Day trip from Montreal to Ottawa

Did you have a question about your day trip?

That's a 4-hour return trip, by train.

FYI, the crown jewel of the Nation's Capital, Parliament Centre Block, is closed until 2030, for restoration.

Are you driving from Montreal? When is your visit?

Even with the Parliament Buildings closed for renovations, you can still tour the House of Commons and the Senate in their temporary chambers. The Senate is in the building that used to be Ottawa’s train station. Lots to do even if you stick to the downtown area - National Gallery, Museum of Nature, Museum of History (just across the river in Gatineau), Byward Market, shopping at Rideau Centre.

You can get sandwiches at Nicastro’s (the best Italian deli, like a piece of Italy in the Byward Market) and picnic in Major’s Hill Park or by the Canal. Or for something more upscale, high tea at Zoe’s in the Chateau Laurier. There are lots of restaurants in the Byward Market.

Check out ottawa tourism.ca for more ideas.

Our first trip to Canada. We are starting in Quebec City, then three days in Montreal and on to Toronto for a ball game. I think a train trip to Ottawa would give us time to see some sites. We are seniors so four hours on a train doesn’t bother us. I’m sad about the Parliament Building, though.

"I’m sad about the Parliament Building"

Yep, it's over the moon striking, at every turn. The last time I was in Ottawa, I was in the city for 8 days, and I took the tour 3 times.

Several years ago we made the easy drive from Montreal to Ottawa and were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed our visit. The Parliament Hill area is beautiful and the ByWard Market area a lot of fun. We spent one night and wish we would have had two.