Exchange Zones

Twin cities: twice the excitement!
Canada’s Capital straddles the border of two provinces, Ontario and Quebec. The region contains two major cities, Ottawa and Gatineau, and has two official languages, English and French.

For every season there is a reason. Visit Canada’s Capital region!
Winter

Brrrrr… This is one of the world’s coldest capitals, with mean January temperatures of -10.7º Celsius. This is perfect weather to get ready for Winterlude, Canada’s Winter Celebration!

Nearly 200 kilometres of trails offer some of the most beautiful and challenging cross-country skiing in the world in Gatineau Park, only a 15-minute drive from Parliament Hill. Winter camping, snowshoeing under the stars, bird watching and hiking are other popular winter activities that everyone can enjoy in the park.


Spring and Summer

Over a million tulips bloom in the Capital region in the spring, bringing the region’s flower beds to life. The original bulbs were a gift from the Dutch in appreciation of Canada’s role in the 1945 liberation of the Netherlands.


Cyclists and in-line skaters enjoy the Capital Pathway, which consists of 180 kilometres of recreational pathways, and is the most extensive off-road, multi-use system of its kind in North America. On Sunday mornings from May to September, cyclists and in-line skaters can roll out on more than 50 kilometres of scenic parkways closed to motor-vehicles.

Autumn

Vivid hues and striking scenery draw thousands of people to visit Gatineau Park every fall season during the three weekends of Fall Rhapsody. Gatineau Park is the perfect place for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike to admire the forest’s breathtaking fall colours, only minutes from the downtown core.


Be seduced by Canadian culture. Indulge in your passion for learning.
Ottawa and Gatineau are home to eight national museums, storehouses of Canadian culture. Visit them all for only $30 with the Museums passport!

The Central Experimental Farm, a 500-hectare federal government agricultural research facility, was founded in 1886 and today is a “farm in the city”, open to the public throughout the year.

The Rideau Canal was built through the wilderness in the early 1800s to link Ottawa to the Great Lakes. It was one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century! In winter, a section of the Canal (7.8 kilometres) becomes the world’s largest skating rink.


Confederation Boulevard runs through the heart of the Capital, your avenue to discovering this extraordinary place. Along its length lie some of Canada’s important institutions, heritage sites, monuments and festival plazas. Perfect for a pleasant day of strolling and sightseeing.


Experience the tranquility of nature in the heart of the city.
Some 90 kilometres of scenic parkways run through the Capital, following the waterways from east to west and penetrating deep into Gatineau Park to the north and the Greenbelt to the south.


The Greenbelt is a 200-square-kilometre belt of protected wild and rural land located in the southern part of the urban Capital in Ontario. It is a symbol of Canada’s rural landscape as well as a place where everyone can explore a mix of sights, sounds and recreational activities on well-maintained trails.

A boardwalk leads into Mer Bleue, a wetland only a few kilometres from Parliament Hill that is protected as internationally important under the U.N. Ramsar Convention.



Discover alluring architecture.
Ottawa is one of four capitals (with London, Johannesburg and Budapest) that are neo-Gothic in style and spirit. The complex, picturesque quality of Gothic design distinguishes these from neo-classical Rome, Paris and Washington, which are characterized by a spirit of monumental grandeur.