Why go?

Canada’s bilingual capital city charms visitors all yearround with its wealth of cultural attractions, seasonal festivals and a regionally focused, occasionally eccentric, dining scene.

What to do

Natural beauty abounds, from the rugged banks of Parliament Hill to the majestic waters of the Rideau Canal, a Unesco World Heritage site that winds through the city connecting the Ottawa River with Lake Ontario. During the summer the city‘s calendar is crammed with concerts, comedy, dance and children’s events, as well as a host of carnivals: this year its dragon boat festival, North America’s largest, celebrates its 20th anniversary (dragonboat.net). As Canada’s national centre, Ottawa is home to some of the country’s best museums. Delve into the Canadian and indigenous collections at the National Gallery (gallery.ca) or trace the history of humanity at the Museum of Civilization (civilization.ca). On Parliament Hill, the neo-gothic government buildings loom atop rocky bluffs that descend into the Ottawa River. Stroll among their grounds or tour the Library of Parliament (parl.gc.ca) and marvel at its intricate carvings of mythical beasts. With more than a thousand farms within the city limits, Ottawa is a culinary as well as cultural hub, and the ByWard Market is its undisputed gastronomical heart. The C’est Bon Gourmet Food Tour (cestboncooking.ca) winds through the labyrinthine market, stopping to sample gourmet delights and chat with vendors. Try Bleu Bénédictin cheese, made by Québécois monks, at The House of Cheese (00 1 613 241 4853, thehouseofcheese.ca) or stop by Italian grocer La Bottega Nicastro (00 1613 789 7575, labottega.ca) for colourful boxes of pasta, artisan olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars.

Where to stay

The Chateau Laurier (00 1 866 540 4410, fairmont.com) has hosted dignitaries, politicians and royalty since it opened in 1912. Its stately limestone façade and turrets make this hotel a city landmark. In the heart of downtown, ARC The Hotel (00 1 613 238 2888, arcthehotel.com) is a modern boutique hotel with plush bedding and spa-like bathrooms.

Where to eat and drink

Lively hotspot Town (00 1 613 695 8696, townlovesyou.ca) serves Italian-inspired sharing dishes of ricotta-stuffed meatballs and crab crostini alongside wines from the Niagara region. ZenKitchen (00 1 613 233 6404, zenkitchen.ca) offers artful vegan fare: the pecan-crusted seiten, made with wheat protein that mimics meat, will satisfy even devoted carnivores. For the real thing, chow down on steaks at Restaurant 18 (00 1 613 562 7244, restaurant18.com). Get a taste of America’s Deep South at Union 613 (00 1 613 231 1010, union613.ca) where you can try cracker-crusted catfish and sip cocktails in its speakeasy. Afternoon tea is a traditional affair in Zoe’s Lounge at Chateau Laurier (00 1 613 241 1414, fairmont.com) while local favourite The Scone Witch (00 1 613 741 4141) enchants with its savoury options: try the smoked turkey and stilton sandwiched between herby onion scones. Line up at Susie Q (00 1 613 724 2451, suzyq.ca) for a gourmet maple donut – topped with bacon if you’re feeling recklessly indulgent – or pull up a stool at Beyond the Pale (00 1 613 695 2991, beyondthepale.ca) and order the brewery’s Pink Fuzz, a hoppy wheat beer made with grapefruit pulp. Hintonburger (00 1 613 724 4676, hintonburger.ca) serves up juicy handmade patties and French-Canadian poutine – fries topped with gravy and cheese curds – and you can get your sugar fix at BeaverTails (613-241-1230, beavertailsinc.com) where fried dough, topped with brown sugar, cinnamon or chocolate, is shaped to resemble the sweet namesake.

Time running out?

Ottawa is the home of the legendary Mounties and you can see the scarlet- lad troopers perform their gallant Musical Ride at the RCMP Stables (rcmprc.gc.ca).

Travel Information

Travel Information

Currency is the Canadian dollar. Ottawa is five hours behind GMT and a seven and a half hour flight from London.

Getting There

Resources

Ontario Tourism (ontariotravel.net), Ottawa Tourism (ottawatourism.ca) and Canadian Tourist Commission (uk.canada.travel) will help you plan your trip.