Where to stay · Ottawa · Canada
Where to stay in Ottawa
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jcart1534, Public domain
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in ByWard Market and Lowertown. Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament. Best alternatives — families: Downtown and Parliament Hill; budget: Centretown.
Key facts
- First visit
- ByWard Market and Lowertown
- Families
- Downtown and Parliament Hill
- Budget
- Centretown
- Nightlife
- ByWard Market and Lowertown
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | ByWard Market and Lowertown | Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament |
| Families | Downtown and Parliament Hill | Government buildings, hotels and the Sparks Street pedestrian mall |
| Couples | ByWard Market and Lowertown | Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament |
| Budget | Centretown | Elgin and Bank Street restaurants, Victorian houses and the Village |
| Nightlife | ByWard Market and Lowertown | Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament |
| Food lovers | ByWard Market and Lowertown | Market stalls, restaurants and the city's busiest bar streets beside Parliament |
| Solo travellers | Downtown and Parliament Hill | Government buildings, hotels and the Sparks Street pedestrian mall |
| Shopping | The Glebe | Boutiques, cafés and Lansdowne Park between Bank Street and the canal |
| Quiet stays | The Glebe | Boutiques, cafés and Lansdowne Park between Bank Street and the canal |
Ottawa neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
ByWard Market and Lowertown
The ByWard Market, laid out in the 1820s, is a grid of streets around a central market building with food stalls, outdoor produce vendors in season, and dozens of restaurants, pubs and patios. It is a five-minute walk from Parliament Hill, the National Gallery and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, which makes it the most popular base for first-time visitors.
- Good
- Walk to most major sights; Huge choice of restaurants and bars; Lively in all seasons
- Watch out
- Noisy late on weekends; Some street disorder at night around the market
- Nearby
- ByWard Market, National Gallery of Canada, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Major's Hill Park
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and solo travellers
Downtown and Parliament Hill
The core between Parliament Hill and the Queensway holds federal offices, many large hotels, the Rideau Centre shopping mall and the Sparks Street pedestrian mall. Confederation Square, with the National War Memorial, sits at its centre, and the Rideau and Parliament O-Train stations are here.
- Good
- Central for sights and transit; Wide choice of hotels; Underground O-Train stations
- Watch out
- Quiet after office hours; Fewer independent restaurants
- Nearby
- Parliament Hill, National War Memorial, Rideau Centre, Sparks Street
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
Centretown
South of downtown, Centretown is a residential neighbourhood with two main streets: Elgin Street, lined with pubs and restaurants, and Bank Street, which includes the Village, the city's LGBTQ+ district. The Canadian Museum of Nature sits on its southern edge, and the canal runs along its eastern side.
- Good
- Walkable to downtown; Good restaurants at fair prices; Close to the canal
- Watch out
- Mostly smaller hotels and rentals; Busy traffic on Bank Street
- Nearby
- Canadian Museum of Nature, Elgin Street, Bank Street, Rideau Canal
$$$ · Best for families, shopping, quiet stays and couples
The Glebe
The Glebe is an attractive early 20th-century neighbourhood with independent shops and cafés along Bank Street. Lansdowne Park holds the TD Place stadium, a farmers' market and restaurants, and Dow's Lake and the canal paths are on its doorstep — prime territory during the Tulip Festival and for winter skating.
- Good
- Pleasant, residential streets; Direct access to the canal; Good shopping and cafés
- Watch out
- Few hotels; A bus or long walk from Parliament
- Nearby
- Lansdowne Park, Dow's Lake, Rideau Canal, Commissioners Park
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and culture
Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill's tree-lined streets hold grand 19th-century houses, many now embassies or guesthouses, and the University of Ottawa campus. Laurier House, home of two prime ministers, is here, and the ByWard Market and Rideau Centre are a short walk across the canal.
- Good
- Walk to the market and downtown; Historic B&Bs and guesthouses; Calm streets
- Watch out
- Student party noise near the campus; Limited dining in the area itself
- Nearby
- University of Ottawa, Laurier House, Strathcona Park, Rideau Centre
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Little Italy and Chinatown
West of Centretown, Preston Street's Little Italy has Italian restaurants and patios marked by an arch over the street, while Somerset Street West's Chinatown, also marked by an ornate gateway, is packed with Vietnamese, Chinese and other Asian restaurants. It is a short bus ride to downtown.
- Good
- Strong, affordable restaurant scene; Near Dow's Lake; Lower hotel prices
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Not walkable to all main sights
- Nearby
- Preston Street, Somerset Street West, Dow's Lake, LeBreton Flats
$$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays and families
Westboro and Hintonburg
Along Wellington Street West and Richmond Road, Hintonburg and Westboro have independent cafés, bakeries, breweries and outdoor-gear shops, with Westboro Beach on the Ottawa River and riverside cycling paths nearby. Tunney's Pasture O-Train station and frequent buses connect the area with downtown.
- Good
- Local neighbourhood feel; River paths and beach; Transit links to downtown
- Watch out
- Mostly rentals; Far from the ByWard Market at night
- Nearby
- Westboro Beach, Wellington Street West, Ottawa River Pathway
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and culture
Old Hull, Gatineau
Across the Portage and Alexandra bridges in Gatineau, Quebec, Old Hull has French-speaking bars and bistros along the Promenade du Portage, the Canadian Museum of History on the riverbank and views straight back at Parliament. Bars in Quebec can stay open until 3am, later than in Ontario.
- Good
- Different, French-speaking atmosphere; Views of Parliament; Often lower hotel prices
- Watch out
- Separate transit system across the river; Fewer sights beyond the museum
- Nearby
- Canadian Museum of History, Promenade du Portage, Jacques-Cartier Park
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| ByWard Market and Lowertown | $$$ | ByWard Market, National Gallery of Canada, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Major's Hill Park |
| Downtown and Parliament Hill | $$$ | Parliament Hill, National War Memorial, Rideau Centre, Sparks Street |
| Centretown | $$ | Canadian Museum of Nature, Elgin Street, Bank Street, Rideau Canal |
| The Glebe | $$$ | Lansdowne Park, Dow's Lake, Rideau Canal, Commissioners Park |
| Sandy Hill | $$ | University of Ottawa, Laurier House, Strathcona Park, Rideau Centre |
| Little Italy and Chinatown | $$ | Preston Street, Somerset Street West, Dow's Lake, LeBreton Flats |
| Westboro and Hintonburg | $$$ | Westboro Beach, Wellington Street West, Ottawa River Pathway |
| Old Hull, Gatineau | $$ | Canadian Museum of History, Promenade du Portage, Jacques-Cartier Park |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Ottawa for first-time visitors?
ByWard Market and Lowertown. The ByWard Market, laid out in the 1820s, is a grid of streets around a central market building with food stalls, outdoor produce vendors in season, and dozens of restaurants, pubs and patios.
+Where should families stay in Ottawa?
Downtown and Parliament Hill: Central for sights and transit.
+Which area of Ottawa is best for a budget stay?
Centretown ($$): Elgin and Bank Street restaurants, Victorian houses and the Village.