Ottawa Historical Walking Tour: Parliament Hill & ByWard Market

Two hours on foot through the sites that built Ottawa

This 2-hour guided walking tour of Ottawa departs from the Bear Catching Fish Statue and covers Parliament Hill, Confederation Square, the Rideau Canal and ByWard Market with a live English-speaking guide. The tour walks the exteriors of historic buildings and landmarks; entry to Parliament, museums and the Bank of Canada Museum is available separately after the tour ends at your own cost. Wheelchair accessible, suitable for all fitness levels, and stroller-friendly.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ottawa's historical highlights

• Meet at Bear Catching Fish Statue
• Walk to Parliament Hill and learn history
• Visit Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• See the iconic castle on Rideau Canal
• View the Rideau Canal waterway
• Explore ByWard Market district

The Experience

The tour starts at the Bear Catching Fish Statue on Sparks Street, one block south of Parliament Hill, and moves through Ottawa's central landmarks on foot. A live guide in English leads the group through Parliament Hill itself, explaining the iconic architecture and history without entering the buildings, then moves to Confederation Square to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The route continues past Château Laurier on the Rideau Canal—a National Historic Site with distinctive architectural details—and down to ByWard Market in Lower Town, where the vibrant district spreads around the open-air market.

The Rideau Canal itself frames part of the walk: completed in 1832, the 202 km waterway connects Ottawa to Lake Ontario and sits at the heart of the city's geography and identity. Your guide weaves the stories of these sites together as you move between them, making the connections between Parliament's role, the war memorial, the canal's engineering and the market's place in the city's life. The pace is steady and the route is flat enough for all fitness levels; strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, and the surfaces throughout are accessible.

After the tour ends, you're free to explore further on your own. If you want to go inside Parliament Hill, the museums or the Bank of Canada Museum, those visits happen separately and you pay admission at the door. Many people use the tour as an orientation before deciding which interiors to visit, or simply as a standalone walk through the capital's public face.

What’s included

A live English-speaking guide; exterior views of Parliament Hill, Confederation Square with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Château Laurier on the Rideau Canal, and ByWard Market.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ottawa Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want an overview of Ottawa's main historical sites and how they connect without committing a full day—the 2-hour format and fixed route mean you get the essentials and still have time to explore interiors or neighborhoods on your own afterward.

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Top questions

How long is the Ottawa historical walking tour?

The tour runs for 2 hours and covers Parliament Hill, Confederation Square, the Rideau Canal and ByWard Market on foot.

Where does the Ottawa walking tour start and end?

The tour departs from the Bear Catching Fish Statue at 89 Sparks Street, one block south of Parliament Hill, and ends in the ByWard Market area after 2 hours.

What is the Rideau Canal and why is it on this tour?

The Rideau Canal is a 202 km waterway completed in 1832 that connects Ottawa to Lake Ontario. It's a National Historic Site and a defining landmark in Ottawa's geography, so the tour walks past it to show how the city's layout and identity are tied to the canal.

Do we go inside Parliament Hill on this tour?

No, the tour walks onto Parliament Hill and your guide explains the architecture and history from outside. If you want to enter Parliament, the museums or the Bank of Canada Museum, those visits are separate and cost extra.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible with all surfaces and areas accessible throughout. Strollers are welcome, and infants and small children can ride in a pram. Service animals are also allowed.

What is ByWard Market and what do we see there?

ByWard Market is a vibrant district in Lower Town Ottawa built around an open-air market. The tour ends in this neighborhood so you can see how it fits into the city's layout and history.