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Are you planning an Ottawa family vacation and wondering what to do? I have the perfect itinerary for spending 3 days in Ottawa with your kids. This 3-day itinerary will help you make the most of your trip to Canada’s capital.
Ottawa is a vibrant city with a mix of history, culture, and outdoor activities perfect for families. There’s plenty to explore, from the iconic Parliament Hill to scenic spots like the Rideau Canal. The city is also known for its excellent museums, beautiful parks, and easy access to nature, making it an ideal destination for learning and fun.
In this article, I’m sharing with you how to spend a fun 3 days in Ottawa with your kids, where you’ll do a mix of outdoor adventures, museum hopping, and more. This 3-day itinerary narrows down all the best things to do in Ottawa with kids for an unforgettable family adventure.
📖 3-Days in Ottawa Itinerary Recap
📖 TL;DR? Here is a recap of our three days in Ottawa itinerary
Day 1: Start at Parliament Hill for a tour and catch the Changing of the Guard parade. Walk to the Rideau Canal Locks. Explore ByWard Market for shopping and photos at the Ottawa sign.
Day 2:Visit the Canadian Museum of Nature, then head to Dominion Arboretum and Dow’s Lake for a stroll. End the day at the Central Experimental Farm to meet the animals.
Day 3: Cross into Quebec to explore Parc de la Gatineau with family-friendly hikes like Pink Lake. Stop in Old Chelsea for ice cream before returning to Ottawa.
Day 1: Parliament Hill, Rideau Locks & ByWard Market
Parliament of Canada
Start your day at Parliament Hill.
The Parliament is an important building for Canada as it is the federal legislature. There are three buildings to visit, and free guided tours are offered.
Also, every day at 10:00 a.m., there is the changing of guards parade. Make sure to arrange your visit to be present for the parade and enjoy this delightful activity. You’ll want to take your time and wander off in the garden and walk around the beautiful building.
You can also admire the view of Gatineau on the other side of the Ottawa River.
When you are ready, walk to the Rideau Canal to find Locks 1 – 8.
Rideau Canal National Historic Site
The Rideau Canal National Historic Site is a series of 9 beautifully engineered locks connecting Ottawa to Lake Ontario. You can also see great locks in Sault Ste-Marie that connect the St. Marys River to Lake Superior in Northern Ontario.
The canal was built in the early 19th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an iconic feature of Ottawa.
The locks, particularly Locks 1-8 near downtown, are a must-see. These structures allow boats to travel between different water levels
❄️ If you visit during the winter, the Rideau Canal is transformed into an ice skating rink, one of the longest in the world.
The view of the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel from the locks is stunning. It’s a beautiful view from everywhere in the city where you can see it, but the combination of the locks station and the castle is special.
Our boys thought the Chateau Laurier was an actual castle. I wish we had the budget to stay there. Maybe another time! (Let us know if you end up staying there! 😉).
Downtown Ottawa
Then, it’s time to walk around downtown Ottawa. You have to follow the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. On your way, you’ll pass a beautiful green park with some benches if you’d like to relax a bit with your kids. Otherwise, go to Major’s Hill Park, just behind the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
The park offers a beautiful view of the Ottawa River and of the Parliament. We had a picnic there and played “tag” with the kids for a while.
Then, from Major’s Hill Park, use the stairs down to ByWard Market. You’ll arrive in front of the Ottawa sign.
ByWard Market
The Byward Market is bustling and vibrant in Ottawa, known for its wide variety of fresh produce, local food vendors, specialty shops, and unique boutiques. It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists, with something for everyone to enjoy.
ByWard Market hosts a farmer’s market daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. it’s a great place to shop or try a restaurant. Head over to Piccolo Grande, a famous gelateria offering a variety of tasty flavors for you and your little ones. If you want to fully enjoy what the Market has to offer, I recommend booking a guided food tour.
You can also find the famous Ottawa sign at ByWard Market. The sign is located on York Street in a plaza. There are some picnic tables and benches, making this a great place for a family photo shoot or to grab a coffee.
Have some extra time? Visit the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces collector and commemorative coins. It has a museum in Ottawa and one in Winnipeg.
During your visit, your kids will learn how coins are made. The Royal Canadian Mint Museum offers guided tours in French and English. It’s only a short walk from the Ottawa sign.
Day 2: Museums, Farm & Lake
Ottawa is renowned for its amazing museums. Many options exist, but I recommend starting your second in Ottawa with your kids at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Canadian Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature is where kids explore the fascinating world of science and nature. It’s located only a few blocks from the Parliament Hill in a historic building.
This museum features a variety of interactive exhibits that explore everything from prehistoric dinosaurs and fossils to Canada’s diverse ecosystems.
🦖 P.S If your kids are dino-lover, you need to plan a trip in Western Canada to the T.Rex Discovery Center in Saskatchewan or Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta.
Your kids will love the engaging displays, like life-sized skeletons of whales and dinosaur fossils, and hands-on activities in the Nature Live area. The museum also hosts seasonal exhibitions, 3D movies, and special events that make learning fun for all ages.
Dominion Arboretum & Dow’s Lake
After exploring the museum, head over to the Dominion Arboretum. You’ll get to walk along the Rideau Canal and Dow’s Lake. We didn’t have time; however, it’s possible to rent pedal boats, paddle boards and other water equipment to enhance your trip to Ottawa.
Dow’s Lake is located near the Dominion Arboretum, a beautiful place to walk around and see different types of trees. Let the kids run around in the grass and observe the ducks and squirrels.
Also, you can enjoy the Canadian Tulip Festival every spring near Dow’s Lake.
Don’t forget to enjoy a real Canadian treat: a beavertail at the Beavertail Hut in Dow’s Lake. Beavertails are fried dough pastries that are hand-stretched to resemble a beaver’s tail.
They are topped with sweet or savory ingredients such as cream cheese, hazelnut icing and cinnamon and sugar.
Central Experimental Farm
End your day at the Central Experimental Farm.
It’s an actual governmental working farm in the middle of the city! It’s open daily except on Mondays. Plus, entrance to the museum is free daily (except Mondays) from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Know that you don’t need to visit the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum to have a fun at the Central Experimental Farm. You can drive around and walk in the fields.
You’ll get to come across cows and sheep. When we visited the animals, especially the cows, they were super close to us. The kids had a blast.
Looking for another museum to visit? Canadian Museum of History
The Canadian Museum of History illuminates Canada’s human history and the cultural diversity of its people. The museum also hosts special exhibits for kids, including the Canadian Children’s Museum. At the Canadian Children’s Museum, you can participate in The Great Adventure exhibit, where you’ll travel to international destinations and learn about the countries.
During your visit to the Canadian Museum of History, allow some time to admire the view from the Museum patio. The view of Ottawa and its Alexander Bridge is beautiful.
Day 3: Parc de la Gatineau
Today, you’ll drive across the Ottawa River to the Province of Quebec to reach Parc de la Gatineau. Parc de la Gatineau is a 361 km2 pure nature oasis. There are plenty of areas to explore and a few great family-friendly hikes that you can enjoy with your kids. The park is huge, so take your time and make sure to bring lunch and snacks with you.
Here are a few hiking options with kids (you can use AllTrails to read the latest reviews about these trails):
Lake Pink
This is a 2.3 km loop around the lake (which isn’t actually pink but turquoise). It’s an easy trail, but it has lots of stairs, so it’s not suitable for strollers. The Pink Lake parking lot is accessible from the Gatineau Parkway.
Fun fact: First of all, the lake isn’t pink. It’s turquoise. Second, it’s a meromictic lake, meaning the upper and lower layers of water don’t mix like regular lakes. As a result, there is no oxygen at the bottom of the lake.
Note that the trail is closed in the winter.
Mackenzie King Estate
The Mackenzie King Estate was the summer residence of the former 10th prime minister of Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie King. You can walk on the estate and go to the Abbey Ruins. It’s the perfect place for history and photography lovers. You can also stop at the Tea House for a little treat.
Carbide Willson Ruins
To reach the ruins and the waterfall, it is a 3.25 km round-trip hike. The ruins, which were never preserved, are the remains of a fertilizer plant in the early 1900s.
Note that the trail to the ruins is closed in the winter.
If you feel like doing a longer or more hike, here is the map of the park.
After many hours of discovering the Parc de la Gatineau, return to Ottawa with a stop in Old Chelsea for some ice cream at La Cigale.
Planning your Family Vacation in Ottawa
Here are a few things to know when planning your family vacation in Ottawa.
✈️ Book your flight to Ottawa
Find cheap flights to Ottawa International Airport (YOW) using Google Flights or Skyscanner where you’ll be able to compare different airlines tickets for YOW, including some low-cost ones.
🚗 Rent your car
You can rent a car directly from Ottawa International Airport or wait until you are in town. I recommend you compare pricing on DiscoverCars.
Do you need a car in Ottawa?
You don’t necessarily need a car to visit Ottawa with your kids. You can use Ottawa’s public transit system (both the bus and light rail systems). Children under the age of 7 can travel for free. You can purchase your passes to use the public transit at grocery stores, pharmacies or on the bus (you can only pay cash here).
Or you can also go on Ottawa Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour!
🛏️ Book your hotel in Ottawa
Booking.com is a great search engine for hotels and guesthouses in Ottawa.
You can look at:
If you are travelling with younger kids, or your kids need a smaller bed to feel cozier and safer, you can read this article to find the best travel beds for families. Most of them are really easy and fast to set up in a hotel room!
🎟️ Book your Ottawa tours
Viator and Get Your Guide are two great websites for finding fun tours in and around Ottawa such as boat cruise.
Final Thoughts: How to spend 3 days in Ottawa with kids
Ottawa is a great city to explore with kids. There are many beautiful parks, walking trails, biking trails, and activities. You could bike all week if you wanted to. There are many things to do in Ottawa with kids that it can be overwhelming.
I hope this 3-day itinerary in Ottawa helps you plan the best long weekend in Canada’s capital.
