Shopping · Ottawa · Canada
Shopping in Ottawa
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wladyslaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping centres on the Rideau Centre mall and Sparks Street downtown, independent boutiques in the Glebe and Westboro, and Canadian-made goods in the ByWard Market. Best souvenirs: Maple syrup and maple sugar, Indigenous art and Collector coins.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Maple syrup and maple sugar
Where to shop
Rideau Centre
The city's largest downtown mall, connected to the Rideau O-Train station.
Sparks Street
A pedestrian mall near Parliament with souvenir shops and restaurants.
The Glebe and Bank Street
Independent boutiques, bookshops and kitchenware stores.
Westboro
Outdoor-gear stores and design shops along Richmond Road.
Markets
ByWard Market
Year-round food and craft vendors, with outdoor produce and maple-syrup stalls from spring to autumn.
Ottawa Farmers' Market at Lansdowne
A weekend farmers' market at Lansdowne Park in the Glebe, outdoors in season.
What to buy
Maple syrup and maple sugar
Sold in tins and bottles at the ByWard Market and souvenir shops; buy from local producers when possible.
Indigenous art
Prints, carvings and crafts from shops that buy directly from Indigenous artists.
Collector coins
Commemorative coins from the Royal Canadian Mint's boutique on Sussex Drive.
Ice wine
Sweet dessert wine from Ontario vineyards, sold in liquor stores (LCBO).
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · ByWard Market and Lowertown
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.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider BeaverTails, Maple taffy, Butter tart and Caesar. The George Street stand in the ByWard Market and kiosks along the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| ByWard Market and Lowertown | $$$ | Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament |
| Centretown | $$ | Elgin and Bank Street restaurants, Victorian houses and the Village |
| The Glebe | $$$ | Boutiques, cafés and Lansdowne Park between Bank Street and the canal |
| Sandy Hill | $$ | Victorian mansions, embassies and the University of Ottawa east of the canal |
| Little Italy and Chinatown | $$ | Preston Street trattorias and Somerset Street West's Asian restaurants |
| Westboro and Hintonburg | $$$ | Wellington Street West's cafés, breweries and outdoor shops near the river |
| Old Hull, Gatineau | $$ | French-speaking Quebec bars and the Museum of History across the river |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CAD. Tip 15–20% on the pre-tax amount at restaurants and bars, about $1–$2 per drink, and 10–15% for taxis. Card machines usually suggest percentages; you can enter a custom amount.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in March–April and November–January; the busiest months are July.
- February: Winterlude — winter festival in Ottawa and Gatineau (usually the first three weekends of February)
- May: Canadian Tulip Festival (usually mid-May)
- June: Ottawa Jazz Festival (usually late June)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for families, shopping, quiet stays and couples
The Glebe
Boutiques, cafés and Lansdowne Park between Bank Street and the canal
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Ottawa?
Maple syrup and maple sugar, Indigenous art, Collector coins and Ice wine.
+Where is the best shopping in Ottawa?
Rideau Centre: The city's largest downtown mall, connected to the Rideau O-Train station.
+What are the best markets in Ottawa?
ByWard Market and Ottawa Farmers' Market at Lansdowne.