Capital city in Ontario, Canada
Ottawa for solo travelers
Is Ottawa good for solo travel?
Calm, safe capital with free-ish national museums, bike paths and a skating canal in winter. It is quieter than Toronto or Montreal, bilingual, and very cold from December to March.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women. Normal city precautions; use rideshare late and watch drinks in bars. |
How to meet people in Ottawa
Hostels near ByWard, Meetup hiking and cycling groups, museum late nights, language exchanges and canal skating events.
Good things to do alone
- Skate the Rideau Canal in winter
- Visit the Canadian Museum of History
- Bike the Ottawa River pathway
- Hike Gatineau Park
- Eat a BeaverTail at ByWard Market
Where to stay in Ottawa
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Byward Market–Lowertown | Central bars, restaurants and hostels near sights |
| Centretown | Business district; transit and gyms |
| Glebe | Leafy, cafés and the canal; good for longer stays |
| Hintonburg–Wellington West | Indie cafés, breweries, light rail access |
Solo travel across Canada
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Montreal | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Toronto | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Banff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Quebec City | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Whistler | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Ottawa | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Calgary | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Victoria | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Jasper | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Halifax | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Tofino | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kelowna | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Niagara Falls | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edmonton | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Yellowknife | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Mont-Tremblant | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Prince Edward Island | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Ottawa good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Calm, safe capital with free-ish national museums, bike paths and a skating canal in winter.
How do you meet people in Ottawa?
Hostels near ByWard, Meetup hiking and cycling groups, museum late nights, language exchanges and canal skating events. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Ottawa?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Ottawa safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women. Normal city precautions; use rideshare late and watch drinks in bars.
More about Ottawa
Going to Ottawa solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Ottawa meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.