Travel & Tourism Guide

Perhaps you're a tourist who wants to visit Ottawa's great museums, like the National Gallery or the Museum of Civilization. Or maybe you're the type who'd prefer to hike in the Gatineau Hills, or ride a bike along the Rideau Canal. Whether it's an itenerary for a day trip, or planning for an extended vacation, our Tourism Guide will help you find the perfect activity.
See also: Ottawa Events, Ottawa Festivals, Ottawa Maps,
Ottawa Restaurants, Ottawa Museums, Ottawa Hotels

Travel

Ottawa Airport (includes arrival & departure information)
Park'nFly Airport Parking
Voyageur
Greyhound
Via Rail
Car rentals
Taxis & Limos
AirTravelComplaints.ca
Border wait times: Heading across the border? You can check for the average waiting times at several border crossings. Have a look before you embark on your trip down south.
Border wait times Canadian site
Border wait times U.S. site

Books & Guides

Accessible Ottawa
A great web site listing accessibility services for disabled travellers and those traveling with children in the Ottawa area.
Ottawa: The Unknown City
by rob mclennan
Ottawa may be our capital city but it's also a place of contradictions—the official version offers numerous, beneficent historic sites, institutions, museums, and galleries, but there are other stories to be told. In this latest edition of Arsenal's Unknown City series of alternativecity guides for both locals and tourists, Ottawa comes alive as a diverse, quirky town that may look like a government city on the surface but boasts a small-town charm. The book charts a course through the city's hidden landmarks, shopping, dining, and nightlife hot spots, as well as secret histories that will come as a surprise even to life-long locals.
Buy this book via Amazon
VIsit the official UnknownOttawa.com web site
Secret Ottawa by Laura Byrne Paquet. Secret Ottawa reveals a side of the capital that most visitors-and many locals-never see. Find out where you can spot a blue heron at sunrise, eat Sri Lankan string hoppers, buy armour or angels, or work out at 3:00 a.m. From cycling to sundials, and waterfalls to wine, Secret Ottawa is your guide to the city's hidden treasures.
Frommer's® Ottawa by Louise Dearden. Covers everything Ottawa has to offer, including visual and performing arts, historic monuments, and world-class outdoor sports and recreation.
Capital Walks: Walking Tours of Ottawa by Katharine Fletcher.
Ottawa with Kids by James Hale. The complete family travel guide to attractions, sites and events in Ottawa.
The Lobster kids' guide to exploring Ottawa-Hull by John Symon. Whether you're a parent, an educator or a tourist, if you're caring for children between the ages of 1-12, this book is the perfect answer. More than 100 suggestions for fun-filled family activities in the National Capital Region.
Frommer's® Ottawa with Kids by Louise Dearden. Reveals the most fun and educational experiences for kids in Canada's capital. It's full of incredibly detailed tips - right down to which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds and which restaurants offer high chairs.
The Hike It Bike It Walk It Drive It Guide: to Ottawa, the Gatineau, Kingston & Beyond by Ann Campbell. Features a variety of outdoor daytrips in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Contains maps, directions, up-to-date info and contact phone numbers.
Ottawa: A colourguide by Carol Martin. Museums, festivals, Parliament Hill, accomodation, heritage sites, dining, recreation, shopping, galleries.
More Ottawa travel books...
Ottawa Books Guide...