Month guide · Ottawa · Canada
Ottawa in July
What July is really like in Ottawa: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
July is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 15.3 hours of daylight. The warmest, busiest month, opening with huge Canada Day crowds; humid days with occasional thunderstorms.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 15.3 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in July
July is the warmest month in Ottawa: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with June (24°C (75°F)), July is warmer; by August highs drop to around 25°C (77°F).
- Sunrise (15 July)
- About 05:29
- Sunset (15 July)
- About 20:49
- Daylight
- About 15.3 hours
Summer (June–August). Warm, humid days, patios, Canada Day and music festivals, with the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill; the busiest season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, July rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: July is one of the pricier months.
Events in July
- Canada Day celebrations (1 July)
- Ottawa Bluesfest (usually July)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in July
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · ByWard Market and Lowertown
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
Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica
Ottawa's oldest surviving church, completed in the 19th century, has twin silver spires visible across Lowertown and a vaulted ceiling painted deep blue with gold stars above carved wooden galleries and stained glass.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Park · ByWard Market and Lowertown
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
Rideau Hall
The official residence of the Governor General has 32 hectares of landscaped grounds open to the public, with trees planted by visiting dignitaries, a cricket pitch and greenhouses.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 16°C and 11 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is July a good time to visit Ottawa?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events 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 July a good time to visit Ottawa?
It is a shoulder-season month. The warmest, busiest month, opening with huge Canada Day crowds; humid days with occasional thunderstorms.
+How warm is Ottawa in July?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Ottawa in July?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.