A family weekend in Ottawa works best when you resist the urge to pack in too much. Kids need variety, but they also need downtime, snack breaks, and the freedom to linger at things that catch their attention. This guide gives you more options than you can fit into two days, so you can pick and choose based on your family's ages and energy levels.
Saturday Morning: Museum Time
Start with your main museum visit while everyone is fresh. For families, the top choice is usually the Canadian Museum of Nature (dinosaurs, animals, a stunning building) or the Canada Science and Technology Museum (hands-on experiments, trains, space). Both are excellent, but they serve different age groups. The Museum of Nature works for all ages, while Science and Technology is best for kids roughly 4 to 12.
Arrive when the doors open. Morning crowds are lighter, kids are at their most receptive, and you give yourself time to explore without watching the clock. Plan for two to three hours, including a snack break at the on-site cafeteria.
Saturday Afternoon: ByWard Market and the Canal
After the museum, head to the ByWard Market for lunch. The market offers enough variety that even picky eaters find something they like. Shawarma wraps, pizza slices, crepes, and ice cream are all easy options. Let the kids look at the outdoor vendors if they are selling that day, and pick up a treat from one of the bakeries.
After lunch, walk to the Rideau Canal. In summer, rent bikes and ride along the canal pathway, which is flat, paved, and family-friendly. The stretch from the Market area south to Dows Lake is about 5 kilometres and takes 30 to 45 minutes at a relaxed cycling pace. In winter, you can skate along the canal instead, renting skates at the National Arts Centre end of the rink.
Saturday Evening: Low-Key Dinner
By this point, your family will be tired. Choose a restaurant close to your hotel and keep the evening simple. The ByWard Market and Elgin Street both have family-friendly restaurants where you will not feel rushed. Alternatively, pick up food from the market and eat at your hotel. Nobody will judge you for choosing the easy option.
Sunday Morning: Parliament Hill and Major's Hill Park
Sunday morning works well for Parliament Hill. The grounds are free to explore and the scale of the buildings impresses kids even if they do not care about politics. Walk around the main buildings, check out the Centennial Flame, and head to the back lawn for river views. In summer, the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 10:00 AM is a draw for kids who enjoy pageantry.
From Parliament Hill, walk to adjacent Major's Hill Park. This green space sits on a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, with views of the Alexandra Bridge and the Museum of History across the water. It is a great place for kids to run around while parents sit and enjoy the scenery. The playground is basic but functional, and the space is large enough that children can burn off energy safely.
Sunday Midday: Canadian Museum of History
Cross the Alexandra Bridge (a 10-minute walk from Major's Hill Park) to reach the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. The bridge walk itself is a highlight, with views in both directions. At the museum, head directly to the Canadian Children's Museum on the lower level. This interactive space lets kids explore themed environments from around the world, try on costumes, and play in a simulated market. It is designed for children aged roughly 2 to 10 and easily fills an hour or more.
If your kids are older, the Grand Hall upstairs is worth seeing. The towering totem poles and reconstructed First Nations houses are genuinely awe-inspiring, and even teenagers tend to look up from their phones in this room.
Sunday Afternoon: Wind Down
After the museum, walk back across the bridge and stop for ice cream or BeaverTails before heading home. If you have time and energy remaining, the National Gallery of Canada is right nearby and offers family activity guides on weekends. But do not feel obligated. A weekend with two museum visits, canal time, a market lunch, and a Parliament Hill walk is a full and satisfying family trip.
Rainy Day Alternatives
If weather forces you indoors, Ottawa has you covered. The Rideau Centre mall is connected to the convention centre and several hotels and provides a warm, dry place to walk. The Canada Aviation and Space Museum, on the east side of the city, has real aircraft and flight simulators that fascinate kids of all ages. And most of the major museums have enough to fill the better part of a rainy day.
For more family planning, see our first-timer family guide and our review of Ottawa's best museums for families.