For a neighbourhood best known for patios and late nights, ByWard Market is surprisingly well-stocked with outdoor space. A short walk in almost any direction leads to a park, a riverfront, or a heritage landscape that puts the whole city in context.
Major's Hill Park: The Neighbourhood's Green Heart
Perched above the Rideau Canal locks with sweeping views of Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River, Major's Hill Park is one of the most dramatically situated green spaces in any Canadian city. It's also immediately adjacent to the National Gallery of Canada, which means you can go from Rembrandt to a picnic blanket in about three minutes.
In summer the park fills with festivals, lunchtime crowds, and tourists trying to get the perfect Parliament shot. In winter it's quieter but no less beautiful — snow-covered and serene above the frozen canal.
The Rideau Canal Locks
The eight Rideau Canal locks at the foot of Parliament Hill are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ottawa's most photographed spots. In summer you can watch boats being lifted and lowered between the river and the canal. In winter the canal below the locks becomes the southern end of the world's largest naturally-frozen skating rink.
The locks themselves are a short walk from the Market core along the Ottawa River Parkway — an easy addition to any Market day.
Sussex Drive and the Riverfront
Sussex Drive between the National Gallery and Rideau Falls is one of Ottawa's most scenic stretches. On weekends from May through October, the road closes to cars and opens to cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians. The views of the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills across the water are worth the walk even on a grey day.
Confederation Park
A few blocks west of the Market, Confederation Park hosts the Canadian Tulip Festival every May — when more than a million tulips bloom across the city's parks, a tradition dating back to the Netherlands' gift to Canada after World War II. The rest of the year it's a pleasant urban park good for a lunch break.
Colonel By Drive
Following the canal south from the locks, Colonel By Drive is lined with mature trees and provides a green buffer between the urban core and the water. Cyclists and runners share the pathway year-round.
ByWard Market's outdoor offerings punch above the weight you'd expect from a dense urban neighbourhood. The proximity to the river, the canal, and Parliament Hill gives it a natural setting that most city centres can only envy.
