First-time fam to Canada: Ottawa
Destination Canada hosted a group of young agents on their first visit to Canada. Here’s how they found their experience
Canada’s buzzing cities and delicious dining scene often go viral, but do they live up to expectations? Two groups of agents who had never visited Canada before joined together in Ottawa after exploring Quebec and wider Ontario separately, for the fi nal leg of their fam trip with Destination Canada. Travel Weekly joined them to see how their experience compared with their preconceptions before the trip. Here are some of their highlights in the Canadian capital.
Mesmerising museums
- The group which had explored Ontario earlier in the trip arrived in Ottawa in style after a two-hour business-class journey on board Via Rail from Kingston.
- Marvelled at Indigenous artefacts and heritage on a guided tour of the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. Highlights included the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles and the Canadian History Hall, which showcases the most comprehensive exhibition of Canadian history ever created.
- Viewed the world’s most diverse collection of Canadian art at the National Gallery of Canada, admiring galleries of works ranging from Old Masters artworks to famous contemporary pieces.
- Took a fascinating tour of the Royal Canadian Mint, discovering how coins are made and glimpsing limited-edition pieces. They were also gifted a specially minted 2025 Canadian two-dollar coin celebrating Indigenous artist Daphne Odjig
Exploring the city
- Learnt about Escape Bicycle Tours’ cycling routes and how its rentals can take visitors around Ottawa’s scenic bike paths on self-guided or locally led tours.
- Boarded a hop-on hop-off bus tour with Gray Line, which winds around the city past key sights such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian War Museum and the ByWard Market District.
- Explored Ottawa’s spooky side after dark on a walking tour with Haunted Walks Inc, where they were led around some of the city’s ghostly locations and regaled with spine-chilling tales of mysteries and local legends.
Shopping and dining
- Reflected on their trip at ByWard Taproom, with each group sharing highlights from their time in Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec while enjoying delicious craft beers and local food.
- Tried Ottawa’s diverse cuisine on a guided tour of ByWard Market with C’est Bon Ottawa. They learnt more about the market’s history and sampled international dishes including homemade tacos, tandoor-baked chicken, sweet BeaverTails pastries and ice cream.
- Had free time to explore, with some agents going sightseeing on Parliament Hill, while others hit Ottawa’s boutiques, markets and malls to snap up souvenirs.
Agents’ views: Before and after
Ellie Royle, Miles Morgan Travel
PRE-TRIP: “I’ve mainly booked clients on trips to Vancouver or on the Rocky Mountaineer, rather than its eastern cities. I expected everywhere to be really cold so I packed lots of hoodies. I was pleasantly surprised that it was 28C while we were there!”
POST-TRIP: “For me, the highlight of Ottawa was the shopping – being the capital city means there’s a really great range of local and international shops. I also thought that our food tour in ByWard Market was a really good way of experiencing the city if you’ve never visited before. Having come from Quebec and Montreal, visiting Ottawa also gave me an insight into the diff erences between Quebec and Ontario.”
Caitlin Walmsley, Spear Travels
PRE-TRIP: “I wasn’t sure how much there would be to do in Canada’s cities for diff erent types of clients, like families or younger travellers. Clients often don’t see past the Rockies, and don’t know much about places like Ottawa or Quebec.”
POST-TRIP: “I love how easy it was to get around Ottawa – everything was accessible on foot. Walking around Parliament Hill and seeing the monuments is a must, and I’d defi nitely suggest visiting ByWard Market – it has great food options and local character. I’d also recommend the hop-on hop-off bus for getting your bearings, and trying a classic Canadian BeaverTails pastry served with sweet toppings!”
Mazy Allison, Ramsay World Travel
PRE-TRIP: “The main appeal of Canada is its scenery and friendly people. I was keen to explore cities that might not be as familiar, as a big challenge for clients can be budget – more popular places can often be pricey.”
POST-TRIP: “Ottawa was a really great place to spend a few days! It was smaller than I expected for a capital city, but I really recommend visiting the Canadian Museum of History and ByWard Market. The rain stopped us from doing the cycling tour, but I think it would be a great way to explore the city. I’d recommend similar itineraries paired with Montreal and Quebec, because it’s easy to explore other cities once you’re already there.”
Annie Hughes, Newell’s Travel
PRE-TRIP: “I was especially looking forward to learning more about the diff erent cities, as when I think of Canada, I picture natural landscapes and also multicultural cities.”
POST-TRIP: “I was really surprised at how welcoming everyone was in Canada – the genuine hospitality we received everywhere made a big impression. I was also amazed by how easy it is to get around, even between major cities. Ottawa was a wonderful surprise – it felt relaxed and picturesque but still full of culture and history. I really enjoyed the guided tour of the art gallery and taking a spooky stroll along the Rideau Canal.”
Watch videos of the agents’ adventures by following @travelweeklyuk on Instagram and checking out the Canada highlights.
Watch this week’s reel to find out more about Indigenous experiences across Quebec!
Fly with Air Canada
Air Canada offers direct flights from Heathrow to Ottawa four times per week in summer and three times per week in winter. The airline also has direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax. At Heathrow, clients can book into the Maple Leaf Lounge for food, drinks and quiet spaces before their journey. On board, they can expect inflight entertainment, meals and a flight time of less than eight hours.
Find out more at: aircanada.com
Become a Canada expert: canadaspecialist.co.uk
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