Rideau Canal locks
Experience the ultimate sunset scene at the Rideau Canal’s Ottawa lock-station. Situated between Parliament Hill to the west and the Chateau Laurier hotel to the east, the series of eight tiered locks rises 79 feet above the Ottawa River. The building at the bottom was the supply office when the canal was built, between 1826 and 1832, is the oldest building in Ottawa and home to the Bytown Museum. Even if you don’t get there at sunset, it’s still worth a visit. The entire Rideau Canal extends 202 kilometres all the way to Kingston and includes 45 locks. It’s a National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Parliament Hill
Well, of course, Parliament Hill had to be on our list! Easily one of Ottawa’s must-see destinations, the Parliament Hill buildings are certainly iconic. Every year, folks from all corners of Canada flock here to visit this historical gem. When it’s not playing hide-and-seek with construction cranes, the architecture of Parliament Hill has the power to make anyone swoon.
If you’re lucky, you can score a reservation to peek inside Canada’s House of Commons, where many of the country’s big decisions are made.
The National Gallery of Canada
Located on one of the Ottawa’s most breathtaking sites — near the historic ByWard Market, overlooking the Ottawa River and the Canadian Parliament Buildings, you don’t need to be taking a BA in fine arts to enjoy the National Gallery of Canada. Its famous giant spider, called “Maman”, along with award-winning architecture, the light-filled Great Hall and its interior gardens are enough to catch anyone’s eye. It offers the unique chance to experience the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of Canadian art. Admission is free Thursday evenings after 5 p.m.
The National Arts Centre
Known as “a house of dreams for the performing arts”, Canada’s bilingual, multidisciplinary centre, is just a five-minute walk from campus and offers amazing music, dance, theatre, art and much more. If you’re under 30 you can get $15 tickets for some shows! Better yet, some events are free this summer! The building itself is also spectacular with plenty of art installations inside.
Picturesque parks
If you like meandering in the sunshine, there are at least 5 favourite parks near campus, ranging from the nearby Confederation Park and Major’s Hill Park in the downtown core, to Strathcona Park, which is slightly further afield along the Rideau River in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood.
CF Rideau Centre
You can get anything here – whether it’s last-minute school supplies, back-to-school fashion or a quick bite in the food hall. This mega-mall, which you can enter from the Mackenzie King Bridge, is just a one-minute walk from Tabaret Hall. Very convenient and many OC Transpo buses stop there.
Ottawa Art Gallery
Stimulate your brain and get inspired. The Ottawa Art Gallery on Nicolas Street at the foot of the Mackenzie King Bridge hosts rich and vibrant art exhibitions from a variety of Canadian, Indigenous and Ottawa-Gatineau based creators. Admission is free but donations are welcomed. You can see paintings there by Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson. The gallery hosts the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art, which includes 1,600 works by Canadian artists from the modern period (1900-1985). And the Jackson Café in the same building has one of the trendiest vibes in the city.
The Byward Market
The bustling, historic Byward Market includes 600 independent businesses, such as restaurants, boutiques, bars, cafés and food shops as well as a public market where artisans sell everything from handmade jewelry to stained glass. It’s also Ottawa’s number one tourist attraction with 18 million visitors every year. A fun place to hang out and people watch; the market is two years away from celebrating its 200th anniversary.
The Corktown Footbridge
This is both a destination and a key shortcut from campus to Elgin Street and Ottawa’s ‘golden triangle’, a central district that includes pubs, cafés, Ottawa City Hall and several embassies. The Corktown Bridge, which offers an unbeatable view of the Rideau Canal, is located right next to the uOttawa LRT station. It’s known as a ‘love lock’ bridge: visitors can immortalize their love by adding a padlock with their initials and throwing the keys into the canal below. It also gives you access to the Canadian Museum of Nature (17-minutes), Chinatown (30-minutes) and even Lansdowne Park/TD Place (40-minutes).
The Canadian Museum of Nature
Not just your everyday-boring-old-dusty museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature has mastodons, live butterflies and one-of-a-kind events like Nature Nocturne.
The museum is a treasure trove of natural wonders. From dazzling gemstones to jaw-dropping wildlife displays, you’ll be wowed at every turn. As you move through the museum’s exhibits, you’ll encounter dinosaurs and learn all about their larger-than-life history. It’s like stepping back in time to when these behemoths ruled the Earth. Admission is free Thursday evenings after 5 p.m. and half price ($12) for adults (18-24) until September 1, 2025, thanks to the Canada Strong Pass.
Niche neighbourhoods
You don’t need to go far to enjoy the lush green spaces and historic homes of the Sandy Hill neighbourhood. One interesting attraction is Laurier House, where prime ministers Sir Wilfred Laurier and William Mackenzie-King once lived. You can also explore many other neighbourhoods, each with its own distinctive character. Try Centretown for patios, shows and festivals; Chinatown for food, murals, the distinctive Royal Gateway and Night Market; The Glebe for urban arts, cafés and major sports events at TD Place. If you really want to go the distance, even Little Italy is doable.
Cute cafés
You’re never too far from a coffee shop in Ottawa. These 6 must-try cafés near campus are student favourites.
Cheap eats
If you want to grab a quick, tasty bite without breaking the bank, current uOttawa students have shared some intel in 14 cheap eats for students.
Rideau Falls Park and Green Island
Clear your mind and get ready for the busy fall term ahead by visiting these twin waterfalls, where the Rideau River flows into the Ottawa River. Rideau Falls Park and Green Island, a 2.89-hectare park overseen by the National Capital Commission, offers a peaceful, meditative view and it’s also lit up at night. A bit of trek from campus (35-minutes) but you could always combine it with an afternoon of visiting other nearby sites like Parliament Hill, the Rideau Locks or even Rideau Hall, the expansive landscaped grounds of Canada’s governor general.