It was on the December 31, 1857 that Queen Victoria decreed that Ottawa was to become Canada’s capital. If you, like other Europesure Travel Insurance customers before you, book a December or early January break and decide Ottawa’s the city to which to head, here are some thoughts and travel tips plus all-important travel insurance advice.
Ottawa’s arrival as one of the world’s capital cities was somewhat unexpected. It followed years of jostling between Canadian cities to earn this right, following the merger of Upper and Lower Canada. The Queen, perhaps swayed by her friend, the wife of the Governor General, who had been enchanted by Ottawa during a visit, ended the battle between more obvious choices such as Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Kingston.
You too might be equally enchanted by a city with river vistas, a fairly relaxed way of life and a mix of indigenous and European cultural influences, emanating from its rich history.
History of Ottawa and what to expect today
Ottawa was only actually known by that name after 1955. Its original name was Bytown and it was a former lumber town and trading place, which grew because of its geographical position on the Ottawa River and through the development of the canal system. Early settler history is something you can explore, if you decide to visit.
The city, and the region around it, are located in the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinabeg Algonquin people, the original indigenous inhabitants who controlled this land before the arrival of the Europeans. The influence of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is evident in many public buildings in Ottawa; buildings that have sprung up through the development of the political system within the capital city.
If you head to Ottawa today, this is one of the things you will instantly appreciate, with a plethora of Government buildings to view but also the infrastructure that typically evolves within a capital. In Ottawa’s case, this consists of 10 national museums, all of which can be enjoyed cost-effectively through the purchase of an Ottawa Museums Pass, costing C$79 for a three-day pass for an adult (C$49 for a child).
Ottawa’s museums and public buildings
Museums include the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Nature, complete with dinosaur skeletons, and the unusual Cold War museum, the Diefenbunker, with its labyrinth of corridors, decontamination rooms and control centres.
Not to be missed is the Canadian Museum of History, in which a narrative of the Canadian people and their history immediately engages visitors, the moment they spot the totem poles in the Grand Hall.
A more unusual tour can also be enjoyed, if visitors head to the Canadian Royal Mint, where the coin-making process is explored in detail.
Similarly, there is the opportunity to tour the Canadian seat of government, at Parliament Hill, where both the Senate and House of Commons can be visited. Ottawa’s Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica is another building to lure tourists in. Stopping in this area of public buildings, to pose by the Ottawa sign, is a must for all those arriving in the state capital and the typical hop on, hop off tourist bus experience can also be enjoyed.
Outdoor fun in Ottawa
But it’s not all about official buildings. There are vibrant farmers markets in Ottawa, various craft breweries to explore, gourmet food tours and many great restaurants. Then, there are the leisure opportunities afforded by the Ottawa River and the UNESCO Rideau Canal and its locks.
The outdoor fun can be extended to the wider area, by those wanting to explore the potential of the Ottawa River for white water rafting or kayaking. Cyclists will also relish the 800km of recreational pathways that connect parks, gardens, nature sites and other natural areas.
In winter, the leisure activity in which to indulge on the Rideau Canal is self-evident, as it becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway – the world’s largest skating rink. Another festival to catch the eye takes place in May, when over one million tulips can be seen in the Canadian Tulip Festival. In the same month, you can explore Poutine Fest, and the delight that is poutine. At other times, there are the Ottawa Jazz Festival and Ottawa Bluesfest to delight music fans.
Travel insurance for Canada
If you decide that 2025 is the year in which you really must bag another world capital and visit Ottawa, do make sure you do so with the backing of travel insurance. The Canadian healthcare system is just as expensive as that in the neighbouring United States, making any treatment potentially unaffordable for anyone travelling uninsured.
Invalidating travel insurance is also something to avoid at all costs. One way of doing this could be by engaging in a sporting activity not covered by the policy. Do check whether your travel insurance would cover any sporting or leisure activities abroad, whether white water rafting, skating or something else, and that you also ensure your pre-existing health conditions would be covered.
If you choose a Europesure Travel Insurance policy, on either a single trip or annual basis, you will see that many activities are automatically covered and that this is also the case with many medical conditions. If you do need to raise something that you are not certain about, that is easy to do and will provide you with a clear indication of whether the condition or activity is, or can be, covered by your travel insurance policy.
There are 8 escape rooms in Ottawa, which should not require any special travel insurance cover, should you venture there. If it’s more a case of just planning an escape to visit Canada’s capital, get your Europesure policy in place the minute you book, so that you have cancellation cover in place, should anything unexpected happen pre-departure.
