10 Unique Things To Do In Ottawa: Do This NOT That!

Are you bored of the typical activities in Ottawa, like visiting Parliament or walking around Byward Market? Or maybe you’re just looking for some off the beaten path things to do in Ottawa this weekend? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

After visiting too many times to count, I’ve found a few places to visit in Ottawa that offer a more unique experience. Downtown Ottawa doesn’t have to be boring! So check out my top 10 off the beaten path Ottawa Ontario attractions!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Top Underrated Things To Do In Ottawa

We all know the top things to do in Ottawa, but sometimes they’re just a bit underwhelming… or maybe you’ve just visited them one too many times… So here are some alternatives for what to do in Ottawa Canada instead!

P.S. If you’ve never stayed at the Chateau Laurier, it’s also a fun unique thing to do in Ottawa! Read my full Chateau Laurier review.

1. Don’t Eat At Zak’s Diner, Instead Go To The King Eddy

Zak’s Diner is a staple in Ottawa’s Byward Market (another top Ottawa Ontario attraction… but more on that in a bit!). Zak’s has been there for YEARS and I don’t think it’s ever been updated (not for a lack of need though!)

They serve decent food (nothing special), and I find everything is slightly overpriced. And don’t even get me started on the cleanliness… you just can’t think about that when you go to Zak’s! The other problem is that it’s typically really busy, especially during the summer months in Ottawa.

So if you still want to try Zak’s, but wish there was a cleaner and quieter option, you’re actually in luck! They’ve recently opened up 5 more restaurants for you to enjoy. So even if you do want a taste of traditional Zak’s, I wouldn’t bother going the one in Byward (even though this is the original), but going to the one on Elgin instead. It’s less crowded, but still conveniently located in downtown Ottawa.

But if you want actual good food, at a very reasonable price, and still in Byward Market, head to The King Eddy instead, it’s literally down the street from Zak’s Diner too! It still has that authentic diner vibes, both my partner and I really enjoyed what we ordered, and as a bonus we didn’t have to worry about getting sick from the food afterwards!

Read more: Best Cafes In Ottawa For Coffee, Tea, Or Just A Break

2. Don’t Tour Parliament Instead Tour Rideau Hall Just Outside Downtown Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital of Canada. So it’s no surprise that one of the top places to visit in Ottawa is Parliament. But, if you’ve already been, or politics just isn’t your thing (I totally get that!), then head to the Governor General House instead (a.k.a. Rideau Hall).

Both Parliament and Rideau Hall tours are free, but I would recommend making a reservation in advance at Rideau Hall. You’ll learn about the history of the house and some of what the governor general does in Canada. You’ll also see some pretty magnificent rooms – and trust me when I say a visit is worth it just for your Instagram feed!

P.S. Visiting Ottawa In The Winter? One of the top winter activities in Ottawa is to skate on the Rideau Canal. But, if it isn’t open yet when you’re visiting, or you’re just not a fan of crowds, Rideau Hall has a free skating rink you can use. It’s obviously smaller than the canal, but it’s also way less crowded. Plus, it’s also open way before the Rideau Canal will be (it’s a man made rink!). Read some more of my tips about visiting Ottawa in the winter.

3. Don’t Walk Along the Rideau Canal Instead Walk On The Trans Canada Trail

There’s no denying that the Rideau Canal is one of the top Ottawa Ontario attractions. And there’s probably no avoiding walking on it at least once while you’re there. You can change it up and see the canal from a new perspective on a boat tour of Ottawa!

But if you’re looking for a change of scenery from the canal, walk or bike along the Trans Canada Trail instead. This will take you along the Ottawa River with views of Gatineau across the way.

Unfortunately, this is an Ottawa activity that can only be enjoyed in the summer months, whereas the Rideau Canal can be enjoyed all year round.

4. Don’t Walk On Sparks Street, Instead Walk Down Elgin In Ottawa

Sparks Street in downtown Ottawa is either dead in the winter and packed in the summer. So it’s best to just avoid it altogether and instead, walk down Elgin Street.

Elgin is one of the main streets in Ottawa (running parallel to Bank Street). There are a lot of restaurants, as well as local shops and cafes. This is where I found some of my all time Ottawa favourites, like the Pot & Pantry shop.

Elgin Street is a bit of a further walk, but it is also longer to walk along. Elgin just continues with so many options that you’ll want to keep coming back every time you visit Ottawa! Whereas Sparks Street seems to become shorter every time I visit!

P.S. If you’re interested in discovering more of the spookier side of Downtown Ottawa, a unique thing to do is a haunted walking tour of Ottawa!

5. Don’t Go To Heart & Crown Instead Go To The Manx Pub

Heart and the Crown is a very popular place to eat in the Byward Market, but it’s also just one of those easy pubs to eat at due to location. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed it a few times purely for its convenience as an Ottawa tourist.

But branch out a bit and go to one of the best restaurants on Elgin, the Manx Pub. They serve local craft brews (p.s. review each beer in a Beer Journal) and has a lot of vegetarian options (I’ve gone back a few time just for their Lebanese Spiced Chickpea Burger!). Plus, sometimes they even have live music and art showings.

Just a heads up, the Manx Pub can be a bit hard to find. The first time I went there I walked back and forth a few times before realizing I had to go downstairs…

You might also be interested in: If you’re interested in tasting local brews at the Manx Pub, be sure to download or print out my microbrew tasting scorecards to rate and review each beer you try!

6. Don’t Go To Zoe’s For Afternoon Tea Instead Go To The Sconewitch

There’s no finer experience in Ottawa than enjoying afternoon tea at the Château Laurier Zoe’s. But I also won’t deny that it’s quite pricey. So, if you’re craving a taste of afternoon tea, head to the Sconewitch down the street instead (P.S. it’s right off of Elgin street!).

I literally take orders from friends and family in Montreal to bring back scones every time I go to Ottawa… they’re that good!

Keep in mind, you won’t be getting a whole afternoon tea experience, but they definitely make some of the best scones I’ve had. They will also serve you a piping hot pot of tea to enjoy with your scone. I mean, you can’t really go wrong with the price difference either!

P.S. My favourite flavours are Vanilla-cream, and lemon poppyseed, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their scones! And they also offer low gluten options.

Read more: Why I’m Never Paying For Fairmont High Tea Ever Again

7. Skip Beavertails, Instead Get A Croffle

The beaver tail is undeniably a Canadian classic. But these days, you can pretty much get them anywhere in Canada. So coming from Montreal, a beaver tail is no longer a specialty.

That being said, they are actually originally from Ottawa. So if you’re going to get them anywhere, especially if you’ve never tried one, it probably should be in Ottawa.

Otherwise, if you’re looking for different things to do in Ottawa, head to Sharpfle Waffle for a croffle instead. The croffle is another Ottawa dessert invention combining a waffle and a croissant.

8. Don’t Have Bridgehead Coffee, Instead Enjoy Little Victories

I don’t know about you, but I always like checking out the local coffee spots in every new city I visit – and Ottawa is no exception (p.s. see my full list of my favourite Ottawa cafes). Bridgehead Coffee is actually Ottawa’s local coffee chain… but it’s very easily skip-able. It’s more similar to Canada’s Second Cup, or even Starbucks Coffee.

So instead you’ll want to go to Little Victories. They have a few locations throughout downtown Ottawa, but there’s one across from Parliament on Elgin.

Let’s just say, they really know their coffee here. On top of just sitting down with a delicious brew, you can take your coffee stop to the next level here with a coffee tasting flight. This is the first place I’ve ever seen that does this and needless to say, I were very excited and had to order one!

I recommend sharing the tasting flight if you can as it’s a lot of caffeine! It’s a fun activity to taste and compare each bean and brew method. Pair this activity with my Coffee Tasting Journal from Etsy.

If you aren’t as into coffee tasting, the cafe itself has really nice vibes in a historical building too so you could easily stay here for a few hours. Bring some work or a good book to take a bit of a break!

If you’re interested: My coffee tasting journal is the perfect pairing to a coffee tasting flight at Little Victories. Includes tasting notes and aromas, and space for you to write down all your coffee tasting thoughts!

9. Skip Byward Market, Instead Go To A Local Farmers Or Flea Market

Byward market is one of those places to visit in Ottawa that’s slightly underwhelming. Of course, it’s the oldest market in Ottawa (dating back to 1826) but that doesn’t mean it’s still good. It’s filled with a lot of tourists, mediocre restaurants, and more touristy shops.

If you want a local experience (something not just for the Ottawa tourists) go to one of the many local markets that Ottawa has throughout the year. Parkdale Market is the second oldest market in Ottawa just outside the city centre, and it’s open every day from May until November.

But if you’re looking for things to do in Ottawa on weekends, you might want to check out some of the even better pop up markets (and don’t worry, they happen all year round – sun, rain, even snow!) I stumbled on the Elgin Street market in the summer. It’s open every Saturday from July to October.

There’s also the 613Flea market that also opens on Saturdays ( it’s sometimes it’s even open at night!). If you’re interested in vintage clothing, then check out FlyMarket – a moving vintage market in downtown Ottawa. Or if you want more of a farmers market with food, go to the Aberdeen Pavilion on Sundays.

10. Skip Downtown Ottawa Altogether, Instead Explore The Glebe

If you follow Bank Street, or even the Rideau Canal, from Downtown Ottawa you’ll reach the Glebe neighbourhood, just passed the Trans Canada Highway. The Glebe is the trendy neighbourhood in Ottawa, that shows you a different side to the city.

It resembles the Plateau in Montreal, with vibing restaurants and cute little shops and cafes (one of them being Little Victories!). Make a point to walk along one of the side streets to admire the Victorian architecture homes. And if you want a break from city life, take a stroll through Ottawa’s Central Park in the Glebe!

Bonus! Don’t Go To Paris, Instead Lock Your Love On The Corktown Bridge

Looking to lock your love somewhere but Paris is just a tad out of reach? No problem Ottawa has you covered! The Corktown Footbridge is relatively new (from 2006) and people started adding locks to it just like in Paris.

The sad news is that you should expect your lock to be cut off eventually (otherwise the bridge becomes too heavy). But, maybe it will last longer than it would in Paris!

Need A Place To Stay In Ottawa? Hotel Recommendations

I’ve stayed in Ottawa a few times now, each time at a different hotel, so I have a few recommendations for every budget. You can’t go wrong with any of these hotels, they’re all centrally located downtown and just a walk away from everything you’ll need.

The place to stay in Ottawa is none other than the Fairmont The Chateau Laurier – but it is also the most expensive option. You can even upgrade to have a view of the river and Parliament. See options on Fairmont.com or Booking.com.

A more reasonable place to stay (and my favourite) is the Westin Ottawa, especially if you’re visiting in the winter. Modern, updated rooms, you really can’t go wrong. But the best part about the Westin is that it’s directly connected to the Rideau Mall. So you can get all your shopping done without ever stepping foot outside! See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

For a more budget friendly option, stay at the Business Inn and Suites. Let’s just say the rooms don’t have the most modern look, but it’s very practical – giving you a large space for longer stays, breakfast included, and it’s in an even better location downtown (just off of Bank street). See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

See more accommodation options on Booking.com.

Buy the bundle & save: Get everything you need to be a travel pro with my Ultimate Digital Travel Package! It comes with a travel planner, daily travel journal, packing list, and even an Eye Spy game to stay entertained! Everything can be printed, or used digitally on the go! See the bundle on Etsy.

Quick Links – My Amazon Travel Favourites

My travel packing essentials, I always pack in my Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carryon (I prefer the 2-wheeled for more packing space!). To stay organized in my suitcase, I use MEC packing cubes. To save space on medication, I like using these pill organizers. And to make sure I don’t lose any loose belongings, I always have a Go Travel Cary Clip.

To take my best family photos, I use this Joby Gorillapod with remote shutter. This way, no one is left out from travel photos. And I always travel with a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated – I like my Thermoflask because it’s easy to carry and keeps my water cold!

Read More Related Posts

• An Honest Review The Fairmont Château Laurier: Is It Worth It?
• Best Cafes In Ottawa For Coffee, Tea, Or Just A Break
• Book The Best Ottawa Hotel: The Business Inn And Suites Ottawa

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