Tour Times – November 2022

Indigenous Culture

In Ottawa, Canada’s capital, you can explore the Indigenous culture that's been an important part of the city since long before it was named. This place is situated on Algonquin Anishinaabe land, and its name comes from the word for "traders." Indigenous Peoples of Canada considered this region an important meeting and trading location. Explore the region’s attractions, tours and events reflecting the fascinating stories and history of the First Peoples of Canada.

Mādahòkì Farm is a year-round tourism experience, offering groups a range of authentic Indigenous experiences and workshops. The Farm is home to four seasonal festivals. The largest of these is the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, which Indigenous Experiences has produced and presented at the end of June for over 20 years. It features live performances by Inuit, First Nations and Métis artists, Pow Wow competitions, and showcases Indigenous Peoples culture, history, food, and art with workshops, demonstrations, and family activities. The Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards happens in conjunction with the festival.

A modern and sophisticated stay

ReStays Ottawa offers a one-of-a-kind guest experience. Its prime location in the heart of downtown Ottawa makes the property a great option for group travel situated just blocks from Parliament Hill, the Sparks Street Mall and the National Arts Centre. Each spacious apartment has keyless entry, a full kitchen, laundry facilities and plenty of room to unwind. Some apartments even feature a fireplace, a wine fridge, and jaw-dropping balconies! The tower's superb amenities include a fitness studio, spa services, room service and housekeeping.

The Metcalfe Hotel reopens!

The Metcalfe Hotel is now open after ongoing a complete renovation in 2022! It is now a part of Gray Collection and wants to revolutionize the hospitality scene in Ottawa by offering an upscale experience to travelers. The downtown hotel’s 5-story atrium is full of natural light due to its modern design.

Savor a bite at Cocotte Bistro inside the hotel, an elegant bistro with contemporary vibes in Ottawa. Executive chef Stephen La Salle invites you to experience a creative menu inspired by French cuisine in Canada's capital.

Upcoming Festivals

Winterlude – February 3-20, 2023 - During Winterlude, you can marvel at beautiful ice sculptures, skate on the world-famous Rideau Canal Skateway (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and play till you drop in a gigantic snow playground called Snowflake Kingdom. Celebrate free Canadian winter fun at this epic festival

Canadian Tulip Festival – May 12-22, 2023 - Welcome spring at the world's largest tulip festival where over 300,000 tulips bloom alongside the Rideau Canal's picturesque Dows Lake! This popular annual event features massive tulip displays, family fun and more. Access to the site and select programming is free!

RBC Bluesfest – July 6-16, 2023 - Every summer, some 300,000 music fans gather to see more than 200 acts on multiple stages. No wonder Billboard Magazine has ranked this event among the world's top-10 outdoor music festivals!

The Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill – Northern Lights – Summer 2023 (dates to be announced) - Five nights a week in the summer months, you can enjoy a free, 30-minute multimedia show presented against the backdrop of the iconic Parliament Buildings in Canada's capital.

Photos (from left to right): Radio-Canada (Montréal) | MD & Spin Master Ltd. Tous droits réservés | CBC (Toronto) | Karine Dufour, © Télé-Québec

Upcoming Exhibitions

Canadian Museum of History

• From Pepinot to PAW Patrol: Explore 70 years of Canadian children’s television - until Sep 1st, 2023
• Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul - Apr to Nov 2023

Canadian War Museum

• War Games – Jun 2023 to Jan 2024

Canadian Museum of Nature

• New Pacific Discovery Tank in the Water Gallery
• Wolves! (photography) – Spring 2023
• Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest – Jun 2023

National Gallery of Canada

• Jean-Paul Riopelle exhibition: Oct 2023 to Mar 2024

Changing of the Guards returns!

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is famous for its ritual. But one can see a similar ceremony in Canada, too. It's a reminder of Canada's royal heritage. The Ceremonial Guard is a unit of the Canadian Armed Forces performed on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital of Canada’s capital. It is returning in 2023! The Changing of the Guard takes place only in summer months (exact dates to be announced in Spring 2023). If you visit Parliament Hill at 9:45 am, you'll hear an audio presentation in English and French explaining the history and symbolism, followed by the soldiers and band parade.

Camp Fortune

Camp Fortune is a four-season recreational resort in Gatineau Park – about a 15-minute drive north of downtown Ottawa. Starting in May 2023, enjoy the brand-new Peak to Peak Zipline tour, which features 3 dual ziplines over 4,500 feet long and an automatic braking system. Imagine soaring like a bird through the treetops, experiencing breathtaking views on a high-flying zipline ride. It’s an adrenaline rush you won’t soon forget!

C’est Bon Ottawa

C’est Bon Ottawa cooking classes help you master essential cooking principles and techniques, and ensure you have fun doing it. The guided food tours have always been very popular, and NEW this year - the first self-guided food tour with food included! Eat your way using a geo-located map.

Amphibus Lady Dive

Hop On-Hop Off bilingual city tours on both land and water, Amphibus Lady Dive offers spectacular way to visit Ottawa and view more than 75 different attractions sites across the city. 90-minute guided city tour of the Capital's major attraction sites available daily.

Planning a new tour to Ottawa but can’t get here right now? Explore Canada’s capital through our many virtual guided tours and FAMs.

Ottawa Tourism’s last coffee-break FAM toured Thursty Pedaler and the Bank of Canada Museum.

Thursty Pedaler

Pedal a 15-person bicycle through Ottawa’s gleaming neighborhoods, the Glebe and Hintonburg, on a one-of-a-kind tour. Savor both the hard work and the tasty beverages by enjoying a pub crawl or coffee crawl along the way!

Bank of Canada Museum

Housed in a totally renovated building in downtown Ottawa that re-opened in 2017, the Bank of Canada Museum is fun for people of all ages—and admission is always free! The museum is full of hands-on exhibits that illuminate everything from the psychology of economic expectations to the history of bank note design.

You can watch all our previous coffee-break FAMs on the Familiarization (FAM) tours page. You can also watch the collection of sneak-peak videos, the Virtually Ottawa Tour videos, which are the inspiration for the Virtual FAMs.