Sight guide · Ottawa · Canada
Visiting ByWard Market
One of Canada's oldest public markets, laid out in the 1820s, the ByWard Market has a central building with food vendors and craft stalls and, from spring to autumn, outdoor produce, flower and maple-syrup stands.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
ByWard Market is a market in ByWard Market and Lowertown, Ottawa. Allow 1–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Market
- Area
- ByWard Market and Lowertown
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- food, shopping, free and after dark
- Best months
- February and September–October
About ByWard Market
One of Canada's oldest public markets, laid out in the 1820s, the ByWard Market has a central building with food vendors and craft stalls and, from spring to autumn, outdoor produce, flower and maple-syrup stands. The surrounding streets are full of restaurants, cafés, pubs and a BeaverTails stand on George Street.
Tip: Come in the morning for the outdoor vendors, and return in the evening for patios and bars.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: ByWard Market and Lowertown, market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament.
Best time to visit ByWard Market
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- February: -4°C (25°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- September: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Ottawa has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Ottawa itinerary visits ByWard Market on day 1, together with Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks and National War Memorial and Confederation Square.
- No. 7 of the 18 sights in our Ottawa things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Ottawa.
Near ByWard Market
Also in ByWard Market and Lowertown, so you can walk between them:
- National Gallery of Canada — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica — 30 minutes, free
- Major's Hill Park — 30–60 minutes, free
Staying near ByWard Market
Stay in ByWard Market and Lowertown ($$$) to walk here: market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament. All areas to stay in Ottawa.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at ByWard Market?
Plan 1–3 hours. With National Gallery of Canada nearby, it fits a half-day in ByWard Market and Lowertown.
+Is ByWard Market free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit ByWard Market?
February and September–October, the quietest of the good months. Come in the morning for the outdoor vendors, and return in the evening for patios and bars.
+Do I need to book ByWard Market in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.