Season guide · Ottawa · Canada
Ottawa in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RealGrouchy, Public domain
Quick answer
Bright fall colour in Gatineau Park from late September, comfortable sightseeing weather and lower prices; grey and cold by November. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 36 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- -2°C (28°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 20°C (68°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 12 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| October | 13°C (55°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 12 | 10.8 h | 3/5 |
| November | 5°C (41°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 12 | 9.4 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 11°C (52°F), and 36 of the year's roughly 141 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Thanksgiving weekend, when Gatineau Park is at its busiest for leaf-viewing (second Monday of October)
- November: Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial (11 November)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Rockcliffe
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
On the old Rockcliffe airfield east of downtown, a huge hangar displays one of the world's largest collections of civil and military aircraft, from bush planes to a Lancaster bomber and surviving pieces of the cancelled Avro Arrow jet.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Alta Vista
Ingenium – Canada Science and Technology Museum
Do the Crazy Kitchen early before queues form; younger children enjoy the Wonder Lab most.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · ByWard Market and Lowertown
Royal Canadian Mint
The Mint's castle-like 1908 building on Sussex Drive produces collector coins, medals and gold bullion.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Carp
Diefenbunker
Take the guided tour if you can; the guides bring the Cold War emergency plans to life.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
![– Wladyslaw [Disk.]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ottawa_-_ON_-_National_Gallery_of_Canada.jpg){kind=link}
Gallery · ByWard Market and Lowertown
National Gallery of Canada
Moshe Safdie's glass-and-granite gallery, with a tower echoing the Library of Parliament, holds Canada's national collection: Group of Seven landscapes, Emily Carr, extensive Indigenous art and European masters.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in autumn
- Thousand Islands (About 1 hour 45 minutes by car) — Cruises from Gananoque weave between the granite islands of the St.
- Parc Oméga (About 1 hour by car) — A drive-through wildlife park in the Quebec countryside where elk, deer and bison approach cars on a 12 km route, with walking trails to see wolves, bears and Arctic foxes.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Ottawa?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Bright fall colour in Gatineau Park from late September, comfortable sightseeing weather and lower prices; grey and cold by November.
+What is the weather like in Ottawa in autumn?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.