Top 25 Fun Things to Do in Ottawa and Gatineau

Canada's capital packs major museums, buzzing markets and a historic canal, with Gatineau just across the river. Whether you're tracking Justine from the ByWard Market to Parliament Hill or investigating strange disappearances in Centretown, here are 25 ideas to keep the adventure going, including 6 indoor activities for rainy or freezing days.

Around Find Justine in Ottawa Game

• ByWard Market: Farm stalls by day, patios and bars by night, in one of Canada's oldest public markets.
• BeaverTails: The iconic fried pastry, best enjoyed at the ByWard Market stand.
• Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica: Silver spires outside, a star-studded blue vault inside, right on Sussex Drive.
• Major's Hill Park: A big lawn above the Ottawa River, with views of Parliament and the Château Laurier.
• Parliament Hill: The Centennial Flame, the lawns and river views, right across from where the game ends.
• Rideau Canal Locks: A flight of locks between Parliament and the Château Laurier, at the start of a UNESCO World Heritage canal.

Around Mystery Tulips in Ottawa Game

• Elgin Street: Pubs, restaurants and cafés close to where your investigation begins.
• Canadian Museum of Nature: Dinosaurs, minerals and an Arctic gallery in a castle-like building, a few blocks from the start.
• National War Memorial: The national monument and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, next to Confederation Park.
• National Arts Centre: Theatre, dance and concerts behind a glass facade by the canal.
• Rideau Canal: Paths and bike rides in summer. In winter, when the ice allows, the Skateway runs right through downtown.
• Canadian Tulip Festival: Every May, tulips bloom in Commissioners Park by Dows Lake. The perfect sequel to your mystery!

Indoor Activities in Ottawa and Gatineau

Pouring rain or deep freeze? These ideas keep the fun going indoors.

• Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau): The Grand Hall and its totem poles, facing Parliament across the river.
• National Gallery of Canada: A glass cathedral for art, guarded outside by Maman, Louise Bourgeois's giant spider.
• Canadian War Museum: Tanks, aircraft and moving stories, on LeBreton Flats.
• Parliament guided tours: Free tours of the House of Commons in West Block and the Senate in the former train station, while Centre Block is renovated.
• Royal Canadian Mint: A guided tour of the Sussex Drive facility where Canada's collector coins are made.
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum: Dozens of historic aircraft under one huge hangar roof.

Bonus Picks

Wherever you start or finish, these citywide gems are worth the detour.

• Gatineau Park: Trails, lakes and lookouts a short drive from downtown, stunning in the fall.
• Casino du Lac-Leamy (Gatineau): Gaming tables, shows and restaurants for a grown-up night out.
• Nordik Spa-Nature (Chelsea): Hot and cold pools in the woods, at the edge of Gatineau Park.
• The Glebe and Lansdowne Park: Bank Street shops, Redblacks games and a farmers' market by the canal.
• Little Italy: Trattorias and patios along Preston Street.
• Hintonburg and Westboro: Boutiques, cafés and craft breweries along Wellington Street West.
• Ingenium, Canada Science and Technology Museum: Hands-on exhibits for curious minds of all ages.