Getting around · Ottawa · Canada
Getting around Ottawa
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
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
Central Ottawa is compact and walkable, and the main sights from Parliament Hill to the ByWard Market and the National Gallery are within 15 minutes of each other on foot. OC Transpo's O-Train light rail and buses cover the wider city, and Gatineau has its own STO buses. No for the city itself: walking and the O-Train cover the core.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- YOW
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- OC Transpo DayPass
Ways to get around
Walking
Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, the National Gallery, the canal locks and Confederation Square are all close together; the Museum of History is a 20-minute walk across the Alexandra Bridge.
Train
The O-Train's east–west Line 1 runs underground through downtown at Lyon, Parliament and Rideau stations, linking to the north–south Line 2 and the airport branch.
Bus
OC Transpo buses fill the gaps, and STO buses serve Gatineau; the two systems are separate.
Check the OC Transpo website for current fare options before you travel.
Cycling
Hundreds of kilometres of multi-use pathways follow the canal and the Ottawa River, and some scenic parkways close to cars for cycling on summer weekends.
Ride-hailing
Uber, Lyft and taxis are widely available and useful for the Aviation Museum, Rideau Hall and Gatineau Park.
Boat
In summer, boat tours run on the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River, giving good views of Parliament from the water.
Tickets and passes
OC Transpo DayPass
Unlimited travel on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train for one day, useful for a museum-hopping day.
From the airport
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) is about 15 km south of downtown, roughly 20–25 minutes by taxi or rideshare. OC Transpo links the airport with the O-Train network. VIA Rail trains from Ottawa station reach Montreal in about two hours.
Do you need a car?
No for the city itself: walking and the O-Train cover the core. A car is useful for Gatineau Park, the Diefenbunker and day trips into the Ottawa Valley and Quebec.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | About 2 hours by train or car | VIA Rail from Ottawa station, or car via Highway 417 |
| Kingston | About 2 hours by car | Car via Highway 416 and Highway 401 |
| Thousand Islands | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car via Highway 416 and Highway 401 to Gananoque |
| Parc Oméga | About 1 hour by car | Car via Highway 50 to Montebello, Quebec |
| Wakefield, Quebec | About 30 minutes by car | Car via Highway 5 |
| Merrickville | About 50 minutes by car | Car via Highway 416 and county roads |
| Mont-Tremblant | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car via Highway 50 and Route 323 |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Ottawa?
No for the city itself: walking and the O-Train cover the core. A car is useful for Gatineau Park, the Diefenbunker and day trips into the Ottawa Valley and Quebec.
+How do you get from the airport to Ottawa?
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) is about 15 km south of downtown, roughly 20–25 minutes by taxi or rideshare. OC Transpo links the airport with the O-Train network. VIA Rail trains from Ottawa station reach Montreal in about two hours.
+What is the best way to get around Ottawa?
Walking: Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, the National Gallery, the canal locks and Confederation Square are all close together; the Museum of History is a 20-minute walk across the Alexandra Bridge.