Ottawa Tours & Holidays

As the capital city of the province of Ontario, Ottawa is a vibrant hub with a wealth of things to do.

History and culture can be explored in its many museums and galleries, while its location on the Ottawa River provides plenty of waterside walking and cycling opportunities. The first stop on most Ottawa sightseeing tours is Parliament Hill. This area of Crown land is home to the Parliament Buildings, which feature Gothic-Revival architecture and play host to the Senate and the House of Commons. The historic Rideau Canal is another of the most iconic sites in Ottawa. Opened in 1832, this UNESCO-listed site stretches some 125 miles and is lined with pleasant towns and parks.

For outdoor pursuits, Gatineau Park, the second-most visited park in Canada, offers opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, horse-riding and walking, while the Gatineau Hills area is home to an array of skiing trails perfect for winter tours. For sightseeing tours from Ottawa, the VIA rail network runs the Toronto - Ottawa - Montreal - Québec route, as well as the chance for an Ottawa train tour to one of North America's most iconic sites - Niagara Falls.

Made with fried dough smothered in butter, these sugary snacks come with a variety of topping options, including chocolate sauce, cinnamon and fruit.

Head to the ByWard market to have a choice of food from over 260 different stands. Perfect for picky eaters, this is the perfect place to stock up a picnic basket, or to have a quick snack on one of your tours.

There are plenty of traditional regional dishes to taste on your trip to Ottawa. Look out for menus serving poutine, caribou stew, and sushi pizza, and Saskatoon pie.