The 40-meter-high Parliament Hill is the city’s most famous landmark. This is the seat of the Canadian government. The large dome of the Library of Parliament and the Supreme Court building can also be found on the hill. Some of the buildings offer free tours to the public. Online reservations (visit.parl.ca) are recommended.

Ottawa still cherishes some of its British traditions, such as the ceremonial changing of the guard by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in front of the Parliament building. The choreography is just as precise as the original changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in London.

The Rideau Canal has been a UN World Heritage site since 2007; it flows across 200 kilometers of Ontario, from Kingston to Ottawa. The canal earned the city two records: It has been in operation since 1832, making it the oldest canal in North America, and in the winter, when it freezes over, an eight-kilometer stretch of the canal becomes an ice-skating rink – the longest in the world.

The flight of locks between the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River is located next to the Parliament building. The eight locks allow boats to traverse a height difference of over 24 meters – and watching the entire process is a thrill, because the locks are still operated by hand.

The Bytown Museum is located at the foot of the stairs next to the locks, on the banks of the Ottawa River. The building was constructed in 1824, making it the city’s oldest stone house. The exhibit tells the story of the city’s beginnings. Ottawa was originally called Bytown, named after Colonel John By, who was commissioned with constructing the Rideau Canal.

The Byward Market district is home to most of the city’s restaurants, bars and cafés. Morning, noon and night, there’s always something happening here. The market hall is the heart of the district and gives the area its name. It was constructed in 1826 and houses one of Canada’s oldest and largest farmer’s markets. Flowers and all sorts of foods are on offer here, including a Canadian specialty: Beaver Tail, a fried-dough pastry shaped just like its name.

The impressive twin spires of the cathedral are visible from quite a distance. Notre Dame is one of Ottawa’s oldest and largest churches and is the seat of the city’s Roman-Catholic archbishop. It was built in 1846, and the ornate vaulted ceiling is the most impressive feature of the interior.

Renowned Canadian architect Moshe Safdie designed this impressive glass structure, which was inaugurated in 1988. In front of the building is “Maman,” an enormous black spider sculpture crafted by Louise Bourgeois. It stands at over nine meters high. The National Gallery is one of Canada’s leading museums, displaying primarily Canadian art.

There is a beautiful vantage point from a small hill on the Ottawa River, directly in front of the National Gallery: Nepean Point. From here, you will have a fantastic view of Parliament Hill, and in good weather, you can see all the way to the Gatineau Hills.

Gatineau is on the northern bank of the Ottawa River: a quick and easy trip across the Alexandra Bridge. This is where you’ll find the Museum of History, housed in a stunning building constructed in 1989 according to plans by famous architect Douglas Cardinal. The museum’s exhibits focus on Canada’s culture and the history of its settlement. It features the world’s most comprehensive collection of totem poles and many other First Nations’ artifacts and works of art.

Book one of the rooms with a city view on the sixth story of the Andaz hotel to see either Parliament Hill or the Ottawa River from your window. Subtle shades of gray and brown dominate the elegant simplicity of these spacious rooms, which all feature panorama windows and walk-in wardrobes.

A hearty breakfast as well as amusing treats, such as BeaverTails (beaver-tail shaped donuts), and cookies in the shape of a maple leaf with the face of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on top can be had from Boulangerie Le Moulin de Provence (lemoulindeprovence.com) at ByWard Market. One of Ottawa’s most popular bakeries, the Art-Is-In Bakery (artisinbakery.com), also has a branch at the market: Sourdough loaves, some with unusual ingredients, such as figs, chives and jalapeños, are the specialty here.

Canada’s House of Commons moved into the restored west wing of the Parliament Building in 2019. The inner courtyard of the 150-year-old building was transformed into a modern assembly chamber, and it can now be viewed by the public on free tours. Tip: In summertime, free yoga courses are held outside the building on Wednesdays, and Justin Trudeau is rumored to have been spotted attending them. (For current dates, see: facebook.com/parliamenthillyoga)

Springtime in Canada is maple (syrup) time: That’s when the liquid gold is freshly tapped from Canada’s native sugar maples. At Vanier Museoparc, five kilometers from the city center, visitors can gain an insight into the production process at the Sugar Shack, a hut where the tapped maple sap is boiled down to a syrup. The season usually ends around mid-April, but the syrup is available all year round at ByWard Market.

New boutiques, restaurants, breweries and bars are constantly opening up on every corner in the hip districts Hintonburg and Wellington Village. The best way to get to know the culinary hotspots is by exploring the city with a C’est Bon Cooking gourmet food tour, the vegetarian option, say, which includes a visit to the Thyme & Again restaurant, which first opened in 2018 (1255 Wellington St, thymeandagain.ca).

The New Art Gallery exhibits some 1,600 works by Canadian artists. The gallery opened in an elegant white cube in 2018. After exploring the roughly 12,000-square-meter, five-story exhibition space, head for some reviving refreshment in the relaxed atmosphere of the Jackson, the gallery’s elegant café and restaurant (jacksonottawa.com).

There are plenty of fine-dining destinations for gourmets in the area around Preston Street, which owes its local nickname “Corso Italia” to its Italian heritage. The stylishly minimalist Mati (428 Preston Street, matiottawa.ca) serves mainly steaks and fish dishes, such as yellowfin tuna tartare. The Alice (40 Adeline Street, alicerestaurant.ca), which opened in 2019, is a hot tip for vegetarians, with intriguing creations like pine-nut pudding and celeriac tart with spruce tips on its menu. Head chef Dominique Dufor serves regional Canadian fare in a Nordic ambience at the Gray Jay (300 Preston St, grayjayhospitality.ca). “Berlingots” are the Gray Jay house specialty – that’s small hempseed-filled pastries served with tomatoes from Quebec and peaches from Ontario.

If you’re staying at the Andaz, you don’t even have to step outside your hotel to spend a relaxing evening after a long day out and about because one of the capital city’s favorite bars is right here on the 16th floor: the Copper Spirits & Sights rooftop bar (open Tuesday through Saturday). But if you’re in a party mood, you might prefer to drop by the nearby Irish pub the Heart and Crown (67 Clarence St, heartandcrown.pub/byward) or the Bluesbar Rainbow (76 Murray St, therainbow.ca), which has live music practically every night.

Expect surprising combinations and artfully arranged dishes: If you can’t choose between all the delicious-sounding options, you might want to order the twelve-course tasting menu (accompanied by appropriately paired wines upon request).

The Riviera serves upscale cuisine with a French flair. Its wide selection of sophisticated fish and seafood dishes and its extensive wine list and cocktail menu make it a very popular location for a night out. Reservations are required.

This restaurant at Byward Market has been serving up fish and seafood dishes in a casual atmosphere since 1979. The menu also offers a number of meat dishes.

Canada meets Italy in this little red-brick building on Nepean Street. Enjoy aperitivos and antipasti to kick off the evening here. The menu primarily features dishes from northern Italy.

This diner at Byward Market is known for its unique hot dog creations and triple-decker burgers. In good weather, take a seat out on the patio.

If you’re in the mood to dance, make sure to check out the Mercury Lounge: DJs spin everything from soul to funk on two dance floors across two levels. Each level also has a bar.

This chic cocktail bar in Little Italy is best known for its intricately decorated drinks. And these fancy beverages are served with delicious little snacks. The truffle parmesan popcorn is a big hit.

From the rooftop bar at the Andaz Ottawa Hotel Byward Market, you can sip an elegant drink while enjoying a spectacular view of the city.

Located in western Ottawa, this cozy, relaxed little bar is the perfect place to end an action-packed day while on vacation. Drinks can be paired with elegant little dishes, from corn chips to ceviche to ramen.

The basement bar at Byward Market has an exceptionally extensive wine list with more than 300 varieties, 80 of which are served by the glass. Jazz bands play on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays starting at 7:00 pm.