Ontario

Key Facts

Annual Visitors : 11 million

Time Difference : GMT -5 hours

Land Area : 2790sqkm | 1077sqm

Population : 994,837

Languages : English, French

Currency : Canadian Dollar

Non-stop from Heathrow or Gatwick to Montreal International Airport* : 7 to 7½ hours

* There are no non-stop flights to Ottawa from the U.K. Montreal to Ottawa is a 2-hour drive.

Flight Times

Airlines

About

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the province of Ontario. 


It is a bilingual city with a population of over 1 million people. Ottawa is known for its government buildings, its green spaces, and its many museums and art galleries. 

Why Go

  • Visit Parliament and take a tour of the Buildings, watch a session of the House of Commons, or climb the Peace Tower for stunning views of the city.
  • Explore the Rideau Canal a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Visit the Canadian War Museum with a collection of over 70,000 artifacts. 
  • See a show at the National Arts Centre.
  • Take a walk through the historic ByWard Market.
  • Go hiking in Gatineau Park located across the Ottawa River in Quebec.
  • Visit the Canadian Museum of Nature with dinosaur, animal, and plant exhibits.
  • See the tulips at the Canadian Tulip Festival.
  • In the winter go ice skating on the Rideau Canal.
  • Visit Winterlude a winter festival featuring ice skating, snowshoeing, and dog sledding.

Map

Videos

Ottawa has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons. The warmest months are July and August, with average temperatures of 25°C (77°F). The coldest months are January and February, with average temperatures of -10°C (14°F). If you prefer mild weather, you may want to visit Ottawa in the spring (May to June) or fall (September to October).


Ottawa hosts a number of major events throughout the year, such as the Canadian Tulip Festival (May), the Canada Day celebrations (July 1), and the Winterlude festival (February). If you are interested in attending any of these events, plan your trip well in advanced.