There’s always a lot to do in Ottawa. It’s a city where people are generally more oriented to sports than nightlife.
Ottawa’s nightlife is quieter and more laid back than you’ll find in Toronto or Montreal. If you do want nightlife, there’s plenty available in the Byward Market area, especially at weekends.
Yoga outside Parliament. Images: paulmckinnon
Most areas of the city aren’t far from good restaurants.
There are a great many ways to get involved in sports in Ottawa, such as yoga, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, skating, cycling, sailing, soccer, kayaking, fishing, hockey (ice), hiking, and plenty of clubs you can join to get together with like-minded enthusiasts.
You can enjoy Ottawa all year round if you make the most of winter by taking up skiing or skating.
Ottawa holds many festivals every year, including:
● Winterlude, Canada’s biggest winter festival, which is held for three weeks in February, with ice sculpture competitions, snow games and skating.
● Bluesfest, with ten days in July of blues bands from around the world
