Ottawa travel guide

Ottawa is a vibrant Canadian city, offering a fascinating history, acres of green space and tons of European charm.

After its humble beginning as a small lumber town, Ottawa was designated Canada's capital by Queen Victoria in 1857. It is now a buzzing urban centre nestled between the River Ottawa, Rideau Canal and River Rideau, overlooking the Gatineau Hills of Québec. The impressive Parliament Buildings create an air of European elegance, with neo-gothic spires and turrets stretching skyward on the steep bluffs high above the River Ottawa.

The city's early heritage is evident in the proliferation of Irish pubs in the ByWard Market area, originally known as Lowertown and still the focal point for Ottawa's French and Irish communities. The more conservative Uppertown developed around the seat of government, with its wealthier neighbourhoods, embassies and politicians. In the 1970s the high tech sector drew highly skilled workers to this burgeoning world computer and telecommunications centre, giving birth to Silicon Valley North.

Today the nation's capital is a desirable place to live and work, with green spaces, outdoor activities and an easygoing lifestyle. Ottawa is the nation's cultural and intellectual capital and centre for visual and performing arts, with numerous museums, galleries, two universities and a community college.

In this multicultural community, government and service industry jobs demand bilingual skills in French and English, and restaurants serve cuisine heavily enhanced with French influence.

An invigorating array of outdoor recreational opportunities are available across the seasons, from winter skating on the frozen Rideau Canal to summer cycling on extensive recreational paths, or kayaking and canoeing on the city's waterways.