What to Do in Ottawa in 5 Days? Travel Guide and Tips

Day 1 | Morning

National Gallery of Canada

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Wed,Fri-Sun,10:00am-6:00pm;Open on Thu,10:00am-8:00pm

Ticket Price: 20 USD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4, Canada

Located in downtown Ottawa, the National Museum of Canadian Art is a historic art museum. The museum houses the most valuable works of art from Canada and Europe. Not only that, in addition to static paintings and artworks, there are also dynamic performances in the museum. For example, piano performance, orchestral performance, vocalist singing performance, etc., these are also a kind of art. There is also a library in the museum, so that tourists can consult some information about the art collection.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Canadian War Museum nearby is the top choice before you leave National Gallery of Canada and hit the road.

Canadian War Museum

Opening Hours: Open on Wed,Fri-Sun,10:00am-4:00pm;Open on Thu,10:00am-8:00pm;Closed on Mon-Tue

Ticket Price: 17 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8, Canada

The Canadian War Museum is a larger local museum that collects war items and materials, and is one of the three most important war art collection venues in the world. Display of today's very advanced weapons, sound and light equipment, weapons from the early Indian defense warfare to the weapons, military uniforms of the First and Second World Wars, and physical display of the combat readiness of the three armies, as well as various types of fighter planes, tanks, bullets, needles Even the emergency medical equipment in the war zone uses sounds and images to make its display vivid and colorful. The architectural style of the museum is very distinctive. The overall building gradually rises to the east to form the shape of a ship's head, which resembles a mighty warship heading east. There are four main exhibition halls among the eight halls in the museum. World War II" exhibition hall. The two big screens show some real scenes of the European battlefield and the Asia-Pacific battlefield during World War II. On the wall of the exhibition hall are some pictures and historical materials. One of them is a Japanese soldier raising a sword and slashing at a prisoner of war who was kneeling on the ground, blindfolded and his hands tied; another picture is a group of Japanese soldiers holding hands. The bayonet lance was stabbing unarmed prisoners of war.

Day 1 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Fairmont Chateau Laurier is the best places.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier

This historic hotel is located in Central Ottawa, adjacent to the Parliament Buildings and Rideau Canal. It features elegant dining options and spacious rooms with a flat-screen cable TV.The friendly staff is available 24/7 to assist with travel plans. Fairmont Chateau Laurier is 5 minutes’ walk to Major’s Hill Park and the Ottawa Convention Centre. Rideau Centre Mall is less than 100 metres away.Tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar are standard in every classically furnished room at Chateau Laurier Fairmont. All rooms include a work desk and windows that open to the outside. The en suite bathroom offers luxurious bathrobes.Dining options at the Fairmont include Zoé’s Lounge, a casual setting for afternoon tea or evening cocktails. Fine dining is available at Wilfrid’s Restaurant, which features views of Parliament.Free access to the on-site health club is provided to all guests. The club has an indoor pool and a modern fitness centre where machines are equipped with a personal flat-screen TV.

Day 2 | Morning

Royal Canadian Mint

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: 8 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 320 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G8, Canada

The headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mint (RoyalCanadianMint) occupies a historic building in downtown Ottawa. It was established in 1908 and provides a variety of coinage products and related services to customers around the world.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Canadian Museum of Nature.

Canadian Museum of Nature

Opening Hours: Open on Sun,11:00am-4:00pm;Open on Mon,Wed-Thu,10:00am-4:00pm;Open on Tue,11:00am-7:00pm

Ticket Price: 14.5 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 240 McLeod St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1, Canada

The Canadian Museum of Natural History houses a wide variety of paleontological relics and fossils, which record the evolutionary process of creatures, and here you can get up close and personal with dinosaur specimens.

Day 2 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Soho Residences Lisgar is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Soho Residences Lisgar

Offering a seasonal outdoor pool and views of the city, SMR Lisgar Ottawa is a 100% smoke-free property located in downtown Ottawa. Ottawa Convention Centre is 1.5 km away.All units are air conditioned and include free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. There is also a kitchen, equipped with a dishwasher, oven and microwave. A toaster and coffee machine are also provided. There is a private bathroom with bath robes in every unit. The apartments are stocked with towels and linens.Guests at SMR Lisgar Ottawa have access to a communal patio with a barbecue.The Supreme Court of Canada is 1.2 km from SMR Lisgar Ottawa. The nearest airport is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, 13.9 km from the accommodation.

Day 3 | Morning

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Ticket Price: 10 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S Canada

In addition to tours, specially arranged activities and live demonstrations, the Canadian Agricultural Museum is the only agricultural museum in the capital located in the heart of the city.

Day 3 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, don’t forget pay a visit to Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,Sun,10:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 13 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 11 Aviation Pkwy, Ottawa, ON K1K 2X5, Canada

The Aviation Museum was established in 1964 and includes a main exhibition hall and a hangar. More than 120 planes are parked in the hangar, which is larger than the tarmac at Ottawa Airport. Travelers can get up close and personal with a variety of aircraft from pre-World War I to today, and some aircraft allow travelers to enter the fuselage or even the cockpit.

Day 3 | Evening

Don’t forget to book The Century House Bed and Breakfast Ottawa in advance, because all the tourists head to Canada Aviation and Space Museum love staying at it.

The Century House Bed and Breakfast Ottawa

The Century House Bed and Breakfast Ottawa features a complimentary daily breakfast and free WiFi throughout. The non-smoking property is within 15 minutes' walk from Parliament Hill. Fitted with hardwood floors, each room here will provide you with air conditioning and a mounted flat-screen TV. A private bathroom is included. Extras include a desk and bed linen. At The Century House Bed and Breakfast Ottawa you will find a snack bar. The property offers free parking. The bed and breakfast is 650 metres from Ottawa Convention Centre and 900 metres from Byward Market. Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is 15.5 km away.

Day 4 | Morning

Bytown Museum

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday:10:00-19:00;Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Ticket Price: 6.5 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 1 Canal Ln, Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6, Canada

"Baicheng" is the old name of Ottawa. The Baicheng Museum is a stone building built at the entrance of the Ottawa River on the west bank of the Lido Canal. This building was first built in 1827. Outside the door of the Baicheng Museum, you can see a series of locks across the Lido Canal, commonly known as "Ottawa Locks". They are important installations in the Lido Canal project and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum.

Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Opening Hours: Open on Sat-Sun,10:00am-4:30pm;Open on Mon-Fri,11:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: 14 CAD

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 3911 Carp Rd, Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0, Canada

The predecessor of this museum was a secret underground nuclear bomb shelter. After the end of the Cold War, the bomb shelter became a museum. There are more than 500 rooms on both sides of the long and complex passage of the museum, like a huge underground palace.

Day 4 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, SOHO Residences Champagne is the best places.

SOHO Residences Champagne

Within 15 minutes' walk from Dow's Lake, SMR Champagne Ottawa is 6 minutes' walk from the Little Italy district, boasting shops and restaurants. Free WiFi is provided at this 100% smoke-free property. Ottawa Convention Centre is 1.8 km from the property, while the Rideau Canal is 1.2 km away. Equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, the bright apartment is modernly furnished and overlooks the city. It offers an open-plan seating area, breakfast bar and a fully equipped kitchen. The bathroom enjoys a rainfall showerhead and Aveda amenities. Some units open out on to a balcony or terrace. Towels and bed linens are provided. Guests at SMR Champagne Ottawa have access to an on-site fitness Centre and also can arrange a private workout session with a personal trainer at an extra charge. A private cinema room is also available upon request with surcharge. Canadian War Museum is 2.2 km from SMR Champagne Ottawa. The nearest airport is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, 9 km from the property.

Day 5 | Morning

Parliament Hill

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: 111 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario ON K1A, Canada

The Parliament Building on Capitol Hill is the symbol of Ottawa and even the whole of Canada. It is also the seat of the current Canadian government and Senate. The changing of the guard ceremony and light show that take place every day in summer add a sense of historical vicissitudes and an up-to-date vitality to this very famous landmark in Canada. The century-old flame that never goes out, the open plazas, the towering Peace Tower and lifelike sculptures, as well as the Capitol, which is open to the public, attracts tourists from all over the world all year round.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: the most significant and beautiful building in Ottawa, you can take a lot of pictures with joy and walk through Parliament Hill exploring different views of Ottawa and Hall

Trip.com User: Ottawa Capitol Hill. Big

Day 5 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Rideau Hall.

Rideau Hall

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-4:00pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 1 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A1, Canada

The Governor's Mansion is not only a place of honor to honor outstanding Canadian citizens and host world leaders, but also a tourist destination for tourists from all over the world. Since 1867, the Governor's Palace has been the place where successive Governors-General of Canada have worked and lived. Covering an area of 79 acres, with green grass, flowers and willows, beautiful and open to all seasons, the former Governor Wu Bingzhi (Arian Clarkson) was the first Chinese Canadian to live in the Governor's Mansion.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.