Ottawa Premium City Tour with Parliament Hill & Canal Cruise
Description
Your tour begins with pickup from your Ottawa accommodation in a comfortable, fully guided vehicle as you set out to explore Canada’s capital. Travel through the elegant Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood before stopping at Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada’s Governor General, followed by a drive-by the home of the Prime Minister. Continue to Parliament Hill for a photo stop at the Centennial Flame, the symbolic heart of Canadian democracy, before passing the Supreme Court of Canada and other key landmarks along Wellington Street. Next, view the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica and Royal Canadian Mint while your guide shares stories of their historical and cultural significance. Then enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering scenic views of Ottawa from the water. After the cruise, take in the Fairmont Château Laurier and a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Canadian Museum of History before being comfortably returned to your hotel.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your Ottawa sightseeing tour begins with pick up from your hotel before heading out on a narrated drive past some must-see sights! You’ll pass the Parliament Buildings and make stops outside the Supreme Court and Canadian Museum of History for photos with a view.
We’ll take you on a driving tour through Rockcliffe Park. Large tour buses aren’t allowed to go here, but since we’re in a smaller, passenger van you’ll have the chance to check out some sights that most tourists won’t get to see, such as: the official residence of the US Ambassador to Canada, the Governor General’s Residence (Rideau Hall), and the Prime Minister’s Residence. We’ll also stop at the Rockcliffe lookout point where you take some amazing pictures while looking out on Ottawa River.
Visit the official residence of Canada’s Governor General, set on beautifully landscaped grounds that reflect the country’s ceremonial traditions. Your guide will explain its role in Canadian governance and highlight its historic architecture and royal connections.
Pass by the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada while your guide provides insight into its political significance and history. Though not open to the public, it remains one of the most recognized addresses in the country.
To complete your tour your guide will take you to Parliament Hill - home of the Parliament of Canada. Here you will get the opportunity to learn about the rich nation's history and admire the beautiful Gothic revival-style buildings and their architectural elements of national symbolic importance on a self-guided walking tour of the grounds.
Next, you will enjoy a narrated drive passing iconic attractions such as the Parliament Buildings and make stops outside the Supreme Court and Canadian Museum of History to capture beautiful images of the scenery.
After your tour of Rockcliffe Park, you'll visit to the Ottawa’s Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. You will marvel at the elegant gothic-style interiors in Ottawa’s largest and oldest standing church.
Admire the Fairmont Château Laurier, a castle-like landmark overlooking downtown Ottawa and the Rideau Canal. Then take in panoramic views of Parliament Hill from across the river near the Canadian Museum of History, one of the city’s most photographed vantage points.
Board a relaxing cruise along the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that winds through the heart of Ottawa. Enjoy peaceful waterfront views and unique perspectives of the city’s landmarks from the water.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Departure Point: Centrally located Ottawa hotels *Contact for meeting location if you are not staying in the downtown area *Order of activities may occur in a different order
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Ottawa River cruise is a seasonal attraction, when the cruise is not operating it will be replaced with a Canadian War Museum of History tour
Reviews(171)
Our tour guide was Raissa who was very knowledgeable about all the history and sites we saw along the way. It was a nice private tour perfect for our family’s first time in Ottawa we were picked up right from our hotel and because the day was pretty rainy it was nice to be driven everywhere and then she let us get out at certain spots to get photos and explore a bit. Highly recommend this tour!
Very educational. Rachel was wonderful and super helpful and pleasant. Got stuck in some traffic which was fine. The boat ride was a little long but still s nice experience.
There’s so much to see and know about Ottawa and our guide, Raissa, did a phenomenal job driving us around and showing us the city. We were lucky enough to be the only family in the city part of the tour that day so got to ask lots of questions, see all the sights and learn about the history of the city. She dropped us off for the Rideau Canal ride, and picked us up perfectly. Next time we would love to do more of the city tour part, especially if it would be with Raissa.
Our guide's name was Raissa. She led us through the city very pleasantly and was very informative. We can only recommend this tour! Thank you very much.
Informative, entertaining tour of Ottawa’s interesting governmental buildings, architecture, churches, museums, a great overall overview of the city! Denis was kind, attentive, and so so knowledgeable! I would heavily recommend as a first timer in Ottawa
What a wonderful overview of Ottowa! Our tour guide, Raissa was a delight and so informative. The flexibility and calm of a small group was perfect for us and our service dog. We were able to go in areas that large bus groups can't go. It was so well organized and flexible enough that at the end, the 5 of us on the tour chose to be dropped off at the market. Definitely recommend this tour!
Raissa was our guide and she exceeded my expectations. She's very sweet, knowledgeable, funny, and above all accommodating! I highly suggest booking with her! You won't regret it!
Raissa clearly leaves a lasting impression and that kind of personal recommendation means everything!
Would have been good to know to be prepared that there would be no stop to pick up some food ……..thank you
Thank you for flagging that, it is genuinely helpful for future travelers to know to bring snacks along for the journey! 🙏
Raissa is an absolute gem. From the moment she picked us up at our hotel to begin the tour to the moment she dropped us off was full of history, fun and laughter. The cruise was fun with amazing views. Loved it.
We had an excellent time on our trip last week. We did a lot of walking yet not a lot was said during the walking part however. The sites and stops were thumbs up!
The tour was very educational. Raissa was very knowledgeable and has a great personality for her job!
Raissa’s knowledge and great personality sound like the perfect fit for an educational tour! It’s lovely to hear she made the experience both informative and enjoyable
