Best attractions in Ottawa and near you, ranked by the numbers
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the top rated attraction in Ottawa at #1. It has a score of 4.81, just 0.01 points higher than the Canadian War Museum.
Two war memorials and a war museum make up the top three of 86 ranked attractions. They are all within 0.02 points of each other. The top attraction has 182 reviews while the War Museum has 10,896. So the #1 spot is only considered medium confidence, not high.
Ottawa-area average. Data: . Refresh due: . Method.
0 of 28
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#1 vs Google’s pick on this page
#1Google’s pick
fromOttawa Score 4.81fromOttawaTomb of the Unknown Soldier
Top of 86Downtown · Downtown
53 Elgin St · Google 4.9 (182 reviews)
- Why: Stored rank #1; score 4.81/5.
4.9 stars from 182 reviews; 72% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (72.4%). R = 4.9; v = 182; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
fromOttawa Score 4.80fromOttawaCanadian War Museum
Downtown
1 Vimy Pl · Google 4.8 (10,896)
- Why: Stored rank #2; score 4.80/5.
4.8 stars from 10,896 reviews; 99% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.4%). R = 4.8; v = 10896; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
fromOttawa Score 4.80fromOttawaThe National War Memorial
Downtown
Wellington St · Google 4.8 (4,026)
- Why: Stored rank #3; score 4.80/5.
4.8 stars from 4,026 reviews; 98% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (98.3%). R = 4.8; v = 4026; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
Ranks 4 to 28
Showing 25 of 25 places below the first three on this page.
Each marker sits on the address saved with the place, top 3 included. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
None of the places that match have a saved location.
Ranks 4 to 10: Just off the podium
- fromOttawa Score 4.77
Rank 4: Ottawa Turbo Tubing
5.0 stars from 60 reviews; 46% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (46.3%). R = 5; v = 60; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.72
Rank 5: Canadian Firefighters Memorial
4.8 stars from 128 reviews; 65% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (64.8%). R = 4.8; v = 128; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.71
Rank 6: Rideau Canal, Locks 11-12 - Hogs Back
4.8 stars from 104 reviews; 60% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (59.9%). R = 4.8; v = 104; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 7: Parliament Hill
4.7 stars from 40,402 reviews; 100% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.8%). R = 4.7; v = 40402; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 8: Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
4.7 stars from 15,227 reviews; 100% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.5%). R = 4.7; v = 15227; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 9: Canadian Museum of History
4.7 stars from 14,938 reviews; 100% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.5%). R = 4.7; v = 14938; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 10: National Gallery of Canada
4.7 stars from 10,964 reviews; 99% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.4%). R = 4.7; v = 10964; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
By part of town
These 28 attractions records are grouped by saved address. Downtown holds the most, with 15. Each area’s best is a tap away.
2Gatineau sideacross the river
- Downtown 2#9 · Canadian Museum of History
6West End
- Nepean 3#16 · Jack Pine Trail
- Carlington 2#6 · Rideau Canal, Locks 11-12 - Hogs Back
- Bayshore 1#4 · Ottawa Turbo Tubing
15Downtown
- Downtown 8#1 · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Glebe 3#12 · Rideau Canal National Historic Site
- ByWard Market 2#10 · National Gallery of Canada
- Centretown West 1#5 · Canadian Firefighters Memorial
- and 1 more area
3East End
- Overbrook 2#11 · Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Orléans 1#25 · Shenkman Arts Centre
0South Endbelow the Queensway
None on this list yet.
2Elsewhere
11 to 15Worth the detour
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 11: Canada Aviation and Space Museum
4.7 stars from 8,046 reviews; 99% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (99.1%). R = 4.7; v = 8046; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 12: Rideau Canal National Historic Site
4.7 stars from 4,012 reviews; 98% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (98.3%). R = 4.7; v = 4012; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 13: Canadian Children's Museum
4.7 stars from 2,515 reviews; 97% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (97.3%). R = 4.7; v = 2515; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.70
Rank 14: Centennial Flame
4.7 stars from 1,932 reviews; 97% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (96.5%). R = 4.7; v = 1932; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.69
Rank 15: Rideau Canal, Locks 1 - 8 - Ottawa
4.7 stars from 1,603 reviews; 96% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (95.8%). R = 4.7; v = 1603; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
16 to 28Good backups to know
- fromOttawa Score 4.69
Rank 16: Jack Pine Trail
4.7 stars from 910 reviews; 93% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (92.9%). R = 4.7; v = 910; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.69
Rank 17: Royal Canadian Navy Monument
4.8 stars from 70 reviews; 50% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (50.2%). R = 4.8; v = 70; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.69
Rank 18: Ornamental Gardens
4.7 stars from 707 reviews; 91% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: high (91.0%). R = 4.7; v = 707; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.69
Rank 19: Confederation Square
4.8 stars from 66 reviews; 49% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (48.7%). R = 4.8; v = 66; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.68
Rank 20: Janus the Giant Snowman
5.0 stars from 23 reviews; 25% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (24.9%). R = 5; v = 23; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
Website not recorded - fromOttawa Score 4.68
Rank 21: Beaver Trail
4.7 stars from 391 reviews; 85% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (84.9%). R = 4.7; v = 391; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.68
Rank 22: Rideau Canal, Locks 9 -10 - Hartwells
4.7 stars from 289 reviews; 81% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (80.6%). R = 4.7; v = 289; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.68
Rank 23: Water Taxi, Eh? / Aqua-Taxi
4.8 stars from 55 reviews; 44% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (44.2%). R = 4.8; v = 55; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.68
Rank 24: Laurier House National Historic Site
4.7 stars from 271 reviews; 80% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (79.6%). R = 4.7; v = 271; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.67
Rank 25: Shenkman Arts Centre
4.7 stars from 237 reviews; 77% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (77.3%). R = 4.7; v = 237; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.67
Rank 26: RCMP Musical Ride
4.8 stars from 51 reviews; 42% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (42.3%). R = 4.8; v = 51; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.67
Rank 27: Pinhey Forest
4.7 stars from 177 reviews; 72% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: medium (71.8%). R = 4.7; v = 177; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
- fromOttawa Score 4.66
Rank 28: Puck n’ Putt
4.9 stars from 23 reviews; 25% of the score is its own rating.
Score breakdown
Confidence: low (24.9%). R = 4.9; v = 23; C = 4.5786; m = 69.5. Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C.
No place below the first three on this page matches. Try another name or street.
Why does 4.9 rank above 5.0?
Score = (v / (v + m)) × R + (m / (v + m)) × C. Ottawa-area average: C = 4.578571428571428; m = 69.5. R is the recorded Google rating; v is the recorded review count. Confidence is v / (v + m), the rating’s weight in the score.
How we score. Google stars, weighted by review count, pulled toward that average. Data from .
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 4.9 stars · 182 reviews
- Canadian War Museum 4.8 stars · 10,896 reviews
- The National War Memorial 4.8 stars · 4,026 reviews
Filled square: score. Open circle: Google rating. The axis starts at 4.4; all values are out of 5.
Places screened for this list
1,343 unique places screened; 1,257 excluded in the saved list file. 86 ranked places.
- Chains with 10+ locations in Canada
- 0
- Alcohol or excluded type
- 4
- Gambling
- 4
- Under 10 reviews
- 308
- Closed
- 0
- Out of area or category
- 1188
- Other source checks
- 31
Reason counts can overlap. Other source checks include identity, rating, branch and pending chain checks. Counts describe the saved screening, not complete local coverage.
Data checked . How we screen and score.
Local talk
Reddit data is partial for this list. Saved matches are review-only research and do not affect the rank.
- ByWard Market: Reddit discussion · Posted:
- ByWard Market Plaza: Reddit discussion · Posted:
Reddit pull date: .
TikTok
- 8 TikTok results in the saved Google organic pull for “attraction ottawa tiktok”. Pull date: .
- 8 Instagram results in the saved Google organic pull for “attraction ottawa instagram”. Pull date: .
These are search results, not platform post totals, views or endorsements.
Questions
How does a place with 182 reviews beat one with 10,896?
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has a rating of 4.9 and the War Museum has a rating of 4.8. With 182 reviews, about 72% of the Tomb's score is its own rating and the rest is pulled toward the Ottawa-area average (4.58). It still scored 0.01 points higher.
Is the order of the top three settled?
Not really. There is only a 0.01 point difference between #1 and both #2 and #3. The War Museum and The National War Memorial are both high confidence. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is only medium confidence. These lists are updated every 90 days, so the order can shift.
Why are some venue types left out?
Gambling venues are not included. Places that have fewer than 10 reviews also do not meet our minimum for ranking.