Explore Canada’s Capital From the Water; Cool Paddling and Boat Tours in Ottawa

A city established around its beautiful waterways, Ottawa is a great place to explore from the water. Take a boat or paddling tour on the mighty Ottawa River and get a view of the city’s sights from a unique perspective, or cruise down the famous Rideau Canal, a UNESCO heritage site which runs through the heart of the city. Discover Ottawa’s best boat tours and guided paddling experiences with our guide to exploring Canada’s capital from the water.

Ottawa Boat Tours

Ottawa Boat Cruise; The Paula-D

A boat cruise down the Ottawa River is a fantastic way to see Ottawa’s iconic attractions from a cool vantage point. Ottawa Boat Cruise offers daily tours from May to October where you can get a glimpse of Ottawa and Gatineau’s top sights while cruising down the border of Ontario and Quebec. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for epic views of the Parliament buildings, Supreme Court of Canada, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of History, Rideau Falls and 24 Sussex Dr; the official residence of the prime minister of Canada.

Ottawa River cruises depart from both the Ottawa and Gatineau sides of the river (from the Ottawa locks, and from the Hull Marina), and are approximately 1.5hrs in length. There is a fully licensed bar with snacks and drinks to keep you refreshed, and the cruise is accessibility friendly. If you’re spending a few days visiting the capital, consider combining your ticket with a hop-on hop-off bus tour, Rideau Canal cruise, guided bike tour or zipline adventure across the Ottawa River. Ottawa Boat Cruise also offers specialty cruises throughout the season for events like Bastille Day and Canada Day, as well as a Dualling pianos cruises, providing some musical accompaniment for your river adventure.

Rideau Canal Boat Cruise

No trip to Ottawa is complete without discovering the world-famous Rideau Canal by boat. A UNESCO world heritage site, and popular spot for boaters and paddlers in the summer months, the Rideau Canal winds 202 km from Kingston to Ottawa through a series of lakes, rivers and locks. The canal ends at the final set of locks leading into the Ottawa River, which is where you’ll find the departure point for your Rideau Canal cruise. Rideau Canal Boat Cruise offers daily tours of the canal, from downtown Ottawa to Dow’s Lake passing by historical landmarks and cool sights along the way. The unique 100% Ekeau certified all-electric passenger boat is North America’s largest, making it a cool and environmentally friendly way to explore the historic waterway.

The Rideau Canal Cruises season run from mid-May to early October with various departure times throughout the day, from morning to early evening. Each cruise is approximately 1.5hr in length and the tours depart from 1Elgin St. where the National Arts Centre and Rideau Canal meet. Managed by the same folks who operate Ottawa River Cruises, combo tickets are also available which allow you to add an Ottawa River cruise, hop-on hop-off bus tour, guided bike tour or zipline adventure across the Ottawa River at a bundled price.

Lady Dive Amphibus Tours

Photos: Lady Dive

If you’re looking for a sightseeing tour of Ottawa on both water and land, then Lady Dive’s amphibus is for you. This unique versatile aquatic bus is the only one in Ontario, and combines a boat and bus tour in one, allowing you the ability to see Ottawa and Gatineau’s best attractions from two different perspectives. The one-hour tour on the iconic red amphibus will take you on the Ottawa River past iconic attractions like Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of History and the National Gallery of Canada, plus land-based sights like the Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, RCMP stables, Lansdowne Park and Dow’s Lake. With informative commentary in both French and English along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s history plus fun facts about Ottawa’s most important sites.

Palapa Tours

One of the newest boat tours in Ottawa, and definitely one of the most fun, is Palapa Tours. Relax on a Hawaiian style floating tiki bar as you gently glide down the Ottawa River, passing by picture perfect views of the Ottawa skyline. With fun times and good vibes in mind, each boat is equipped with a fully licensed bar serving up colourful tropical cocktails in Palapai souvenir glasses, as well as mocktails, soft drinks, coffee and snacks. Each tour can accommodate up to 12 passengers, and is 1.5 hrs in length. If you have a bigger group you can also book an entire boat for a private party, corporate outing or special occasion with friends. Palapa Tours offers specialty cruises throughout the season like the Petrie Island Beach Party and Haunted Palapa Cruise in the fall departing from the city’s east end.

Au feel de l’eau Water Taxi

Want to avoid traffic and parking, and enjoy some amazing views of Ottawa from the water?  Then hop on the Au feel de l’eau water taxi, the most scenic and direct way to travel between Ottawa and Gatineau. The eco-friendly 100% electric boat provides a frequent shuttle service across the Ottawa River, making stops at the Ottawa locks, Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau) and Richmond Landing near Victoria Island. Although the circuit is short, the views of Ottawa skyline are no less stunning, and is a great mini-tour for those short on time. The water taxi is fully accessible, and permits bikes strollers and pets on board.

Ottawa Paddling Tours

Ottawa City Rafting

Known for its epic white water, the Ottawa River is a hotbed for those looking to experience the best in white water rafting. While the traditional white-water outfitters are located an hour outside of the city in Beachburg, ON, Ottawa City Rafting provides a fun family-friendly rafting experience right in the heart of the city.

Departing from Britannia Beach the three-hour rafting experience is a great introduction to white water rafting for beginners, and passes through class I and II rapids, separated by periods of flat water. Unlike regular white water rafting trips, participants don’t have to paddle for the entire journey, making it great for people of most fitness levels. While on flat stretches of water, the guide navigates the boat through the current or activates a quiet, eco-friendly electric motor so you can sit back and enjoy the views. While you can be guaranteed excitement and adrenaline, the tours are great for families with kids (ages 5+), non-swimmers, and those who want to try rafting but want to avoid flipping! The trips include guided interpretation of the history and ecology of the river along the way, as well as additional activities like body surfing, cliff jumping, and floating through a unique natural lazy river. Each rafting boat fit groups of 4 to 9 people (with private bookings also available), and includes paddles, life jackets, helmets, and a complimentary drink.

Location Escape

For iconic views of the Ottawa skyline, cool waterfalls, as well as historic and cultural sites, head to the Ottawa River for an active paddling tour with Location Escape. This Ottawa River outfitter provides kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals from the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River at Jacques Cartier Park, as well as guided tours. The popular sunset kayak tour takes you past cool sights like Rideau Falls, the Alexandra Bridge, Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal Locks, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Canadian Museum of History, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Each August during the Casino Lac Leamy Fireworks displays, Location Escape also offers fireworks paddle nights. Paddle under twilight (with headlamp and safety gear provided), and then get a front row view of the stunning fireworks show from the best seats in the house.