Ottawa, Canada's Capital, sits on the border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in central Canada. It was made capital of the British colonial Province of Canada in 1857. In the 20th century, a much larger Capital region was created to serve as a frame for Canada’s Capital. Since 1969, Ottawa and Gatineau (two cities that face each other across the broad Ottawa River) and the surrounding urban and rural communities have been formally recognized as Canada’s Capital Region.

Be seduced by Canadian culture. Indulge in your passion for learning. Ottawa and Gatineau are home to eight national museums, storehouses of Canadian culture. Visit them all for only $30 with the Museums passport!

The Central Experimental Farm , a 500-hectare federal government agricultural research facility, was founded in 1886 and today is a “farm in the city", open to the public throughout the year.

The Rideau Canal was built through the wilderness in the early 1800s to link Ottawa to the Great Lakes. It was one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century! In winter, a section of the Canal (7.8 kilometres) becomes the world’s largest skating rink .

Confederation Boulevard runs through the heart of the Capital, your avenue to discovering this extraordinary place. Along its length lie some of Canada’s important institutions, heritage sites, monuments and festival plazas. Perfect for a pleasant day of strolling and sightseeing.

Experience the tranquility of nature in the heart of the city.

Some 90 kilometres of scenic parkways run through the Capital, following the waterways from east to west and penetrating deep into Gatineau Park to the north and the Greenbelt to the south.

The Greenbelt is a 200-square-kilometre belt of protected wild and rural land located in the southern part of the urban Capital in Ontario. It is a symbol of Canada’s rural landscape as well as a place where everyone can explore a mix of sights, sounds and recreational activities on well-maintained trails.

A boardwalk leads into Mer Bleue, a wetland only a few kilometres from Parliament Hill that is protected as internationally important under the U.N. Ramsar Convention.

Discover alluring architecture.

Ottawa is one of four capitals (with London, Johannesburg and Budapest) that are neo-Gothic in style and spirit. The complex, picturesque quality of Gothic design distinguishes these from neo-classical Rome, Paris and Washington, which are characterized by a spirit of monumental grandeur.