Product photo 1
Product photo 2
Product photo 3
+23 Photos
  • 7 Reviews

    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 🏆 Badge of Excellence
  • Toronto, Canada

Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

  • Mobile ticket

  • Offered in: English

Are you looking for a way to explore Ottawa at your own pace? On this self-guided audio tour, you will relive Ottawa‘s turbulent early history when rioters and rogues ran rampant. Ottawa‘s significance extends beyond its Houses of Parliament and famous museums. Before becoming Canada‘s capital, it was a rough, lawless place in the wilderness. On this walking tour through old Bytown, you’ll trace the city’s evolution from a small lumber town to Queen Victoria‘s choice as Canada‘s capital and discover Ottawa‘s hidden backstory. You'll stroll down York Street and learn about the early days of the iconic Byward Market. Ottawa‘s past will come to life in the serene Jeanne d‘Arc Courtyard, where you‘ll hear about the religious and spatial divisions that fueled the feuding Bytown residents. On Sussex Drive, you‘ll explore popular sites from new perspectives and travel back to when rogues, rioters, and disease made the streets unsafe.

What to Expect

Private tour
10 places
50 min – 1 hr 10 min

Pass by: Statue of John By

Begin your tour at Major's Hill Park, where you'll pay tribute to Colonel John By, the visionary behind the Rideau Canal, at his statue overlooking the Ottawa River.

Pass by: Rideau Canal

Pass by the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a marvel of 19th-century engineering connecting Ottawa to Lake Ontario.

Pass by: Major's Hill Park

Explore Major's Hill Park, a scenic green space offering panoramic views of the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill.

Pass by: York Steps

Walk down York Street, passing by the York Steps, which played a significant role in the early development of Bytown.

Pass by: York Street Millennium Fountain

Pass by the York Street Millennium Fountain, a modern landmark symbolizing Ottawa's ongoing evolution and progress.

Pass by: ByWard Market

Discover the historic ByWard Market, one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets, bustling with vendors, restaurants, and artisans.

Pass by: Rochon House

Learn about Rochon House, a historic building with ties to Ottawa's early lumber industry and cultural heritage.

Pass by: Bruyère Health Élisabeth-Bruyère Hospital

Discover the legacy of Élisabeth Bruyère, who founded Ottawa's first hospital to serve the community's healthcare needs.

Pass by: La Salle Academy

Pass by LaSalle Academy, a historic educational institution contributing to Ottawa's intellectual and cultural landscape since its establishment.

Pass by: Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica

End your tour at Sussex Drive, where you'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a magnificent example of Gothic Revival architecture and a testament to Ottawa's rich religious heritage.

What's Included

INCLUDED
  • Get unlimited, lifetime use of this tour, before your booking date and after it
  • The virtual playback option, so you can listen to this tour like an audiobook from anywhere
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
NOT INCLUDED
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
  • Transportation
  • Food and Drink

Meeting And Pickup

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please bring your own smartphone and headphones

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience's local time.

Customer Reviews

Source: Viator and Tripadvisor

4.4

7 total reviews

Rating Distribution

5
6
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
1

Starting from

CA$12.47

per person

Product photo

Recently Viewed