I've only been in Canada's capital city of Ottawa for 2 days, it's true – but in those 2 days I've seen quite a bit and gotten a feel for the city. Despite it being cold enough to make all my extremeties go numb after 5 minutes, there are plenty of things I'm already loving about Ottawa.
I would recommend taking a last minute vacation here like I did if it's possible for you. This city is full of so many things to do — and so many things to love.
5 things to love about Ottawa
1. Ottawa is walkable
I'm staying at the Courtyard by Marriott downtown, right in the heart of the Byward Market neighborhood. Staying downtown means that I'm within walking distance of most of the city's major sites, from its museums, to the Rideau Canal, to Parliament Hill. This is the kind of city I love — one where I can just pick a direction and walk, and always find something interesting.
2. Ottawa is bilingual
I've never really spent much time in a city that appears to be truly bilingual. Almost everyone speaks both English and French, which I guess I knew but was still surprised by. And, really, is there anything cuter than a little kid speaking French? (The answer is no.)
3. Ottawa is full of great restaurants
Before coming here, I definitely did not consider Ottawa a foodie's paradise. But you know what? It kind of is. There are restaurants and cafes everywhere, and many of them participate in the “Savour Ottawa” program. This initiative works to bring together local farmers and producers with local chefs and consumers, which I think is fantastic. There are also great pubs and bakeries here — and of course the famous Beavertail stands!
4. Ottawa has so many bookstores
This may seem like an odd addition to this list, but as I've been walking around downtown a lot (and especially in the Byward Market area), I've been noticing a huge number of bookstores here. This is a big contrast to where I'm from, where we're lucky to have one Barnes and Noble per city. Canadians must be much more interested in reading than we Ohioans are!
5. Ottawa is not overwhelming
I realize Ottawa has nowhere near the population of some other world capitals, but I've been struck by how much Ottawa DOESN'T feel like a huge, overwhelming city. The traffic isn't scary, people have generally been very friendly, the streets are clean, and it's very easy to find your way around. I'm a country girl at heart, and so don't generally love big cities. But Ottawa is doing a pretty good job of making me love it so far.
I can't wait to see what else this city has in store for me!
READ NEXT: 5 MORE Things to Love About Ottawa
Have you been to Ottawa? If so, what do you like (or dislike) about the city?
*Disclaimer: My stay is being graciously taken care of by Ottawa Tourism. As always, though, all opinions are my own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
[…] Even though I was only there for what seemed like a glimpse, apparently there is a great deal of things to see and do in Ottawa, according to Amanda. […]
[…] for what seemed like a glimpse, apparently there is a great deal of things to see and do in Ottawa, according to Amanda.I can hardly believe that I have visited dozens of other capitals in the world, and yet, I barely […]
Just found this post through A Montrealer Abroad. Ottawa is my hometown and I can say it’s an amazing town! People used to write Ottawa off as a boring government town (something they’d never do for Washington!) but it has come such a long way!
I’m glad to see you were going to hit the Museum of Civilization-it has got to be one of the coolest museums in the country! My mum used to manage the gift shop there. Ottawa is such a gorgeous city and you are a brave girl for going in winter! Ottawa is the world’s 2nd coldest national capital-a distinction we take on with pride hahaha. If going in winter, February is actually the best time to go because Winterlude, one of the world’s largest snow festivals, is on and the weather is actually notorious for getting inconveniently warmer.
The fall is the best time to visit as it’s still warm during the day but the leaves are all changing colour and it’s beautiful!!!
I’m so glad to see you loved my town (even though I don’t live there anymore) and has such nice things to say about it. Enjoy the rest of your travels through my amazing country!
Ottawa was indeed an awesome city, even in the dead of winter! I actually kind of liked visiting when not many other people were there – I got a different perspective of the city. I’ll definitely have to go back during another season sometime to see how it compares!
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I’m going to Ottawa in a week, so this is good to read. Any favorite restaurants while you were there?
Awesome! Have a good time.
As far as restaurants go, I mostly ate in the Byward Market neighborhood. You can get quick, cheap take-away meals in the market building itself. Planet Coffee has good desserts and some good soups. La Bottega (an Italian grocery store) has a little deli in the back where you can get really good sandwiches for $5. And if you’re looking for a fancier (and much more expensive) meal, I had a delicious dinner at The Courtyard.
Glad you enjoyed my home town. 🙂 You may already be gone, but if you’re ever back… here are some restaurants to try.
Mid-scale dinner – Stoneface Dolly’s in little Italy (not Italian though)
Interesting dinner – Sweetgrass in the market (it’s aboriginal fusion… or something)
Cozy pub – Pub Italia in Little Italy (Irish, actually)
Best brunches – Baker Street Cafe in Westboro and the Manx on Elgin (if you can handle the hipsters)
A bit wacky – the Works, several locations (burgers like you’ve never had before)
Bakery – Art-Is-In Bakery in or near Little Italy (I think they may have moved but there still in that area). Mindblowing breads among other things, and apparently they also do a brunch there but I’ve never been.
If you’re here in the summer, and once they repair the tracks after last year’s flooding, the Wakefield steam train is a great activity (especially in autumn) and you get to poke around the tiny town of Wakefield (little shops and an incredible bakery, among other things). My family cottage is just outside Wakefield, so I’ve spent a lot of time there and still don’t get tired of it.
Thanks for the great suggestions! If I can manage it, I’d definitely like to visit again in the summer.
[…] Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857, it looked a heck of a lot different than it does […]
I love how you thought that the abundance of bookstores was an odd addition. I love bookstores and the fact that they are going out of business is heartbreaking! The photos you included in the post were so crisp, I feel like I’m seeing everything with my own eyes.
It makes me super sad that there are so few bookstores around these days — which is probably why I took notice of them in Ottawa!
Glad you liked the photos — check out my Parliament Hill post for even more!
[…] From its walkability to great restaurants and bounty of bookstores, here are five things you’ll love about Ottawa. [Dangerous Business] […]
LOVE Ottawa! Spent lots of time there. Parliament Hill is beautiful, and I love the bilingualism. There’s more French in Ottawa than Montreal, for the love of god.
(That may or may not be an exaggeration.)
Parliament Hill is indeed beautiful. I’ve made a point of it to walk by at least once a day, just because we don’t have buildings like that where I’m from!
Also, as for the French, I was told today that because the government is now required to be bilingual, most kids have to take 8 or 9 years of mandatory French classes in school here. So I suppose it makes sense that so many people speak 2 languages in Ottawa!
It’s been quite a number of years since I’ve been to Ottawa, but it’s a city I really would like to revisit. We were there a couple of times during the summer, so we enjoyed walking around the Byward Market and exploring the amazing selection of worldwide cuisines we found available in the city’s restaurants (one of my favorite meals was in a little Dutch restaurant). The Museum of Civilization is a must f’sure.
We stayed downtown and had a birds-eye-view of the parade leading up to the changing of the guard at Parliment Hill. We also happened to be there one year during Canada’s 125th anniversary, so I remember seeing a great fireworks show. I’ve always wanted to go during the winter, though.
I feel like there would be a much different vibe to the city in the summer — for instance, I know the whole Byward Market area transforms into basically one big outdoor patio when the weather is nice. I’d love to come back and see the city in the warmer months, too!
I absolutely love Canada. And there is nothing cuter than a little child speaking French.
Except maybe a little kid speaking in a British accent… that is also ridiculously adorable. 😉
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I love the snowy photos of the parliament building! You’ve created a great atmosphere in the cold, snowy photos. I don’t know anything about Ottawa so this is a great introductory post. Can’t wait to see what else you get into there!
Thanks, Laura! I’ve got plenty more photos to share, too. And I think most people are in a similar boat, not knowing much about Ottawa (I certainly didn’t before I came here), so I’m happy to be able to share what I’m learning! Stay tuned.