Best of Ottawa Neighbourhoods & Nature – 3 hours

Immerse in a biking journey in nature and the neighbourhoods of Ottawa in just a 3-hour ride. This small-group tour is a calming experience of being surrounded by nature in the heart of the city. 

Appreciate the perfect blend of biking through Ottawa’s beautiful waterfront pathways and green scenery while visiting some of the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods & street art. 

This tour is ideal for you if you are looking to see beyond Ottawa’s downtown, go deeper into the great outdoors, beyond the most touristy areas.

Plus, this is an excellent tour if you are new to the city or for locals who want to show their out-of-town visitors the variety and beauty of Ottawa. 

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 (79 Sparks Street), complete your safety briefing and bike and helmet fitting.

Begin your tour at Rideau Canal, and marvel at this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you cycle on its beautiful waterfront pathway.

Ride through the best neighbourhoods of Ottawa, including the Glebe neighbourhood, and Lansdowne Park, a world-class event and activity park.

Continue your journey on the Rideau Canal pathway to Dow’s Lake, then ride through the lush green spaces of Arboretum trees at the experimental farm—a unique oasis of grain-filled fields and spectacular gardens.

Capture your curiosity about local life and culture as our storyteller guide takes you through Little Italy to see interesting local eateries, shops, and street art.

Tour through quiet residential backroads to the trendy neighbourhood of Hintonburg, known for its artisanal coffees, art galleries, and mix of heritage and modern architecture.

Head back into nature and bike on the impressive Ottawa River Pathway and bridge towards downtown.

Bike around the Canadian Museum of War grounds, then visit the Chaudière Falls’ stunning cascades where the Ottawa River narrows.

Continue back on the Ottawa River Pathway to see Bytown Museum and the Canal’s lower locks in operation. Discover the ingenuity of architecture and construction of the 19th century. End the tour with a visit to the grounds of Canada’s famous Parliament Hill.

End your tour with a ride back to the Escape Tours & Rentals shop. There you can ask your guide more questions or enjoy a cup of coffee/tea or a light meal at our bike cafe.

Refreshing and fun and will capture your curiosity about locals and beyond the touristic scene of Ottawa!

Bike deeper into nature, explore culture and Ottawa heritage locations, and visit our hidden gems—the neighbourhoods of Ottawa.

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 79 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!

“My 12 years old son and I really enjoyed this wonderful experience of bike tour with a great tour guide, Sparks. She’s very energetic and helpful. She gave us a good and interesting explanation of many highlights seeing of Ottawa. We were very impressed by her bicycle tour. it was meaningful and unforgettable experience for us. We love Ottawa! “

“Excellent tour which took us outside of downtown Ottawa. The easy ride gave us a different view of this beautiful city (canals, parks, bridges, neighbourhoods). We learned other interesting facts about the history and development of Ottawa. The bikes were solid and pleasant to ride. An tour to know and see more than just downtown!”

“Excellent for discovering Ottawa differnently. We did a 3 hour tour with a french speaking guide. This tour was organized the day before, on our request and for our small family of 3 people. Ottawa is really beautiful from this perspective, we see parks, green spaces, monuments, neighbourhoods but especially the soul of the city presented by a passionate guide.”

“Dear Maria & Crew at Escape, Thank you for such an AMAZING experience! We thoroughly enjoyed the sights along the tour. We were lucky enough to have a wonderful group of riders lead by a super cool Ottawa Tour Guide. We felt safe riding through town. The nutrition bar and complimentary water was a special touch. We would for sure do this again and encourage both visitors and locals to take the tour. It was great exercise. Lots of therapeutic destinations with some beautiful views along the way! Thanks for a happy time. Keep up the awesome work. LOVE!!”