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location.beaches.districts
location.beaches.districts_subtitle
Parliament Hill & Downtown
sightseeingGovernment quarter with Parliament Buildings and national museums.
ByWard Market
localHistoric market district with shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
Rideau Canal Area
sightseeingUNESCO waterway, world's largest skating rink in winter.
faq.title
faq.subtitle Ottawa
Yes! Often overlooked for Toronto/Montreal but unique charm. Parliament Hill impressive. National museums excellent and many free. Rideau Canal skating magical in winter. More relaxed than big cities. 2-3 days ideal. Combine with Montreal trip easily.
Spring (May) - Tulip Festival, cherry blossoms. Summer - perfect weather, festivals. Winter (Feb) - Winterlude festival, canal skating, cold but magical. Fall - beautiful colors. Avoid January (very cold, -20°C common). Each season offers something unique.
No, but it helps! Ottawa is officially bilingual. All signs in both languages. English widely spoken everywhere. French more common in Gatineau (Quebec side). Service workers typically bilingual. Basic French phrases appreciated but not required.
Very cold! One of world's coldest capitals. January average -10°C, can drop to -30°C with windchill. But Winterlude (February) makes it fun. Dress in layers, bring winter boots. Underground tunnels connect downtown buildings. Summer hot and humid (25-30°C).
Travel Tips
Useful tips for visiting Ottawa
Visit Parliament Hill - free guided tours inside Centre Block (book online). Changing of Guard daily 10am in summer. Sound and light show on Parliament summer evenings. Canada Day (July 1) celebrations spectacular here.
Skate on Rideau Canal in winter - world's largest skating rink (7.8km)! Rent skates along canal. Get BeaverTails pastry and hot chocolate. Free to skate. Usually open January-March depending on ice. Unique Ottawa experience.
National museums excellent and some free! Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau side), National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum. Many free on Thursdays 5-8pm. Parliament Hill tours free. Great value for cultural experiences.
Get Presto card for public transit - works on O-Train and buses. Day pass good value if using transit often. Downtown walkable but city spread out. Uber works well. Winter: dress very warmly, temperatures can be brutal.
Weather
Average temperature by month
Now
-1°
-1°82%20 м/с
Today
0°-12°
0°-12°Tomorrow2°-2°
2°-2°Wed2°-6°
2°-6°Thu-7°-16°
-7°-16°Fri-4°-16°
-4°-16°Sat1°-4°
1°-4°Sun
-2°-9°
-2°-9°-5°
-14°Jan
-3°
-12°Feb
3°
-5°Mar
12°
2°Apr
20°
9°May
25°
14°Jun
27°
17°Jul
26°
16°Aug
21°
11°Sep
13°
5°Oct
5°
-1°Nov
-2°
-11°Dec
location.transport.title
location.transport.subtitle
location.transport.bus
—location.transport.taxi
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Prices
Cost of food, accommodation and services
Cafes & Restaurants
Budget meal
15 - 25 CAD
~20.0 $
Mid-range
30 - 60 CAD
~45.0 $
Fine dining
80 - 200 CAD
~140 $
Street Food
Local dish
8 - 18 CAD
~13.0 $
Drinks
Coffee
4 - 7 CAD
~5.5 $
Local beer
7 - 12 CAD
~9.5 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
2 - 4 CAD
~3.0 $
Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.
Accommodation
Hotels and rental prices
Hostel dorm
40 - 70 CAD / night
~55.0 $
Guesthouse
100 - 180 CAD / night
~140 $
Hotel 3★
200 - 350 CAD / night
~275 $
Hotel 5★
400 - 800 CAD / night
~600 $
Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.
location.payment.title
location.payment.subtitle
location.payment.accepted_cards
VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressInterac
location.payment.contactless_available
location.payment.atms
widespread
location.payment.mobile_payments
Apple PayGoogle Pay
location.payment.cash
Cards widely accepted. Real-Time Rail (RTR) payment system launching 2025-2026! Pre-authorized debit fee 55¢ from 2025. Contactless growing. Cash declining.
location.payment.currency_exchange
Dollar (CAD). PAYMENT MODERNIZATION 2025! Real-Time Rail (RTR) launching - instant payments 24/7/365 with ISO 20022 standards, fraud controls. Payments Canada expanding membership to PSPs. City introducing 55¢ pre-authorized debit fee Jan 2025 (was free) - user-pay model. Interac dominant domestically. Parliament Hill, ByWard Market card-friendly. TD, RBC, Scotiabank ATMs widespread. Capital city - bilingual, organized. Cold winters!
location.payment.tipping
15%
15-20% expected in restaurants. Hotel staff $2-5 CAD. Taxi 10-15%.
Safety
High safety level
Tourist area with low crime rate
Ottawa is very safe - one of Canada's safest cities. Political capital with heavy security presence. Petty crime minimal. Safe to walk at night in most areas. Winter can be harsh - dress warmly. Normal big city awareness sufficient.