Just west of Ottawa near the town of Carleton Place, you can test your skills at everything from paintball and axe throwing to laser tag.
Attractions and events for groups and FIT
With seven of Canada’s nine national museums, fascinating sights and world-renown celebrations, Canada’s capital has plenty of attractions and events that are perfect for groups.
Activities
ACE Arte Studio
Get creative at this fun, inclusive art studio offering classes, workshops, parties, and events for both children and adults.
Ottawa School of Art
The Ottawa School of Art offers a full range of specialized art courses including lifedrawing, landscape painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, lithography, watercolour, etching, printmaking, and a wide variety of specialized short courses and workshops.
SFR Distillery
In a tasting room in Kanata, a west-end Ottawa suburb, raise a glass of gin, poitín or other spirits made from Ottawa Valley grain.
YOW Adventure Tours
Engage in interactive, technology-driven adventures that blend Ottawa's rich history with augmented reality and immersive treasure hunts.
Escape Manor
Choose a themed escape room to get locked into with friends and try to puzzle your way out of it—before the clock runs out.
Jigsaw Escape Rooms
It's an experience everyone should try: a real-life adventure game! You and your friends are locked in a room for 45 minutes during a high-stakes scenario.
Capital Pathway
One of the best ways to explore Ottawa–Gatineau is by bike, through an extensive multi-use pathway network.
Funhaven
Funhaven is Ottawa's best entertainment centre destination.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Canadian Tire Centre
Catch professional sports, big name performers, family programming and prestigious events at the Ottawa region’s premier sports and entertainment facility.
Oh Canada Eh? Ottawa
This family friendly musical production celebrates all things Canadian! The two-hour show features famous characters singing Canadian hits, plus an…
Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy
One of the city's most versatile performance spaces, this state-of-the-art venue hosts full-scale musical revues as well as spectacular solo performances.
National Arts Centre
Catch a show at the National Arts Centre, the only bilingual, multidisciplinary performing arts centre in Canada, and one of the largest such centres in the world.
TD Place
Catch exciting sports and special events at Ottawa's urban entertainment destination located in the vibrant Glebe neighbourhood.
Rideau Carleton Casino - Future Home Of Hard Rock Ottawa
Enjoy gaming and entertainment with over 1,200 slot machines, live table games, a poker room, plus live horse harness racing year round—all in a suburb just south of downtown Ottawa.
Casino Lac-Leamy
Enjoy gaming, live entertainment, great food and much more fun at the Loto-Québec entertainment resort located just minutes from downtown Ottawa in Gatineau, Québec.
56 ByWard
Three unique lounge and nightclub venues housed in one building in the heart of the ByWard Market.
Ovation Productions
Ovation Productions is a musical theatre company dedicated to producing professional, entertaining and high-quality performances with opportunities for local talent to shine.
ALÉA Nightclub
Located in a spectacular structure overlooking the Casino Lac-Leamy gaming area, ALÉA is the destination nightclub par excellence to appreciate the best in nightlife.
Family
Funhaven
Funhaven is Ottawa's best entertainment centre destination.
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Delight your kids at this farm within the city, where they can meet farm animals and learn where their food comes from.
MARKED: Ultimate Ottawa Adventure Park
Just west of Ottawa near the town of Carleton Place, you can test your skills at everything from paintball and axe throwing to laser tag.
Bank of Canada Museum
Create your own avatar and learn about the important role you play in the economy. Hands-on exhibits illuminate everything from the psychology of economic expectations to the history of bank note design.
Vanier Museopark
Visit Ottawa’s only French-language museum to discover and learn about the habits and customs of the local francophonie.
Ottawa City Rafting
Wilderness Tours' new family-friendly Urban Whitewater Rafting Adventure Ottawa City Rafting is a great way to get out on the river and see the spectacular sights.
Calabogie Peaks Resort
Four-season leisure destination in the Ottawa Valley offering hiking, skiing, golf, event venues, boutique hotel accommodations and more.
Royal Canadian Mint
Take a fascinating, affordable tour to learn how coins are made, and shop for unique gifts and collectibles in an historic building near the ByWard Market area.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Learn about steam locomotives, gold miners, climate change, hydroelectricity and more at the family-friendly Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Camp Fortune
The entire family can enjoy outdoor activities at this year-round recreational resort just fifteen minutes north of downtown Ottawa in Gatineau Park.
Oh Canada Eh? Ottawa
This family friendly musical production celebrates all things Canadian! The two-hour show features famous characters singing Canadian hits, plus an…
National Gallery of Canada
Discover contemporary and historical artworks - including paintings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia installations - in this landmark site located near the vibrant ByWard Market area.
Ouimet Farms Adventure
Farming, family, and fun come together at this working farm in Vankleek Hill, featuring a 7-acre maze and many other seasonal attractions.
Canadian War Museum
Discover Canada’s rich military history at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum through artifacts, personal stories, artwork, photos and interactive presentations.
Wilderness Tours
Wilderness Tours has been Canada's leader in whitewater rafting and kayaking since 1975.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Discover Canada’s aviation and aerospace history—from the 1909 Silver Dart to the International Space Station—at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
Ottawa Kayak School
Ottawa Kayak School is located about 1 hr west of the nation's capital on the Ottawa River.
Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
Ponder the Cold War as you tour this four-storey underground bunker in rural Ottawa.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Explore the fascinating science related to fossils, mammals, minerals, birds, plate tectonics, Arctic discovery and more in a historic building minutes from Parliament Hill.
Mādahòkì Farm
Experience authentic Indigenous culture, including seasonal events, a year-round marketplace and other programming at this rural site within the city of Ottawa.
Calypso Waterpark
Calypso Theme Waterpark is the largest waterpark in Canada. This gem of a park will leave you breathless.
Parc Omega
Less than an hour’s drive east of Ottawa at Parc Omega, you can see bears, deer, elk, bison, caribou, wolves and other Canadian wildlife on a self-drive safari, all year round.
Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
Join scheduled daily bike tours led by Ottawa locals or rent a bike, e-bike, scooter or boat and create your own adventure.
RentABike
Over 200 bicycles and accessories to choose from for all ages, sizes and routes.
St. Albert Cheese Co-op
After your visit, cheese will no longer hold any secrets. Discover all the production steps involved in making our famous cheddars & watch our employees work through huge windows overlooking the production area.
Canadian Museum of History
Discover the events, people and objects that have shaped Canada at the Canadian Museum of History, across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill.
Festivals & Events
Twist Fibre Festival
TWIST is a unique fibre festival in Québec, Canada, bringing together the most important players in the field. TWIST is an annual event that serves as…
Ottawa Grassroots Festival
Spring 2026, dates to be announced
Come together to celebrate music and community at this vibrant annual festival of concerts and participatory workshops. The Ottawa Grassroots Festival…
Winterlude
Winter 2026, dates to be announced
Experience the best the Canadian winter has to offer at Winterlude, a highlight of the season in Ottawa-Gatineau. With three weekends full of…
Pumpkins After Dark
Fall 2025, dates to be announced
Get into the spooky spirit at this family friendly Halloween event held annually at Wesley Clover Parks in the city’s west end. Pumpkins After Dark is…
Canadian Tulip Festival
Welcome spring at the world's largest tulip festival! This popular annual event features massive tulip displays, family fun and more. Over 11 days…
Irish Film Festival Ottawa
Spring 2026, dates to be announced
Celebrate Ireland and its people through Irish films and filmmakers at this annual festival. Irish Film Festival Ottawa is a non-profit organization…
Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival
This free multi-day summer festival on the Rideau River—the largest event of its kind in North America—features racing, concerts, family fun, local…
Ottawa Children's Festival
Every year, the Ottawa Children's Festival holds a five-day extravaganza of the finest quality theatre, dance and music for young audiences in our…
Ontario Festival of Small Halls
Fall 2025, dates to be announced
Catch first-rate musical performances in unique and quaint venues across Eastern Ontario, near Ottawa. The Ontario Festival of Small Halls presents…
Music and Beyond
This unique summer cultural festival—which links classical music to visual art, drama, poetry, science and more—draws audiences to performances in…
Museums
National Gallery of Canada
Discover contemporary and historical artworks - including paintings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia installations - in this landmark site located near the vibrant ByWard Market area.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Explore the fascinating science related to fossils, mammals, minerals, birds, plate tectonics, Arctic discovery and more in a historic building minutes from Parliament Hill.
Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
Ponder the Cold War as you tour this four-storey underground bunker in rural Ottawa.
Bytown Museum
Housed in Ottawa’s oldest stone building, the Bytown Museum explores the city’s history, from the construction of the Rideau Canal until today.
Ottawa Art Gallery
Located in Ottawa's downtown core, the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is situated on traditional Anishinābe Aki and is Ottawa’s municipal art gallery and cultural hub. Admission is always free!
Canadian War Museum
Discover Canada’s rich military history at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum through artifacts, personal stories, artwork, photos and interactive presentations.
Bank of Canada Museum
Create your own avatar and learn about the important role you play in the economy. Hands-on exhibits illuminate everything from the psychology of economic expectations to the history of bank note design.
Vanier Museopark
Visit Ottawa’s only French-language museum to discover and learn about the habits and customs of the local francophonie.
Canadian Museum of History
Discover the events, people and objects that have shaped Canada at the Canadian Museum of History, across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Learn about steam locomotives, gold miners, climate change, hydroelectricity and more at the family-friendly Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Royal Canadian Mint
Take a fascinating, affordable tour to learn how coins are made, and shop for unique gifts and collectibles in an historic building near the ByWard Market area.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Discover Canada’s aviation and aerospace history—from the 1909 Silver Dart to the International Space Station—at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Delight your kids at this farm within the city, where they can meet farm animals and learn where their food comes from.
Oh Canada!
Rideau Hall
At the Ottawa residence and workplace of Canada’s governor general, you can tour the mansion and explore the landscaped grounds for free.
Brockville Railway Tunnel
Explore Canada's first railway tunnel, complete with a dynamic light show and informative panels for an immersive historical experience.
Guided tours of Parliament
Take a free guided tour of the home of Canada's federal government, one of Ottawa's top attractions. Admire historic paintings, as well as architecture decorated with Canadian motifs, in these official spaces.
Rideau Canal Skateway
Winter 2026, dates to be announced
Every winter, the Rideau Canal turns into the Rideau Canal Skateway, aka, the world’s largest skating rink! From roughly January to late February or…
Mādahòkì Farm
Experience authentic Indigenous culture, including seasonal events, a year-round marketplace and other programming at this rural site within the city of Ottawa.
Mackenzie King Estate (Gatineau Park)
Once the summer home of Canada's longest-serving prime minister, this 231-hectare (571 acre) property in Gatineau Park welcomes visitors to enjoy lunch, special activities, lush gardens, wooded trails and more.
BeaverTails
A uniquely Canadian tradition, hand-made Beavertail pastries are served up with a variety of toppings at special events throughout the year and at the permanent kiosk in the ByWard Market.
Gatineau Park
Swim, hike, bike, camp, cross-country ski, snowshoe or visit heritage sites amid towering trees and rocky outcrops in this expansive park just 15 minutes from Ottawa.
Laurier House National Historic Site
Step into the inner sanctum of our country's political history by visiting the former home of two important prime ministers of Canada.
Supreme Court of Canada
This year marks the Supreme Court of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Upper Canada Village - Parks of the St. Lawrence
Go back in time to the 1860s by strolling through a living history site that depicts life in a rural Canadian village.
Outdoors & Adventure
RentABike
Over 200 bicycles and accessories to choose from for all ages, sizes and routes.
Club de golf Le Sorcier
Escape to the country at this 18-hole golf course in a maple grove on the edge of Gatineau, Québec, just 25 kilometres northeast of downtown Ottawa.
Gatineau Sled Dogs
Glide across the vast snowy landscapes of La Petite-Nation in a comfortable sled pulled by a team of majestic sled dogs.
Ouimet Farms Adventure
Farming, family, and fun come together at this working farm in Vankleek Hill, featuring a 7-acre maze and many other seasonal attractions.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Canada's most popular multi-day running event sees close to 50,000 participants compete in a variety of challenging races—including the country's…
Marshes Golf Club
The Marshes Golf Course, Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s last design (and a collaboration by father and son), is one of the nation's finest golf destinations.
Ottawa City Rafting
Wilderness Tours' new family-friendly Urban Whitewater Rafting Adventure Ottawa City Rafting is a great way to get out on the river and see the spectacular sights.
Ottawa Kayak School
Ottawa Kayak School is located about 1 hr west of the nation's capital on the Ottawa River.
Calabogie Peaks Resort
Four-season leisure destination in the Ottawa Valley offering hiking, skiing, golf, event venues, boutique hotel accommodations and more.
Camp Fortune
The entire family can enjoy outdoor activities at this year-round recreational resort just fifteen minutes north of downtown Ottawa in Gatineau Park.
Ottawa Turbo Tubing
Take an exhilarating tubing adventure down the Ottawa River, filled with rapids, cliff jumping and breathtaking scenery.
Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
Join scheduled daily bike tours led by Ottawa locals or rent a bike, e-bike, scooter or boat and create your own adventure.
MARKED: Ultimate Ottawa Adventure Park
Just west of Ottawa near the town of Carleton Place, you can test your skills at everything from paintball and axe throwing to laser tag.
Wilderness Tours
Wilderness Tours has been Canada's leader in whitewater rafting and kayaking since 1975.
Escape Tours & Rentals
Enjoy views of city sights as you paddle the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa-Gatineau in a rental kayak or on a standup paddleboard (SUP). Bike rentals also available!
Le Harfang Fat Bike et Raquettes
Rent a fat bike or snowshoes at this rural site on the northeast edge of Gatineau, Quebec—just a short drive from downtown Ottawa—and enjoy scenic winter trails.
National Capital Greenbelt
Hike, bike, cross-country ski, learn about nature and visit heritage sites in this environmental gem, which encircles Ottawa with 20,000 hectares (almost 50,000 acres) of wetlands, woods and other unspoiled green spaces.
Spas
Strathmere
Strathmere invites you to visit our 6000 sq ft Retreat & Spa featuring esthetics, massage, day and overnight packages, daily yoga, wellness retreats, outdoor hot tubs, nature/ski/snowshoe trails and firepit.
Uppliva Nordic Spa
Enhance your wellness routine with an authentic sauna and steam circuit experience inspired by the simple, natural and mindful Nordic way of life.
Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
Indulge in the ultimate indoor-outdoor relaxation experience at North America's largest spa, located just 10-minutes north of downtown Ottawa in Chelsea, Quebec, near Gatineau Park.
Sports
Ottawa REDBLACKS
Join the roaring crowds at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne as Ottawa’s Canadian Football League (CFL) team battles for a chance at the Grey Cup. The…
Ottawa 67's
Fall 2025, dates to be announced
Enjoy affordable, family-friendly junior men’s hockey games at TD Place Arena at Lansdowne, in the lively downtown Glebe neighbourhood. Founded in…
Ottawa Senators
Fall 2025, dates to be announced
Take in the electric atmosphere of an NHL game in Canada’s capital and watch pro hockey players compete in the national winter sport. The Ottawa…
Rideau Carleton Casino - Future Home Of Hard Rock Ottawa
Enjoy gaming and entertainment with over 1,200 slot machines, live table games, a poker room, plus live horse harness racing year round—all in a suburb just south of downtown Ottawa.
Stay up to date
Stay up to date on upcoming events and ideas to plan your next trip to Ottawa with friends, family or on your own by signing up for the Ottawa Tourism Newsletter.
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