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Even the most urban corners of Ottawa hide pockets of nature for those willing to walk. Green spaces like Parliament Hill and Canadian Museum of History offer a breathing room between landmarks — and some of the best views you'll find anywhere in the city. Seek out quieter retreats like Major's Hill Park for the calm that the busier parks can't offer.
Ottawa is Canada's capital, where Gothic Revival parliament buildings overlook a canal that becomes the world's longest skating rink in winter. The bilingual city offers excellent museums and leafy walking paths along its three waterways.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided nature walk route in Ottawa. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Parliament Hill — a hilltop vantage point offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape, worth the climb, Canadian Museum of History — Canada's most visited museum, housed in Douglas Cardinal's curving building across the river in Gatineau, tracing 20,000 years of human history in Canada, plus hidden gems like Major's Hill Park — a quiet green space behind the Chateau Laurier with views of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River, and the Gatineau Hills and Rideau Falls — a twin waterfall where the Rideau River plunges into the Ottawa River, easily accessible on foot from the ByWard Market.
Use this page as a starting point for a Ottawa walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Ottawa. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Ottawa is known for history and politics, but between the busy streets, spaces like Parliament Hill and Canadian Museum of History provide a different kind of experience — calmer, greener, and more grounded than a typical sightseeing route. Quieter spots like Major's Hill Park provide the kind of rest that the main attractions cannot.
Ottawa's winters are extremely cold, with temperatures often dropping below minus 20 degrees Celsius — dress in serious winter gear, but don't miss the Rideau Canal Skateway experience.
May brings the spectacular Canadian Tulip Festival with over a million blooms, while September and October offer stunning fall foliage along the canal and river paths.
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