Canada · OTTAWA TOURS
A capital built around a canal that becomes a skating rink. These 15 cover the amphibious buses, the river cruises and the parliament walks, priced and clear about the seasonal ones.
Spend 90 minutes aboard the Paula D on the Ottawa River, with English and French commentary from guides such as Andi and Elodie. You’ll see Parliament, the Rideau Canal Locks, Rideau Falls, Ottawa, and Gatineau, with open-air seating, a lower-deck bar, and views unavailable from land.
“Elodie the guide was amazing, super knowledgeable and very entertaining! Will be back!!!!”
See Ottawa from the Rideau Canal aboard North America’s largest 100% electric passenger vessel. Your English and French guide points out the Château Laurier, Dow’s Lake, the Museum of Nature, Lansdowne Park, and 30 historic sites during a smooth 90-minute cruise.
“We enjoyed the tour of the Canal and the guide was perfectly bilingual and was very entertaining.”
Start at 44 Sparks Street for a 1.5-hour guided loop through Ottawa. Ride an open-top double-decker bus or trolley, then hop off at Parliament, ByWard Market, museums, galleries, parks, and more. English and French guides lead the tour, with recorded commentary in seven other languages.
“Excellent! Great way to see the best of the city, we finished the tour then we went to the top 3 for us and it was amazing!!”
Cruise the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal from the National Arts Centre on a quiet, fully electric boat. Your guide covers about 30 Ottawa landmarks, from Dow’s Lake and Lansdowne Park to Château Laurier and the Canadian Museum of Nature. Guides such as Lily, Wendy, Theo, and Ellen are noted for warm, lively commentary.
“Wendy is an excellent tour guide. Very relaxing and informative 90-minute cruise on the Rideau Canal.”
Cruise Ottawa’s riverfront aboard the Paula D, with French and English commentary from guides such as Wendy, Andi, Andy, and Elodie. You’ll see Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, Rideau Falls, 24 Sussex Drive, and Gatineau views, with upper-deck seating, a bar, canteen, and onboard bathroom.
“It was amazing Wendy the lady working there was so nice and friendly. She explain well the places we saw. She is a 10/10”
This one-hour Ottawa tour combines a city drive with an amphibious bus ride on the Ottawa River. A bilingual guide points out Parliament, ByWard Market, the canal, Gatineau, and other landmarks. Guides such as Gabrielle, Wendy, and Cameron have been praised for lively commentary, while premium seats offer better views.
“Excellent bi-lingual tour guide! Very informative and knowledgeable about the country’s history and places we saw.”
Use a one-day pass to tour Ottawa by double-decker bus or trolley, staying aboard for the city loop or hopping off at 14 stops. A guide points out Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, museums, ByWard Market, and the Rideau Canal. Commentary is offered in English, though some tours also use French.
“Hop on-off or stay-on bus ride. We chose to stay on the upper deck for the full route. The drive and tour guide were good! We would prefer less talk about pubs and parting and more information about the city.”
Walk downtown Ottawa by lantern with guides such as Monica, Jack, Clare, and Paul, hearing ghost stories linked to Grant House, Château Laurier, and a haunted high school. The 75-minute route is easy, outdoors, family-friendly, and available in English or French.
“Excellent tour! Very well organized and our tour guide Dominique was amazing, knowledgeable and interacted with the group! Highly recommend - A MUST DO!!”
Set out from Sparks Street with a local guide such as Denis, Allison, Mike, or Sparky for a two-hour Ottawa bike tour. Ride canal paths and quiet streets to the War Memorial, ByWard Market, Rideau Hall, Rideau Falls, the National Gallery, Parliament viewpoints, and the Ottawa Locks. Bikes, helmets, and water are included.
“It was a great tour, but it is not a leisurely ride, so you should be in some kind of shape. The guide was great!”
Follow a local storyteller from 46 Sparks Street through downtown Ottawa for 75 minutes of ghost stories and city history. You may hear about Château Laurier and the Titanic, the Rideau Canal’s dead workers, Lisgar Collegiate, and the Bytown Museum. Guides such as Monica, Margo, Nart, and Laura bring the tales to life.
“Laura was very knowledgeable. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! We both recommend it !”
Spend a full day at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum, exploring permanent galleries, tanks, artillery, war art, and special exhibitions. The building itself tells a story through Morse-code windows, rough concrete, and Memorial Hall. Admission includes a multilingual guide and coat check.
“A really well put together and informative museum lots of things to learn ? Every day is a school day . Well done Canada 🇨🇦”
Spend a full day exploring Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature, a castle-like former Parliament building with four floors of dinosaurs, mammals, minerals, Arctic displays, live insects, tide pool creatures, and a complete blue whale skeleton. Admission covers permanent galleries and special exhibits, subject to capacity.
“What a great experience for young and old alike. Great visit and the cafe was good too. Highly recommend a visit.”
Spend about three hours at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum with admission to permanent and special exhibitions. See tanks, weapons, photographs, artwork, personal accounts, and memorial spaces at your own pace. Guided tours, food, drinks, and transportation are not included.
“Seeing Hitler's car, the battle-damaged equipment, and the warehouse full of tanks were all very memorable”
Board Ottawa Palapa Tours at 1 Canal Lane for a 90-minute cruise along the Ottawa River. A certified captain handles the boat while you enjoy the cashless bar, snacks, Bluetooth music, karaoke, and views toward Parliament Hill. Children are welcome with life jackets, but the boat is not suited to people with mobility impairments.
“Unique and fun way to show friends visiting from out of town the gems of Ottawa!”
Meet your English- or French-speaking guide at the Château Laurier concierge desk for a 75-minute walk through the hotel’s lobby, corridors, ballrooms, and lesser-seen spaces. Guides such as Hannah, Emily, and Zak bring the building’s stories to life, though access can vary on busy days.
“Awesome! The tour guide was great, very informative and answered all the questions put to her. We were staying in the hotel so transportation wasn't an issue. The hotel is beautiful and history is always so fascinating. Meeting Stewart, the dog ambassador was an added treat!”
Pick a mountain, a shoreline or a table.
