Hotels in Ottawa, ON — Best Areas, Budget to Luxury

About Ottawa

What to know before you book

Ottawa is Canada's capital city — a surprisingly vibrant destination that punches well above its weight for museums, cycling infrastructure, and seasonal events. The Canadian Museum of History, National Gallery of Canada, and the Canadian War Museum are all world-class. Parliament Hill dominates the skyline above the Ottawa River.

The Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — freezes every winter to become the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink during Winterlude (February). In summer, the canal becomes a cycling and paddling route. Ottawa has a distinctly bilingual character (Ontario meets Quebec across the river in Gatineau).

CAD $150–300/night

Avg nightly rate

May–Sep & Feb (Winterlude)

Best season to visit

CAD

Currency

English/French

Primary language

Best Neighbourhoods to Stay

Choose your base in Ottawa wisely

Downtown / Parliament HillCentral location, Parliament, government buildings. Business and tourist hotels here.

ByWard MarketLively market district, restaurants, bars, BeaverTails. Best for nightlife and food.

GlebeCharming neighbourhood, Lansdowne Park, boutiques. B&Bs and smaller hotels.

CentretownBetween ByWard and Glebe, good value mid-range hotels. Very walkable.

Gatineau (across the river)Quebec side, cheaper hotels, easy access to Canadian Museum of History. Value option.

Kanata / West OttawaSuburban, near Canadian Tire Centre. NHL Senators games area. Good highway access.

Hotels by Budget

Budget, mid-range and luxury options in Ottawa

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Budget Hotels

CAD $80–150/night

🏨 HI Ottawa Jail Hostel

📍 Centretown 💰 ~CAD $40–100 ⭐ ★★

Famously unique — a converted 19th century jail. Cells converted to dorm and private rooms. Excellent location.

🏨 Best Western Plus Ottawa Downtown Suites

📍 Downtown 💰 ~CAD $110–150 ⭐ ★★★

Reliable and central. Good value for Ottawa's budget tier.

🏨 Novotel Ottawa City Centre

📍 Sussex/ByWard 💰 ~CAD $140–180 ⭐ ★★★★

Upper budget/lower mid-range. Well located between Parliament and ByWard Market.

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Mid-Range Hotels

CAD $150–280/night

🏨 Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market

📍 ByWard Market 💰 ~CAD $190–280 ⭐ ★★★★

Hyatt's lifestyle brand. Rooftop bar with Parliament views. Excellent ByWard location.

🏨 ALT Hotel Ottawa

📍 ByWard Market 💰 ~CAD $150–220 ⭐ ★★★★

Modern Quebec-born boutique chain. Stylish, affordable, steps from ByWard Market restaurants.

🏨 Lord Elgin Hotel

📍 Elgin/Confederation Square 💰 ~CAD $160–240 ⭐ ★★★★

Historic 1941 hotel facing Confederation Square and Parliament. Ottawa character and location.

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Luxury Hotels

CAD $280–600+/night

🏨 Fairmont Château Laurier

📍 Parliament Hill / Rideau Canal 💰 ~CAD $400–700 ⭐ ★★★★★

Ottawa's iconic castle hotel (1912), overlooking Parliament and the Rideau Canal. Canada's grand hotel.

🏨 Brookstreet Hotel

📍 Kanata/West Ottawa 💰 ~CAD $280–450 ⭐ ★★★★★

Ottawa's best resort-style hotel. Jazz bar, golf course, spa. Away from downtown but excellent facilities.

🏨 Le Saint-James Ottawa

📍 ByWard Market 💰 ~CAD $300–500 ⭐ ★★★★★

Boutique luxury in the ByWard. Small and intimate — personal service that larger hotels can't match.

Insider Booking Tips

Save money and stress when booking hotels in Ottawa

🎯 Ottawa Hotel Booking Tips

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Free national museums — Canada's national museums in Ottawa — National Gallery, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature — are free for Canadian residents and low-cost for visitors. Factor this into your stay planning.
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Winterlude and canal skating — Rideau Canal skating (February Winterlude festival) is a bucket-list Canadian experience. Book hotels 3–4 months ahead for Winterlude weekend — February demand is very high.
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Best cycling city in Canada — Ottawa has an extraordinary cycling network along the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River. Rent a bike from Escape Bicycle Tours and plan your hotel with cycling access in mind.
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Cross into Gatineau for value — Quebec's Gatineau (across the Ottawa River) offers hotels 20–30% cheaper than Ottawa equivalents. The Museum of History is there, and OC Transpo buses cross the bridge regularly.
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Canada Day: massive crowds — Canada Day (July 1) on Parliament Hill is an epic national celebration — but hotels book out 6+ months ahead. Book very early if planning a Canada Day Ottawa visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hotels in Ottawa, Ontario

❓ What is the best area to stay in Ottawa?

ByWard Market is the most lively neighbourhood with great restaurants and bars, near Parliament. Centretown offers good value with a central location. The Glebe suits those wanting a quieter, local neighbourhood feel. All are walkable to major sites.

❓ What is the Fairmont Château Laurier?

The Château Laurier is Ottawa's most famous hotel — a 1912 castle-like château adjacent to Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It's considered one of Canada's grand railway hotels (alongside the Fairmont Banff Springs and Château Frontenac) and is both a luxury hotel and a national landmark.

❓ Is Winterlude in Ottawa worth visiting?

Absolutely — Winterlude (February) features the Rideau Canal transformed into the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink (7.8km of maintained ice). Ice sculptures, snow slides and BeaverTail pastry stands add to the festive atmosphere. Book hotels months ahead.

❓ How bilingual is Ottawa?

Ottawa is officially bilingual (English and French), and you'll see signs, menus and staff in both languages. Most hospitality workers are comfortably bilingual. Crossing into Gatineau, QC (the Hull area), you'll find French becomes dominant.

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Best Hotels in Ottawa, ON

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