Ottawa in 2 days

Planning a trip to Ottawa? Our experienced travel editors break down the town so you can make the most of your stay. Let these itineraries be your guide, whether you're here for a weekend or a whole week.

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Day 1
1 Start on Parliament Hill with a guided tour of the Centre Block.
2 Visit the National Gallery of Canada. Don’t miss the large collection of paintings by the Group of Seven.
3 For lunch, walk five minutes and try the Tex-Mex inspired dishes at Blue Cactus Bar & Grill, in ByWard Market.
4 Spend the afternoon browsing the quirky clothing and food boutiques in the ByWard Market Building, or walk north 10 minutes and explore the 180 stores and services at Rideau Centre.
5 Borrow a bike from Rent-a-Bike and cycle along the Rideau Canal.
6 For dinner, sample tapas-style small plates at Town, then laugh along with the standup comics at Yuk Yuk’s.

Day 2
1 Spend the morning exploring the country’s history at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
2 Drive north along Highway 5 to exit 12 for the village of Chelsea.
3 Follow the signs to Le Nordik, a Scandinavian-style spa where you can also have lunch (book the whole visit at least a week in advance).
4 Visit the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Chelsea to get a map and ideas for exploring nearby Gatineau Park.
5 For dinner, enjoy fine French fare at L’Orée du Bois.