Ottawa

Ottawa is Canada's bilingual capital - a city of grand Parliament buildings, world-class museums, and the iconic Rideau Canal, which transforms from a UNESCO World Heritage waterway in summer to the world's largest skating rink in winter. The city blends English and French Canadian cultures with a cosmopolitan energy.

Parliament Hill's Gothic Revival architecture dominates the skyline, with free tours of the Centre Block and a spectacular Sound and Light show projected on the buildings during summer evenings. The National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of History, and Canadian War Museum rank among the finest museums in the country.

Ottawa's ByWard Market neighborhood buzzes with restaurants, bars, and artisan vendors. The Rideau Canal - a 202-kilometer waterway connecting Ottawa to Kingston - offers boating in summer and a 7.8-kilometer skating experience in winter, when Ottawans commute on ice.

The best time to visit Ottawa is late spring through early fall (May to September). The Canadian Tulip Festival in May is spectacular, with over one million tulips blooming across the city.

Summer (June to August) brings warm temperatures (20-28°C), outdoor festivals, and canal activities. Fall offers stunning foliage in nearby Gatineau Park. Winter is extremely cold (-15 to -5°C) but Winterlude festival (February) and Rideau Canal skating are uniquely Canadian experiences.