If you already read my blog post on my Itinerary For A 3 Day Wine Country Getaway In Prince Edward County and you want to continue that road trip, you can tack on a 1 night stay in Canada’s capital city: Ottawa. About 4 and a half hours from Toronto and just under 3 hours from Prince Edward County, Ottawa borders Québec and is the political centre of Canada. Ottawa is named after the Ottawa River, from the Algonquin word “Odawa” which means to trade. This city is actually situated in Algonquin territory where they used to hunt, fish, trade, and more for 6,500 years and has a lot of history behind how it came to be.
Today, Ottawa has become a metropolitan area that is still preserving much of its history all around. And, Ottawa proudly boasts having the most educated population among many cities in Canada and is home to multiple universities. If you love history and have an appreciation for old, architectural buildings, here is everything you’ll need to see for your 1 night stay in Ottawa.
First Day In Ottawa
1 – Hog’s Back Falls
Time Spent: 15 to 30 minutes. It’s close by a residential area and Carleton University, so it’s interesting to see a random waterfall there. It’s in a decent park so it’ll be nice to take a stroll and look at the waterfalls and snap some photos.
Interesting Facts: Officially known as Prince of Wales Falls, but you’ll need to Google Map Hog’s Back Falls to find it. Prior to this man-made waterfall on the Rideau River, it was a set of small rapids. During the construction of this dam, it collapsed 3 times and when completed, it flooded the river. To prevent further damage, a wall was placed to control water flow which flows through an excavated part of the channel and became what Hog’s Back Falls is today.
2 – St. John The Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine
Time Spent: 10 to 15 minutes if you want to make a quick stop and want to enjoy some Norman-Gothic architecture and stained glass windows. I normally just appreciate what I don’t get to see every day, so it was a quick 5 minute stop for me to get some photos of this pretty, gold-steepled church.
Interesting Facts: When Ukrainians first migrated to Canada in 1891, many of them had moved to Ottawa. This is the only Ukrainian Catholic parish church in the Ottawa area. The artworks in the church are also designed by 5 artists from Ukraine.
3 – Dominion Arboretum
Time Spent: You can spend a couple hours here depending on what you want to see and do. This arboretum is opened from dusk to dawn. It’s very nice, peaceful, and relaxing here and many people come to relish in much-needed down time, walk their dogs, or get some exercise in. On a nice sunny day, it’s an even better outdoor area to enjoy. I spent about 30 minutes here as it was part of a quick stop before we headed right into the heart of Ottawa.
Interesting Facts: The Dominion Arboretum is Canada’s oldest arboretum and is a botanical garden consisting mainly of trees. There are 64 acres of land so there is plenty of space to share. The most popular tourist attraction here is probably the Ornamental Gardens as this is where their annual plant displays can be found. In the area, there is also a Tropical Greenhouse, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and Fletcher Wildlife Garden which is maintained by a volunteer organization called Friends of the Central Experimental Farm.
4 – Rideau Canal
Time Spent: It’s hard to say an exact given amount of time as it depends on what type of activity you do around here. Given that the Rideau Canal is 202 kilometers long, you can happen upon this Canal in many different areas. You can drive along the canal, walk on the path beside the Rideau Canal here for a leisurely stroll, skate on the canal during winter, go boating, or even eat by the canal.
Interesting Facts: The Rideau Canal connects Ottawa to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. It was actually created in 1832 in the case there would be war with the US after the War of 1812. It is the oldest operated canal in North America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5 – Lansdowne Park
Time Spent: You can definitely spend hours here. Right across from the Rideau Canal is Lansdowne Park. This 40 acre urban park and entertainment facility for sports, exhibitions, and more. It has stadium, a skate park, water park, and a major retail development including a movie theatre to name a few.
Interesting Facts: Lansdowne Park was created in 1868 to hold exhibitions. It is now also the primary sports facility in Ottawa. The Aberdeen Pavilion has also been used in many military matters in the Boer War, World War 1 and World War 2.
Where To Stay For 1 Night In Ottawa
If you’re only staying for 1 night in Ottawa, the best location would be to stay in Downtown. Everything is easily walkable and it’s actually more convenient not to drive. You can stay at the iconic Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel or find other great hotel deals for a 1 night stay in Ottawa here.
6 – Saint Patrick’s Basilica
Time Spent: 5 minutes if you want photos on the outside, and maybe 10-15 minutes if you want to visit the inside.
Interesting Facts: Founded in 1855, this Gothic Revival style church is made to also cater to those living across the river in Quebec. The attendees were mostly from Irish descent and that’s why this church is dedicated to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. There is also a World War 1 memorial painting that’s dedicated to the soldiers of the St. Patrick’s Basilica parish who died fighting in the war.
7 – Supreme Court of Canada / Parliament Hill / Peace Tower / Library of Parliament
Time Spent: You can spend around 2 to 3 hours walking in this area. They are all within the same vicinity and mostly next to each other. There are a lot of grounds to walk, and when they open up again, you are able to take tours in these buildings.
Interesting Facts: The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest judicial system in Canada and was established in 1875. You can even attend a hearing if you like. Currently, they are also holding free virtual tours.
Parliament Hill has buildings of the Gothic Revival style and was built in 1876. It is also designated as a World Heritage Site and National Historic Site of Canada. It was originally the site of a military base until Queen Victoria chose Ottawa to be Canada’s capital. Parliament Hill also overlooks the Ottawa River and was a significant landmark to the Indigenous people back in the day.
Parliament Hill consists of the East, West, and Center Block. In 1916, the Center Block was destroyed by fire and only the Library of Parliament was saved. Forbes has also declared it is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. There are over 40,000 volumes of books and some of them are even donated by Queen Victoria. After the fire, the building was re-constructed and the Peace Tower was added in 1927 to commemorate World War 1.
Second Day In Ottawa
1 – The National War Memorial
Time Spent: About 15 to 20 minutes. It’s all within the same vicinity as Parliament Hill and all the other government buildings as well as many monuments in the area to remind us of all the history that took place. Every morning in June until late August, they’ll have a changing of the guards ceremony.
Interesting Facts: In the centre of Confederation Square is the National War Memorial. It is a granite memorial arch built to commemorate World War 1 and then rededicated to those killed in World War 2 and the Korean War, the second Boer War and the War in Afghanistan. The Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated to all the soldiers that served in the war and did not return home. The body of an unknown soldier in the first World War was repatriated from France and buried in this tomb.
2 – Major Hill’s Park
Time Spent: About 1 hour. Right in the heart of Downtown Ottawa, Major Hill’s Park has great views of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River, and the surrounding area. It is also easily walkable to a majority of the tourist attractions. You can also enjoy the outdoors and go for a nice walk or run, or even do some reading on a park bench.
Interesting Facts: Major Hill’s Park was originally home to those who had built the Rideau Canal. Their residence was destroyed by fire in 1848 and then turned into a large green park that has remained that way ever since. Because of the large space and central location in Ottawa, it is often used as a venue for events and celebrations.
3 – ByWard Market
Time Spent: At least 3 hours. If you love food, shopping, and entertainment, this is where you need to go for your 1 night stay in Ottawa. It is basically a hub for a farmer’s market, specialty foods and restaurants, street art, and nightlife.
Interesting Facts: ByWard Market is Ottawa’s number 1 tourist attraction and was opened since 1826 by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who was also the builder of the Rideau Canal, whose residence was in Major Hill’s Park before it was burned down. It was the go-to place for Ottawa’s French and Irish communities and is now one of the most liveliest places in Ottawa.
4– Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica
Time Spent: About 30 minutes if you want to enter the church. Otherwise if you just want photos on the outside, About 10 to 15 minutes will allow you to roam the outside.
Interesting Facts: A National Historic Site of Canada, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in Ottawa was opened in 1846 and has a Gothic Revival and Neoclassical architecture. It is the third Notre-Dame Basilica in Canada after Québec City and Montréal. It is the oldest and largest church in Ottawa
5 – National Gallery of Canada
Time Spent: You can spend about 2 to 2.5 hours here. There are many different galleries and exhibitions and you’ll likely want to take your time enjoying all the pieces of art. Here are the prices of admission, hours, and other details of the gallery.
Interesting Facts: Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is the biggest art gallery in Canada and is one of the largest art museums in North America. The gallery’s collections include over 150,000 works art and some from as early as the 15th century.
6 – Royal Canadian Mint
Time Spent: If you take a tour it’s about 45 minutes. You can look for more information about the tours they have as well as shop their online store for special coins here.
Interesting Facts: Founded in 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint resembles a small castle and houses the world’s biggest coin and gold bars. The Mint manufactures all of Canada’s coins as well as for some other nations. Not only do they manufacture collector coins and such, they also medals, medallions, and tokens with precious metals. The last penny was minted in 2012 and if you can still get your hands on one, you’re in luck – as some are valued at more than just a pretty penny.
7 – Stanley Park
Time Spent: About 30 to 45 minutes. Not nearly as grand as the Stanley Park in Vancouver, but the Stanley Park in Ottawa is a riverside park with a manmade waterfall which allows for scenic walks, nice picnics, and even has an off-leash dog area. It even has an outdoor gym, tennis and basketball courts.
8 – Rideau Hall
Time Spent: About 2 hours. You can tour the historic mansion and its grounds for free.
Interesting Facts: Rideau Hall was built in 1868 and functions as a palace where the Canadian monarch and their representative, the government general resides. It is a National Historic Site of Canada and is 1 of 2 royal residences – the other being in Québec. It is a stone villa that overlooks the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers built by Thomas McKay who was one of the founders of Ottawa, who lived there until 1855 with his family.
As you prepare for your 1 night stay in Ottawa, here are Packing Mistakes To Avoid When Traveling as well as 22 Vital Lessons Learned On My Summer Road Trips that will help you make your trip a smooth one. If you’re flying from overseas, here are tips on How To Pack For A Week’s Vacation Fit In A Carry-On as I’m sure you’ll want to visit more than just Ottawa!