Christmas in Ottawa: A Trip from Toronto

Canada’s capital makes a great Christmas weekend from Toronto, about 4.5 hours by car or train. Here’s what’s on.

Ottawa Christmas Market 2026

Aberdeen Plaza at Lansdowne, Marché Way, the Glebe · Free

A European-style holiday market with vendor cabins, seasonal food and drink, light displays and live performances. 2026 dates include November 20 – 22, November 27 – 29, December 11 – 13, December 18 – 20 and December 31 (check the full schedule for more).

More to do

• Parliament Hill and downtown lights: the capital lights up for the holidays; check the federal government’s holiday light programme for 2026.
• Skating: outdoor rinks downtown, and, when it’s cold enough, the Rideau Canal Skateway, usually in January.
• ByWard Market for food and shopping.
• Museums: the National Gallery and Canadian Museum of History run holiday programs.
• North Pole Express in Smiths Falls (November 28, December 5 and 12) is about an hour away. Santa train rides

Ottawa at Christmas: highlights in more detail

Parliament Hill. The federal government has traditionally run a holiday light programme on and around Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa, with illuminated trees and projections. Check Canadian Heritage’s website for the 2026 programme, as Centre Block is under long-term renovation.

The ByWard Market. One of Canada’s oldest public markets, with food shops, restaurants, bars and boutiques. Try a BeaverTails pastry, an Ottawa classic.

The Rideau Canal Skateway. When cold enough, usually in January, a stretch of the canal becomes one of the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rinks. It rarely opens before Christmas, so don’t count on it for a December trip.

National museums. The National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History (across the river in Gatineau) and the Canadian War Museum are all excellent on cold days.

Lansdowne. Home to the Ottawa Christmas Market, plus restaurants, shops and an outdoor rink.

A three-day Ottawa itinerary

Day 1: arrive by VIA Rail, check in, and visit the Christmas market at Lansdowne in the evening.

Day 2: Parliament Hill and downtown in the morning, lunch and shopping at the ByWard Market, then the National Gallery. Evening: the holiday lights downtown.

Day 3: the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, a skate at an outdoor rink, then the train home.

Where to stay

Downtown and the ByWard Market area are the most convenient for walking to attractions. The Glebe, near Lansdowne, is a charming residential neighbourhood with shops and restaurants.

Practical tips

• Ottawa is colder than Toronto, so pack extra layers.
• Ottawa’s O-Train light rail connects downtown with other parts of the city.
• Book trains and hotels early for December weekends.

Christmas in Ottawa: FAQ

Is the Ottawa Christmas Market free? Yes, admission is free.

How long is the train from Toronto to Ottawa? About four and a half hours on VIA Rail.

Getting there

VIA Rail runs between Toronto’s Union Station and Ottawa in about 4.5 hours; by car it’s about 4.5 to 5 hours via Highway 401 and 416.

More: Christmas day trips from Toronto · Ontario Christmas markets road trip