27 Best Things to Do in Ottawa in Winter (A First-Timer’s Guide)
Ottawa in winter is a different city. The canals freeze into skating rinks, the markets glow with holiday lights, and there’s a pastry called a BeaverTail that tastes better when it’s snowing. Here’s everything worth doing.
I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect to fall in love with Ottawa in winter.
Growing up in Texas, I assumed Canadian winters were something to survive, not enjoy. But after spending a full month here visiting family, I’ve completely changed my mind. Ottawa doesn’t just tolerate winter. It celebrates it.
The trick is knowing where to go—and what to eat, drink, and experience while you’re there.
Here’s my complete guide to the best things to do in Ottawa in winter, from iconic experiences like skating the Rideau Canal to hidden gems like unlimited arcade games with perogies and an escape room inside a real Cold War bunker.
Iconic Ottawa Winter Experiences
1. Skate the Rideau Canal Skateway
This is the one. The Rideau Canal Skateway is the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink—7.8 kilometers of ice running right through the heart of Ottawa. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and skating it feels like gliding through a postcard.
The skateway typically opens in January (weather dependent) and runs through late February or early March. There are heated changing huts and BeaverTails stands along the way. Bring your own skates or rent them at one of the rental stations.
Pro tip: Go on a weekday morning for pristine ice and smaller crowds.
2. Eat a BeaverTail on the Canal
You cannot visit Ottawa in winter without eating a BeaverTail.
These flat, fried dough pastries are shaped like a beaver’s tail (obviously) and topped with everything from cinnamon sugar to Nutella to maple butter. The original BeaverTails stand opened in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, and they’ve become synonymous with skating the canal.
My go-to: the Killaloe Sunrise (cinnamon sugar with lemon). But if you’re feeling indulgent, the Avalanche (chocolate, peanut butter, Reese’s Pieces) is ridiculous in the best way.
3. Experience Winterlude
Winterlude is Ottawa’s massive winter festival, running for three weekends every February (January 31–February 17, 2025 for this year’s edition). It’s been going since 1979 and draws over 500,000 visitors annually.
The highlights include:
- Ice sculptures at Confederation Park (Crystal Garden)
- Snowflake Kingdom in Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park—a giant snow playground with ice slides and sculptures
- Maple taffy on snow (Taffy Lane on Sparks Street)
- The Rideau Canal Skateway at its peak
- Ice carving competitions, live music, Indigenous cultural experiences, and more
Most activities are free. If you can only visit Ottawa once in winter, time it for Winterlude.
4. Pull Maple Taffy on Snow (Taffy Lane)
During Winterlude, Sparks Street hosts Taffy Lane—an urban sugar shack experience where you can pull hot maple syrup poured over fresh snow and twist it onto a stick.
It’s sweet, sticky, and exactly as fun as it sounds. A quintessentially Canadian winter experience.
Markets & Food Experiences
5. Explore the ByWard Market
The ByWard Market is Ottawa’s historic heart—a nearly 200-year-old market district packed with restaurants, boutiques, and food vendors. In winter, the cobblestone streets glow with lights, and the indoor market stays cozy.
Don’t miss:
- BeaverTails at the original stand (69 George Street)
- Le Moulin de Provence for pastries (Obama famously stopped here)
- Hot chocolate, poutine, and people-watching
Read more: [Why the ByWard Market Matters: Ottawa’s Historic Heart]
6. Sunday Morning at Lansdowne Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday, the Ottawa Farmers’ Market takes over Lansdowne Park—either outdoors in warmer months or inside the stunning Aberdeen Pavilion (a National Historic Site) during winter.
It’s a producer-only market, meaning every vendor sells what they grow or make. Expect local honey, maple syrup, fresh bread, artisan cheese, and prepared food for breakfast or lunch.
Winter hours: Sundays, 10am–3pm inside the Aberdeen Pavilion (January–April)
Read more: [The Lansdowne Farmers’ Market: Ottawa’s Best Sunday Morning]
7. Christmas Market at Lansdowne
If you’re visiting in November or December, catch the Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park. Local vendors, holiday lights, mulled wine, and festive vibes inside and around the historic Aberdeen Pavilion.
8. $1 Oysters at Metropolitan Brasserie
Here’s a local secret: every Thursday, Metropolitan Brasserie in the ByWard Market serves $1 oysters—fresh PEI oysters at a price that’s almost too good to be true.
Pair with a glass of wine and pretend you’re very fancy.
Address: 700 Sussex Drive
9. Try Ottawa’s Best Shawarma
Ottawa has some of the best shawarma in Canada—seriously. The city’s Lebanese community has made it a local staple, and there are incredible shawarma spots all over town.
Locals have strong opinions about which shop is best. Ask around and try a few. You won’t regret it.
10. Get a Tim Hortons (Just Once)
Look, Tim Hortons isn’t going to blow your mind. But it’s a Canadian institution, and you should probably experience it at least once.
Order a double-double (coffee with two creams, two sugars) and a honey cruller. Welcome to Canada.
11. Try Bagged Milk
Yes, Canadians buy milk in bags. It’s a whole thing.
Pick up a bag at any grocery store (you’ll need a pitcher to hold it), snip the corner, and pour. It’s the same milk—just packaged differently. But as a Texan, I found it endlessly entertaining.
12. Visit an Asian Grocery Store (Axia)
If you love Asian snacks, instant noodles, or just browsing international grocery stores, check out Axia or one of Ottawa’s other Asian supermarkets. Great for stocking up on unique finds you won’t get at home.
Day Trips & Outdoor Adventures
13. Nordik Spa-Nature
This is the ultimate Ottawa winter experience.
Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec (just 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa) is the largest spa in North America. The Scandinavian-style thermal experience involves cycling through hot saunas, cold plunge pools, and rest areas—ideally while snow is falling around you.
There are 10 outdoor baths, 9 saunas, an infinity pool overlooking the Gatineau Hills, and the Källa treatment (a saltwater flotation pool). Book a massage, grab lunch at the on-site bistro, and plan to spend most of the day.
Pro tip: Go on a weekday to avoid crowds. Arrive early.
Address: 16 Nordik Road, Chelsea, Quebec
14. Parc Omega Safari
About an hour from Ottawa, Parc Omega is a 12-kilometer drive-through wildlife park where elk, deer, bison, wolves, and Arctic foxes roam in their natural habitat.
Buy bags of carrots at the entrance and feed the elk right through your car window. In winter, the wolves are especially active (and the bears are hibernating, so wolves take over the bear habitat). There’s also snowshoeing, tubing, and winter walking trails.
For the ultimate experience, book a wolf cabin—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a wolf enclosure. Fall asleep to the sound of howling. It books up months in advance.
15. Day Trip to Montreal
Montreal is just two hours from Ottawa by car or bus. If you have a free day, it makes for an easy day trip—or a weekend extension.
Wander Old Montreal, eat bagels, explore the underground city, and experience a completely different Quebec vibe before heading back to Ottawa.
16. Cold Plunge at Britannia Beach
For the truly brave: a polar plunge in the Ottawa River at Britannia Beach.
Some locals swear by cold water immersion for the endorphin rush and health benefits. If that’s your thing (or you want to try it), Britannia Beach is a popular spot. Just don’t go alone, and know your limits.
17. Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is a classic Canadian winter activity, and there are outfitters around Ottawa who can set you up with everything you need—including a heated hut on the ice.
It’s surprisingly meditative. Drop a line, wait, enjoy the silence (and maybe a beer).
18. Snowshoeing in Gatineau Park
Gatineau Park, just across the river in Quebec, has over 50 kilometers of snowshoe trails. It’s one of the most beautiful natural areas near Ottawa, and snowshoeing is an accessible way to explore it in winter.
Rent snowshoes at the park or bring your own.
19. Tobogganing (Sledding)
Ottawa has 75 approved toboggan hills—more than almost any city in Canada. Grab a sled (or a cafeteria tray, if you’re feeling nostalgic) and find a hill.
Some popular spots: Brewer Park, Mooney’s Bay, and various neighborhood hills around the city.
20. Skating Trails (Beyond the Canal)
The Rideau Canal gets all the attention, but Ottawa also has beautiful skating trails through forests and parks.
Check out:
- Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall
- The Jack Frasier Memorial Rink at Lansdowne Park
- Various community rinks around the city
Unique Ottawa Experiences
21. Escape Room in a Cold War Bunker (The Diefenbunker)
This is one of the most unique things to do in Ottawa—period.
The Diefenbunker is a four-story underground bunker built in the late 1950s to protect Canada’s government in the event of a nuclear attack. It’s now a museum and National Historic Site. But on Thursday through Sunday evenings, it transforms into the world’s largest escape room.
Escape the Diefenbunker takes over an entire 25,000-square-foot floor. You’ll solve puzzles, crack codes, and race against the clock to stop a nuclear attack—all inside a real Cold War bunker, 75 feet underground.
It’s intense, immersive, and absolutely worth the 20-minute drive to Carp.
Address: 3929 Carp Road, Carp, Ontario
22. Perogies & Unlimited Arcade Games at House of TARG
House of TARG is a retro arcade, live music venue, and perogy restaurant all in one. The perogies are handmade and excellent. The pinball machines and classic arcade cabinets are the real deal.
Free-play nights:
- Tuesday Arcade: 5pm–11pm, $12.50 for unlimited games
- Family Free-Play: Saturday & Sunday, noon–8pm, $12.50 for unlimited games
It’s across the street from the Mayfair Theatre in Old Ottawa South. Go hungry.
Address: 1077 Bank Street
23. Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Château Laurier
The Château Laurier is Ottawa’s grand castle-like hotel, right next to the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill. Their afternoon tea service is a classic Ottawa splurge—tiered trays of sandwiches, scones, and pastries in an elegant setting.
Book in advance, especially on weekends.
24. Iris Photos (Portrait Experience)
Looking for a unique souvenir? Iris photography captures a close-up image of your eye in stunning detail. Ottawa has studios that specialize in this—check out local options for a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
25. Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake
If you’ve never had Japanese cheesecake, prepare yourself. It’s lighter, fluffier, and more delicate than Western-style cheesecake—almost like a soufflé.
Uncle Tetsu has a location in Ottawa (in the Rideau Centre), and there’s often a line. Worth it.
26. Ramen at a Local Spot
Ottawa’s ramen scene has grown significantly. A hot bowl of ramen on a freezing winter day is one of life’s great pleasures. Ask locals for current favorites—the scene keeps evolving.
27. Winter Lights Across the City
Throughout December and into January, Ottawa glows with holiday light displays. The Christmas Lights Across Canada display illuminates Parliament Hill and Confederation Boulevard, and neighborhoods around the city put up impressive residential displays.
Take an evening walk (bundle up!) and soak in the atmosphere.
When to Visit Ottawa in Winter
December: Holiday lights, Christmas markets, festive atmosphere. Coldest temperatures are just starting.
January: The Rideau Canal Skateway usually opens (weather dependent). Fewer tourists, crisp winter vibes.
February: Winterlude! The biggest winter festival, with the most activities and the best skating conditions (usually). This is peak Ottawa winter.
March: Winter starts winding down. The skateway may close early if temperatures warm up.
What to Wear
Canadian winter is no joke. Layers are everything.
For a complete guide, check out: [How to Dress for Canadian Winter: A First-Timer’s Guide]
Quick version:
- Base layer: Merino wool or quality synthetic (never cotton)
- Mid layer: Fleece or down
- Outer layer: Insulated, waterproof coat
- Feet: Warm boots sized up for thick socks
- Accessories: Warm hat, insulated gloves, scarf
More Ottawa Winter Guides
- [Why the ByWard Market Matters: Ottawa’s Historic Heart]
- [The Lansdowne Farmers’ Market: Ottawa’s Best Sunday Morning]
- [How to Dress for Canadian Winter: A First-Timer’s Guide]
- [Best Base Layers for Canadian Winter]
- [How to Keep Your Feet Warm in Winter]
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