Welcome to Canada’s capital city! 

Marvel at the incredible displays at the festival held in the Commissioners Park, overlooking the Rideau Canal’s Dows Lake. With over 300,000 tulips in bloom, enjoy the celebrations and the history behind the festival, which grew from an annual gift of tulips from the Dutch Royal Family as thanks for Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands, and the fact that Ottawa provided safe refuge for them during World War II. The festival features activities, dining and retail opportunities, as well as evening events such as movies and light shows. 

Over one million tulips in Canada’s national capital region are planted and cared for by the National Capital Commission, so wherever your Springtime trip takes you in the Ottawa area, you are bound to see the stunning colours.

Ottawa is a perfect city break destination at this time of year, with outdoor dining and street food at ByWard Market, fresh produce at the city’s farmers’ markets and some fantastic outdoor experiences in the heart of the city, or just outside. Bike or stroll along the Rideau Canal or Ottawa River, take a sightseeing cruise or paddle yourself in a canoe or on a paddleboard. 

You don’t have to venture far from the city to find even more outdoor experiences. Across the Ottawa River, just 15 minutes from downtown is beautiful Gatineau Park, the largest green space in the region. It is a place of rich and unique biodiversity, and you can enjoy hiking, biking and wildlife watching. 

And for some indoor experiences you can discover more of country’s history at one of the many museums, take a tour of Canada’s Parliament or descend 75 feet below ground at the Diefenbunker – originally built during the Cold War to house Canadian politicians and military personnel in the event of a nuclear attack.