Ottawa is a city that is often overlooked by travellers visiting Canada, but it actually has a lot to offer. It is a bustling, diverse and walkable city with all of the top attractions located in the downtown core.
It’s also home to one of the country’s oldest year-round farmers’ markets. This is a great place to try the local cuisine.
Notre Dame Basilica
The Roman Catholic cathedral of Ottawa is one of the top must-see attractions in the Canadian capital. Located on Sussex Drive in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, the cathedral is a place of worship and has been an important part of the community for over 150 years.
Notre Dame Basilica features many architectural and artistic highlights. These include ribbed vaults, intricately carved sculptures of apostles, saints and prophets, and wooden altars decorated with gold leaf and gems.
The church was designed by architect Charles O’Donnell. He was inspired by the Gothic Revival style of architecture and aspired to create an impressive building that would be the symbol of Ottawa’s Catholic heritage.
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that weaves through Ottawa’s historic downtown core. It is a scenic waterway that can be explored on land, by boat or through skating along its ice.
This 202 km waterway is built through natural and artificial waterways, with 33 locks between the Ottawa River and Upper Rideau Lake, for a total elevation change of 83 metres. It connects the cities of Ottawa and Kingston, and is an important recreational and commercial waterway in eastern Ontario.
The Rideau Canal is a great place to learn about the history of Canada and the people who made it possible. You can learn about the challenges faced by the construction team, and how they survived a number of health crises, as well as see some of the beautiful lock stations and fortified lockmaster’s houses.
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is Canada's bilingual, multidisciplinary home for the performing arts. It presents, creates and co-produces a variety of orchestral, dance, English, French and Indigenous theatre shows, and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists.
The centre is home to a number of departments, including Music, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Community Programming, Special Events, Variety and Festivals. These departments perform and collaborate with artists from across Canada to produce artistically adventurous shows that engage the imagination.
The centre is currently in a major rejuvenation by Diamond Schmitt Architects, transforming the building from its concrete back to Ottawa's urban fabric and offering new spaces for performance, presentation and audience engagement. The revamp includes a series of public wings that enwrap the NAC, opening it to the city and offering dramatic views of the Rideau Canal, Confederation Square and Parliament Hill.
The Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in the judicial system of Canada and is responsible for hearing appeals where there is significant ambiguity over the meaning of laws or where important constitutional questions arise. It also gives advice to federal and provincial governments on their interpretation of the Constitution, their powers and duties under the Charter and their legislation.
The Supreme Court of Canada is made up of nine judges, including the Chief Justice of Canada. They are appointed by the Governor in Council, and must be either a judge of a superior court or a member of at least ten years’ standing of the bar of a province or territory.
Festivals
Festivals and events are a huge part of Ottawa life, and the city hosts a variety of them each year. Whether you’re looking for world-renowned music concerts or something more quirky, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
From big names like Diplo, Martin Garrix and Ben Gold to smaller local music acts, Ottawa is a hub of musical activity during the summer months. The city also celebrates a number of cultural and artistic festivals throughout the year, such as National Wildlife Week in April or Canada’s Tulip Festival in May.
