Ottawa Highlights Bike Tour- 3.5 hours

Visit the best of the Ottawa highlights including major attractions, must-see spots, and hidden gems in this small-group tour. 

Get a taste of the beautiful bike paths and quiet neighbourhood streets while your local guide gives you a rich experience of Ottawa’s history, local life, and culture. 

This is your tour to discover more of Ottawa beyond the downtown core and dive deeper into culture and history than the Ottawa Express tour. 

The Ottawa bike route is flat, relatively easy, with only a few inclines easily managed when riding multi-geared bikes.

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.

Starting at the Escape Tours and Rentals shop (65 Sparks Street), complete your safety briefing and bike and helmet fitting. 

Bicycling along the canal pathway, you will hear the history of the Rideau Canal(a UNESCO World Heritage site), followed by a short detour to the Glebe (one of Ottawa’s most charming neighbourhoods), and then a brief ride through  Lansdowne Park.

Cycling alongside the Rideau Canal, you will see the Arboretum(a magnificent garden of trees and shrubs) and then Dow’s Lake (an interesting human-made lake on the canal). 

Tour through the trendy neighbourhood of Little Italy to see interesting local eateries, shops, and street art.

Heading back alongside the beautiful Ottawa River bike path, you will enjoy the view at Chaudière Falls and hear your storyteller guide’s fascinating historical and cultural facts.

Pass by the War Museum and cross into the province of Quebec to enjoy another spectacular downtown view from the Museum of History terrace.

Cross back into Ontario from Gatineau, Quebec, through the scenic Alexandria Bridge, and you will see the National Gallery of Canada and Maman, the famous spider. 

Travel on to Rideau Hall, a national historic site and home to the Governor-General. 

Cycle to Rideau Falls, the two urban waterfalls that feed into the Ottawa River. 

Reach the famous Byward Market, one of the oldest outdoor farmer’s markets in Canada and the location of many specialty food merchants.

See Parliament Hill, undoubtedly one of the most symbolic buildings of our nation, and an impressive structure to see in real life! 

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 make this tour an electric bike tour of Ottawa. Just select the e-bike as an add-on at the check-out!

Experience top Ottawa highlights, including major attractions, must-see points of interest, and the hidden gems of our great city.

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.

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 $10 discount for bringing your own bicycle.

Have more questions? Visit our detailed FAQs page or contact us!

“We read, “”Best way to experience Ottawa!”” This is so true! Nora, our guide, was so knowledgeable about the area and its history and was very gracious and personable! She provided an excellent experience for us and adjusted the tour to our riding speed; we were able to see a lot! We were so grateful to see Ottawa from several different vantage points including a view from Quebec. My daughter and I spent over a week traveling in Ontario and Quebec and this was one of our major highlights–don’t miss it! “

“Our half day cycle tour was with Richard who was an excellent guide! We couldn’t believe how far we travelled and how many ‘highlights’ we got to see in such a short time. It was a brilliant start to our few days in this beautiful city at just the right pace so we felt we had achieved something! We also had lots of stops to take photos, to rest awhile (we are not as fit as we used to be!) and listen to interesting facts about the city. Highly recommend this tour.”

“My husband and I took the Ottawa highlights tour on a Saturday monring with Brian. We were impressed with the tour because we covered so much ground and saw so much of Ottawa. Brian was knowledgeable and very attentive to both safety and information about Ottawa. Maria, the owner, responds quickly to either emails or phone calls. She is very easy to deal with. She ensures that the bike and helmet fits properly and that the tour leaves on time. This tour is a must when visiting Ottawa and was a highlight of our trip. “

“I took the 3 hour Ottawa Highlights tour this weekend and it was a lot of fun. Maria promptly responded to all my questions beforehand so I was sure that I was signed up for the best tour for me. Richard, the tour guide, was friendly and very informative about all the sights. He also took some pictures for me when my camera died on me (thanks!) Ottawa has great bike lanes so I was very comfortable during the entire ride. Overall, I really enjoyed myself.”