Free and cheap
- Sunset at Kìwekì Point: behind the National Gallery, with Parliament, the river and the Gatineau Hills in one view.
- National Gallery on a Thursday evening: free from 5 to 8 pm, often with music and art activities.
- The Ottawa Art Gallery: free, open evenings later in the week, and connected to good spots for a drink.
- Skate the Rideau Canal Skateway: about 7.8 km through downtown, usually open sometime between late December and January into February, weather permitting, with BeaverTails along the way.
Do something together
- A ghost walk: the Haunted Walk's lantern tours of downtown are fun even for skeptics.
- An escape room: you'll learn a lot about how you work as a team.
- Axe throwing: loud, silly and good for a first date.
- A cooking class: make dinner instead of ordering it.
- A brewery tour: let someone else drive between craft breweries.
- Comedy: Absolute Comedy has shows most nights.
Drinks with a view
Copper Spirits & Sights, the rooftop bar on the 16th floor of the Andaz in the ByWard Market, has the best panorama in the city: Parliament, the river and the hills. Go at golden hour. For a movie with dinner and cocktails delivered to your seat, try the VIP cinema at Lansdowne.
Worth the splurge
Nordik Spa-Nature
Twenty minutes away in Chelsea. Evenings in the outdoor pools under the stars, then dinner on site. Book ahead.
A night in the hills
Book the mill in Wakefield or a cabin in the Gatineau Hills and turn date night into a weekend.
A canal or river cruise
Evening cruises on the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River run from spring to fall.
Rainy-day date ideas
A museum followed by a long lunch in the Market, an escape room, a cooking class, a board game café, a show at the NAC, or a soak at Nordik, which is just as good in the rain.
First date ideas
Keep it easy to talk and easy to leave. Try coffee and a walk along the canal, a Thursday-night gallery visit, a rooftop drink at golden hour, or axe throwing if you both like a little competition.
Anniversary ideas in Ottawa
- A full evening at Nordik Spa, then dinner on site
- Dinner at Les Fougères in Chelsea
- A sunset river cruise and drinks on the Andaz rooftop
- A night away at the Château Montebello or the Wakefield Mill
Romantic getaways near Ottawa
- Wakefield: the mill on the falls
- Montebello: a log château, or a wolf-view cabin at Parc Omega
- Merrickville and Perth: stone-village B&Bs
- Calabogie: lakeside, with the Eagle's Nest lookout
By season
| Season | Date idea |
|---|---|
| Winter | Canal skating and hot chocolate, then Nordik |
| Spring | Tulip Festival at Commissioners Park, then a patio |
| Summer | Sunset cruise and rooftop drinks |
| Fall | Champlain Lookout at sunset, then dinner in Old Chelsea |
FAQ
What are free date ideas in Ottawa?
Sunset at Kìwekì Point, the Ottawa Art Gallery, free evening hours at the National Gallery where offered, and skating the Rideau Canal Skateway in winter.
What's a unique date in Ottawa?
A lantern-lit ghost walk, an evening at Nordik Spa in Chelsea, or axe throwing followed by drinks on a rooftop.
When is the Rideau Canal Skateway open?
It depends on the ice. It usually opens sometime between late December and January and runs into February, sometimes March. Check the NCC's ice status on the day.
What are cheap date ideas in Ottawa?
Free Thursday nights at the National Gallery, sunset at Kìwekì Point, skating the canal, a ghost walk, or BeaverTails and a walk through the ByWard Market.
What are romantic getaways near Ottawa?
Wakefield, Montebello, Merrickville, Perth and Calabogie are all within about 75 minutes.
The weekend, sorted
One short email on Thursdays: what's worth doing in Ottawa and the Gatineau Hills this weekend, and nothing you'll skip.
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