Things to do in Ottawa: the top-rated sights, activities and ideas
This page shows you the things you can do in Ottawa, with a list of 86 ranked attractions and a list of 22 ranked museums. All of these places are scored using the fromOttawa Score from Google data pulled on 2026-10-29.
68 built lists. 6,781 list records. Data: . Method
If you want to see sights, monuments and the classic first-day loop, then look at our attraction section. We have 86 places ranked. If it is a rainy afternoon or you just like museums, then look at our museum section. We have 22 museums ranked. These are just two of the 68 lists that we have for Ottawa and Gatineau. We have 6,781 places ranked across all of our lists and they are updated every 90 days.
Questions
How are the attractions and museums ranked?
We use the fromOttawa Score to rank each place. Score = (v/(v+m))*R + (m/(v+m))*C, where R is the Google rating of the place, v is the number of reviews and C is the Ottawa-area average. The more reviews a place has, the more the score leans on its own rating.
Why does a 5.0-star place sometimes rank below a 4.7?
If a place has a perfect rating but only a handful of reviews, then it will be pulled towards the Ottawa-area average. The confidence of a place is v/(v+m), so a place with thousands of reviews keeps more of its own rating than one with twelve.
How fresh is the data?
We currently use data that was pulled on 2026-10-29. All lists are updated every 90 days.
Does this cover the Quebec side?
Yes. We include places in Gatineau as well. So if you want to visit Gatineau Park or the Canadian Museum of History, then you should add them to your plan.