Rideau Canal Tours and Activities

The Canadian Tulip Festival celebrates the return of spring, with over a million displays of tulips planted throughout our city in May. Capture spectacular views of the tulips and discover their colorful beauty along with other hidden gems and the history of the city on a bike tour. In addition to the Tulip site at Dow's Lake, you will visit Rideau Canal, Landsdowne Park, the Glebe, Little Italy and much more.

This small-group bike tour is perfect for families and those wanting a safe and leisurely way to see Ottawa. Most of the route is on designated bike paths or quaint backroads that take you to some of Ottawa’s cultural and natural highlights. See Rideau Hall, cycle the Rideau Canal path, plus see the War Memorial, Byward Market and more. Stop along the way to learn more about certain locations and get local tips from your guide.

Experience the beauty and history of Ottawa on a bike tour in and around the city. Explore some of the city's trendiest and most vibrant neighborhoods and get a sense of local life as you travel through Centretown, the Glebe, and Hintonburg among others. On route, see all the major sites while enjoying the natural pathways and waterways of Canada’s capital city, and enjoy a snack as you travel.

We are the founders and curators of loveOttawa, a photographic social media project that celebrates Ottawa, along with its rich and dynamic community. As connoisseurs of the great things that make our city so special, our exclusive photowalks not only highlight and celebrate our city’s beauty but also its many hidden gems, generous spirit and wonderful people. On this photo tour, you’ll take home not only memorable imagery of what you’ve seen, but also come away with the importance of looking at the familiar with curious and creative eyes.

Choose your own itinerary during this self-guided tour of Ottawa via bicycle. Pedal your way through the city like a local, using the provided map to reach the sites that most interest you. Safe and scenic bike paths keep you away from car traffic and let you see the green areas of the region.

Experience the beauty and history of Ottawa on a half-day bike tour in and around the city. See the major attractions and must-see sites while enjoying the natural pathways and waterways of Canada’s capital city.

The Rideau Canal links Canada’s capital—Ottawa—with majestic Lake Ontario. On this tour, cruise in comfort along the UNESCO World Heritage–listed waterway and admire sweeping views over top attractions including the Canadian Museum of Nature, Château Laurier, Dow’s Lake, and the National Arts Centre. Along the way, listen as your guide sheds light on centuries of colorful Canadian history.

Maximize your time in Ottawa and Gatineau on a whirlwind sightseeing tour by land and water in an amphibious vehicle! Aboard the outrageous "amphibus," pass main city attractions like Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, the National War Memorial Monument and more. When cruising along the street gets dry, plunge into the Ottawa River to see the city from a different angle. Fun for the whole family!

Ottawa shines at night. Start with a leisurely sunset cruise on the river, passing Ottawa landmarks and giving you lovely views of the sky as it changes color. From there, enjoy a ride through Ottawa, and a wander through the bustling Byward Market. Top it off with the impressive “Northern Lights” show projected on the wall of the Parliament Building.

Are you planning a visit to Ottawa? Our tourist treasure hunt will take you from Chateau Laurier to the Supreme Court and the Byward Market, passing by the Parliament Hill of course! You will have to solve challenges at every step to discover your next destination and earn points. At each step, you will learn a little history as well as interesting facts about what surrounds you. t takes 2-3 hours to complete, do it whenever you wish - you select your own date and start time, no scheduling or reservation needed. 20+ challenges, games and enigmas to solve as you walk through this historic neighborhood.

Make the best of your time in Montreal and visit Ottawa, the capital of Canada, on a full day excursion with us. Explore the city most emblematic sites of Ottawa with a local expert. Your private driver will pick you up at your desired time in Montreal and drive you to Ottawa. Once there, alongside one of our professional tour guides, you will learn the history and visit the main sites of Ottawa during a 2 hour guided city tour. You will of course have free time for lunch in Ottawa before returning. Your tour will end up in your desired place in Montreal. Final itinerary is adjustable to your personal interests

See the best of Ottawa by bike! Picturesque neighbourhoods, waterways, and scenic nature right in the city. We'll explore by using Ottawa's extremely impressive bike lane network! This introductory ride shows you the essential sights of Ottawa's core, and the whole experience feels like you are on a casual ride with a local friend that loves telling stories. We even keep the groups sizes small for a more intimate, personalized experience. This intro tour covers the must-see spots, shares the history, offers stunning views, and sets you up with ideas of things to do for the rest of your stay. Everyone has been loving our included Norco Scene bikes - they are super comfortable and so much fun to ride - we both now use these as our personal bikes! If you've never taken a bike tour before, you are more than welcome. We stop every 10-15 min or so to hear local stories & info, check out public art, or snap photos. Join us and our team to see more of Ottawa in less time - by bike!

Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person. Join us on this 2 hours adventure through Ottawa’s Iconic Sights with photos included!

This tour begins at the mouth of the historic Rideau Canal and explores the waterway's role in both early Canada and Bytown, and the unique factors that made Ottawa the first choice for the capital. Then, we cross the Rideau River and stop for a brief moment of reflection at the National War Memorial and the role Canada played in World War I. From there, we wander down the sidewalk gardens and patios of Sparks Street to explore Ottawa's adolescence and troubled growth into a capital. Finally, the tour ends at Parliament Hill where we take in the breathtaking views of the Ottawa River and surrounding cityscape and delve into Canada's slow and careful separation from Britain, the paranoia and icy tensions of the Cold War, and finally, the difficulties of unifying and governing a country with two national languages, dozens of cultural and religious groups, and a geographic size second only to Russia.

Starting where Ottawa began, this self guided audio tour will take you to the very best city viewpoint. Beginning back when there was nothing here but forest, you will see where and hear how Ottawa began and gain a pretty good feeling for the circumstances, events and leaders that shaped the city in its earliest days. Most everything you see as you walk is explained. The tour ends in the most famous market in town, where you will find lots to see and great places to refresh yourself. Take in gorgeous views of the Ottawa River. Find out about the indigenous people who inhabited the area for thousands of years. Learn about the famous locks of Ottawa. Finally end the tour in the bustling Byward Market. Along the way, discover the stories of the pioneering characters who have shaped the captivating history of Ottawa.

Get on a bike and explore with us the local hangouts and lifestyle of Ottawa! This ride is all about the nature & neighbourhoods beyond the Downtown Ottawa core, and the whole experience feels like you are on a casual ride with a local friend that loves telling stories. We keep the groups sizes small for a more intimate, personalized experience. This very off-the-beaten-path tour covers hip neighbourhoods, a canal-side bike route, a beautiful Arboretum, two waterfalls, an experimental farm in the city, and more! Everyone has been loving our included Norco Scene bikes - they are super comfortable and so much fun to ride - we both now use these as our personal bikes! If you've never taken a bike tour before, you are more than welcome. We stop every 10-15 min or so to hear local stories & info, check out public art, or snap photos. Join us and our team to see more of Ottawa in less time - by bike!

Take a spooky stroll through Downtown Ottawa on this guided haunted walking tour. Experience the darker side of Canada’s capital and hear tales of the city's haunted heritage as told by a professional storyteller. Hear the hair-raising stories and see the area’s most haunted sites. It’s a fascinating, spine-tingling adventure.

Join us as we explore the darker side of the festive season. Hear about strange and frightening holiday traditions from around the world and gather in close as we share creepy Christmas-themed ghost stories. The majority of the tour will take place inside the spooky Bytown Museum, one of Ottawa’s oldest and most haunted buildings. Once inside, you’ll learn why some Haunted Walk tour guides are too scared to give tours of the museum – even at Christmas time! Pay close attention to the stories and you might just win yourself some extra presents before the night is through!