Ottawa: 2-Hour Bike Tour Parliament Hill & Rideau Canal

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1/24

Duration2h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Two Hours on a Bike, Six Stops Across Ottawa's Core

You'll pedal through Ottawa's core landmarks—Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, ByWard Market, Rideau Hall, and the National Gallery—with a local guide who stops 6-7 times to explain the history and point out the best views. The two-hour format means you see the essential Ottawa without spending your whole day on a bike, and you leave with local tips about what else to do in the city. Arrive 20 minutes early for bike fitting at 65 Sparks Street.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ottawa by bike in 2 hours

Meet 20 minutes before start
Visit Rideau Canal
See Ottawa Locks operation
Stop at National Gallery and Spider Sculpture
Visit War Memorial
View Parliament Hill lookouts
Cycle through backroads and ByWard Market
Visit Rideau Hall and gardens
Explore New Edinburg and Rideau Falls
Learn about Ottawa's oldest stone building

The Experience

"How much can we actually see in two hours?" That's the question most people ask before they book, and it's the right one. The answer is: way more than you'd think, especially if you're on a bike with someone who knows where the lookouts are and which backroads skip the traffic. The Rideau Canal opens up first—you'll see the locks where boats actually pass through, and your guide will walk you through how the whole system works. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you, the mechanics of a place you'd otherwise just pedal past.

From there the tour moves through Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial, then cuts into the quieter neighbourhoods—New Edinburgh, the backroads that show you how Ottawa actually lives rather than how it performs for tourists. You stop at Rideau Hall to learn about the Governor General's residence and the gardens, and somewhere in the middle of all this you're at the National Gallery of Canada snapping photos of the famous Spider Sculpture. The guide talks about history and local culture at each stop, so it's not just a ride; it's a ride with context. Six or seven stops packed into two hours means you're moving, but not rushed—the pace is built for families and easy-going cyclists, and the bikes themselves are comfortable enough that you're not fighting the machine.

The practical side: arrive 20 minutes early for bike fitting and a safety review. The tour starts at 65 Sparks Street, a pedestrian street just steps from Parliament Hill, so parking is nearby at the National Arts Centre or City Hall underground lots. E-bikes are available if you want them, and the whole route stays on scenic waterfront pathways and safe backroads. Helmets and a local guide are included, and the tour works for all ages—infant seats are available, and the route is wheelchair accessible if you need it.

What’s included

Your tour includes a local guide who shares stories about Ottawa's history and local culture, a comfortable bicycle fitted to your size, a helmet, and stops at six or seven key landmarks: the Rideau Canal and its locks, Parliament Hill with views from scenic lookouts, the National War Memorial, Rideau Hall and its gardens, the ByWard Market neighbourhood, Rideau Falls, and the National Gallery of Canada.
E-bikes are available upon request.
Arrive 20 minutes early for bike fitting and a safety review.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover Ottawa's main sights in a single morning without arranging transport between stops or figuring out which landmarks are worth your time—the two-hour format and local guide handle both, leaving you with the rest of your day free and a list of local tips for what to do next.