Travel Ottawa - 20 Things To Do In The Fall

It’s been a hot summer in Ottawa to say the least. With September upon us, comes back to school, shorter days and mornings that are cooling down. It’s finally time to get our scarfs and boots out, as well as those ten extra layers of clothing you know you’ll end up carrying around by mid-day when it warms up.

​But whether you’re traveling to Ottawa or you live here, there is always a ton of things to do in our beautiful Capital City. The end of the summer doesn’t mean your life needs to go back to being boring. To help you figure out what to do, we created this awesome list of our 20 favourite things to do in Ottawa in the Fall season!
​

Travel Ottawa - 20 Things To Do In The Fall

Pin me for later!

We're always looking for cool things to do when we travel, so it's safe to presume that people traveling to Ottawa are also looking for the same. When I started this post I kept thinking what will I ever write about, but it turned out to be much easier than expected. It so happens that there are always fun things happening in Canada's Capital City! Living here has made me a little bit blind to it I'll admit.

So in the spirit of rediscovering my home and show everyone how awesome of a city Ottawa really is, here are my 20 favourite things to do!
​

1. Attend One of Ottawa’s Awesome Festivals

Although the majority of festivals tend to be in the summer or winter months, the Fall also offers a variety of cool events. What we like about Fall festivals is that you can still enjoy the outdoors by bringing a few layers, but it doesn't get too hot with the surrounding crowds as it does in Summer!

Be sure not to miss my favourite, the CityFolk festival, a great four day long music festival located at the Lansdowne Park where a variety of artists perform on multiple stages. It's a great way to get to know new artists and get together with a few friends!
​

2. Go Hiking in Gatineau Park

As the leaves start changing colours, there is no better time to go explore the depths of Gatineau Park than the Fall! The weather is perfect to get some fresh air and (for me anyway) some much needed exercise now that the threat of heat stroke is mostly gone. Just a short drive away from the Ottawa downtown core, Gatineau Park is a must for any nature lover.

The Gatineau Park is over 350 square kilometres and offers trails ranging in distance and difficulty level. There really is a trail for everybody and so anyone can enjoy the beauty of the leafs in the park. The wolf trail, the pink lake loop and the Carbide Willson Ruins trails are our favourites, make sure to check them out!

Multiple paid parking areas are available on site for your convenience. You can simply choose a hike and make your way to the parking corresponding to the hike you want to do.
​

Wolf Trail View Point in Gatineau Park

3. Rent Bicycles to Explore The City

Riding bicycles around town or on the many trails to explore? I'm in! It's a great way to stay on budget, get exercise and do a bunch of sight seeing without wasting too much time or money getting from one place to the next!

Try a bicycle tour if you want to have a guide, they vary in length and all leave from the Rideau Canal downtown area!
​

4. Visit the Canadian Parliament (for free!)

If you're visiting the Canadian Capital, you haven't seen everything until you've visited the Parliament! The best thing? It's free! Register for the free tour at one of the kiosks in front and enjoy the facts and history from a knowledgeable tour guide.  

In early Fall and again in late fall, the Parliament building is home to the Northern Lights Show. A light and sound show against the facade of the parliament at night fall, it's definitely a sight to see! When the weather cools down, you can warm up around the fire pit in front of the building as you watch.
​

5. Visit the City’s Best Museums (for free!)

Today's museum have gotten interactive and really interesting for kids and adults alike. My favourite in Ottawa is the Nature Museum - you can always find some cool exhibits there, some permanent and others rotating.

A lot of the downtown museums of Ottawa have free entrance on Thursday evening between approximately 4PM and 8PM. The Museum of Nature, The National Art Gallery, The War Museum, The Aviation and Space Museum and the Museum of History all offer the deal. Check out their individual websites for exact hours.

If you prefer avoiding the crowds, you can also visit the museums throughout the rest of the week with a modest entry fee.
​

6. Take a Haunted Walking Tour

With Fall comes Halloween, and everything witchy and creepy! A lot of foreigners don't understand North Americans' obsession with this holiday. What's with the dressing up and being creepy thing right? Well honestly I don't know why, either. But it's one of my favourite time of the year regardless! An awesome tour I've done multiple times around Halloween is  the Ottawa Haunted Tour. Hear all about Ottawa's history of ghosts and visit the old jail, since transformed into a hostel!

Taking off from Spark Street where their office is located, you will walk around the downtown area with a guide explaining the history and retelling some of the obscure sides of the City. This tour is available year-round.

Creepy things make you uncomfortable? No worries! Try a regular city walking tours or a Hop on hop off tour instead.
​

7. Try as Many Food Trucks as You Can

Take advantage of the last few weeks of ideal weather to try out as many food trucks as you can! Mexican, Peruvian and Korean, or traditional poutines or seafood, there is some for every taste.

A lot of them will be packing up for the cold weather ahead, so there's no better time to get your fill. Grab some food, then enjoy it as a picnic in one of the many parks around the downtown area. 

Looking for desert? Try a delicious beavertail in the Byward Market area! 
​

The beautiful Museum of Nature is as impressive inside than it is outside!

8. Attend Nature Nocturne at the Museum of Nature

A really cool thing that everyone should attend at least once in Ottawa is the Nature Nocturne event held at the Museum of Nature. Nature Nocturne is normally held on the last Friday of every month between the months of September and June. There is always a theme, and the museum turns into a sort of mix between night club and ball. Dress up, bring your friends and enjoy a night of drinks, exhibits and games in one of Ottawa's coolest buildings! 
​

9. Test Your Skills in One of Ottawa’s Escape rooms

A perfect place to spend some time when the rain starts falling is at one of Ottawa's escape rooms. Grab a few friends or join some new ones and try to make your way through the clues in order to escape!

​For a bit of Halloween flair, try one of the creepy ones!
​

10. Battle it out at a Board Game Café

The Loft in the Byward Market is another good place to beat out the rain. A large selection of board games for as little as 2 person to large groups are there to entertain you. The staff has an awesome knowledge of almost every game so you don't even have to sit and read instructions for an hour in order to learn how to play!

Play some games while you enjoy some light snacks and drinks, the board game café is a good budget option to spend a few hours of your day.
​

11. Play Classic Arcades at a Local Bar

The House of Targ is a very cool bar in the Ottawa South area. From the outside it looks like a dodgy club, on the inside though feast your eyes on the dozens of arcade games lining the walls! With an eclectic selection of music, usually with live bands, it's sure to keep you entertained all night! Check them out on Facebook to find out which band is playing.

As for those not so keen on arcade games, or perhaps the club feel, you can always organize a night out to sing some oldie Karaoke with friends old or new!
​

12. Eat in a Dome

La Recolte is a dinner pop up located along the Rideau Canal. A four course meal is prepared by a renowned chef and served to you and your friends (groups of 4 to 6) in a very cool dome. Furnished with comfy sofas and warm blankets and with views of the canal, the dome is an experience you won't soon forget!

Make sure to sign up soon though, places and times are limited!
​

13. Laugh it Out at a Comedy Show

Live comedy shows are a regular thing in Ottawa's two comedy bars. Yuk Yuk's and Absolute Comedy have everything you need for you and your friends or family to get a good ab workout from laughing all night. They also serve food and drinks for you to enjoy while you watch the show.

If comedy is not your thing, you can always check out local bars for live music. Weekends are easy to find good live bands but some bars will also have artists come on certain weekdays so keep your eyes open!
​

14. Take a Brewery Tour

The craft beer market in Ottawa is huge! Pumpkin beers are out in the Fall so it's the perfect time to take a brewery tour! 

Try the Broadhead tour and enjoy a tasting of their beers, or opt for the multiple brewery tour with Brew Donkey. Brew Donkey is a company that organizes brewery tours, including transportation and tastings for one convenient fee!

For the tasting part only, make your way to the Craft Beer Market at Lansdowne Park where they have over 100 beers for you to taste, including a lot of local ones!
​

15. Have a Drink in a Speakeasy

If you don't know what a speakeasy is, it's a secret bar of which you must know the existence in order to access it. Sometimes a secret room at the back of an existing bar, it can be a fun and exciting activity to have with a few friends.

​Ottawa's very own speakeasy at Union 613 is a perfect place to have a couple of drinks with a friend. Make sure to head there early as the "secret space" is quite small and accommodates only a small amount of people. No reservations are taken and it opens at 6:30.

You can always have a drink at the bar while you wait for a table as the staff will make a wait list once it is full.
​

A great view of Parliament Hill from here!

16. Take a Well-Deserved Break at the Nordik Spa

I recommend the Nordik Spa to all my friends who come anywhere near Ottawa and I highly recommend it to you too! If you're looking for something to do on a romantic weekend, or even when going it solo, the Nordik Spa is a Scandinavian spa, which entails a rotation of hot and cold baths, followed by relaxation.

With the baths surrounded by trees and nature, it's a perfect time in the fall to enjoy the views while you relax. Plus the weather is really just right with a bit of a chill so it's comfortable in the hot tubs, yet not too cold when you're walking around between stations. Choose from the many baths, saunas and relaxation areas and enjoy a retreat that will have you feeling rejuvenated and fresh as a daisy!
​

17. Visit the Rideau Canal Unesco Site

The Rideau Canal Locks are a UNESCO site, it's one of the first canal that was designed for steam boats to climb up the river. If you're in the area early, you may still get a chance to see the locks in action as they let in or out leisure boats for the end of the summer. Otherwise, the sight of the locks themselves is quite impressive as is, you can also take some time and visit the small museum on site!
​

18. Enjoy Some Shopping Therapy at the Tanger Outlets

Need new boots for your Fall outfits? The Tanger Outlets are the perfect place for it! You will find some great deals on clothing, accessories, home necessities, electronics and much more. Plus the layout of the outlets make it perfect for a nice Fall day as you go in and out of the stores.

If you prefer a bit of vintage for your shopping there are some great stores in the area selling anything from vinyls to old furniture. Check out Pre Loved on Instagram for some ideas. The farmer's markets are also a great place to shop for original items. The Lansdowne Pavilion holds markets regularly, and some vendors are set up in the Byward Market as well almost every day!
​

19. See an Art Battle or Check out the street art ​

An art battle is an event at which a few artists, usually a dozen or so, figuratively battle each other over a series of three 20 minute rounds. Throughout each round an artist creates a piece and at the end, the crowd votes on their favourite. 

A really cool activity, which allows you to watch as artists create their work and even purchase if you like a piece. They also serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to keep your hands busy as you watch on. 

The art battles are not scheduled regularly so in the event that you're unlucky and still looking for things to do, there is a lot of gorgeous street art along Bank Street, from the downtown core all the way to South Ottawa. I do this walk at least once a year to admire the works, and Fall is the perfect weather for it! Take a break and do some shopping in the Glebe area as you do, they have lots of cute little shops including a Cats R'us which is exactly what you think: everything cats!

There are also very cool art installations such as sculptures around the Parliament Hill Trails that everyone should check out!
​

20. National Art Centre (NAC) shows

A Fancy night out on the town to watch a ballet? Maybe a symphony? Or a music show? The NAC offers a variety of shows fitting for all age groups or interests. Whether it's a fancy evening as a couple or a friends night to see a cool band, you won't be disappointed!
 
​
So grab a friend, the kids, your mom or go it solo, there is plenty of awesome things to do in Ottawa for everyone. We dare you to check off each of these ideas!