Why visit
Ottawa is Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal (skating in winter, biking in summer), the National Gallery with its giant spider, and compact enough to cover in two days before heading to Toronto or Montreal.
Ottawa at a glance
City population
1.0 million
Metro: 1.5 million
Elevation
70 m
230 ft
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
America/Toronto
Airport
YOW
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International
Founded
1826 (Bytown)
Getting around
O-Train (LRT) + OC Transpo buses; ice skating the Rideau Canal in winter
Signature dish
BeaverTails, poutine, maple syrup taffy on snow, shawarma (local obsession)
Neighborhoods for travelers
ByWard MarketCentretownThe GlebeWestboroRockcliffe Park
Canada at a glance
Country center
60.0°, -95.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,984,670 km²
3,855,101 mi²
Country population
39.9 million
4/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
Canadian dollar ($)
CAD
Dial
+1204
Languages
English, French
Demonym
Canadian
Internet
.ca
UN
Member state
ISO code
CA / CAN
Where in the world
60.0° · -95.0°
Canada
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Ottawa has the world's largest outdoor skating rink: the Rideau Canal freezes for 7.8 km each winter.
- Parliament Hill's Centre Block is undergoing a complete 10-year rehabilitation, hidden behind one of Canada's largest scaffolds.
- Ottawa and Gatineau (Quebec) sit across the river and speak different official languages: one of the world's rare bilingual capital regions.
- Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined: over 2 million.
- It is the second-largest country by area (9.98 million km²), but its population density is one of the lowest on earth.
Bordering Canada
Traveler notes
- Rideau Canal is the world's longest skating rink in winter
- Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill summer
- Museum of Civilization across the river in Gatineau
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Ottawa
What currency is used in Ottawa?
Ottawa uses the Canadian dollar ($), ISO code CAD.
What languages are spoken in Canada?
The primary languages are English and French.
What is the international calling code for Canada?
The calling code is +1204.
What airport serves Ottawa?
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International (IATA: YOW).
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