Ottawa, ON

Ottawa rewards visitors who pay attention. Catching a FlixBus to Ottawa puts you at the doorstep of a capital city that balances grand federal architecture with genuinely walkable neighbourhoods, world-class museums, and a waterway that doubles as the world's largest skating rink in winter. History, nature, food — there are so many things to do in Ottawa that a single trip rarely feels like enough.

Museums

Canadian War Museum traces Canada's military history from pre-Confederation conflicts to modern peacekeeping missions, and the building itself is part of the experience. Its angular, turf-roofed structure was designed to evoke a battlefield landscape, and inside, the Memorial Hall holds a single beam of sunlight that falls on the headstone of Canada's Unknown Soldier every November 11 at 11 a.m. Most visitors stop cold when they learn that detail.

Canadian Museum of History sits just across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, and is worth the short trip over the bridge. The curved sandstone facade mimics the shapes carved by glaciers, and inside you'll find the Grand Hall, one of the largest collections of totem poles displayed indoors anywhere in the world. The museum's Canada Hall walks you through 1,000 years of the country's social history in a way that feels more like wandering through a living space than reading a textbook.

Canadian Museum of Nature occupies a century-old stone building near Centretown and covers everything from dinosaur fossils to Arctic ecosystems. The renovated Victorian building is a pleasure to move through, and the bird gallery alone — with its floor-to-ceiling specimens and soundscapes — makes the visit worthwhile even if natural history isn't usually your thing.

Natural spaces

Rideau Canal National Historic Site stretches 202 km from Ottawa down to Kingston, but the section winding through the capital is where most visitors spend their time. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the canal was completed in 1832 and still operates with its original hand-operated locks. In summer you can kayak or take a boat tour. In winter, when the canal freezes, it becomes an 8 km skating path running straight through the city.

Gatineau Park covers roughly 361 km² of forest, lakes, and escarpment just north of the Ottawa River, making it one of the most accessible wilderness areas attached to any capital city in the world. In summer, the Champlain Lookout offers a sweeping view over the Ottawa Valley, and dozens of trails range from easy lakeside walks to serious ridge hikes. In winter, over 200 km of cross-country ski trails open up across the park.

Cultural highlights

National Gallery of Canada holds the country's most significant art collection under a striking glass-and-granite structure designed by Moshe Safdie. The permanent collection spans Indigenous art, European masters, and contemporary Canadian work, but the Great Hall — a soaring glass corridor overlooking Parliament Hill — is reason enough to visit even before you look at a single painting.

Historic sites

Parliament Hill is the obvious starting point for any Ottawa visit, and it earns that status. The Gothic Revival buildings sit on a bluff above the Ottawa River, and free guided tours of the Centre Block (currently under renovation) give you access to spaces most visitors never see. The Eternal Flame on the front lawn and the changing of the guard ceremony on summer mornings are both worth timing your visit around.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica stands a short walk from the Rideau Canal and is the oldest surviving church in Ottawa, with construction beginning in 1839. The interior is particularly striking. Hand-carved wooden statues line the nave, and the painted ceiling in deep blue and gold creates an atmosphere that feels genuinely removed from the city outside.

Markets and architecture

ByWard Market is Ottawa's oldest and liveliest public market, operating since 1826 in the neighbourhood east of Parliament Hill. The outdoor stalls sell local produce, maple products, and flowers from spring through autumn, while the surrounding streets are packed with independent restaurants, bakeries, and bars that keep the area busy well into the evening. It's a practical place to eat and a good spot to get a feel for the city at street level.

Château Laurier (Fairmont) looms over the eastern end of Parliament Hill like a French château that somehow ended up in Ontario. Built in 1912 and connected to Ottawa's Union Station by an underground passage, the castle-like hotel is a landmark even if you're not staying there. The lobby and public areas are open to visitors, and the building's copper-roofed turrets make it one of the most photographed structures in the city.

Pack your itinerary, grab a seat on the Ottawa bus, and let the capital surprise you. There's far more here than a single visit can cover.

Looking for bus tickets from or to Ottawa?

Look no further, we’ve got all the details you need to plan your bus trip from or to Ottawa! There are 7 bus stops in Ottawa.You can catch the FlixBus at Kanata (Terry Fox), Ottawa (Bayshore), Ottawa (Fallowfield), Ottawa (Gloucester Centre), Ottawa (St. Laurent), Ottawa (VIA Rail), Ottawa (Waller St). Departing from or traveling to Ottawa can cost as little as 6,48 €. You have various options to organize your bus trip as Ottawa is connected to 32 destinations with FlixBus. When you travel with FlixBus you're guaranteed a comfortable seat and complimentary access to our Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we take you to your destination!