Ottawa in March: A Family Trip to Canada's Capital in Late Winter
Ottawa has a feel all its own: grand, stately buildings and an unmistakable sense of being in the nation's capital. There's something special about being surrounded by all the government history, and the city's walkability made it easy to soak it all in.
Just remember that March here is still winter. Bundle up, and you'll have a great time.
Grand government buildings, two world-class museums, and the fun of walking from Ontario into Quebec before lunch: Ottawa packs a lot into a very walkable city. We visited in mid-March as a family (me, my husband Josh, and our daughter Ava), and we loved the big, stately feel of the place.
Here's what we did, where we stayed and ate, and what we'd tell anyone planning an early-spring visit.
What Ottawa Is Like in March
Pack your real winter gear, because mid-March in Ottawa is still very much winter. There was snow on the ground, and temperatures sat well below freezing the whole time we were there.
Coming from the West Coast, where spring is already well underway by March, this was quite a shock. Luckily we'd brought warm winter clothes, so the cold never stopped us from getting out and exploring the city on foot.
Where We Stayed: Le Germain Hotel
Le Germain Hotel was a lovely, reasonably priced stay, and its location made the whole trip easy. Everything we wanted to see was within an easy walk, so we barely thought about transportation.
One heads-up: While the hotel has a lovely breakfast spot, there aren't many other breakfast options nearby. To switch things up, we ended up at the chain restaurant, Joey's.
Touring the Parliament Buildings
The guided tour of the Parliament Buildings was one of the highlights of our trip. I'm not usually one for tours, but this one was genuinely informative, and we all really enjoyed it.
From Parliament, we walked down the street past the Supreme Court of Canada toward the war museum. It's an easy, scenic stretch that shows off the city's grand government architecture.
The Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is extremely well done, and the building itself is gorgeous. Even if the exhibits aren't your thing, the architecture is worth seeing.
War history isn't something I enjoy, so I walked through fairly quickly. Ava and I spent most of our time in the cafeteria with a hot tea, which was a cozy break from the cold. Josh, on the other hand, loved every bit of it and would happily have stayed all day. Even though I don't enjoy the subject, I was really impressed by the detail in the exhibits. If it interests you at all, I recommend going.
The National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada was incredible, and my one regret is not giving it more time. I've been to many art galleries, and the quality of the art here was unlike anything I've seen before.
The building itself is beautiful too. If you love art, set aside a generous chunk of your day for this one.
Walking Across Portage Bridge to Gatineau
Walking from Ontario into Quebec is one of the coolest things you can do in Ottawa. After the War Museum, we crossed Portage Bridge on foot into Gatineau, and it felt pretty special to cross a provincial border just by strolling over a bridge.
In Gatineau, we stopped for lunch at La P'tite Epicerie, a cute little sandwich shop that I definitely recommend.
The Canadian Museum of History
The Canadian Museum of History was the one stop all three of us loved. The displays are incredibly well done, and there's something to hold everyone's attention.
The museum also has a great IMAX theatre, which was a big hit with Ava. If you're traveling with kids, it's well worth building into your afternoon.
More Things to Do in Ottawa in March
A riverside walk and an Ottawa Senators hockey game rounded out our trip nicely.
The walk along the river was beautiful, even in winter. Unfortunately, the skating had already shut down for the season by mid-March, so if skating is on your list, check before you go.
Catching a hockey game is a fun, very Canadian thing to do. If you're coming from the West Coast, the ticket prices will feel very reasonable.
Where We Ate
For an easy, inexpensive dinner, Holy Guacamole was a winner. It's a low-key joint with filling bowls and friendly staff.
For great cocktails and a good burger, head to The Albion Rooms, a gastropub attached to a hotel. I had a smoked Old Fashioned that they smoked right at the table, which was a fun bit of theatre with my drink.
Our best breakfast was at Norco, the restaurant in our hotel, where the omelet was proper French-style. Another morning, we ended up at Joey's.
For lunch, La P'tite Epicerie in Gatineau is the spot I'd go back to.
