Month guide · Ottawa · Canada
Ottawa in January
What January is really like in Ottawa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: RealGrouchy, Public domain
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -6°C (21°F), lows of -15°C (5°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 9.1 hours of daylight. Very cold, with snow on the ground and wind chill well below −20°C on some days. The canal skateway usually opens in January if it is cold enough.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -6°C (21°F) / -15°C (5°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Ottawa: days average -6°C (21°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about -15°C (5°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with December (-3°C (27°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around -4°C (25°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:38
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:45
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Long, snowy and very cold, but with canal skating, Winterlude and cross-country skiing minutes from downtown.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Rideau Canal Skateway season usually begins (January, ice permitting)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
![– 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
Look for the Rideau Street Chapel, a complete chapel interior rebuilt inside the gallery; it is easy to miss.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Old Hull, Gatineau
Canadian Museum of History
Douglas Cardinal's curving, wave-like building on the Gatineau riverbank holds one of Canada's most-visited museums.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Iconic
Museum · LeBreton Flats
Canadian War Museum
Allow time for the First World War gallery, which is the most powerful section, and the LeBreton Gallery of large vehicles.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Centretown
Canadian Museum of Nature
Housed in the turreted Victoria Memorial Museum Building — locals call it 'the castle' — the natural history museum has a full blue whale skeleton, a dinosaur gallery, a mineral hall and the Canada Goose Arctic Gallery.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near -6°C, lows near -15°C and 12 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Ottawa?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Ottawa in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Ottawa?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Very cold, with snow on the ground and wind chill well below −20°C on some days. The canal skateway usually opens in January if it is cold enough.
+How warm is Ottawa in January?
Average highs are around -6°C (21°F) and lows around -15°C (5°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Ottawa in January?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.