Attractions in Walking Distance
In walking distance from the Shaw Centre, you’ll find Parliament Hill, where most of Canada’s important political decisions are made. Sign up for a free public guided tour to see some of Centre Block’s most impressive attributes such as the House of Commons and the Peace Tower. Tours are offered daily at half hour intervals on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here for a meeting over the summer (between May and September)? Bring your gear to participate in a free yoga class on Parliament Hill’s front lawn! Each Wednesday during the noon hour, Lululemon Athletica leads a free, multi-level ‘guerilla yoga’ class in which up to 1,000 people participate on a weekly basis. This is a favourite summer activity for visitors and locals alike!
And just down Sussex Drive, you’ll find the National Gallery of Canada. This beautiful glass building is the permanent home of the world’s most comprehensive collection of Canadian art, including Inuit art. This is a great museum to visit at any time of the year.
Or if you’re looking to learn a lot about Ottawa in a short amount of time, visit the quaint Bytown Museum. Housed in the city’s oldest stone building – it was used during the construction of the Rideau Canal – this small museum recounts the history of Ottawa’s earliest days from Bytown in 1826 to the official City of Ottawa in 1855. See photos and interesting artifacts that tell the story of Ottawa and its emergence as Canada’s Capital.
And depending on your interests as well as your amount of free time, the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Museum of History are all just a short taxi ride away.