10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Ottawa

If you come to Ottawa in the springtime, you’re bound to witness the city’s blooming scene of bright and colourful tulips that adorn its parks and gardens. This is the season when the annual Canadian Tulip Festival takes place, usually around mid-May. The best places to witness this seasonal spectacle is in Ottawa’s beautiful public parks such as Commissioner’s Park by scenic Dow’s Lake, around ByWard Market in the downtown area, and at Lansdowne Park by Rideau Canal. 

Open: the park is open 24 hours with the festival usually held in spring or mid-May

In the summer, this beautiful artificial lake on the southern end of Rideau Canal offers scenic views from its lakeside pavilion. The marina features great casual dining spots overlooking the lake, with recreational activities like kayaking and canoeing. You can easily rent equipment nearby. Wildlife living in the area include squirrels and geese, and there are plenty of benches to share intimate moments with the view. Just like the main section of the Rideau Canal, Dow’s Lake turns into a favourite outdoor skating wonderland for several weeks in winter. 

This bridge stretches across the Rideau Canal, connecting the campus of The University of Ottawa and the bar and restaurant-lined Elgin Street. It was established at the turn of millennium and quickly became a popular spot for couples seeking romantic walks in the city, especially at dusk. Adding to Corktown Footbridge’s romantic appeal is that you can join in the novel tradition of attaching love locks bearing both of your names or initials to the bridge’s railing – then throw away the key. 

As one in Ottawa’s collection of great urban parks, Andrew Haydon Park offers pathways through manicured lawns by a wide strip of the Ottawa riverbank. It’s great for an intimate walk at sunset. On its waterfront you can find a bandshell where outdoor concerts are usually held, and there are ample picnic areas around its pair of manmade mini lakes and waterfalls. Its secluded setting attracts local wildlife and songbirds. Pick a bench and watch the sun go down with sailboats slowly passing by. 

This green space in the Centretown neighbourhood of Ottawa regularly serves as a venue for gatherings and events. Most of Dundonald Park is shaded by a canopy of trees, with plenty of cool sitting spots. The park hosts an outdoor summer movie festival, known as Centretown Movie, which takes place on Fridays and Saturdays in July and August. Screenings start at 9pm, showing the latest blockbusters, family movies, and documentaries about Canadian heritage and indigenous art. 

Ottawa’s city hall is a popular venue for weddings. You’ll see a couple tying the knot here almost every day, with their families cheering on after the ceremony. This romantic hub in the city also regularly features free outdoor Latin dancing in the summer, taking place at the Rink of Dreams. This front lawn fills up with thousands of skaters in the winter. In the summer, from July to August, you can join in on the salsa craze as the venue gets its groove on from 6pm to 11pm. 

For an elegant dinner for two in Ottawa, booking a table inside this French chateau-like building on Laurier Avenue is a top choice. Signatures Restaurant offers refined cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu, one of the world’s largest network of culinary schools. It has a main dining hall and several small private dining rooms specially designed for intimate moments – their romantic, velvet-themed Chapelle Room is sure to impress. The Signatures’ menu changes depending on the freshest produce available in season, promising every occasion to be unique. 

You can watch full-length ballets and orchestral performances at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. This theatre on Elgin Street is home to the NAC Orchestra, which regularly performs its own pieces. It also often plays orchestrations set to screenings of classical films, such as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and others. You can also enjoy Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet among the regulars here or enjoy the choirs in Baroque masterpieces such as Vespers of 1610 by Italian composer, Claudio Monteverdi. 

This small but lush park beside the Alexandra Bridge and the National Gallery of Canada is a good place to head to for intimate walks, away from the crowds. A walk through this 1.27-hectare park can be truly romantic, especially during sunset, with beautiful views by the Ottawa River and the Peace Tower and spires or Parliament Hill to the south. At Nepean Point you’ll find the statue of Samuel de Champlain, a French navigator who explored the Ottawa River in 1613. 

For a unique moment together, why not treat the 2 of you to a pampering session up in the forested highlands near Gatineau Park? Nordik Spa-Nature is a premier wellness centre that’s around 15 minutes’ drive from Downtown Ottawa. Their couples’ spa treatment options include a soothing deep-tissue massage delivered in wooden pavilions. Nature is never far away thanks to forest breezes and views of the forest canopies. The facility also features 9 saunas and a saltwater pool inspired by the Dead Sea.