Ottawa Day Use Hotels

Planning a day stay in the Canadian capital and want to know where to eat, drink, and be merry? Read our guide to find out what delights await you.

Your Canadian Capital Destination Guide

• Food – Canada’s capital has all the appetising assortment of restaurants one might anticipate, catering to those with a longing for French, Italian, Chinese, or seafood cuisine, and more besides. Amongst the best places to dine are the Absinthe bistro, Kasbah Village Moroccan Cuisine, and Signatures Restaurant, with plenty more from which to choose.
• Sports – Ottawa has a number of professional sports teams, including the Senators, Redbacks, Fury FC, and the Champions. Soak in the atmosphere and watch a game, or take advantage of the city’s facilities to go skating, cycling, hiking, golfing, fishing and more.
• Museums – The National Gallery of Canada is a spacious venue primarily dedicated to Canadian art, but which also includes works by international artists. Natural history lovers can visit the Canadian Museum of Nature, which exhibits fossils, dioramas, and insects. Meanwhile, the Canada Aviation Museum looks at more recent history, showcasing human achievement in the skies with guided tours and demonstrations.
• Gatineau Park – Gatineau Park covers a large area and provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of nature amid woods, waterfalls, and lakes. If you’re feeling energetic you can also take part in the hiking, biking, and sailing the park offers.

Seven Fun Facts About Ottawa

1. The original name of the settlement was Bytown, established in 1826. It was named after Colonel John By, a British engineer.
2. The city’s new name came from the Ottawa River, itself meaning ‘to trade’.
3. In 1900 the Hull-Ottawa fire destroyed around a fifth of the city.
4. During winter, the freezing of the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) creates the largest skating rink in the world (almost 8 kilometres/5 miles long).
5. Despite being the capital of Canada, Ottawa is only the fourth largest city in the country (by population).
6. It hosts Winterlude, the largest festival in Canada.
7. The decision to make Ottawa the capital of Canada was taken by Queen Victoria and her government, and was partly because the city is close to French-speaking Quebec, and partly because both the city’s immediate surroundings and its distance from the US border made it defensible.