Free things to do · Ottawa · Canada
9 free things to do in Ottawa
Ottawa without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: – Wladyslaw [Disk.], CC BY-SA 3.0
![– Wladyslaw [Disk.]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ottawa_-_ON_-_National_Gallery_of_Canada.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Ottawa without paying an entry fee: Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks, Rideau Canal Skateway and National War Memorial and Confederation Square are all free. Several national museums offer free admission at set times, such as certain evenings; check each museum's website.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 2
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- March–April and November–January
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Downtown and Parliament Hill
1.Parliament Hill
Choose the West Block tour to see the temporary House of Commons chamber built inside the building's glass-roofed former courtyard.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours with a tour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
Waterfront · Downtown and Parliament Hill
2.Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks
Watch boats being lifted through the eight locks by hand on a summer afternoon; Parks Canada staff operate them.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Experience · Rideau Canal
3.Rideau Canal Skateway
Check the National Capital Commission's ice status before you plan around it; the best conditions are usually from mid-January to mid-February.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Active
- Kids
- Couples
Landmark · Downtown and Parliament Hill
4.National War Memorial and Confederation Square
Watch the sentry change on the hour in summer, a short walk from the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Iconic
Market · ByWard Market and Lowertown
5.ByWard Market
Come in the morning for the outdoor vendors, and return in the evening for patios and bars.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- After dark
Religious site · ByWard Market and Lowertown
6.Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica
Step in on a sunny morning, when the light makes the blue ceiling glow; entry is free outside services.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Park · ByWard Market and Lowertown
7.Major's Hill Park
Bring a picnic from the ByWard Market and watch the sunset behind Parliament.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Couples
Palace · New Edinburgh
8.Rideau Hall
Combine it with Rideau Falls and a walk through New Edinburgh's streets, all within 15 minutes on foot.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
Nature · New Edinburgh
9.Rideau Falls
Visit in April or May, when snowmelt makes the falls roar; in winter they freeze into icy curtains.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and Parliament Hill | Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and the Ottawa Locks and National War Memorial and Confederation Square | 1.5–2 hours with a tour + 1–2 hours + 20–30 minutes |
| Rideau Canal | Rideau Canal Skateway | 1–3 hours |
| ByWard Market and Lowertown | ByWard Market, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and Major's Hill Park | 1–3 hours + 30 minutes + 30–60 minutes |
| New Edinburgh | Rideau Hall and Rideau Falls | 1–1.5 hours + 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · ByWard Market and Lowertown
Royal Canadian Mint
Book a tour on a weekday to see the production floor in operation.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Nature · Gatineau
Gatineau Park
Visit in late September or early October for autumn colour; parking at popular lots fills by mid-morning at weekends.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
More ways to save
- Several national museums offer free admission at set times, such as certain evenings; check each museum's website.
- Parliament tours, Rideau Hall tours, the Skateway and the Changing of the Guard are free.
- Remember that 13% HST is added to most prices in Ontario.
- Hotels are pricier on weekdays when Parliament sits and on Canada Day and Winterlude weekends; compare Gatineau hotels.
- Shawarma and Asian restaurants on Somerset Street West are among the best-value meals in town.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ottawa expensive to visit?
Ottawa is moderately priced for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Ottawa?
Parliament Hill: Choose the West Block tour to see the temporary House of Commons chamber built inside the building's glass-roofed former courtyard.