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Ottawa’s Seasons | Plan the Perfect Time to Visit

The four seasons in Ottawa are all beautiful and offer a unique visit to the city. Plan your staycation for one of Ottawa’s seasons now!

Museum of History on Ottawa River during golden hour

Let’s be honest, Ottawa’s seasons are really winter and construction. Even so, Ottawa is beautiful year round and there’s always something going on! I grew up south of Ottawa and our day trips would be into the city and discovering the city as an adult has been so much fun.

Ottawa is beautiful in every season so planning your visit may be about convenience, a specific event or to visit when the weather is nice. There are so many activities to do within the City. Some of my favourite things around Ottawa/Gatineau are: hiking in Gatineau Park; tons of restaurants or bars for foodies; family fun activities like the Winterlude festival or Saunder’s Farm; cycling along the paths and visiting the Arboretum and Experimental Farm; Nature Nocturne nights at the Museum of Nature; fun social activities like Cirque du Soleil or a night at the National Arts Centre; and so many more!

Table of Contents

Fall

Let’s start with fall because it’s my favourite season and will be here before you know it. Fall Rhapsody in Ottawa and Gatineau Park is so beautiful. There are plenty of hikes within the city and the park and the colours are spectacular. The colours at Parliament can be seen from across the Ottawa River at the Museum of History. Ottawa is a very green city which makes it even more colourful in the fall! Take a biplane adventure flight or helicopter ride to see the fall colours from the air. Fall is also the perfect time to go apple picking or visit a pumpkin patch.

Woman sitting on a rock outcrop overlooking Gatineau and fall foliage
Photo from the side of a white SUV driving along the road during Fall Rhapsody
Parliament hill seen from the Museum of History in Gatineau with yellow and orange and green trees on the hill

Winter

Winter in Ottawa is cold and very snowy. Be prepared to bundle up and strap on your snowshoes or cross country skis to get outside. Be prepared for Canadian Winters and pack very warm clothes and lots of layers! Similar to the fall, there are a lot of wonderful hiking trails in Ottawa and Gatineau Park. Skate on the World’s Longest Outdoor Skating Rink (the Rideau Canal). I highly recommend a Beavertail on your skating adventure!

Field of white snow in the background with a flowing river in the midground and snow capped trees in the foreground
Winterlude tubing down a snow hill in Ottawa Canada
People skating on the Rideau Canal in winter during sunset
People skating on a frozen canal. View is from above with the sun high in the sky and a curve in the canal in the background of the photo

Spring

One of the most beautiful times of the year in Ottawa. With the snow melt and spring storms, the waterfalls are cascading beauties. You can find three within the city! Tulip Festival is early May and hundreds of thousands of tulips blooms around the city. The cherry blossoms and apple blossoms bloom mid April to mid May and are a sight to see.

Ottawa cherry blossoms in the Dominion Arboretum
Ottawa Blossoms by Shaw Centre and Rideau Canal
View of the National Art Gallery in the background, Major's Hill Park and people in the midground and a tulip bed in the foreground
Peace Tower in Ottawa Ontario as seen from Major's Hill Park

Summer

Summer in Ottawa is hot and humid so spend plenty of time by the Ottawa River or Rideau Canal to cool down. Rent a kayak to paddle on the Rideau Canal. Visit one of many locations for the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Enjoy various neighbourhoods, like Little Italy and Hintonburg, to enjoy Ottawa’s food and nightlife.

Ottawa sunset
Alexandra Bridge and Rideau Canal Locks during Golden Hour in Ottawa Ontario Canada
Kayakers on the Rideau Canal at Dow's Lake in Ottawa

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