What to do in Ottawa when it rains
Ottawa keeps the rain at bay with its museums and galleries, its covered markets and its cafés — everything you need for an indoor day out.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature 240 McLeod St, Ottawa, ON K2P 2R1, Canada
- Canadian Museum of History 100 Rue Laurier, Gatineau, QC K1A 0M8, Canada
- National Gallery of Canada 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4, Canada
- Canadian War Museum 1 Vimy Pl, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8, Canada
- Royal Canadian Mint 320 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G8, Canada
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum 901 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa, ON K2C 3K1, Canada
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- National Gallery of Canada 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4, Canada
- Ottawa Art Gallery 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa, ON K1N 0C5, Canada
- Maker House Co. 987 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X8, Canada
- Wallack's Art Supplies & Framing 305 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1X7, Canada
- LOAM Clay Studio 131 Loretta Ave N, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2J7, Canada
- Avant-Garde Bar & Gift Shop 135 Besserer St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5X6, Canada
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- Rideau Hall 1 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1M 2B5, Canada
- Rideau Canal, Locks 1 - 8 - Ottawa Byward Market - Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4, Canada
- Confederation Building 229 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6, Canada
- Aberdeen Pavilion 1000 Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3, Canada
- Central Experimental Farm 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
- Rideau Canal National Historic Site Ottawa, ON K1S 3M8, Canada
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Farm Boy 193 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0S5, Canada
- Farm Boy Train Yards, 830 Belfast Rd, Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z4, Canada
- Whole Foods Market 951 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7, Canada
- ByWard Market District 55 Byward Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 1K1, Canada
- Parkdale Public Market 366 Parkdale Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1G8, Canada
- Farm Boy 50 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J7, Canada
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- McDonald's 180 Bd Maisonneuve, Gatineau, QC J8X 3N5, Canada
- Cocotte Bistro 123 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5L9, Canada
- McDonald's 670 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, ON K1S 4E9, Canada
- Tartelette Bakery & Cafe 175 Main St unit 7, Ottawa, ON K1S 1C3, Canada
- Moo Shu Ice Cream 1130 Wellington St. W Unit 1, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Z3, Canada
- Little Victories Coffee Roasters - Elgin 44 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K6, Canada
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- CF Rideau Centre 50 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9J7, Canada
- St. Laurent Shopping Centre 1200 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1K 3B8, Canada
- Billings Bridge Shopping Centre 2269 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, ON K1H 8K2, Canada
- Galeries de Hull 320 Bd Saint-Joseph, Gatineau, QC J8Y 3Y8, Canada
- Ottawa Train Yards 165 Trainyards Dr, Ottawa, ON K1G 6M8, Canada
- Place du Centre 200 Prom. du Portage, Gatineau, QC J8X 4B7, Canada
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.