Ottawa Express Bike Tour- 2 hours
Explore the city with this fun, leisurely ride along the beautiful bike trails, around the Rideau Canal, and through the picturesque neighbourhoods and lush parks.
Don’t miss out on visiting the top downtown Ottawa landmarks on the flat, safe bike paths at a relaxed pace for all.
This is a small-group guided bike tour for riders of all levels and when your time in Ottawa is limited.
Adult: | $59.95 CAD (approx. $45 USD/ 40€) |
Child (7-12 years old): | $49.95 |
Child (1-6 years old): | $30 |
Family or group of 4: | $52.5 per person/ $210 for a group of 4 |
Ebike add on: | $20 |
Taxes & fees | 13% tax & 3% booking fee |
Includes | Bicycle, helmet, & a guide |
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“We had so much fun on this tour we took another one the next day. Guides are knowledgeable and fun, bikes are nice and maintained well. Great value for time and money. I highly recommend it.”
rwilk1- 2020- 5-star review on Tripadvisor
Overview
We called this tour Ottawa 101, but guests like you told us they have never visited so many places and heard such interesting history and stories in just two hours!
This small-group tour travels on the beautiful bike trails around the Rideau Canal, the expansive parks, and through the picturesque neighbourhoods.
Even for regular visitors of the city, you will discover something new while biking on Ottawa’s impressive bike paths.
This express tour won’t let you miss out on the major downtown attractions even if you have limited time available in Ottawa.
See the city from a different perspective. Discover and hear about the hidden gems of the city, only visible from the bike trails in Ottawa.
This is your relaxed bike ride to discover the iconic Ottawa landmarks, nicely paced with a good mix of breaks to take photos and enjoy the views.
This is a perfect tour for families and riders of all levels.
You will bike on one of our comfortable, top-quality bikes or you can opt for an electric bike and set off on your journey to discover beautiful Ottawa.
Itinerary
Starting at the Escape Tours and Rentals shop (65 Sparks Street), complete your safety briefing and bike and helmet fitting.
First stop, you will visit the National War Memorial, a ceremonial site and one of the best known Ottawa landmarks built to honour Canadians from World War I and beyond who have given their lives for this country.
Next, a short ride will take you to the most popular attraction, the start of the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can watch the locks in operation. Discover the ingenuity of architecture and construction of the 19th century at the Canal and Ottawa’s Bytown Museum.
Take the exciting Ottawa River Pathway and bridge towards the province of Quebec and stop at the Instagram-worthy lookout at the Museum of History to hear the fun facts and stories from your guide about the region’s history.
See the picturesque Parliament Hill, undoubtedly one of the most symbolic buildings of our nation, and an impressive structure to see in real life!
Bike back to Ottawa across the impressive Alexandria Bridge where you will pass through the popular Byward market neighbourhood.
Get a glimpse of the hidden gems of New Edinburghneighbourhood until you reach Rideau Hall, the Official Residence of the Governor-General, and the beautiful Rideau Falls.
Cycle back on Sussex drive (Ottawa’s political hub), and you will see and hear more of Ottawa’s beauty and major attractions, including the National Art Gallery, the famous Ottawa spider, and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.
Ride leisurely on the Rideau Canal Pathway, where you can get a magic view of Ottawa’s downtown and hear more interesting stories about this magnificent city.
End your tour with a ride back to the Escape Tours & Rentals shop. There you can ask your guide more questions about where to eat and drink or what to see.
You can participate in this tour with an electric bike. Just select the ebike as an add-on at the check-out!
Highlights
Visit the most popular and famous Ottawa landmarks up close while cycling on bike trails from a perspective not seen from a car or bus tour.
- Rideau Canal
- Love Lock Bridge
- The National War Memorial
- Byward Market
- Rideau Hall
- Rideau Falls
- New Edinburgh neighbourhood
- National Art Gallery
- Rideau Canal Locks
- Bytown Museum
- Quebec/ Museum of History
- Parliament Hill
Important Info
For your bike and helmet fitting and safety review, please arrive 20 minutes prior to your tour start time!
Your tour starts and ends at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals at 65 Sparks St.
Parking: We highly recommend leaving your car at your hotel. Street parking in our neighbourhood is difficult and the meters/time restrictions can be confusing. But if you must drive, here are a few underground parking lots: National Art Centre Parkade (99 Elgin St.), World Exchange Plaza (Metcalfe and Albert entrance), City Hall (110 Laurier Ave W).
Flexible Booking – Book with confidence! For public tours, you will be fully refunded if you give us 24 hours’ notice before your tour starts.
No refunds for any cancellations within 24 hours prior to the activity start date and time.
Bad weather? Don’t worry, If your reservation must be cancelled due to the bad weather, you will be fully refunded.
Video
Watch this short video to see how we get you set up for your Express bike tour, and highlights of your tour from the scenic Ottawa bike paths.
FAQs
What is your cancellation policy?
You will be fully refunded if you give us 24 hours’ notice. There will be no refunds for any cancellations within 24 hours prior to the activity start date and time. Please inquire about the private tour cancellation policy.
Are there any hills?
Ottawa is a flat city, so most of the ride will be on flat bike paths. There might be a few inclines that can be easily managed when riding our multi-geared quality bikes.
What if it rains?
Your ride will continue in light rain. We supply you with rain ponchos.
In case of heavy rain or storm forecast, your trip will be cancelled — the final call will be made two hours before the start time of your tour, and we’ll contact you by phone and email.
If your tour is cancelled due to the weather, you will be fully refunded or can choose to keep your credit for an alternative date or time.
Is biking in Ottawa safe?
Ottawa is an extremely bike-friendly city. Almost all of your ride will be on Ottawa’s well-maintained cycle paths. In a few exceptions, we will be riding on backroads in neighbourhoods or crossing streets with traffic lights. As well, we start all our tours with a safety briefing and proper fitting for your bike and safety helmet.
Can I bring my own bicycle?
Yes. Please ensure that your bicycle is in good working condition and you have spare parts (e.g., proper tube size) in case. You will receive a $5 discount for bringing your own bicycle.
Have more questions? Visit our detailed FAQs page or contact us!
Reviews
“It was our first visit to Ottawa and my family of four (includes two older teens) wanted to get an introduction to this lovely city! we reserved the Ottawa Express Tour for our first day out – I’M SO GLAD WE DID!!! Working with Maria, the owner, was wonderful. She is so responsive and also helped us with reservation. Our bike tour guide Marie was so easy going and flexible. We were so impressed with her wealth of knowledge of Ottawa and were blown away with the numerous bike paths that lay before us! If you’re looking for a FUN activity to help you explore Ottawa, contact “Escape Tours”. highly recommended!”
Nancy“I took the 2 hours Express tour and it was amazing. It was during the fall, so the landscapes were so beautiful. The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable about the city, i learnt a lot and fell in love with Ottawa! A must do!”
Jessica“I have taken many bike tours in the various cities I have visited over the years and the Ottawa Express 2 hour tour was among the very best. It’s a great way to spend time taking in a lot for two hours. Stops and path were well designed (you can tell that care was taken to finetune the tour over the years). Great views throughout, we even caught changing of the guards. Maria is very knowledgeable about the city and Canada. Groups are limited to 10 (we had five in ours). Definitely worth the time and money. There is a reason this is number one in ottowa on tripadvisor.”
Smartflyer“I spent 4 days in Ottawa with my 13 year old son, and we did a variety of things including the Ottawa Express bicycle tour. This was our favorite part of our trip. Our tour guide Richard was very pleasant and very knowledgeable of the city. I had no idea there were so many bike paths in Ottawa. If we would have had an extra day to visit I would have booked a second tour. “
CarribWhat our awesome customers say about Express Ottawa Bike Tour
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