Ottawa tours and excursions

Boat tours

Enjoy a cruise along the Rideau Canal or River Ottawa. The canal is said to be one of the greatest engineering marvels of the 19th century and offers a unique perspective on the city, while the river affords spellbinding views of Parliament Hill. Some tour operators run dinner cruises and themed evenings on the river as well as bilingual commentaries. Boat tours generally run during peak tourist season from May to October.

Paul’s Boat Lines

Telephone: +1 613 225 6781.
Website: www.paulsboatline.com

Capital Cruises

Telephone: +1 613 241 8811.
Website: www.capitalcruises.ca

Walking tours

Explore hundreds of kilometres of pathways by bike, inline skates or on foot through the picturesque city or along the riverbank and Rideau Canal. Take a walking tour of historic landmarks and tourist sites or head to Gatineau Park, 15 minutes north of downtown Ottawa, which also offers extensive trails for hiking and snowshoeing.

Ottawa Walking Tours

Telephone: +1 613 799 1774.

Website: www.ottawawalkingtours.com

Ottawa Free Tours

Website: www.ottawafreetour.com

1,000 Islands

Take a cruise with Gananoque Boat Lines past secluded island hideaways, stunning summer residences and the fairytale Boldt Castle in the 1,000 Islands region of the River St Lawrence. Legends and stories of rum running, piracy, tragedy, romance and shipwrecks abound along this waterway, which separates Canada from the United States.

Ottawa Valley

Sandwiched between the Ottawa River and Algonquin Provincial Park, the Ottawa Valley is an adventurer's playground, with more than 2.4 million hectares (6 million acres) of waterways and rolling woodlands and canyons to explore. You don't have to do an adrenalin activity in order to enjoy what the region has to offer - there are numerous tours and activities to suit young and old alike.