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It's Time to Take an Ottawa City Tour!

Our tours of Ottawa and Gatineau are the most thorough, entertaining, and relaxing in the National Capital Region. Try an Ottawa city tour to find out for yourself!

Amphibus Tour

This one hour sightseeing tour of Ottawa takes you to see the most important sites in the city on land while also being able to enjoy a beautiful scenic cruise on the Ottawa river! The view from the water is incredible. In addition, our trained guides will provide you with entertaining and informative commentary in both French and English. Join us for a splash to experience this unique moment with us, while also enjoying a relaxing cruise on the river. Come try this Ottawa city tour for an exciting adventure!

• Start times: 10:00am to 7:00pm (5:00pm spring and fall).
• Frequency: hourly, start times may vary.
• Full tour length: 1 hour.
• Ticket valid for one tour.
• Languages: Live guide in French and English.
• Start/End location: 44 Sparks St, K1P 5K6.

One Day Pass: Hop on and Hop Off

Enjoy a bilingual guided city tour of the Ottawa-Gatineau region on our open top double decker buses. This informative, entertaining, and relaxing tour of the Nation’s Capital is a must do if you are looking to see the entire city. The tour has  a live guide on board along with  multilingual audio to provide an instructive and pleasant experience. The 1 Day pass allows you to hop on and hop off at the most important sites in the city such as museums, historic sites, and popular attractions for 24 hours .

• Start times: 10:00am to 4:00pm.
• Frequency: Varies from hourly to every 30 minutes.
• Full tour length: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• 1 day pass: Good for 24 hours after first use, can continuously hop on and hop off.
• Languages: Live guide in French and English, audio in German, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese,  and Japanese.
• Start/End location: 44 Sparks street, K1P 5K6

Double Decker and Amphibus Combo

Why decide between our Double Decker and Amphibus tour when you can do both? These tours have different routes and should be paired together to have a complete experience. Buy the Amphibus tour and get the double decker 25% off!   The tours can be done the same day or over two days. You can combine the Amphibus tour with the Double Decker 1 day or 2 day pass depending on your needs. Complete your visit to Ottawa by doing these two awesome activities.

Get 25% off the double decker when you try both!

View individual items to get details on each.

Two Day Pass: Hop on and Hop Off

Just like the one day pass, the two day pass allows you to hop on and hop off at museums, historic sites, and attractions but for twice as long! We recommend this 48 hour pass if you wish to get off at two stops or more. This will make your trip much more relaxed and efficient as you will have enough time to enjoy the sites for as long as you desire. The second day is  50% off , so don’t miss the chance to see all the sites you have planned to visit! Hop on with us and enjoy the best value service we have.

• Frequency: Every 30 minutes in peak summer months, hourly otherwise.
• 2 day pass: Valid for 48 hours after first use, can continuously hop on and hop off.
• Languages: Live guide in French and English, audio in German, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese.
• Starting/Ending location: 44 Sparks street, K1P 5K6

Classic City Tour

Our Double Decker tour doesn’t need to be used in a hop on and hop off fashion, it is also a fantastic experience on its own. This one hour and a half sightseeing tour of Ottawa and Gatineau provides an informative, relaxing, and entertaining way to see all of the most interesting sites in the National Capital region. This is the perfect tour for travelers who would like to see as much as possible within a limited amount of time.

• Languages: Live Guide in French and English, audio in German, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese.

Winter Tours - Nov 1st to April 30th

Are you in Ottawa during the cold months? Our new winter tours are the only vehicles available from November 1st until April 30th. Enjoy a beautifully guided tour during the winter months to see how beautiful Ottawa can while it is covered in snow. From the ByWard Market, the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, to Museums, and much more; learn about all the sights during this tour in order to plan your days in Ottawa.

• Starting Location:  74 George Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5W1
• Start Time:  Start times can vary. View the available times during the booking process.
• Pass Valid:   Hop on and Hop off or classic tours are available.
• Tour Length:  1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Languages:  Live guide in French and English 

ADD ONS! MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS

Lady Dive has partnered with some local attractions and museums in order to get discounts for our passengers! Our partnerships allow you to enjoy discounted admissions when you combine our tours with these exciting activities! 

Canadian Museum of History

“The Canadian Museum of History welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year making it the country’s most-visited museum. With roots stretching back to 1856, it is one of Canada’s oldest public institutions and a respected centre of museological excellence, sharing its expertise in history, archaeology, ethnology and cultural studies.  “

From the Canadian Museum of History website.

Speak to our kiosk attendants on site for discount coupons! 

The Canadian War Museum

“The Museum’s collections are among the finest military holdings in the world, including rare vehicles, artillery, uniforms, medals, personal memoirs and 14,000 works in the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. In total, the collection comprises more than 3 million artifacts, specimens, works of art, written documents and sound and visual recordings.”

From the Canadian War Museum website.

The National Gallery of Canada

“Today, the National Gallery of Canada is one of the world’s most respected art institutions, revered for its scholarship, applauded for its ability to engage audiences of all ages and all levels of artistic knowledge, and renowned for its exceptional collection of approximately 65,000 works of art. ”

From the National Gallery of Canada’s website

Canadian Museums of Nature

“There’s something at the Nature Museum for everyone: fossils and dinosaurs, mammals, birds, water, Earth. It’s worth a visit for the architecture alone! The museum is a massive 100-year-old heritage building fondly known as “the castle.” It’s more than just a landmark; it’s a piece of our collective history. Definitely worth a visit.” 

From the Canadian Museum of Nature website.

The Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa

“The Royal Canadian Mint produces hand-crafted collector and commemorative coins, gold bullion coins, medals and medallions.  The Mint’s gold refining and advanced engineering operations are also located here in Ottawa. “(….)”  take a guided tour to learn more about the exacting skill that goes into precision coin design.”

From the Royal Canadian Mint’s website.

Cessna Plane Ride in Ottawa

Take a 15 minute tour on a Cessna Plane over the city of Ottawa to enjoy the great view! Our hop on and hop off double decker buses stop at the Space and Aviation museum, next to the runway! 

“Fun for all age groups, a great way to enjoy the views of Parliament and downtown Ottawa from above!”

From the Ottawa Biplane Adventure website.

Add on to any of your tours during the checkout process at a discounted rate!

Zip Line - Ottawa Interzip

Try the new Ottawa zipline for an exciting adventure. Zip over the Ottawa River to fly from Ottawa to Gatineau. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult in order to sign the waiver. Minimum weight is 70lbs and maximum weight is 250lbs.

“Experience the incomparable sensation to fly over the border between Ontario and Quebec.!”

From the Interzip website.

Speak to our kiosk attendants for information!

Ottawa Yachts - Luxury Experience

Looking for a fancy experience? Try One of these Yacht tours where food and beverages are often included! “From the open-air deck of these luxury yachts, you’ll see Ottawa’s riverside landmarks such as the Chateau Laurier , the Rideau Canal Locks, the  Parliament Buildings , and Rideau Falls.” Enjoy the beautiful view from these luxury boats.

Taken from Ottawa Yachts Website.

The Best Way to Visit Ottawa and The National Capital Region

If you are looking for a perfect holiday experience with memories to cherish you are at the right place. Let’s plan a beautiful visit of Ottawa and Gatineau with Gray Line Ottawa.

Our Winter Season Tours!

From November 1st until April 30th, come try our winter tour vintage bus edition. These stylish vehicles will keep you warm while you visit the city for a sightseeing experience. Hop on and off at various sites without the worry of transportation during our coldest months.

Surrounded by scenic beauty and memorable tourist attractions, we make it convenient for you to visit all the beautiful places with our in-house guide. We arrange transport to all the main sites in Ottawa for a stress-free vacation.

Experience the Life of Ottawa

We will help you experience Ottawa life in its true sense. From living among the residents to visiting authentic sites you are sure to walk home with memories and wonderful moments.

Gray Line Ottawa: Our Tours

If you are looking for a relaxing and exciting experience altogether, we offer it all under one "roof".

Hop on/Hop Off Ottawa

Experience the joy of relaxing on the top deck of our bus that gives you a nice picturesque view. With this pass, you are able to get on and off at any of our 15 stops scattered throughout Ottawa and Gatineau. Our live bilingual guides will assure a smooth trip all throughout your visit. We also offer an audio guide for 8 additional languages.

Classic Ottawa City Tour

Sit back and enjoy a relaxing tour of the National Capital Region on our open roof double decker! Listen to the fascinating stories of our live bilingual guide who will assure a pleasurable visit of our city. For those who don't speak English or French, we offer headsets in order to listen to our tour in 8 additional languages.

Our add-ons

Gray Line Ottawa also offers discounted tickets to various attractions in Ottawa to help enhance your journey in our beautiful city.

Ottawa Duck Tours

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Best of Ottawa Small Group Tour with River Cruise

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Transport in one of our complimentary vehicles
• Entry/Admission - Parliament Hill and Buildings
• Entry/Admission - Rideau Canal National Historic Site
• Food & Drink
• Departure Point: Centrally located Ottawa hotels *Contact for meeting location if you are not staying in the downtown area *Order of activities may occur in a different order
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Pushchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Ottawa River cruise is a seasonal attraction, when the cruise is not operating it will be replaced with a Canadian War Museum of History tour
• Most travellers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Parliament Hill and Buildings
• Supreme Court of Canada / Cour Suprême Du Canada
• Notre-Dame Basilica

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Ottawa Stop: 2 hours See details Pass by Rockcliffe Park Pavillion Notre-Dame Basilica Supreme Court of Canada / Cour Supreme Du Canada
• 2 Parliament Hill and Buildings Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Rideau Canal National Historic Site Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• clairesM7006PR 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Nice tour of Ottawa We were the only people on the tour. Our guide was young but very personable. He was learning the business so didn’t have all the extra history and information that experienced guides would have. President Zelenskyy was in parliament on our tour date so it was exciting to see the motorcade (twice actually) but it meant the Parliament grounds were closed. We enjoyed the walking tour but really enjoyed the river cruise. That guide was young, vibrant, knowledgeable and spoke everything in French and English. Overall the combination was good but not worth the per person price (plus tip) Read more Written October 7, 2023
• gilllee7947 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Short walk and cruise Our guide was informative, enthusiastic and well versed on the area. Cruise part was very relaxing after the walk and the guide there was very good. Read more Written October 4, 2023
• joanu500 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointing walking tour, lovely boat tour. Our walking guide met us at the appointed time and place and was cheerful We were, however, very disappointed that our guide did not seem to have an agenda, and chose to engage in political discussions, which we felt were inappropriate and at times disrespectful, putting participants in an awkward position. The guide could have given us more information about many local public art installations and buildings. The scenic River cruise was lovely; the on board guide spoke well in the two official languages, and chose to be respectful of all elected and appointed officials, Read more Written September 13, 2023
• Climber50773374944 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Ottawa walking and boat ride tour The walk around tour was okay, just a central location and the boat ride was basic. The whole experience was not as eventful as I expected, hence overpriced. Read more Written August 23, 2023
• GrandTour07960870577 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Leave the itinerary to the experts so you can simply enjoy and learn about Ottawa better I did not originally plan to tour around Ottawa for I was here to attend on something in the morning. Thus, this night tour perfectly fitted my tight schedule; I really think it was a very good decision. I did not have a vehicle to begin with and this tour included being picked up and dropped off on my accommodation. So I honestly felt safe compared to walking around alone at night. It was a small group, so I instantly met new friends. Moreover, our tour guide, Katherine, did a great job in showing us around the city and discussing the significance of each spot. This helped me decide better on which places I would've really wanted to visit on my next/last day in the city. She also gave us a quick drive to Quebec and showed us a spot to see the beauty of Ottawa City at night. Moreover, I appreciated and comfortably enjoyed watching the Parliament light show since Katherine brought us foldable chairs and placed them in a very good spot; it was an educational moment for me. The tour also included a boat ride which made this booking more worthy. Eladie ensured it was fun and that we would appreciate and understand the establishments and places that can be seen around the river tour. She's very knowledgeable with a good sense of humor. I must say, it was the perfect way to get a picture of the famous Rideau Falls. Overall, for someone who did not have enough time to plan a clear itinerary for an Ottawa trip, this booking saved me from a lot of hassle and eventually made me appreciate and enjoy the city of Ottawa. Read more Written August 1, 2023
• lisafQ356PI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience! Would highly recommend! It was a fantastic family activity! Wonderful photo opportunities. We loved it! Our tour guide, Tyler, was amazing. He was very polite, courteous, knowledgeable and punctual. He made our evening very relaxing and a great experience. Our tour guide on the boat, Pascale, was amazing too! She was fluent in both English and French, knowledgeable and made our boat tour entertaining. She took the time to ask guests one on one if there were any questions. We could not have asked for better guides. Thank you Tyler and Pascale!! Read more Written August 1, 2023
• 401hollyh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The perfect evening in Ottawa Spectacular tour which ended of being private, as the first of two couples was a no show, and the second couple thought they were booking a bar crawl - we had a wonderful time on the river cruise - very informative and the guide there did an awesome job of going between French and English - beautiful views and relaxing! We then joined the tour guide for a driving tour that was so much fun and had her showing us the best views of the city ! Afterwards , we were treated to the light show at parliament that was a lovely show Read more Written July 25, 2023
• veshannah 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great way to discover the city of Ottawa I REALLY enjoyed my Ottawa walking tour. It was a group tour but I was the only person who showed up and instead of canceling it they made it a private tour which was awesome. I was able to do some things I probably couldn't have done with a group and I was able to ask more questions and have a better conversation with my tour guide concerning the city of Ottawa and Canada as a whole. I thought my tour guide Andrew was very knowledgeable and upbeat, he made the tour interesting and a lot of fun. I highly recommend this tour. I didn't expect much from Ottawa but left wanting to return and experience more. The boat tour was also a great addition to this tour. I felt like it added tremendously to the allure of the city. Read more Written July 20, 2023
• lorinas262 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wow! Had a wonderful time. The boat tour was cancelled because of the fireworks but I was reimbursed for the amount. I did get to see the fireworks from the bridge and it was amazing. The show on Parliament hill was the highlight. Fantastic night!!! Read more Written August 31, 2019
• ninag884 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Epic night tour Wow we had such a great guide in JASON‼️ Thank you for a fabulous day Pick up at our hotel...boat tour...recommended a fabulous place to eat and then took us to the finale fire works and then the light show on the hill Jason brought chairs for our comfort and drove us back to our hotel Communication booking this tour was excellent Read more Written August 24, 2019
• GlobeTrotting250386 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles AWESOME TOUR Guide was amazing and very knowledgeable on the area! The river tour was picture perfect! Tour was Awesome!!! Read more Written July 17, 2019
• X1686BKrobertj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great way to see Ottawa Picked this tour to get get an overview of Ottawa, It sounded like a very nice way to see the sights. It certainly was. Our guide Jason picked us up at our downtown hotel and let us off at the Byward market, Jason did a great job teaching, showing and entertaining us.He had us laughing most of the way. The trip included stops at the Canadian Mint, Notre Dame Basilica and a boat trip on the Ottawa river. We met another couple, who we clicked with immediately, It was a great trip, made even better by our guide and trip companions. Read more Written July 4, 2019
• tenberg 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Ottawa We really enjoyed the personal tour experience. The guides were very informative and friendly. We got more than we expected. I particularly enjoyed The Mint and The West Block. Read more Written May 11, 2019
• carissalc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best way to see Ottawa! Had the most wonderful day with our tour guide Carwyn who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The day tour was very well set out and we had plenty of time to see everything. This was my second tour with SeeSight and I would highly recommend it to anyone! 10/10!! Read more Written December 26, 2018
• kurt f 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Tour Our tour person Carwyn was a very nice young lad, he was very informative and had a great sense of humor. You can somwhat customize your tour with this service so that is another plus as well. It is a good way to see the city attractions. Read more Written September 16, 2018

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Best of Ottawa Small Group Tour with River Cruise provided by See Sight Tours of Ottawa

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Experience the thrills of Ottawa and Gatineau from both land and water on an amphibious vehicle tour of Canadas capital city. Board an amphibus to see Ottawas picturesque sites, in...

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About ottawa Duck Tours

Explore the best Duck tours in Ottawa. Offering a delightful experience, these tours are all you need to enjoy your visit to the fullest.

Ottawa Small Group Night Tour with River Cruise + Light Show

• Local Tour guide - fully narrated tour experience
• Small group tour (max 6 guests)
• Complimentary hotel pick up and drop off in Downtown Ottawa
• Luxury Transportation in air-conditioned van
• All attraction admission fees included
• Skip the ticket line entry - avoid large crowds and wait times
• Treat your senses to the Parliament Light Show
• Relax on an Ottawa River Cruise
• Enjoy a narrated drive passing multiple points of interest
• Entry/Admission - Rideau Canal National Historic Site
• Guaranteed to skip the lines
• We pick up anywhere in downtown Ottawa.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill is seasonal and typically starts in July, exact dates may vary
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Most travelers can participate
• Wheelchair must be able to be folded and fit in back of van, guests will need to be able to get into van
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Parliament Hill and Buildings

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Rideau Canal National Historic Site Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 2 Ottawa Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 3 Parliament Hill and Buildings Stop: 60 minutes See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Connector61172152319 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Very disappointing tour and certainly not recommended The tour was badly organised and the itinerary description was highly misleading and out-dated. The guide Angela was very lack of experience and knowledge giving inaccurate information about the sites we visited. or didn’t know much about the question we asked, one example that she told us World War one was during 1812-1814. She kept mentioning the importance of meeting at pick up place on time, however she arrived late and kept us waiting. The trip was advised by the tour company as 3 key places to visits, the parliament building admission is included. However, nothing was booked for us and when we called the company, they stated the admission should not be included and blamed TripAdvisor giving false information on the website instead, very confusing who actually run the tour and manage their company. The Rideau canal cruise was actually 1.5 hours and advertised as 60 minutes, very mundane and not good value for money. The total time of the tour was advised as 4 hours and finished within 3.5 hours including the time of my complaint call 20 mins. When we walked pass the rideau canal promenade the guide didn’t even mention the key tour site, we had to come back ourselves to revisit, otherwise we would have completely missed that out. Really disappointed and therefore I asked for a full refund. Read more Written May 25, 2024
• ThomasM71053 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Not Exactly as Advertised This tour was not totally as advertised. We were not picked up in a van but in a compact Toyota Corolla, a bit snug for the four of us. Our tour guide was pleasant and well-meaning, but she had only been on the job for a week and was lacking in detailed knowledge of Ottawa's history. We don't blame our guide for lacking this knowledge, we blame the tour operator for inadequately preparing her. The Rideau boat cruise at the end of the tour was pleasant and the guide on the boat was quite knowledgable and entertaining. Given the price of the tour, we expected a better vehicle and a better-trained guide. Read more Written May 20, 2024
• J9342HYgeorgem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful ! The tour was wonderful. Lots of detail and sites to see both on land and water. The boat trip on the Rideau Canal was excellent. Katherine was an engaging and charming tour guide. Read more Written November 13, 2023
• SandraC59 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Non existent The visit to war memorial and cruise were cancelled. I was offered a refund if I cancelled, still haven’t heard from company. If there was a no star option that is what I would score this tour as. Totally disappointing and to only be informed virtually 24 hrs before made it hard to arrange something else! Read more Written October 25, 2023
• clairesM7006PR 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Nice tour of Ottawa We were the only people on the tour. Our guide was young but very personable. He was learning the business so didn’t have all the extra history and information that experienced guides would have. President Zelenskyy was in parliament on our tour date so it was exciting to see the motorcade (twice actually) but it meant the Parliament grounds were closed. We enjoyed the walking tour but really enjoyed the river cruise. That guide was young, vibrant, knowledgeable and spoke everything in French and English. Overall the combination was good but not worth the per person price (plus tip) Read more Written October 7, 2023
• 774gerryn 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome The tour was spectacular. Tyler was awesome and very knowledgeable. I enjoyed the walking part the most, but all of it was great. Read more Written October 6, 2023
• williampW328HL 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Very good but not great Good overview of government. Didn’t know much about commerce and industry. Was enthusiastic and helpful. Read more Written October 5, 2023
• gilllee7947 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Short walk and cruise Our guide was informative, enthusiastic and well versed on the area. Cruise part was very relaxing after the walk and the guide there was very good. Read more Written October 4, 2023
• francisbR7267QN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth doing Excellent guide knew Ottawa local knowledge. Showed us parts of Ottawa we would never have seen on our own Read more Written September 27, 2023
• mckeowndj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour of Ottawa Great tour! Enjoyed the small group and our Guide was fantastic! It was a good combination with tour in the van, walking around Parliament hill and then the boat ride. Read more Written September 25, 2023
• joanu500 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointing walking tour, lovely boat tour. Our walking guide met us at the appointed time and place and was cheerful We were, however, very disappointed that our guide did not seem to have an agenda, and chose to engage in political discussions, which we felt were inappropriate and at times disrespectful, putting participants in an awkward position. The guide could have given us more information about many local public art installations and buildings. The scenic River cruise was lovely; the on board guide spoke well in the two official languages, and chose to be respectful of all elected and appointed officials, Read more Written September 13, 2023
• D1462BUsusanb 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don't waste your money! This trip was awful. Advertised as 5-6 hours . Was done in under 4 and cost us $250 USD for 2 people. Tour guide rushed from site to site and was pointing out things as we flew by them - my husband and another couple were seated in the back of a 6 seater van (so that they could hear nothing the driver was saying) and he told me after that the other couple asked him if we'd see Notre Dame Basilica - my husband told them we'd passed it and that when the tour guide sped past a few minutes earlier there was a bus blocking the view . I understand that we had to catch the boat, but that's still no excuse - the timing of the tour should have allowed for that. He had only been doing it about a year and knew nothing about Ottawa or Canadian history other than a few things he'd been told. There were facts he easily could have Googled so he could talk about them during the tour but he hadn't. I realize that a tour is only as good as the guide and in our case it was a total waste of money. On top of that, we only got out of the van 3 times for some view at lookouts - don't actually stop at any of the famous places. I reached out to See Sight Tours after the tour to express my disappointment and allow them to discuss it, but received no reply. Save your money. I'm sure there are much better ways to see Ottawa and learn more about the history. Read more Written September 10, 2023
• Lyudmyla V 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Avoid crowds and take this small group tour! We came out to Ottawa to see Peter Gabriel in concert. Having a few hours before the event, taking a city tour seemed to be a great idea. And this tour did not disappoint. Catherine was super fun and knowledgeable guide. We were extremely happy to spend a few hours with her and learn some facts about our capital city. Read more Written September 9, 2023
• SpokanETriPs2021 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointing City Tour, Great Canal Tour The quality of a tour depends upon the tour guide. This tour was very bad because the guide just moved to Canada a year ago. He knew little or nothing about Canadian history. It was basically a drive-by, here is a building, here is another building. A photo shoot. No history, or explanation of events. The canal tour was great, because there was a different guide on the canal. Save your money and time, take a separate city and canal tour. Read more Written September 7, 2023
• GVtravelers 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles You won’t be disappointed with this one! We took this tour today and were thrilled that the weather cooperated, chilly enough for a jacket on the boat but lovely and sunny by the end. Katherine was our passionate, knowledgeable and proud Canadian guide. Her presentation was so perfect. We enjoyed this day immensely. Read more Written August 31, 2023

More to explore in Ottawa

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Ottawa Small Group Night Tour with River Cruise + Light Show provided by See Sight Tours of Ottawa

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Exploring one of canada’s latest, greatest urban escapes.

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Whitewater kayaking or rafting on the Ottawa River is a totally unique way to discover Canada's ... [+] national capital. (Photo by David E. Klutho)

Between Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City, Canada boasts four amazing urban areas that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. Now it’s time to add a fifth — Ottawa .

That may seem like an odd choice. Without doubt, it’s a bastion of bureaucrats, politicians and government agencies. Normally the recipe for a bland or boring visitor experience.

Yet Ottawa bucks the trend with a variety of cultural attractions and outdoor adventure experiences, plus a surprisingly good culinary scene — and maybe you can blame the politicians for this last one — great drinking establishments.

Located around halfway between Toronto and Montreal, Canada’s national capital sprawls along the south side of the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario , and as such lies on the cusp of both English and French speaking Canada.

Yet Ottawa never would have made the leap from backwoods outpost to big city if it wasn’t for widespread paranoia that the Americans wanted to make British Canada part of their new United States.

Fearing a Yankee invasion of the St. Lawrence River valley, the Canadians created the Rideau Canal as a watery bypass in case of war. Located at the confluence of the canal and the Ottawa River, it wasn’t long before Bytown (as it was called then) began to boom.

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Trump lashes out at robert de niro after actor calls him a ‘tyrant’ outside courthouse, trump trial prosecutor ends closing argument after nearly 5 hours jury instructions set for wednesday.

When her Canadian subjects couldn’t decide on a national government location, Queen Victoria intervened and named Ottawa as the capital in 1857.

Yet it’s only recently — thanks to a bevy of new experiences and attractions — that Ottawa has burst onto the global tourism scene.

Navigating the Rideau Canal between Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

Outdoor Adventure in an Urban Setting

Ottawa makes great use of its riverside location with a range of ways to work up a sweat.

One of the most thrilling is Interzip , a 1,200-foot-long double zipline that whisks riders 120 feet above the Ottawa River at a speed of around 25 miles per hour.

Farther upstream, Wilderness Tours offers guided whitewater trips in rafts, kayaks and sportyak flexible one-person dinghies on the Ottawa River. The aquatic adventures range from low to extreme intensity, and there’s also flatwater tubing for those who prefer it slow and easy.

One of the coolest ways to explore Ottawa is scooting around town on a muscle-powered or electric bike. Escape Bicycle Tours on the Sparks Street pedestrian mall rents various types of bikes and scooters, and offers guided cycling tours that include Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall park, and two bridge crossings over the Ottawa River.

Running right through the middle of the city, the historic Rideau Canal provides plenty of scope for outdoor fun. The Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway , a leafy hiking and biking trail, stretches five miles between the Senate Building and Prince of Wales Falls.

Or hire a cabin cruiser at Le Boat on Dow’s Lake for overnight voyages down the Rideau Canal from Ottawa into the Ontario wilderness.

T-Rex ambush in the dinosaur gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Indoor Art and Adventures

Located in the castle-like Victoria Memorial Building, the Canadian Museum of Nature offers a cutting-edge glimpse of the nation’s incredibly diverse flora, fauna and geology. With many hands-on exhibits and a dinosaur gallery with more than 200 specimens, the museum is ideal for families with children.

Over on the art side, the National Gallery of Canada runs all the way from the Renaissance and Baroque through Impressionism 20 th -century Canadian and American painters and sculptors. Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the gallery is an artwork all on its own. And don’t forget to snap a selfie with Maman , the giant metal and marble spider by artist Louise Bourgeois out front.

Duck into the Canadian Senate and House of Commons on Parliament Hill on short, guided tours, or a self-guided (free) immersive experience that includes a 360° multimedia show. Even if you don’t go inside, scan the lofty Peace Tower for stone gargoyles and grotesque human figures.

Ottawa’s most unusual indoor attraction is on the outskirts of the city and underground — Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum . Between 1961 when it was completed and 1994 when it was decommissioned, the massive, four-story concrete bunker was a fallout shelter where the Canadian government would take refuge in case of a nuclear attack. One-hour guided tours cover the bunker’s history and highlights.

Colorful cocktails at Stolen Goods.

Ottawa Eats and Sleeps

Sure you can get poutine, butter tarts and salmon steak. But the city’s culinary scene has grown increasingly diverse, restaurants that focus on various global cuisines or modern Canadian cooking.

One of the hottest tables in town is Riviera on Sparks Street. The menu offers modern takes on Canadian favorites like smoked duck breast, Alberta sirloin steak, steelhead trout and Newfoundland codfish and mussels in a revitalized Art Deco interior that was once a bank.

Slated to open later this year, Antheia restaurant is the latest creation from chef and owner Briana Kim, who won top prize at the 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship with her innovative takes on vegetarian and vegan foods.

Ethnic eats step into the limelight in the Byward Market neighborhood, which includes the historic redbrick market pavilion (built in the 1920s) and surrounding streets. The selection ranges from dim sum and Southeast Asian street food at Sidedoor and classic Canadian-style shawarma at Three Brothers to Indian cuisine at Shafali Bazaar and tasty leaves from around the planet at Teastore .

Ottawa’s best new bar is Stolen Goods , a tiny cocktail lounge on Sparks Street with a racoon mascot, delicious seafood snacks and offbeat drinks like the Three Brothers vegan gimlet and the Jungle Adventures tropical cocktail with Fruit Loops foam.

Unveiled in 1912 as one of Canada’s elegant railway hotels, the Fairmont Château Laurier

remains the iconic place to overnight in Ottawa. Located beside Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, it affords an ideal base to explore the city by foot or bike.

If modern designer-savvy is more your style, book a room with a view at the high-rise Le Germain Hotel , which is right beside the Ottawa Art Gallery and walking distance to Byward Market.

Or go totally homey at the Auberge King Edward Bed & Breakfast , in a 1902 Victorian manse between Ottawa University and Byward Market.

Halibut with clams and fava beans at Riviera restaurant.

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