Top 10 Things To Do In Ottawa!

By Rhiann Singh, University of Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa is unlike most capital cities in the world, but it still has its beautiful little quirks, which made me love it so much. Here is a list of my top 10 things to do in and around Ottawa!

PWHL Game

For those of you who don’t know, PWHL stands for the Professional Women’s Hockey League. This new league began in 2024 for female ice hockey players across North America. I only attended one game, however, the atmosphere was truly amazing, and I wish I had gone to more. I watched Ottawa vs. Boston, and Ottawa won 3-2!! It was also pride night so everyone was dressed up in bright colourful clothing. This league is really beginning to take off in North America, and it is truly inspiring to watch these female hockey players in action! The male ice hockey league is also extremely popular here in Canada, and I highly recommend attending an Ottawa Sens game too.

Gatineau Park

Although Gatineau Park is actually in Quebec, it is only a stone’s throw away from Ottawa and is easily accessible. I went during the summer and the views were absolutely breathtaking. You don’t just have to go on a hike there, many people roller ski, go on their bikes and in the winter people can go skiing there too. I hiked up to the Pink Lake and it was so surreal and beautiful. There are many places to have picnics and take in the scenery. No matter what season it is, this Park will always be the perfect place to go!

Pottery Painting

My roommate and I wanted a cute keepsake to remember our time together in Ottawa, so we decided to do pottery painting. We went to The Mud Oven on Bank Street, which was a really affordable place. The studio was lovely and the staff were extremely kind and helpful. I painted a tile and my roommate painted a bowl. This was such a fun and wholesome experience for us both.

Candlelight Concert

There are hundreds of candlelight concerts that happen around the world, and luckily enough Ottawa is one of the locations where they take place. They play renditions from many popular artists, such as Adele, Hans Zimmer, Taylor Swift, Queen, and many more. Being ABBA fans, my roommate and I had to attend the ABBA concert. They performed in one of the local Churches, and it was honestly so beautiful and serene. Whether it’s for a cute date night or a wholesome evening with friends, these concerts are such a fun thing to do.

Coffee Shops

Being a student, there will always be a time where you end up studying in a coffee shop, especially during exam season. I had two main independent coffee shops where I enjoyed spending my time in. Happy Goat has many shops around Ottawa, but I would mainly spend my time in the one on Wilbrod St. The atmosphere is super chill and is a hotspot for many students. I can’t even explain how many hours me and my friends would spend in there. It is about a 10 minute walk away from campus but is situated in Sandy Hill which is a popular student area. My other favourite place to go to is Black Squirrel on Bank Street. This one is out the way but it’s worth the trek. This shop is special as it is also a MASSIVE book shop. My friends and I spent hours in there looking at all the books they had. There were so many genres and many people would also donate their books too. Also their cookies are really delicious!

Walks

Ottawa is definitely a walkable city. I rarely got the bus or the O-train and saw so much more by foot. At least once a week I would like to go on a big walk somewhere. My favourite locations were to Major Hills Park, Dows Lake, or just simply along the Rideau Canal. You would also see many other people out on these routes so it definitely felt safe being alone.

Elgin Street

Elgin Street is a popular street in downtown Ottawa. This street is full of life and has so many things to do. There is a wide variety of restaurants, my favourites being Pure Kitchen and the infamous Elgin Street Diner. There are also five parks located along the street. I also enjoyed shopping here too, especially at Boogie + Bird. This street is also very popular for nightlife too, with Lieutenant’s Pump being quite popular. This street honestly has it all!

ByWard Market

ByWard Market is also another popular area in Lowertown Ottawa. Like Elgin Street, it is full of many different things to do and places to eat and socialise. My favourite places to go here were The Grand, Beavertails, Heart and Crown, El Furniture Warehouse, the Ottawa Sign, and Giulia. No matter what time of day it is, ByWard Market will always be full of people.

Music Events and Shows

One thing I love about Ottawa is its diversity, which also makes its music and show scene so varied, so you can be reassured there is something for everyone. I was lucky enough to attend a few concerts, like Daniel Caesar at the Canadian Tyre Centre, and some gigs at City At Night where my friend is a DJ at. The city also holds many festivals and performances and you can even watch shows at The National Arts Centre.

Museums and Art Gallery

With Ottawa being the capital of Canada there is no doubt that there would be a lack of museums and art galleries. I love art and of course spent a good few hours wandering around the National Gallery of Canada. I also went to the Canadian Museum of History and learned so much about Canada’s past, which was eye-opening. A bonus is that on Thursday evenings, between 5 and 8pm, the National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of History, Canadian Museum of Nature, and the Canadian War Museum is free!