CityBuddy
Major's Hill Park
Best time to visit
Late afternoon, when the golden light bathes the Parliament Buildings and the breeze from the river tempers the heat of the day. In May during tulip season, the park transforms into a sea of color.
Budget tips
The park is free to enter at all times. Simply pack a picnic and lay a blanket on the grass. The benches fill up quickly, but the lawn is spacious.
Recommended for
Photography enthusiasts, Picnic lovers, Strollers and nature lovers, Couples looking for a romantic spot
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
Quick facts: Here, on a hill above the Ottawa River, you have one of the best views of the Parliament Buildings and the locks of the Rideau Canal. In spring, over 20,000 tulips in bright colors, a gift from the Dutch royal family in 1945, adorn the meadow.
Highlights: A hidden path leads to a small, tree-fringed viewpoint where you can see the locks of the Rideau Canal directly below you. On sunny Wednesdays in summer, a jazz band plays here for free while visitors picnic on blankets in the grass and enjoy the evening sun.
Insider tips
- Come early in the morning around 7 a.m., and you will have the view of the Parliament Buildings almost entirely to yourself.
- The best photo spot is the small bench at the northeastern edge of the park with a view of the Alexandra Bridge.
- Bring sturdy shoes, as the path to the viewpoints over the Rideau Canal is steep and sometimes slippery.
- If you are lucky, you may see traditional wooden boats passing through the locks of the Rideau Canal on weekends. It is a real spectacle.
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