City: Ottawa
Top Things to do in Ottawa
Top Restaurants in Ottawa
What to do and see in Ottawa, Canada: The Best Things to do Adventurous
Canada's capital is a compact, clean, cleverly planned center of culture and politics and a destination for every season. Start downtown at the architecturally stunning National Gallery of Canada, and don't miss the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Rideau Canal offers boating in the summer and turns into the world’s largest skating rink when frozen in the winter. Gatineau Park attracts cyclists and walkers, while Byward Market blends old and new Ottawa.
Restaurants in Ottawa
1. Thursty Pedaler
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Thursty Pedaler is Ottawa’s one-of-a-kind, human-powered party bike! Riders make their way to 3 distinct stops, while taking in the vibrant Glebe neighbourhood. Whether you’re celebrating a Friday night, birthday, bachelor(ette), or a breakup, you and your bubble are bound for fun on a bike ride unlike any other.
2. Escape Manor - Queen Street
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 700 reviews
You and your friends are investigating a murder when all of a sudden the door slams shut behind you. As you explore the room you are now locked in, you discover what seems to be a set of clues that may help you escape. You have 45 minutes to work together to uncover the clues and find the key to get out before... Different rooms. Different Themes. Lots of fun! Will YOU Escape?
Reviewed By B-A_902020
My friend and I tried the asylum escape room and BOY WAS IT FUN! My first escape room and I'm hooked! You can also buy a beverage and take it in with you which I liked. I won't say much about the escape room to not ruin the experience of others who plan to try it out but it takes place in a true old asylum!
3. Jigsaw Escape Rooms
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 222 reviews
You’re locked in a room for 45 or 60 minutes during a high-stakes scenario. You will find a series of challenging puzzles that you must solve to find the escape key. Hints and clues are provided to help you and your team solve the puzzles and make your escape. You will have to use your wits, creativity, and team-work to make your way out of the room. See if you have what it takes to escape!
Reviewed By gregwM7850NX - Whitby, Canada
Normally they want reservations, but we dropped in on a Friday morning and they were very accommodating. We went with the diamond heist room (wife didn't want anything too scary, lol) and it was a lot of fun. We were close to escaping but unfortunately didn't make it out in time (at least not without some extra hints). The 45 minutes actually went by pretty quick, and while there were quite a few challenging puzzles involved, there were also some easier ones which ensure people of all ages can participate. The staff were also very friendly. I'd love to try this again!!!
4. Archery Games
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 152 reviews
Ottawa's only Archery Tag arena and the ultimate family-friendly experience. It's an activity that everyone can enjoy!
Reviewed By 172katiej
Being an archery lover, I always thought this place wouldn’t be much fun with the big marshmallows on the arrows. Was I wrong! You can still accurately aim and shoot with force. It’s amazing fun that after just one game with coworkers I signed up for the winter league. Everyone is so welcoming, I can’t wait to play more :)
5. Escape Manor - Hintonburg
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 186 reviews
Reviewed By asdfafd
We loved the Final Viewing and our host, Adrian, made it even more fun! He played along with our jokes and did a wonderful job hosting. We were able to escape and will definitely be back!
6. BATL - The Backyard Axe Throwing League
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 598 reviews
At BATL, the Backyard Axe Throwing League, we believe throwing a killer party should be fun, simple, and full of bullseyes. Whether it’s a stag, bachelorette, team-building, birthday, or fundraising event, it deserves to be memorable. No matter what BATL location you visit across North America, you can expect delicious food and drinks, axe throwing lanes, expert coaching, and a fun tournament. Boredom sold separately.
Reviewed By Sara9823 - Ottawa, Canada
Had an amazing time at BATL i have been here many times before and it is always an fantastic time. You are greated at the door and told to sign some waiver (obviously for saftey reasons) BUT it also puts your name into a system that generates random games for a tournament that you play within your event with your group! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!! Anyways moving on, we went to our arena was greated by our coach, for us it was Aerock! #notERIC. We did practice those and he made sure everyone was throwing a sticking it into the target in nooo time. After this he told us how the tournment works rules and saftey percaustion. We played we cheered, we ooh'd and aww'd we got to through the big axe a couple times and he was greaat and coaching us on that as well! We were all able to make playoffs too.. and yes there are playoffs with only one CHAMPION (me) at the end. Anyways its a great place to go to drink and have fun and order some food. Flynn on bar was great and Eddie was there too making sure everything was kept clean on our arena and Keith also was helpful for sign ins. Jackie also helped say hi to use at the arena made sure we are all happy and good to go. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR AN AMAZING TIME!!! Will recomend to others to go! Only if you want to have an amazing time and laugh till your stomach hurts with your friends,family and co-workers!
7. Amaze Ottawa Escape Game
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
A/Maze is a great place to test problem solving abilities. You'll get to experience a situation you may never encounter in real life. Each scenario exists in its own reality. You will have to find clues, solve puzzles and most importantly - work as a team in order to pass all the challenges lying between you and your goal. Try to escape before it's too late!
Reviewed By StLiMi - Ottawa, Canada
This was our first visit to A/Maze Ottawa. We've done most of the escape rooms in Ottawa. (The only ones left are a few new kids (12 and under) escape rooms and the creepy-themed ones, which I personally dislike, and am unlikely to spend my hard-earned money & precious free time on. (This is escape room number 44 for our team-of-two (today), usually three when our teenaged daughter is with us.)) I'm always leery of trying a new escape room company as you never really know what to expect and it can sometimes be hit-or-miss. A great room will have you pumped & adrenalized for hours, but a poorly designed/functioning room can ruin a night and put you in a foul mood. As it was my birthday, and A/Maze offers the birthday guest free admission on their birthday, we thought it would be a good time to take the risk and try A/Maze's Save the Parliament (Parliment's Bomb) escape room. It was a definite hit. We really enjoyed this room. There were a fair number of "tech" puzzles that didn't require using a combo lock or key lock - and they all worked properly!!! We were really impressed at how beautifully-crafted one of the puzzles was - it was a hands on puzzle that was also quite fun and amazing to look at. (I'm deliberately trying not to give away details.) This room represents what an escape room should be - a great gestalt of room atmosphere, set dressing, unique theme, background music, and quality puzzles! We had a chance to hear about the plans for A/Maze Ottawa's second escape room directly from the designer, and it sounds really cool & unique! We will definitely be back when it opens! If the rest of A/Maze's escape rooms are this good, we may have to plan a road trip to Montreal to play a few more! See the detailed room review below. Facility: main floor entrance, no stairs. Clean, spacious. Friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable staff. Room Size: Good size. Not crowded. Lighting level: Overall quite reasonable; one part was a bit dark but alternate light sources were available. I found the lighting to be a bit dim for one of the locks. Decor/Theme/Atmosphere: Excellent. Great room dressing! Beautiful props! Fit the theme quite well. Puzzle style: locks, keys, observation, logic, fun hands-on puzzles, (no straight up mathematical calculations) Puzzle quality: Excellent puzzles. The tech-based puzzles all worked smoothly! Only one puzzle required really good eyesight. Difficulty level: Moderate. Suitable for families with kids/teenagers. Took us a bit longer as a team of two (finished about 6 minutes over time). So it should run quite smoothly for a slightly larger group. Other: No jump scares. Nothing scary. Push button hint system. Bilingual escape room (English/French). Birthday discount.
8. LumberJaxe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 28 reviews
Lumberjaxe is Ottawa's ultimate axe throwing experience & gaming destination.
Reviewed By Colwill
Had the most amazing fun birthday ! Such a great thing to do as a family Lauren was such a wonderful host and taught us all how to axe throw properly ! Such great fun a real stress reliever ! Was super safe with all the covid measures in place ! Big thanks Lauren you made my birthday ????????
9. Boreal River Adventures - Ottawa River Outpost
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Experience a river adventure—in the heart of the city—and learn about whitewater paddling, how to 'read' the river, and safety in rapids. This activity is 100% outside with distancing and COVID-19 precautions throughout. Since 2008, we've operated skills courses and multi-day expeditions across Canada and Internationally. Now you can have the thrill of river running—easily accessible from Ottawa.
10. Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,330 reviews
Visit one of the most unique tourist attractions in Canada! Built to protect top officials of the Canadian government from nuclear attack, this once-secret underground bunker is now a museum & National Historic Site of Canada. Explore over 100,000sq ft of bunker secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. With its extraordinary engineering and architectural features, the Diefenbunker is a poignant reminder of one of the most turbulent periods of modern history.
Reviewed By Smith6774 - Atlanta, United States
What a great experience. Enjoyed taking a step back in time and envisioning what it could have been like having to live in the bunker.
