If you’re like me, you make lists of things you want to do but when planning a date you can’t think of a single idea and gravitate to the easy “dinner and a movie” idea. There is SO much to do here in the capital, it can be overwhelming. So, for my significant other’s birthday I wrote twelve seasonal Ottawa date ideas and put each idea in an envelope. I then marked each envelope with a month and we open the envelope together on the first of every month to plan a date night. I included a mix of free, cheap and expensive ideas to mix it up throughout the year. Another fun way to spice it up is to plan date nights at home. See here for 7 COVID safe date ideas/date ideas for staying home.
Tips and Notes for Ottawa Date Ideas
1. I have organized this post to categorize date ideas in the seasons of the year to make it more manageable. However, most of these ideas could be year round so feel free to mix it up.
2. I’ve included a wide variety of free, cheap, mid-range and expensive date ideas. Everyone’s budget is different! You may be a couple on a budget or someone who wants to spoil their significant other or anywhere in between.
3. I created a downloadable template to fill in your dates for the year. I bought beautiful red envelopes from Paper Papier in the Byward Market. You could also purchase cue cards from the dollar store, create your own cards from scratch, purchase some fun cards from Blissful Notes or the Papery (two of my favourite card businesses in Ottawa) or print my version!
4. Where possible, I recommend you support local. Giving your business to small businesses rather than large corporations/chains keeps money in your community and helps locals.
5. Tag me on Instagram if you’re inspired by this post – I would love to see what you get up to!
Table of Contents:
Winter Dates
Spring Dates
Summer Dates
Fall Dates
Ottawa Date Ideas in Winter (January/February/March)
The first three months of the year in the capital are cold but there are lots of fun outdoor activities to do, both indoors and outdoors!
Snowshoe Under the Stars or Rent Snowshoes/Cross-county Skis in Ottawa/Gatineau
Snowshoe Under the Stars: This is a bilingual event hosted by NCC in Gatineau Park. You have the option when booking to bring your own snowshoes or rent some at the visitor’s centre. It’s a lot of fun! The guide points out animal footprints and describes the various animals and how they cope with winter.
You can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis at the Gatineau Visitor Centre or at Mooney’s Bay in Ottawa. It’s such a great activity to get outside and there are numerous trails in Ottawa and Gatineau to explore. Note: There is a daily pass fee for trails in Gatineau but the NCC Greenbelt trails are free. Be sure to stay off the cross-country ski grooves when the trail is for both uses.
TIP: You can purchase snowshoes for about $150. At about $30/day rental at the Gatineau Visitor Centre, that means you only have to wear the snowshoes 5 times ever in their life span and they’ve paid for themselves.
TIP 2: I love my crampons (I got mine for $20). I find snowshoes are best after a fresh snow and not great on packed down snow.
Read more: Your Ultimate Guide: Ottawa and Gatineau Snowshoeing Trails
Go Skating and get Hot Chocolate and a Beavertail
You can skate at numerous places in Ottawa/Gatineau including: Rideau Canal (free or the cost of renting skates), Rink of Dreams (in front of City Hall, free or the cost of renting skates) and Lac-des-Loups (skating in the forest, purchase tickets online or with cash in person). To make a date out of it, stop for hot chocolate and a beavertail (a Canadian classic).
Tip: You can rent skates at Cyco’s Cycling Shop (Hawthorne Avenue to skate on the Canal), City Hall (to skate on the Rink of Dreams) or the Dow’s Lake Pavilion (to skate on Dow’s Lake).
Winterlude (February)
Winterlude is Ottawa’s winter festival and there are events spread out across Ottawa and Gatineau. Check out their website for the most up-to-date schedule of events. Tubing in Jacques-Cartier Park is such a blast! There are numerous free events across the city which makes this perfect for couples on a budget.
Indoor Rock Climbing/Ninja Course (Year Round)
Try Altitude Gyms for indoor rock climbing or try their Ninja Course! Be prepared to test your strength on the Ninja Course, it was such a fun but difficult course.
Try a new restaurant/bar (Year Round)
Ottawa has so many restaurants and bars in every neighbourhood. There are local restaurants of all varieties no matter what part of the city you’re in. Pick one you’ve never tried before and order in! Some suggestions for some of my favourite restaurants are: Table Sodam (the portions are huge), H&R Pizza, Union Local 613 Speakeasy, El Camino‘s for tacos, and Pure Kitchen (even if you’re not vegetarian, their food is so good). Some cocktail bars/breweries I love are: Charlotte, Bar Lupulus, and Pub Italia (check out their Beer Bible). Desserts that are scrumptious include: Maverick’s Donuts, Cacao 70, and Cinnaholic. Check out the top 5 restaurants for Afternoon Tea here.
TIP 1: to save money, check out Groupon for savings on Ottawa restaurants.
Read More: Enjoy this Self-Guided Little Italy Cocktail Crawl in Ottawa
Level One/Loft Board Game Lounge (Year Round)
If you and your partner enjoy board games, Loft is the way to go! Loft Board Game Lounge has games for 2+ people and you can order food and drinks while testing out new games. If you didn’t think to make a reservation, you can have a drink at Level One Game Pub while waiting for a seat in the Loft.
Go Dog Sledding
Book a sprint (2 hours), a half day adventure or an excursion dog sledding adventure at Escapade Huskimo. Located about 1.5 hours north of Ottawa in Quebec, this would be such a fun and unique adventure in the winter to have with your significant other.
Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
A perfect winter activity is to visit a Christmas Tree Farm. Ian’s Christmas Adventure Park and Tree Farm has something for everyone! Watch Christmas Movies under the stars, enjoy a hay ride, cut your own tree, explore the maze and more. They open late November, just in time for the Christmas season.
Visit a Christmas Holiday Pop-up
A holiday pop-up is an excellent way to get in the holiday spirit! There are a few around Ottawa, including the Elf’s Pub at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Nan’s Parlour decked out for the holidays, and Sippin’ Santa at the Standard! They all serve festive drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)!
Ottawa Date Ideas in Spring (April/May/June)
Things are starting to warm up around this time but it can still be pretty wet out there, especially in April. The city starts blooming and outdoor activities are much warmer! You’ll be itching to get outside, especially if you’ve been cooped up all winter, and the spring colours are absolutely beautiful.
Cherry Blossoms at the Arboretum (Late April/Early May)
The blossom trees in Ottawa are absolutely stunning. Visit the Arboretum or other locations in Ottawa to see the blooms. It does get busy on evenings and weekends so I recommend going during the week (if possible) or early mornings! This makes for a truly romantic date idea: who doesn’t love sitting under a blossom tree enjoying nature with your significant other?
Read more: Ottawa Blossoms | Best Locations to Find these Gorgeous Blooms
Ottawa’s Tulip Festival (May)
Pack a picnic and head to Major’s Hill Park! Check out Ottawa Tourism’s website for a complete list of activities and where to see the tulips. Commissioner’s Park by Dow’s Lake is beautiful and the National Capital Commission does an excellent job of planting beds of tulips that have different flowering periods so you can be sure to see some tulips in bloom at any time in May.
Read more: Ottawa Tulip Festival Tips from a Local
Poutinefest (April/May)
There are actually two different Poutinefest’s in Ottawa: one on Sparks Street and one at City Hall so just double check the location and weekend it’s open before making plans. It’s usually held around the end of April. Try the deep fried cheese curd poutine for a small twist on a classic or go completely different with something like a Shawarma poutine. Admission is free and poutine’s are about $8-15, depending on the size so it makes for a relatively cheap date idea.
NCC Greenbelt Paths (Year Round)
The National Capital Commission (NCC) has over 150 km of walking and hiking trails and they are working on connecting one side of the City to the other (approximately 56 km in total). Some of my favourites are the Mer Bleue Bog and Stony Swamp (bring some sunflower seeds for the chickadees or peanuts for the woodpeckers), Pine Grove Trail and Shirley’s Bay. There are also the multi-use pathways along the Ottawa River, Rideau River and Rideau Canal to walk along if you’re more interested in an urban setting.
Wander the streets to see Ottawa’s Murals (Year Round)
You can pretty much pick any neighbourhood in Ottawa and wander the streets for a variety of murals. Ottawa Tourism has pulled together a pretty great list, check it out here. This one is free but there are so many amazing coffee/tea shops and bakeries, I’ll suggest stopping at one of them and wandering with a coffee and baked good!
Ottawa Date Ideas in Summer (July/August/September)
Rent a kayak or canoe at Dow’s Lake (May-October)
Rentals at the Dow’s Lake Pavilion are open from May to October. Rates vary, depending on what water activity you want to do but is a reasonably affordable activity for an hour. Lifejackets are included in the rental price and you can rent a dry bag or locker for an additional fee.
TIP: You can purchase a blow up kayak and it’s easy to throw in your back seat without having the worry about somewhere to store it or hitching it to your vehicle. It’s not as good as a regular kayak and I don’t recommend it in open water or if you’re looking to go fast but if you use it around Ottawa about 6-7 times, it’s paid for itself.
Luxury Picnic (Year Round)
Book a luxury picnic for two. Choose your theme design, a location, package and add-ons, and let the Runaway Picnic company do the rest! Show up with your partner dressed to the nines and enjoy a fun picnic together. Prices start at $299+ for couples, and they also offer packages for friends, families, girls night out and more.
Discover Gatineau and pick a new hike to try (Year Round)
The hiking trails in Gatineau Park that are closer to Ottawa are much busier than trails farther from the City. If you are hesitant on which trail to pick, the Gatineau Visitor Centre employees are very knowledgeable. You can ask them for a specific time/length and difficulty and they’ll have a suggestion for you to try and will direct you to parking. Also, Girl Gone Good has a fantastic guide to trails around Ottawa. Some of my favourites are Pink Lake (has two great lookouts and is fairly easy), Wolf Trail (about 2.5-3 hours in the summer and is medium difficulty) and the Luskville Falls Trail (about 2.5 hours with a fairly steep hill and can be difficult for new hikers).
Read more: Gatineau Park and Chelsea: A Quick Fun Day Trip from Ottawa
Hike then stop in Old Chelsea for food (Year Round)
After you’re hiking in Gatineau Park, you HAVE to stop in Old Chelsea. La Cigale has delicious ice cream, Pub Chelsea has amazing food and a great beer selection, and Biscotti has my favourite loft and the best tea lattes.
Salsa Dancing at City Hall
A free weekly Latin Dance event on Wednesday evenings at Ottawa City Hall (on Laurier Avenue) is offered in July and August. The event is typically held outdoors but on rainy or really hot days it’s held inside. What’s great is you do not need to have experience. Every lesson starts with a beginner-friendly dance lesson (changes every week) so grab your partner and try something new!
Apple Picking and Baking
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away so is that also true if I eat the apple crisp I made every day?? Even if you’re not a fan of eating apples, buy a bushel and bake with them as an additional date idea. After spending an hour or two picking the best apples with your partner, find a few recipes to try at home. I suggest apple and cinnamon muffins, apple crisp, applesauce or apple pie. The muffins and applesauce are easy to freeze to enjoy later if you find you have too many baked goods to eat (but really, that isn’t a problem, right?).
Read more: Ultimate Fall Fun: 10 Apple Orchards Near Ottawa
Go Bungee Jumping or Skydiving
The Great Canadian Bungee in Quebec or GO Skydive tandem skydiving in Ottawa are adrenaline pumping activities and SO much fun! This one is definitely on the pricier side but it is such a rush!
Drive in Movie Theatre
With the COVID-19 shutdown, there were a lot of pop-up drive-in theatres and concerts but I’ve been to the Port Elmsley drive-in theatre a few times and it is a smooth operation. They have double features or, sometimes, triple features with bathrooms and snacks available on site.
TIP: Bring mosquito nets to put on your doors to roll down your window. The bugs can get pretty bad in the middle of the summer.
TIP 2: Stop at Jersey Joe’s in Smith Falls for pizza and snacks.
Fireworks at the Museum
The Grands Feux du Casino hosts 6 shows in the month of August at the Museum of History every year. They are fantastic shows! I definitely recommend purchasing tickets to attend the event at the museum, but you can watch the fireworks for free around the city! Set up a chair or blanket at Major’s Hill Park, or grab a drink at Le Terrasse for a fantastic night out.
Read more: Grands Feux Fireworks | Where to Watch and Photography Tips
Fall Date Ideas in Ottawa (October/November/December)
The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler but there are still so many fun activities to be done! Fall is my absolute favourite time of year: the temperature is just to my liking and the fall foliage in October is gorgeous. I have two posts dedicated to Fall: Where to See Fall Foliage in Ottawa; and Day Trips from Ottawa for Fall Foliage.
Check out Parc Omega (Year Round)
Parc Omega is open year round and sometimes you can find Groupon discounts (the first time I went was in the winter with a Groupon). Carrots to feed the animals are available to purchase at the main hut or you can purchase your own bags at a grocery store and bring them along. Make sure to bring lots because it’s so much fun to feed the animals!
Read more: Parc Omega | The Best Way to see Canadian Wildlife
Feed the chickadees in the NCC Greenbelt (Year Round)
As you can see in the photo below, the chickadees will land on your hand to eat the sunflower seeds! I would recommend bringing your crampons during the winter. Remember to stay to the side and not walk on the cross-county ski paths. #ShareThePath
Go Pumpkin Picking and Carve Them
To be fair, I had the most fun taking photos of the pumpkins. However, eyeing up all the pumpkins in the patch to pick the perfect one is a great date idea. You can turn this into TWO date ideas by picking another evening to carve them!
Read more: Complete Round Up of Ottawa Pumpkin Patches This Fall
Take a flight over Ottawa to see the fall colours
I did the Ottawa Biplane adventure last year and saw some spectacular views of Ottawa and the Gatineau Park hills. You could also take a helicopter ride over the city! Watch the Fall Foliage Map in Ontario and Quebec to plan the best time to fly above the city.
Nature Nocturne at the Canadian Museum of Nature
The Museum of Nature puts on a monthly event where they open the museum as a night club with fun themed activities in the exhibits. There’s multiple dance floors, a bar, interactive activities (we made bath bombs last time), and you get to see the full exhibits!
Surprise Itinerary (Year Round)
Guess Where Trips and Unexpected Journeys offer surprise itineraries, with a “Before you go” envelope to open before your road trip and what to bring to be prepared. Both companies offer unique experiences to discover places you may not have heard of or visited before. Some offer quirky stops, like an abandoned barn “motel” and longhorn cows, or outdoor adventures including walks through a forest. You can order a computer version or hard copy version to give as a gift!
Read More: Ottawa Road Trips Under 3 Hours | Best Spontaneous Getaways