal

The Ottawa River is navigable from Ottawa to Montréal, but is blocked to the west by rapids within Ottawa-Hull.
The city is also accessible via the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which runs from the St. Lawrence River at Kingston to the Ottawa River at Ottawa where it empties via a series of locks. It is possible to dock at Dow's Lake Pavilion and at points along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River near downtown.

By car

By car, Ottawa is about a 4½-hour trip from Toronto via the 401 and 416 highways. Highway 7 is shorter ( vs. ) but this more scenic route through Peterborough is two lanes almost all the way, saving you no time.
Montreal is 2-3 hours away via Highway 417, the Trans-Canada Highway. The American border at Prescott-Ogdensburg is forty-five minutes from Ottawa's western suburbs (at the opposite end of Highway 416) with Interstate 81 60km (40 miles) further upriver in the Thousand Islands.

Public transit

The city's public transit, run by OC Transpo, includes the bus service and the O-Train, a light rail system consisting of two lines. The recently completed Confederation Line (Line 1, red in maps) runs west-east with an underground segment through the city center, and is intended to be the main corridor through downtown. The Trillium Line (Line 2, often green in color) runs from the south. Both lines meet at Bayview station. In addition, there is a bus rapid transit system called the Transitway with service as frequent as 1 to 2 minutes at rush hour.
As of October 1, 2019, the cash fare for regular routes is $3.60 for adults and youth (13-64), $2.70 for seniors (65+), $1.85 for children (6-12). (Fares are 5 cents cheaper if paying by Presto card.) Seniors can ride the OC Transpo system free on Wednesdays and Sundays (except Para Transpo), but require a Presto card set for senior fares to go through fare gates at O-Train stations. Children 5 and under always ride for free. Payment is by exact change or the Presto card. If you pay cash, make sure that you are given a "transfer" to act as proof of payment for fare inspection. Your fare allows you to ride any buses and the O-Train for roughly 1½ hours, longer at night. Stop-overs and return trips are permitted, unlike in Toronto.
A day pass can be purchased for $10.50 and is good for buses and the O-Train. On Sundays and statutory holidays, up to two adults and four children, age 11 and under can share a day pass. Buy the pass from the bus driver using exact cash or Presto card. (If using the card to pay for a day pass, you must ask the driver before tapping the card to the reader, or it will deduct a normal fare instead.) Day passes are also available from ticket vending machines at O-Train stations and at customer service centres.
O-Train stations (except Bayview station) have ticket vending machines that issue a single-ride ticket. The O-Train ticket acts as a transfer which expires 90 minutes after purchase.
You can buy a Presto card for $6 (non-refundable) plus a minimum $10 balance at a Customer Service Centre, at selected Loblaws grocery stores or Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies, by phone (+1-877-378-6123) or online. (Phone and online orders are available for delivery in Canada only.) Have a Customer Service Centre add the birth date to a Presto card for a senior or a child; this ensures that a senior or child gets the appropriate fare discounts. The Presto card is also valid in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, which is useful if you are visiting two or all three of Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa.
Presto card readers are available on buses at the front door (and also at the rear door of long, articulated buses) and on O-Train platforms. Paying the fare by tapping the Presto card on the reader will also record a 1½ hour transfer period on the card. Tap your Presto card every time you board a vehicle. Upon the first tap, the Presto machine will momentarily display the fare deducted and the Presto balance remaining. When you subsequently tap within the transfer period, the Presto machine will display the minutes left in the transfer period.
OC Transpo has a Customer Service Centre in the Rideau Centre, 3rd floor, above the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive in downtown Ottawa. There are others at major bus stations - Lincoln Fields in the west end, Place d'Orleans and St. Laurent in the east - but for most travellers the downtown one will be more convenient.
Although the downtown is very walkable, there is the O-Train Confederation Line running east-west under the downtown area served by Lyon, Parliament, Rideau and uOttawa O-Train stations. If you are going to the Byward Market, get off at Rideau O-Train Station. To go north-south, take bus route 6 or 7 along Bank Street from either Parliament or Rideau O-Train stations.
The city's two main universities are accessible from this system: University of Ottawa at uOttawa O-Train station on the Confederation Line, and Carleton University at Carleton Station on the O-Train Trillium Line or bus routes 10 and 7. The smaller St. Paul University is on route 5. Algonquin College is next to Baseline Station which is on the transitway and has many routes; route 88 goes there and has a few other stops on the Algonquin campus.
On weekdays (excluding holidays), OC Transpo bus 15 connects Lyon O-Train Station to Gatineau, Quebec terminating in front of the Canadian Museum of History (stop: Laurier / Élisabeth-Bruyère); it uses OC Transpo fare media, including Presto, even when boarding in Gatineau.
OC Transpo has a webpage to look up schedules and maps for all the O-Train and bus routes mentioned above.
Many Gatineau buses (marked "STO" - Société de transport de l'Outaouais) come into Ottawa, run along Wellington Street and pass by the Byward Market. They can be caught near Lyon, Parliament and Rideau O-Train stations. The colour schemes for the two transit systems are different, red and white for OC Transpo but blue and white for STO. OC Transpo and STO accept each other's transfers including O-Train tickets. STO accepts an OC Transpo transfer recorded on a Presto card; however, STO will not accept Presto to pay the fare on its own buses. STO accepts the OC Transpo day pass but not as a group pass.

By taxi

Taxis are easy to find downtown; elsewhere, phone for a cab. All taxis should have a meter and the base charge is $2.45, and overall rates are quite high compared to most other North American cities. A ride from downtown to the airport will be costly, running between $25 and $35 for a trip that will take less than a half-hour outside of peak traffic periods. Cabs will not take credit cards for fares below $10. Most cab drivers know Ottawa well, but have clear instructions if you're going anywhere in the suburbs as many developments in the outskirts are relatively new. Ottawa cabs aren't supposed to pick up customers off the street on the Quebec side; the converse applies to Quebec cabs in Ottawa. You may phone a Quebec cab if you are in Ottawa and vice versa.
Uber is available in Ottawa.

By car

Parking at most attractions is convenient, though on-street parking in downtown areas is at a premium (more expensive than most other cities in North America). If you are driving to downtown on the weekend, parking is free in the garage at the World Exchange Plaza. There are entrances to the garage on Metcalfe Street and on Queen Street. A map is useful if you are going to be driving around downtown as many of the streets are one-way and more than one visitor has complained about navigating the downtown core. Drivers in Ottawa are rated as some of the worst in Canada, often failing to signal for lane changes or making "illegal" turns into far lanes rather than the ideal/closest lane.
Most major car rental companies have several offices in Ottawa with all of them represented downtown and at the airport.
Driving while talking on your cell phone is illegal in Ontario unless you use a hands-free system.

On foot

Ottawa is a great city to explore on foot, though in winter you need good clothes and warm boots to consider it. With pedestrian-friendly streets and the density of attractions, a car is expensive and unnecessary for the most part. An excellent place to start any tour of Ottawa is the Capital Information Kiosk, at 90 Wellington Street, directly across from the Parliament buildings. They have maps and brochures for most tourist attractions in Ottawa, many of which are within walking distance.
Popular pedestrian areas, especially during spring and summer months, are the various streets in the Byward Market. Sparks Street, running through downtown parallel to the Parliament Buildings, is a popular pedestrian area during the day and night, particularly in the spring and summer months.
Guided walking tours are available with Ottawa Walking Tours, which include some history and other tidbits of trivia not commonly known. Especially popular is the Haunted Walk of Ottawa that provides a variety of walking tours focusing on the city's darker and more offbeat past.
Ottawa is a city with a truly continental climate. In winter, exposed skin can freeze in minutes or less, so layer up on the clothing and protect yourself by wearing a hat (toque or hunters cap), gloves and boots. Despite being closer to the North Pole than the equator, summer temperature and humidity can be oppressively high, so bring water if you're doing any amount of walking or cycling. If you are on the public pathways near the canal or the river, there are drinking fountains to refill your bottles. Also, don't forget the mosquito repellent.
If you happen to be in Ottawa around early June, make sure you check the website of Jane's Walk Ottawa, an annual festival of free neighbourhood walking tours organised by volunteers. Jane's Walk is a pedestrian-focused event that improves urban literacy by offering insights into local history, planning, design, and civic engagement through the simple act of walking and observing. They are a lot of fun and you will hear stories that you won't find in any guide book.

By bicycle

Bicycling is one of the best ways to see Ottawa up close. You can cover a lot of ground, stop anywhere to sight-see, and enjoy the ambiance of the city. The downtown is very well-served by protected cycling infrastructure, and paths run along the canal and the rivers, including into Gatineau on the Quebec side. In the summer, the downtown bike corridor on Laurier Ave counts 70,000 bike rides a month. The bike routes along the canal see around 350,000 bike rides a year. Again, you may want to start immediately opposite Parliament Hill to pick up a map of the area (in the World Exchange Plaza's NCC booth in the main hallway) or find a bicycle rental. Cycling to the attractions around downtown Ottawa is a great way to get around, but don't ignore the Gatineau side of the river. The city has several attractions along the river including the Museum of History and if you want to really stretch your legs, Gatineau Park has many great cycling paths; the Champlain Look Out has a wonderful view over the Ottawa Valley.
There are usually a few options for renting bicycles downtown, including Bike Dump, Right Bike and of course you can always bring your own. You can also get a bicycle for shorter time periods via VeloGo bike sharing system. About 20 bike stations are to be found mainly in downtown Ottawa and a bit further south along te canal and Dow's Lake. and across the Ottawa River in Gatineau. Velogo is designed for short trips; find pricing on their website. Rentabike is a well-equipped bike rental across from the hotel Château Laurier, underneath the intersection. From this central location, pathways along the Rideau Canal are suitable for cycling south or north.
The city is criss-crossed by over 170 km of multi-use bike paths, shared with pedestrians and in-line skaters. Dogs on leash are allowed along many of the paths, but only if the owner is on foot. Many paths are unlit at night, so careful that you don't ride into a leash between the dog and its owner. The maximum speed on the pathways is 20 km/h (13 mph).
The National Capital Commission closes 50 km of roadways to cars every Sunday during the summer from Victoria Day (late May) to Labour Day (early September) allowing for cycling, in-line skating and walking on these roadways. For route suggestions, check local bloggers websites:

• http://gobiking.ca/
• https://ottawavelooutaouais.com/

OC Transpo has bicycle racks on the front of many buses (seasonally). You can load your bike on the rack and then ride the bus for the normal passenger fare. The O-Train will take bikes as well.
The City of Ottawa has bike repair stations in public spaces along paths and across from City Hall, at libraries and community centres. The stations consist of a pump and the most important tools, connected to a base with steel cables.
Long time advocacy group Bike Ottawa (since 1984) maintains an extensive website with a set of interactive bicycle route maps that rate all bicycle routes through Ottawa and Gatineau on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being child-friendly and 4 being very stressful. They also make available information on infrastructure progress. Contact them also with questions about routes, concerns and popular destinations. Although it is a volunteer-run organisation, they are usually fairly fast in responding. #ottbike is the commonly used hashtag on social media.

Parliament Hill

The primary attraction for most visitors is

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is in the middle of downtown Ottawa, overlooking the Ottawa River. Not only is the building a fine example of the Gothic revival style, it makes an excellent starting point to visit all other points of interest in the area.

• The Changing of the Guard takes place daily on the lawns of Parliament at 9AM. The Governor General's Foot Guards can also be seen at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at Rideau Hall.

Tours of the building are available daily with multiple tours (in English and French) available at staggered times throughout the day. If you have a group of greater than 10 people, you must make a reservation in advance by calling the reservations office at +1 613-996-0896. The admission is free, but you need tickets (one for the Centre Block, one for the East Block) which you get at the office. The office opens at 9am, but because of the interest in the summer, you should stand in line at least at 8.30am or even earlier. It can take an hour or more until you reach the desk and get your tickets.

• The Centre Block closed for renovation in early 2019, and is expected to remain closed for a decade.
• From July 2 to Labour Day (early September), tours of the East Block are available; tour guides take you through the restored offices of some of the Fathers of Confederation (Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir George-Etienne Cartier, Governor General Lord Dufferin and the original Privy Council Office) explaining the beginnings of the Dominion of Canada while historical characters let you in on the daily lives of Canada's past politicians. Tours last about an hour and free same-day tickets can be picked up at the Info-tent on the Hill by West Block.
• If there are no more tickets available, or you have to wait for your time, a fine self-guided walking tour around the grounds of Parliament Hill will keep you busy. Free booklets are available at the visitors' centre.
• One of the nicer, unexpected views, looking from the bottom up, can be accessed at the back of the Parliament Buildings—that vantage point also provides a river view of the Canadian Museum of History, across the river in downtown Gatineau (a sector that was formerly the city of Hull).
• Behind the Parliament Buildings at sunset is a sight to remember. You can walk by the Rideau Canal locks (at the east corner) and visit the Bytown Museum at the level of the canal.
• The locks separate Parliament Hill from the Chateau Laurier, a former railway hotel (see below).

• Mosaika Parliament Hill Sound & Light ShowDeveloped by the National Capital Commission, the Sound & Light Show is a 30-minute film about Canada projected on the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. Bleacher seating is available and no reservations or tickets are required. There is one show nightly until September at 21:30.

Museums

There are many national museums and galleries in Ottawa and neighbouring Gatineau. All museums in Ottawa have free admission on Canada Day, July 1, although they are generally very crowded then.

• Bank of Canada Currency Museum

  phone: +1 613-782-8914
  address: 30 Bank St

• Bytown Museum

  phone: +1 613-234-4570
  address: 1 Canal Ln
  A small museum at the foot of Parliament Hill with a focus on Ottawa's early history.

• Canada Agriculture Museum

  phone: +1 613-991-3044
  address: 861 Prince of Wales Dr
  A working animal farm in the city. You can visit animal barns, see various demonstrations and exhibitions, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon. The museum also has a playground and picnic area. It is very popular with young children and a welcome change of pace for kids who have seen enough history after visiting some of the other sights.

• Canada Aviation Museum

  phone: +1 613-993-2010, +1 613-990-7530 (TTY)
  address: 11 Aviation Parkway
  Former RCAF base with civilian and military aircraft ranging from pre-World War I to modern, including 1920s-1940s bush planes, war planes from both World Wars and the Cold War, surviving components of the 1950s' Avro Arrow interceptor and Space Shuttle Endeavor's Canadarm, a Canadian-built robotic arm. Guided tours, boutique.

• Canadian Museum of History

  phone: +1 819-776-7000
  address: 100 Laurier Street, Hull
  This museum presents the story of Canada's population. You can spend here nearly a whole day. For more information, see the museum's entry on the Gatineau page.

• Canadian Museum of Nature

  phone: +1 613-566-4700
  address: 240 McLeod St. Ottawa, ON. K2P2R1
  Galleries of fossils, mammals, birds and geology among others. Free admission Thursdays after 5PM and all day Canada Day (July 1st)

• Canadian War Museum

  phone: +1 819-776-7000
  address: 1 Vimy Place
  The museum presents Canada's involvement in armed conflict beginning with battles between the French and British, through to the World Wars, Korea, and the country's current involvement in NATO and UN operations.

• Carleton University Art Gallery

  phone: +1 613-520-5611
  address: St. Patrick's Building, 1125 Colonel By Drive

• Diefenbunker - Canada's Cold War Museum

  address: 3911 Carp Rd, Carp
  Built to protect the government from nuclear attack, this once-secret bunker is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. "Diefenbunker" is a play on "Diefenbaker", the Canadian prime minister in the 1950s who authorized the construction of the facility. In addition to preserving and promoting Canada's Cold War history, the museum offers a variety of visitor programs and services. You can learn, play or shop as you discover the bunker's secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. Guided tours by reservation only. If you do not have access to a vehicle and are willing to do a 50 minute bus ride plus pay a $30 taxi, you can # take the OcTranpo #95 or #97; # Transfer to the #93 at Lincoln Fields; # Get off at the Legget / Ad. 515 stop; # Walk 3 minutes to Brookstreet Hotel; # Take a taxi to the Diefenbunker.

• Laurier House National Historic Site

  phone: +1 613-992-8142
  address: 335 Laurier Ave.
  1878 house that is the former residence of two Canadian prime ministers: Sir Wilfrid Laurier (for whom the house is named) and William Lyon Mackenzie King.

• National Gallery

  phone: +1 613-990-1985
  address: 380 Sussex Dr
  Photography, traditional and modern art from Canadian and international artists. Housed inside a glass building with a giant spider structure on the outside.

• Science and Technology MuseumSeveral displays are popular with children, including massive locomotives inside the building and electricity demonstrations. Re-opened on November 17, 2017, after years of renovations because of a mould problem, this museum is even more family-friendly than it was before its forced closure.

Professional sports

• Ottawa 67's

  phone: +1 613-232-6767
  address: TD Place Arena, 1015 Bank St
  Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

• Ottawa Fury

  phone: +1 613-232-6767
  address: TD Place Stadium, 1015 Bank St
  United Soccer League

• Ottawa Harlequins

  address: Twin Elm Rugby Park
  Rugby Canada Super League

• Ottawa RedBlacks

  phone: +1 613-232-6767
  address: TD Place Stadium, 1015 Bank St
  Canadian Football League (CFL)

• Ottawa Senators

  phone: +1 613-599-0250
  address: Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Dr
  National Hockey League (NHL)

Parks

Ottawa has dozens of neighbourhood parks and other parcels of green space in the urban core.

• Nepean Point

  address: Alexandra Bridge
  A quiet place to watch the sun set, or to take photos of Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, the Museum of History, and the Royal Canadian Mint from angles that don't usually end up in the tourist brochures. Nepean Point is also home to a statue of Samuel de Champlain, and the Astrolabe Theatre (one of the better places to watch the fireworks from on July 1). However, the point is not accessible if you're in a wheelchair.

• Strathcona Park

  address: 25 Range Rd
  Strathcona Park is at the eastern end of the Sandy Hill neighbourhood, and is the centerpiece of "Embassy Row". Be sure to see the Lord Strathcona Fountain at the park's north end, and Stephen Brathwaite's play structure (which looks like a ruined building in miniature) in the middle of the park.

• Commissioners ParkLocated adjacent to Dows Lake, where you can rent boats, it features the Festival of Tulips in May. In summer, there are a number of flower beds with flowers arranged by colour in attractive patterns.

• Hartwell's LockstationPictoresque lock station within a park along the Rideau Canal. One could walk across the locks and continue north to Dows Lake near Carling O-Train station, or northwest to the Canada Agriculture Museum.

Other attractions

• Rideau Hall

  phone: +1 613-991-4422
  address: 1 Sussex Dr
  The official residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her representative the Governor General of Canada. The grounds and the residence are open to the public for tours. Reservations are recommended during low season (September 1 - April 30).

• Royal Canadian Mint

  phone: +1 613-993-8990
  address: 320 Sussex Drive
  Canada's commemorative and collectable coinage is minted here (circulation coinage is minted in Winnipeg), as were the medals for the 2010 Olympics. Tours are available, and there is no charge if you only want to visit the boutique.

• Supreme Court of CanadaCanada's highest court and the best example in Ottawa of Art Deco architecture. Its marble Grand Entrance Hall is particularly impressive. The visit includes a tour in the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada hearing room. The visits last about 30 minutes and are provided by law students hired at the Court. The Court is a 5-minute walk from Parliament. Tours are offered in French on the half hour and in English on the hour. No reservations are needed between May 1 and August 30. Visitor reservations are required between September 1 to April 30.

• 24 Sussex

  address: 24 Sussex Drive
  The official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada. While you cannot enter the building, you can look through the fence from the outside.

There are walking tours to introduce you to the capital area.

• Ottawa Walking Tours offers historical guided walks of Ottawa's downtown core with special stops at areas of historical significance. Tours acquaint guests with the history of the city and allow visitors to learn more about Ottawa’s history, architecture and colourful political characters. Tours are offered year-round and reservations are required. For more information, call +1 613-799-1774.
• The Haunted Walk of Ottawa offers tours focusing on Ottawa's infamous haunts and darker history. Hear tales of hauntings at some of Ottawa's most well known locations, including the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Bytown Museum and the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Cloaked guides lead guests through the city streets by lantern light-the perfect atmosphere for a good ghost story. Tours run year-round, rain or shine. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, call +1 613-232-0344.

If you enjoy the outdoors, especially if you are a cyclist, you should definitely visit Gatineau Park just across the river from Ottawa. Bicycles can be rented during the summer months at Rentabike, 2 Rideau St (under Rideau St on the east side of the canal). Ottawa and the surrounding area boasts over 170 km of public paved trails on which you can run, bike, walk or rollerblade. If you are looking for a place to start, head to the nearest waterway: paved trails line both sides of the Ottawa River, the Rideau Canal, and the Rideau River. The Trans Canada Trail enters Ottawa through the outskirt communities of Carleton Place and Stittsville, then joins up with the Ottawa River at Brittania Bay (near Carling Avenue at Bayshore Drive). It follows the river 13 km east to Parliament Hill, then crosses over to the Quebec side, extending into and beyond Gatineau Park.

• Rideau SkatewayIn winter, go skating on the largest outdoor skating rink in the world, the Rideau canal. Skates can be rented, and refreshments purchased, from vendors right on the ice. This is also a great place to enjoy a "beaver tail" (a sweet pastry).

• SkiingThe city's trail system serves as an excellent cross-country ski trail system, as do the nearly 200 km of groomed ski trails in Gatineau Park. Downhill skiing is available across the river in three near-by sites: Camp Fortune (180 m vertical), Edelweiss (200 m vertical) and Mont Cascades (165 m vertical).

• Yoga on the HillDuring the summer months, a free weekly yoga class is offered on Parliament Hill most Wednesdays beginning at noon. The class is very popular—sometimes attracting more than a thousand people—so it's recommended to arrive a bit early to claim a spot on the grass. Yoga mat recommended but optional.

• Maple SyrupIn early spring (typically March), when the daytime temperatures are above freezing and night temperatures are below freezing, consider visiting a sugarbush for fresh maple syrup. There are many to choose from in the region if you have a car to drive out of the city.

• Vanier Museopark Sugar Shack

  phone: +1 613-842-9871
  address: 200- 300, avenue des Pères Blancs, Vanier
  The Vanier Museopark's "Sugar Shack" offers the sugarbush experience without needing to leave the city. Reservations can be made at the website.

Doors Open OttawaDoors Open Ottawa, the second-largest Doors Open architectural event in North America, takes place during the first weekend in June. Over 100 buildings (many of which are normally closed to the public, such as embassies, official residences, museum storage buildings, and city infrastructure facilities) open their doors to the public, offering free admission to part or all of the premises. Most participating buildings also allow photography. While the event takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM, not all buildings are open both days.

Day trips to Québec

Since Ottawa is located on the provincial border, daytrips to neighbouring Québec can be made easily.

• Gatineau - Right across the Ottawa River. The Canadian Museum of History is worth a visit. The nightlife in the Old Hull neighbourhood is often considered superior to Ottawa's, with a handful of loud clubs but also a decent offering of artistic cafés with good local live music.
• Gatineau Park is directly north from Hull; the Camp Fortune and Edelweiss ski areas are also north of the city, near Chelsea and Wakefield respectively. Wakefield is a picturesque artist town on the side of the Gatineau River. Rich with cultural offerings and beautiful natural surroundings (especially in autumn).
• Buckingham is downriver from Gatineau in the east, as one of the more accessible venues for rural maple sugar shack camps.

• Aventure LaflècheA superb destination for outdoor activities in the Gatineau Hills year-round. A community-owned non-profit company that offers beautiful nature trails, tours of the historical Laflèche caves, and the province's largest aerial park for the adventurous (includes several ziplines). Calling ahead for reservations is strongly recommended.

• Eco-OdysséeAnother great option for nature lovers close to Wakefield. A water maze that's great for learning about the local marsh environments.

• Great Canadian BungeeFor the adventure-inclined.

Shows

Ottawa has many movie theatres to choose from, but there are also a few that specialize in "foreign" films (i.e., not American), early releases, old returning films and specialty films. The Bytowne Cinema is on Rideau Street near King Edward. The Mayfair Theatre is at 1074 Bank St. near Sunnyside. In addition, the Canadian Film Institute screens films at several venues for the specialist film crowd.
Ottawa has lots of live theatre entertainment. That includes the National Arts Centre in English and French, the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the Ottawa Little Theatre.

• The National Arts Centre

  phone: +1 613-947-7000
  address: 1 Elgin St
  Also provides a major venue for dance and orchestral performance.

• The Great Canadian Theatre Company

  phone: +1 613-236-5196
  address: 1233 Wellington St W

• Ottawa Little Theatre

  phone: +1 613-233-8948
  address: 400 King Edward Ave

Jazz and blues lovers can find what they are looking for in these Ottawa music calendars: jazz shows and blues-jazz calendar. Venues include Vineyards in the Byward Market, GigSpace near Little Italy, and the Options Jazz Lounge in the Brookstreet Hotel (in Kanata). Many other venues offer jazz weekly or occasionally; see this club list. Find Blues at the Rainbow in the Byward Market and Irene's Pub in the Glebe.
For Folk music, see the Ottawa Folk Music Events listings.
Ottawa is host to over 60 festivals and events per year, including:

• Ottawa Jazz FestivalIn late June.

• Ottawa International Chamber Music FestivalIn summer, one of the largest in the world

• BluesfestAlso in summer: The largest blues festival in Canada. It also features rock, pop and world music, and attracts visitors from Atlantic Canada and New England.

• The Fringe FestivalAnother summer offering.

• WinterludeWinter fun featuring ice carving and snow sculptures

• The Tulip FestivalA spring bonanza of flowering bulbs, given annually by the Dutch government, and a concert series featuring well-known Canadian rock and other popular music groups.

• Ferrari FestivalIn June, on Preston Street.

• Canada DayCelebrate Canada's birthday in Ottawa on July 1.

• Pirate Adventurs

  address: 588 hog's back road
  Join the swashbuckling crew of Pirate Adventures for an interactive theatre and cruise along the Rideau Canal at Mooney's Bay. Pirate costumes, face paint and new pirate names for all as the captain and his crew hunt for sunken treasure whilst fending of mischievous pirates!

The two best known universities in the city are Carleton University and the bilingual University of Ottawa. Bilingual St. Paul's University is a Catholic university with ties to the University of Ottawa, offering various degrees in theology and social sciences. Dominican University College is a Dominican university where theology and philosophy can be studied at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, also in English or French. There is also Algonquin College and the francophone Cité Collégiale.

• Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

  phone: +1 613-727-4723
  address: 1385 Woodroffe Avenue

• Carleton University

  phone: +1 613-520-2600
  address: 1125 Colonel By Drive

• Dominican University College

  phone: +1 613-233-5696
  address: 96 Empress Ave
  A Roman Catholic college of philosophy and theology, affiliated with Carleton University since 2012.

• La Cité collégiale

  phone: +1 613-742-2483
  address: 801 Aviation Parkway
  The largest French-language college in Ontario.

• Saint Paul University

  phone: +1 613-236-1393
  address: 223 Main Street
  A bilingual Catholic Pontifical university, federated with the University of Ottawa.

• University of Ottawa

  phone: +1 613-562-5700
  address: Tabaret Hall, 75 Laurier Avene East

The Federal Government is the region's largest employer with the high-tech sector firmly in second place. Unless you are a Canadian resident, you will need a work visa to work in Ottawa, and some Federal Government jobs require Canadian citizenship. Most Federal Government jobs require applicants to be bilingual in English and French.

• ByWard MarketAmong other things, this is a farmer's market; in summer, stalls selling fresh produce and flowers line the streets, and maple syrup bought here costs half the price of souvenir shops elsewhere in the city. It is also a craft and tourist market with a range of shops and the city's busiest entertainment district with restaurants, pubs, bars and many street performers. Interesting to see it first during the day (when it's a shopping destination) and then in the evening (when it's a nightlife destination).

• Sparks StreetA pleasant pedestrian street one block off Parliament Hill; a common tourist thoroughfare for seeing the sights. Along this street you'll find the majority of the tourist shops selling postcards, magnets, and maple syrup. The Astrolabe Gallery, located on this street, is a treasure trove of antique maps and vintage posters. There are several outdoor cafés and restaurants to choose from.

• Westboro VillageA stretch along Richmond Road in the "near west" of Ottawa from Golden east to Tweedsmuir has become a popular tourism and shopping zone with several outdoor stores (clothing and equipment), restaurants and coffee shops. Notable shops include the Mountain Equipment Coop, Ten Thousand Villages, Starbucks, Bridgehead (fair trade coffee), Kitchenalia, a chocolatier and several others.

• Bank Street PromenadeGreat mix of stores ranging from chain restaurants to specialty shops. District extends from Wellington St to Gladstone Ave.

• Wellington WestWellington West is the commercial district of Hintonburg and Wellington Village, located in the west end between Little Italy and Westboro. It is home to independent businesses in Ottawa, such as boutiques, restaurants and food shops, and local art galleries, as well as the Parkdale Market. Notable shops include Hintonburger, Suzy Q, Elmdale Tavern and several others.

Larger shopping malls include the Rideau Centre (downtown), St. Laurent Shopping Centre (East Central), Place D'Orleans (East End), the Bayshore Shopping Centre and Carlingwood Mall (West End).
The last Saturday in May, Ottawa's Glebe neighbourhood hosts the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale. Hundreds of residents set up tables in their garages or on their lawns and sell used goods ranging from household knick-knacks to electronics to clothing. Businesses in the area also hold sidewalk sales, and vendors sell artwork, baking, and refreshments. Driving and parking during the sale itself is unnecessary and nearly impossible. Arrive on foot or park and walk into the neighbourhood. For parking, and for the best deals (especially on larger items like furniture), arrive early. The event is bustling by 8AM but continues well into the afternoon. Vendors are encouraged to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank.

Ethnic foods from around the world are available at a wide variety of restaurants and street vendors throughout the city. The Byward Market area has a wide selection of different cuisines; the Chinatown area is along Somerset West (#2 bus from downtown) between Bronson Ave. and Preston St; Little Italy runs along the length of Preston Street, from Carling Avenue to Albert Street (#2 to Somerset & Preston or #3 along Preston).

• BeaverTails

  phone: +1 613-241-1230
  address: 69 George Street
  Try the tasty BeaverTail, a fried-dough pastry associated with Ottawa, although a number of places claim to have created it. It's available in sweet and savoury versions, topped with cinnamon, sugar, icing sugar, etc. In the winter, many places will offer it on the canal. During the summer, the only places downtown to offer it are in the Byward Market on George St., and a small counter in a corner of the Canadian Museum of History. There are a variety of toppings and the taste of the beaver tail stands out more with the classic sugar & cinnamon. However, the locals' favourite is the Killaloe Sunrise, a topping of cinnamon sugar and lemon juice.

Try a poutine from Smoke's Poutinerie, or a shawarma from one of the many around the city.
Coffee shops are found throughout the city, and include dozens of two specialty chains Second Cup and Starbucks, in addition to the mainstream Tim Horton's (seemingly planted at every intersection). Bridgehead is a fair trade coffee house and can be found at a half dozen or so locations. Try their small double shot lattes, which are significantly better than their competitors'. There are several coffee houses in Little Italy, on Preston Street. One of the most popular, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston Street, +1 613-594-5303), also houses an award-winning pastry shop. Bar Robo on Somerset St under the Chinatown arch offers locally-roasted coffee during the day, along with fresh croissants and donuts.

Budget

Ottawa has a lot of shawarma (kebab and fixings in pita bread) restaurants and most of them will serve up a great shawarma for around $5. Their busy times are typically weekdays at lunch-hour, and on weekends after the bars close. The Byward Market and Elgin St. have several restaurants to choose from. Shawarma Palace, on Rideau St and in several suburban locations, are another popular choice.
The usual range of diners, bagel shops and fast food restaurants can be found in shopping areas throughout the city. You will also find "chip wagons" or "chip trucks" parked in various locations around the city at lunch time. They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage-in-a-bun, pogos (corn dogs - deep fried, breaded hot dogs on a stick), chips (French fries) and poutine (French fries covered with cheddar cheese curd and gravy - very popular in Quebec and eastern Ontario).
At lunch time, Di Rienzo and La Bottega Nicastro will sell you a good $5 sandwich; opinion is split among locals as to which is better, but they're both very good. If you're in town for a few days, try them both.

• Ahora Mexican Cuisine

  phone: +1 613-562-2081
  address: 307 Dalhousie Street
  A good little Mexican canteen. It serves up mains, zippy margaritas, and drinks imported from Mexico.

• Bobby's Table

  phone: +1 613-740-9333
  address: 255 Montreal Road
  Smoked meat sandwiches on rye bread and old-fashioned baked cheesecake are Bobby's specialties. The smoked meat is Montreal-style done well, and the cheesecake is worth going out of your way for (unless you have a coconut allergy). You can get a generous lunch for $20 and be served in either French or English.

• La Bottega Nicastro

  phone: +1 613-789-7575
  address: 64 George Street
  A fantastic little Italian specialty market, Nicastro's is a contender for the city's best $5 sandwiches, featuring amazing bread (esp. the focaccia) usually baked on the premises. The sit-down lunch kitchen is also well worth a visit.

• Di Rienzo

  phone: +1 613-729-4037
  address: 111 Beech Street
  This little deli tucked away in Little Italy, a secret known to many locals, is famous for the best and freshest deli sandwiches in the city for $5 (taxes included). During the week the lineup can stretch outside the packed little store, but they are arguably the fastest sandwich makers anywhere so don't worry about a long wait. There is also another newer location run by the family at Meadowlands Drive and Fisher Avenue.

• Elgin Street Diner

  phone: +1 613-237-9700
  address: 374 Elgin Street
  A popular 24-hour diner. One of its specialties is the ESD (Elgin Street Diner) Poutine (though true Quebecers should probably abstain). Generally, poutine is French fries, served with cheese curds and gravy on top; they have several versions including the addition of caramelized onions and bacon, Montreal smoked meat, Philly steak, a four cheese blend or Chili. The substitution of mashed potatoes fried with onions and seasoning (called their home fries), or onion rings instead of regular French fries is also an option. Expect the adventure to set you back $6–8 depending on toppings. The diner's hamburgers/cheeseburgers are significantly better than typical fast food fare, and breakfast is served 24/7 365 days a year with no exception.

• Rangoon

  phone: +1 613-680-8821
  address: 114 Gloucester Street
  A one-of-a-kind family-run Burmese restaurant with cheap lunch specials where you can get an appetizer, main course and a drink for about $10! Try the fish noodle soup (mohingha), chicken curry or eggplant curry. A real hidden gem.

• Shanghai Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-233-4001
  address: 651 Somerset Street West
  A local favourite since 1971, when it was the only Chinese place in the area that is now Chinatown; it is still run by the same family. It boasts drag-queen karaoke on Saturday nights, frequent vernissages for Ottawa's up-and-coming artists, and some of the best Asian cuisine in town.
• Warehouse in the heart of Byward Market is popular among students. Great meals including a burger, fries and tap water, are served for just $5. Only drinks are a bit on the expensive side with around $6. Busy every day of the week, especially after 8PM when it is mostly a bar.
• For the best non-traditional Canadian eats, head down Somerset street (West) near Bronson to the heart of Chinatown. Here you have a choice of places for Vietnamese, Thai, Cantonese, etc. Vietamese soup-houses, Pho Bo Ga and Pho Bo Ga La, are well-rated. The Yangtze Restaurant and Chu Shing Restaurant (across the street from it) are large box Chinese restaurants popular with Ottawa's Chinese clientele. The Jadeland Restaurant is a small popular Chinese restaurant set in a converted house and has been well reviewed for its tasty dishes and low prices. Another good source for ethnic foods is the stretch on Rideau between King Edward and the bridge to Vanier. You can find Middle Eastern, African and Asian food here.

• Pho Bo Ga 2

  phone: +1 613-234-7089
  address: 843 Somerset Street West

• Pho Bo Ga L.A.

  phone: +1 613-230-2931
  address: 784 Somerset Street West

• Yangtze

  phone: +1 613-236-0555
  address: 700 Somerset Street West

• Oriental Chu Shing Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-233-8818
  address: 691 Somerset Street West

• Jadeland

  phone: +1 613-233-0204
  address: 625 Somerset Street West

For Indian, there is Rose's Cafe (in the Byward Market and one on Gladstone), but also try Curries (Gloucester and O'Connor, between Bank and Elgin near the business district). For a somewhat higher-end buffet experience, yet authentic, try Host India on Montreal Rd. For Indian food from Kerala state, try Coconut Lagoon on St. Laurent Blvd. (in the same price range as Host India), ranked #1 on Food Network's "10 Popular Indian Restaurants in Canada".

• Rose's Café Also

  phone: +1 613-241-8535
  address: 349 Dalhousie Street

• India Curry House

  phone: +1 613-598-6970
  address: 114 Gloucester Street

• Host India

  phone: +1 613-746-4678
  address: 622 Montreal Road

• Coconut Lagoon

  phone: +1 613-742-4444
  address: 853 St. Laurent Boulevard
  Coconut Lagoon serves Kerala cuisine, subtly different from other South Indian styles (although people kept asking for Butter Chicken so it's on the menu as well). The restaurant's executive chef and owner Joe Thottungal took the silver medal at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2017, and the gold medal at the Gold Medal Plates Culinary Competition 2016. There are vegan-friendly dishes on the menu.

Zak's Diner

phone: +1 613-241-2401

address: 14 Byward Market Square

The best milk-shakes are found at Zak's, a 24-hour diner in the Byward Market. They're really good, made with ice-cream, and for the $6.99 they cost you get a large glass full plus the shaker with what didn't fit in the glass. Other dishes are quite good, with a "more calories for your money" attitude (as illustrated by the massive amount of milkshake served), which is nicely honest about fast food; however it may seem a bit expensive as the burgers start at $14.49 and if you add on the paid extras you can easily get in excess of $19. Late on week-end nights (2-3AM), it's packed as people go for their after-bar poutine.

Rideau Bakery coffee bar

address: 384 Rideau Street

As of July 2019, the Rideau Bakery is no longer in business.

Mid-range

Major restaurant areas can be found on Elgin Street, on Bank Street in Centretown, on Bank Street in the Glebe, in Westboro and in the Byward Market, with entrees ranging from $12–25. Similar restaurants can be found in major suburban shopping areas too.

• The Empire Grill

  phone: +1 613-241-1343
  address: 47 Clarence Street
  Has a great patio in the summer and delicious food year-round. Expect to pay more than $25 for an entree.

• The Highlander Pub

  phone: +1 613-562 5678
  address: 115 Rideau Street
  A solid restaurant with good pub fare, and traditional Scottish food, such as haggis. They also feature over 250 single malt Scotches as well as many spirits, wines and beers. Live music Wednesdays through Saturdays. Monthly whisky tastings. It has a warm, friendly environment, with plenty of patio room. An average tab for a full meal for 2 should be about $40.

• Johnny Farina's

  phone: +1 613-565-5155
  address: 216 Elgin Street
  Italian food

• Santé Restaurant

  address: 45 Rideau St
  Santé is a cosmopolitan yet casual. It’s a delicate line to walk, but Santé Restaurant does it with panache - offering exotic Asian Fusion and Thai cuisine in a comfortably elegant setting.

• VineyardsIn the Byward Market. An excellent restaurant with the widest selection of world beers and wines in Ottawa.

• The WorksHard to argue that these are not the best burgers around. The selection is top notch and toppings are bountiful. Also served are delicious onion rings, milk shakes and cold beer, all in a funky industrial decor. Choose your burger from the traditional beef, elk, vegetarian, or other options. Expect to pay $20 or more for a burger with sides, and not to regret it. They're becoming an Ontario-wide chain, but Ottawa is where the Works started, and where they have their largest market penetration (seven locations as of January 2017). There are three locations where tourists in Ottawa might stumble across them; these are the ones listed below.

• The Works - The Glebe

  phone: +1 613-235-0406
  address: 580 Bank Street

• The Works - Manor Park

  phone: +1 613-748-0406
  address: 363 St Laurent Boulevard

• The Works - Westboro Village

  phone: +1 613-564-0406
  address: 326 Richmond Road

Malone's Lakeside Bar & Grill

phone: +1 613-232-1001

address: 1001 Queen Elizabeth Dr

Seating overlooking beautiful Dows Lake; lunch specials offered.

Taqueria La Bonita

phone: +1 613-695-7373

address: 1128 Cadboro Rd

If you're looking for Mexican cuisine (not Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex) in Ottawa, they're worth the drive out of downtown. La Bonita is a small restaurant - while you don't need to make reservations, they're recommended during busy hours.

Splurge

Ottawa has excellent options for fine dining if you feel like spending a bit extra. Budget C$150 for a three course dinner for two, including wine and gratuity.

• Beckta

  address: 226 Nepean Street
  Excellent modern restaurant with a variety of tastes centred on locally available foods. Also features an extensive wine list.

• E18hteen

  phone: +1 613-244-1188
  address: 18 York Street
  An upscale, modern restaurant and bar located in a renovated 19th century heritage building. It is the place to see and be seen.

• Merlot

  address: 100 Kent Street
  Merlot has received glowing reviews for its cuisine and is Ottawa's only revolving restaurant.

• Signatures

  phone: +1 613-236-2499
  address: 453 Laurier Ave. East
  At Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, Tu-Sa 5:30PM–10PM, is a French restaurant with a five-diamond rating from CAA/AAA that is considered among the very best in the city.

• The Wellington Gastropub

  phone: +1 613-729-1315
  address: 1325 Wellington Street West
  A small second-floor walk-up in Westboro, the Wellington Gastropub changes its menu daily and has over a dozen craft and microbrewery beers on tap.

Vegetarian and vegan

• CafeMyHouse

  address: 1729 Bank St
  At offers vegan friendly cuisine and is located within 10 minutes of the airport and of the train station. The restaurant specializes in brunch and lunch options, and average around $15 a meal.

• Govinda's Restaurant

  phone: +1 613-565-6544
  address: 212 Somerset St. E
  offers a simple vegan buffet. The best cheap eats in town. Operated by ISCKON (Hare Krishna movement).

• The Green Door

  phone: +1 613-234-9597
  address: 198 Main St
  At offers a vegetarian and vegan buffet and is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Ottawa. It offers private and communal tables.

• Perfection-Satisfaction-Promise

  phone: +1 613-234-7299
  address: 167 Laurier Ave E.
  Fully vegetarian with a great vegan selection. "Unquestionably some of the best vegetarian food in the city" - Ottawa Xpress, 2007.

• Pure Kitchen Ottawa

  phone: +1 (613) 680-5500
  address: 357 Richmond Road
  Hip restaurant serving vegetarian and vegan food. Wraps, burgers, rice bowls, salads. Bar offers juice, beer, wine. Reservations only for parties of 6 or more. Second location in Centretown at 340 Elgin Street.

• So Good Restaurant

  phone: +1 (613) 223-0138
  address: 717 Somerset Street West
  Has a separate vegetarian menu (dishes are also vegan unless stated) and there are many choices. Try anything "Wu Se" (peanut sauce).

• The Table

  phone: +1 (613) 729-5973
  address: 1230 Wellington Street West
  In the Westboro neighbourhood, also offers a vegetarian buffet with many vegan options. Meals are priced by weight.

The most popular bar areas are in the Byward Market, along Wellington Street in Westboro, along both Elgin Street and Bank Street between Somerset and Gladstone in the Centretown area, and further south on Bank. There are pubs and bars scattered throughout the city as well.
You can also take a small trip over the Ottawa river to Gatineau. Bars on Ottawa side close at 2AM, though the province of Quebec has a last call of 3AM, an exception is made in Gatineau where bars also close at 2AM. Quebec has a lower minimum age to purchase alcohol (18, vs. 19 in Ontario) and sells beer in corner stores. Ottawa police often set up checkpoints near the bridges to catch drunk drivers returning from Quebec after closing time.
Smoking (both traditional and e-cigarettes, also called "vaping") of tobacco or cannabis is not permitted in Ontario or Quebec restaurants and bars, or on the patios of bars in Ottawa.

Bars and nightclubs

• Barrymores Music Hall

  phone: +1 613-695-8488
  address: 323 Bank Street
  An old converted movie theatre, their 80s night is the place to be in Ottawa on Sundays. They also have a 90s night on Thursdays and live concerts on most other nights

• Club 292

  address: 292 Elgin St

• Dominion Tavern

  phone: +1 613-241-7706
  address: 33 York Street
  Simple beers and some pool: picture your friend's basement apartment, even serving 40s of beer.

• E18hteen

  address: 18 York St
  See their listing in the "Eat" section.
• Foundation York St. in the alley behind E18hteen. Restaurant during the week that is open for lunch and dinner. Excellent food and one of the only restaurants in Ottawa to serve fondue. On Friday and Saturday nights it transforms into an upperclass nightclub. Dress to impress, no logos or running shoes, and be prepared to spend a few bucks on drinks.

• The Lookout Bar

  phone: +1 613-789-1624
  address: 41 York Street
  They have a very popular "bois night" on Thursday that attracts lots of people. Friday and Saturday are mostly lesbian nights.

• Mercury Lounge

  phone: +1 613-789-5324
  address: 56 Byward Market Square
  An awesome bar that changes its themes nightly ranging from African beats to hip-hop to house (depending on the night). Spread out over 3 (relatively small) floors, this bar offers different DJs and atmospheres throughout. Hump Night is one of the best gay nights in the city and occurs on Wednesday (4$ cover).

• Options Jazz Lounge at Brookstreet

  phone: +1 613-271-1800
  address: 525 Legget Drive
  Located off the main lobby of the Brookstreet Hotel. A relaxing and sophisticated lounge.

• The Standard Luxury Tavern

  phone: +1 613-232-6274
  address: 360 Elgin St
  A restaurant during the day, pumping club/lounge at night. The Standard is popular Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with a different style of music each night. Friday is excellent old-school and modern hip-hop/R&B while Saturday is a little of everything. Excellent beer tap selection and daily drink specials.

Pubs

Since the mid-1990s there has been an explosion in Irish-/British-style pubs across the city.

• The Black Thorn

  phone: +1 613-241-0712
  address: 15 Clarence Street
  Upscale, great food, huge patio with good views.

• Chez Lucien

  phone: +1 613-241-3533
  address: 137 Murray St
  one of the few pleasant, non-faux-Irish pubs downtown (a favourite along with the Manx). Serves good pub fare (including excellent fries), can get busy especially after work. A good selection of microbrew beers.

• Clocktower BrewhouseA microbrewery with five locations throughout the city. Excellent beer at a good price with a very tasty and well priced menu.

• Clocktower Byward Market

  phone: +1 613-241-8783
  address: 89 Clarence Street

• Clocktower Elgin

  phone: +1 613-724-4561
  address: 200 Elgin Street

• Clocktower Glebe

  phone: +1 613-233-7849
  address: 575 Bank Street
  The original Clocktower Brewhouse, this is the location with the clock tower and the brew house.

• Clocktower New Edinburgh

  phone: +1 613-742-3169
  address: 422 MacKay Street

• Clocktower Westboro

  phone: +1 613-680-5983
  address: 418 Richmond Road

D'Arcy McGee's

address: 44 Sparks Street

Beautiful architecture with impressive food selection

Irish Village Group

phone: +1 613-562-0674

address: 67 Clarence Street

Ottawa's largest pub complex, including the eponymous Irish Village (loud, lots of live music) and The Heart and Crown. The fish and chips has a generous serving of fish.

The Lieutenant's Pump

phone: +1 613-238-2949

address: 361 Elgin Street

British pub with a good variety of food selections and inexpensive draught.

The Manx

phone: +1 613-231-2070

address: 370 Elgin street

Great microbrews, wide Scotch selection, bohemian/hipster feel.

Minglewoods

address: 14 Waller Street

A great place to drink for cheap! Pitchers of domestic and premium beers are priced under $11 so if you're on a budget this is the place to go. It is close to the University of Ottawa so many students frequent Minglewoods between or after class. There is a good selection of pub fare, also for reasonable prices. On the weekend there is a packed dance floor on the second level.

Patty Boland's Irish Pub & Eatery

phone: +1 613-789-7822

address: 101 Clarence Street

Feels like an old tavern, but big. Friday and Saturday nights Patty's has live music so expect to pay cover, and mandatory coat check in the winter. During the musician breaks there is a dance floor with Top 40 music.

Pub Italia

phone: +1 613-232-2326

address: 434 1/2 Preston Street

An Irish/Italian pub with hundreds of bottled beers listed in its "Beer Bible", especially Belgian. Decent pizza and pastas, but other places in Little Italy have better - you're going here for the beer, not the food. Intimate faux Medieval/Gothic décor; a bit strange, but the patio is very nice.

Quinns Ale House

phone: +1 613-523-2200

address: 1070 Bank Street

A small but cozy sports bar and pub located next to the Mayfair Theatre. Expect good pub fare, a nice ambiance and good selection of beers.

Budget

• Barefoot Hostel

  phone: +1 613-237-0336
  address: 455 Cumberland St
  A clean, modern 16-bed hostel located downtown. Female-only since September 2016. Included for use is a mini-kitchen (no stove), back patio with lounge chairs, common room with a huge HDTV, computer (with internet), free WiFi, plush bed linens, lockers and three shared bathrooms. Rates start at $30 per night per person and you can book online. The check-in desk is at The Swiss Hotel, around the corner at 89 Daly Ave. Make sure to check their website or Twitter page for promotions.

• Ottawa Backpackers Inn

  phone: +1 613-241-3402
  address: 203 York Street
  Part of Backpackers Hostels Canada, includes kitchen, free wireless internet and free coffee/tea. In a converted house into hostel, in the market block. The staff and the atmosphere are very friendly. Allergy warning: they have a cat

• Ottawa Jail Hostel

  address: 75 Nicholas Street
  A member of Hostelling International, this hostel is in the old Ottawa Jail; the bedrooms are actually old jail cells. Most rooms have shared washrooms. It's close to the Byward Market and downtown. Tours available. Breakfast of coffee, tea, bagels, fruit included.

Mid-range

• Albert at Bay Suite Hotel

  address: 435 Albert Street
  The building is nicely located downtown within easy walking distance of the main attractions, shops and restaurants. The hotel itself is a converted apartment building where you'll find large one and two bedrooms suites. Rates range from $119/night to $229/night for the one and two bedroom suites respectively.

• Auberge King Edward Bed and Breakfast

  address: 525 King Edward Avenue
  Well-preserved Victorian architecture packed with character. Free parking and WiFi.

• Australis Guest House

  phone: +1 (613) 235-8461
  address: 89 Goulburn Avenue
  Run by an Australian expat, this 2-room B&B gets praise for fresh-cooked breakfast. Located about 1km east of Byward Market, 2 km east of Parliament Hill. Free Wifi. Limited parking available, ask.

• Avalon Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1 613-241-6403
  address: 539 Besserer St
  A well-reviewed downtown Ottawa bed-and-breakfast. Turn of the century home with modern decor. A 15-minute walk to the Byward Market. Free parking and WiFi.

• Best Western Victoria Park Suites

  address: 377 O'Connor Street

• ByWard Blue Inn

  address: 157 Clarence Street
  A B&B hotel in the picturesque Byward Market with refrigerators, microwaves, private balconies.

• Cartier Place Suite Hotel

  address: 180 Cooper Street
  Features unique pet friendly downtown suite lodging accommodations minutes from Parliament Hill. Discover unique studios, one or two bedrooms, and VIP suites with Jacuzzis, close to tourist attractions.

• Comfort Inn Ottawa West

  phone: +1 613-592-2200
  address: 222 Hearst Way
  Offers guests free breakfast, free parking, and free internet.

• Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East

  phone: +1 613-741-9862
  address: 200 Coventry Rd
  Complimentary high speed internet access & complimentary parking. 395 guest rooms, each with wet bar. Indoor pool, whirlpool, 24-hour exercise room, 24-hour business centre and The Market is also open 24 hours. Bistro and meeting facilities on-site.

• Novotel Hotel

  phone: +1 (613) 230-3033
  address: 33 Nicholas Street
  Modern hotel with an emphasis on energy conservation. Modern restaurant and banquet facilities. This location has free internet kiosks in the main lobby open to the public.

• Sheraton Ottawa Hotel

  address: 150 Albert St
  Sheraton Ottawa Hotel is located in the heart of downtown - steps from Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, and other major attractions. Each room features the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, and the Link@Sheraton lobby connectivity hub offers complimentary internet and PC workstation use.

• Shirley Samantha's Bed & Breakfast

  address: 28 Carlotta Avenue
  On a quiet residential street, within walking distance from downtown and half a block from the Rideau River cycling/walking path. Two queen-bedded rooms, one with ensuite, the other with private bath. Centrally air conditioned, complimentary parking, snacks and WiFi. Delicious breakfasts featuring home baking.

• Swiss Hotel

  phone: +1 613-237-0335
  address: 89 Daly Avenue
  A charming, cozy, 22-room hotel located in the heart of Ottawa. The Inn was built in 1872 from limestone in a 19th-century Vernacular Classical Revival. Swiss Hotel offers traditional Swiss hospitality with modern comfort. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, rooms are equipped with iPads. Optional healthy buffet breakfast is offered daily with Bircher-Muesli and fresh ground Swiss espresso.

• University of Ottawa

  address: 90 University Private
  From May to August, university housing is offered as hotel-like guest rooms in one of its newer housing complexes.

• Delta Ottawa City Centre

  phone: +1 613-237-3600
  address: 101 Lyon Street North
  Sleek 1967 modernist hotel tower on the quieter west side of the city centre, within walking distance of most major sites, and with good access to public transport. Rate includes wireless Internet access. Underground parking available on-site at an additional cost of $22/day.

Splurge

• Andaz Ottawa

  phone: +1 613-321-1234
  address: 325 Dalhousie Street
  Owned by Hyatt, extremely well located, otherwise unremarkable.

• Arc

  address: Slater Street
  A trendy boutique hotel with prices to match its style.

• The BrookstreetIn Kanata is a newer luxury hotel and resort popular with technology companies and visiting sports teams. Facilities include a full-service spa with 11 treatment rooms, a championship golf course (The Marshes), a European PGA-approved short course (Marchwood), a four-diamond restaurant (Perspectives) and a fitness studio with whirlpools, steam rooms and indoor and outdoor pools.

• Fairmont Chateau LaurierThe city's grand old hotel: its oldest and most famous luxury hotel as well as one of its landmarks. Rooms facing west overlook the Rideau Canal locks and have stellar views of the Parliament buildings. This hotel once housed the offices of CBC Radio in Ottawa and the studio of well-known portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh. Several framed Karsh photographs are hung in the hotel lounge. His (and his wife's) home suite is now available for guests and displays a small sampling of framed prints on the walls.

• Lord Elgin

  phone: +1 613-235-3333
  address: 100 Elgin Street
  Centrally located on Elgin Street across from the National Arts Centre, a stone's throw from Parliament Hill, and one of Ottawa's two classic hotels (the other being the Chateau Laurier). While it has "splurge" rates, most rooms are reasonably priced. Good value, and a Starbucks off the lobby.

• The Ottawa Marriott Hotel

  phone: +1 613-238-1122
  address: 100 Kent St
  The Ottawa Marriott Hotel is in downtown Ottawa one block from the Parliament Buildings and steps away from museums and shopping. This Ottawa hotel includes a revolving restaurant, Kids’ Zone, an indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre.

• The Westin Ottawa

  address: 11 Colonel By Dr
  This newly renovated hotel is also connected to the Rideau Centre and the Ottawa Convention Centre by a walkway. It is steps from Parliament Hill and the Byward market and each of the 496 rooms features the ten-layer Heavenly Bed.

The area codes for Ottawa are 613 and the overlay code 343. Hull (819, overlaid with 873) has the full Ottawa local calling area. Ten-digit dialling (area code+local number) is required for all local calls.
Most coffee shops, hotels, and public library branches have free wi-fi Internet access, although the speeds may be slower than you're accustomed to. There are internet cafes throughout the city.

Ottawa is a very safe place to live and visit, so if you use common sense it is at least as safe as any other city. There are many tourists in the city, especially in summer months, and there are very few incidents of robbery or assault.
There have been incidents on buses and at transit stations of violence and swarmings/robberies, even during daytime hours. OC Transpo has hired new constables and placed plainclothes security and cameras on select buses and trains to counter the problem. Use common sense, especially when riding at night, every transit station has multiple emergency call boxes. After dark, take extra care in areas near downtown such as Lowertown East, and also Hintonburg, Vanier, Bayshore, Ledbury, Heatherington, Caldwell and South Keys. These neighbourhoods are known to have gang presence and drug problems. (Ledbury, Heatherington, and South Keys have nothing in the way of tourist draws, anyway.) The section of Rideau Street between Sussex Drive and King Edward Avenue is infamous for homeless people and panhandlers (they'll thank you and wish you a good day, even when you don't give), though this rarely causes problems for anyone. Ottawa is generally very safe, but like any other city it has bad apples.
Ottawa is the fourth coldest capital city by annual average temperature, but it has the second coldest January, only topped by Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Add to that nearly 3 m (10') of snow per average winter and throw in an ice storm from time to time, winter can be a challenge but locals do a great job of handling it particularly with recreation. Summers are (normally) short, warm and at times hot and humid. Humidity in the summer can make the heat feel unbearable, while humidity in the winter, coupled with wind chills, can make the cold feel very brutal. Dress for the weather and don't forget to cover your head and ears with a warm hat. Ottawa is not a very fashion-minded city, but in winter, everyone throws in the towel.

Embassies and High Commissions

• Albania

  phone: +1 613-236-3053
  address: 130 Albert St, Ste 302

• Argentina

  phone: +1 613-236-2361
  address: 81 Metcalfe St

• Armenia

  phone: +1 613-234-3710
  address: 7 Delaware Ave

• Australia

  phone: +1 613-236-0841
  address: 50 O'Connor St, Ste 710

• Austria

  phone: +1 613-789-1444
  address: 445 Wilbrod St

• Azerbaijan

  phone: +1 613-288-0497
  address: 275 Slater St, Ste 904

• Bangladesh

  phone: +1 613-236-01318
  address: Suite 1100, 350 Sparks St

• Belarus

  phone: +1 613-233-9994
  address: 130 Albert St, Ste 600

• Belgium

  phone: +1 613-236-7267
  address: 360 Albert St, Ste 820

• Bolivia

  phone: +1 613-236-5730
  address: 130 Albert St

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

  phone: +1 613-236-0028
  address: 130 Albert St, Ste 805

• Bulgaria

  phone: +1 613-789-3215
  address: 325 Stewart St

• Chile

  phone: +1 613-235-4402
  address: Suite 1413, 50 O'Connor St

• China

  address: 515 St. Patrick St

• Colombia

  phone: +1 613-230-3760
  address: Suite 1002, 260 Albert St

• Costa Rica

  phone: +1 613-562-2855
  address: Suite 701, 350 Sparks St

• Croatia

  phone: +1 613-562-7820
  address: 229 Chapel St

• Cuba

  phone: +1 613-563-0141
  address: 388 Main St

• Czech Republic

  phone: +1 613-562-3875
  address: 251 Cooper St

• Denmark

  phone: +1 613-562-1811
  address: 47 Clarence St

• Dominican Republic

  phone: +1 416 369-0403
  address: Suite 301, 121 Richmond St West

• Ecuador

  phone: +1 613-563-8206
  address: Suite 230, 99 Bank St

• Egypt

  phone: +1 613-234-4931
  address: 454 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa

• Estonia

  phone: +1 613-789-4222
  address: 260 Dalhousie St, Ste 210

• Finland

  phone: +1 613-288-2233
  address: 55 Metcalfe St, Ste 850

• France

  phone: +1 613-789-1795
  address: 42 Sussex Dr

• Germany

  phone: +1 613-232-1101
  address: 1 Waverley St

• Greece

  phone: +1 613-238-6271, +1 613-238-6273
  address: 80 MacLaren St

• Guyana

  phone: +1 613-235-7240, +1 613-235-7249
  address: 151 Slater St, Ste 309

• Hungary

  phone: +1 613-230-2717
  address: 299 Waverley St

• Iceland

  phone: +1 613-482-1944
  address: 360 Albert St, Ste 710

• India

  phone: +1 613-744-3752
  address: 10 Springfield Rd

• Indonesia

  phone: +1 613-724-1100
  address: 55 Parkdale Avenue

• Ireland

  phone: +1 613-233-6281
  address: 130 Albert St, Ste 1105

• Italy

  phone: +1 613-232-2401
  address: 275 Slater St, 21F

• Jamaica

  phone: +1 613-233-9311
  address: 151 Slater St, Ste 1000

• Japan

  phone: +1 613-241-8541
  address: 255 Sussex Dr

• Latvia

  phone: +1 613-238-6014
  address: 350 Sparks St, Ste 1200

• Lithuania

  phone: +1 613-567-5458
  address: 150 Metcalfe St, Ste 1600

• Mauritius

  phone: +1 613-737-7322
  address: 2918 Southmore Dr E

• Mexico

  phone: +1 613-235-8988
  address: Suite 1000, 45 O'Connor St

• Morocco

  phone: +1 613-236-7391
  address: 38 Range Rd

• Nepal

  phone: +1 613-680-5513
  address: 408 Queen Street

• Netherlands

  phone: +1 613-237-5030
  address: 350 Albert St, Ste 2020

• New Zealand

  phone: +1 613-238-5991
  address: 99 Bank St, Ste 727

• Nigeria

  phone: +1 613-236-0521, +1 613-236-0523
  address: 295 Metcalfe St

• North Macedonia

  phone: +1 613-234-3882
  address: 130 Albert St, Ste 1006

• Norway

  phone: +1 613-238-6571
  address: Suite 1300, 150 Metcalfe St

• Pakistan

  phone: +1 613-238-7881
  address: 10 Range Rd

• Panama

  phone: +1 613-236-7177
  address: Suite 300, 130 Albert St

• Paraguay

  phone: +1 613-557-1283
  address: 161 Slater St

• Peru

  phone: +1 613-232-3062
  address: Suite 1901, 130 Albert St

• Philippines

  phone: +1 613-233-1121
  address: 30 Murray Street

• Portugal

  phone: +1 613-729-0883
  address: 645 Island Park Dr

• Romania

  phone: +1 613-789-3709, +1 613-789-5345
  address: 655 Rideau St

• Russia

  phone: +1 613-235-4341, +1 613-236-1413
  address: 285 Charlotte St

• Saint Lucia

  phone: +1 416-203-8400
  Saint Lucian consular service is provided from their office in Toronto.

• South Africa

  phone: +1 613-744-0330
  address: 15 Sussex Dr

• South Korea

  phone: +1 613-244-5010
  address: 150 Boteler St

• Spain

  phone: +1 613-747-2252
  address: 74 Stanley Ave

• Sri Lanka

  phone: +1 613-233-8449
  address: Suite 1204, 333 Laurier Ave

• Sweden

  phone: +1 613-244-8200
  address: 377 Dalhousie St

• Switzerland

  phone: +1 613-235-1837
  address: 5 Marlborough Ave

• Syria

  phone: +1 613-569-5556
  address: 46 Cartier St

• Trinidad and Tobago

  phone: +1 613-232-2418
  address: 200 First Ave

• Turkey

  phone: +1 613-789-4044, +1 613-789-3440
  address: 197 Wurtemburg St

• Ukraine

  phone: +1 613-230-2961
  address: 310 Somerset St W

• United Kingdom

  phone: +1 613-237-1530
  address: 80 Elgin St

• United States

  phone: +1 613-238-5335
  address: 490 Sussex Dr

• Uruguay

  phone: +1 613-234-2727
  address: Suite 901, 350 Sparks St

• Venezuela

  phone: +1 613-235-5151
  address: 32 Range Rd

• Vietnam

  phone: +1 613-236-0772
  address: 55 MacKay St

• Zambia

  phone: +1 613-232-4400
  address: 151 Slater St

• Zimbabwe

  phone: +1 613-421-2824
  address: 332 Somerset St W
  The Embassy of Zimbabwe in Ottawa.

Just across the river from Ottawa is the city of Gatineau, which has the stunning Canadian Museum of History and some mighty good restaurants too. It is the centre of the Outaouais region which includes the lovely village of Wakefield, and Gatineau Park with its high cliffs and deep, clear lakes. A little further west is the Pontiac where you will find small rural towns and rafting expeditions. There is a bus service from Ottawa and Gatineau to the Pontiac. You can cycle from Quyon to Pembroke on 72 km of railway bed turned into a bike trail. Stop by the Shawville Fair in late August/early September.
To the south and east of Ottawa is a large flat rural area consisting mostly of small commuter towns, agricultural villages, and the occasional woodland. This lowland stretches all the way to Montreal (roughly 165 km to the east) and the United States border (just shy of a hundred kilometres to the south). The Rideau Canal runs through it. Among the many scenic towns are Merrickville, which has a good claim to the name "Canada's prettiest village," and Perth with its mills and heritage buildings.
Going west beyond Kanata, the village of Carp (about 40 minutes away, in West Carleton) houses the surreal Cold War "Central Emergency Government Headquarters" (the Diefenbunker), now a museum. Beyond that is the Ottawa Valley region, towns and farms, then the Madawaska Highlands wilderness area starting about 90 km from Ottawa. In that area is Calabogie, a ski resort in winter and lake resort in summer. A little further on is another wilderness recreation area, Algonquin Provincial Park.
Beyond the Ottawa region lie other Canadian cities, such as:

• Montreal, the largest city in Quebec and the largest French-speaking city outside of Europe, is 200 km east.
• Toronto, Canada's largest city, is about 500 km to the southwest.
• Kingston, about 200 km to the southwest, on the way to Toronto. A university town with historic limestone buildings.

If you're interested in a very different destination, Ottawa is one of the very few cities south of the 60th parallel that has regular scheduled air service - and the only one with direct air service - to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut.