Flights from Calgary to Ottawa starting from CAD99*

Parliament Hill

A visit to Parliament Hill is a must after your flight from Calgary to Ottawa. Beginning construction in the mid-1800s, the iconic Parliament buildings of Canada were completed in 1927 with the construction of the central Peace Tower that every Canadian recognizes from the $20 bill.

As the seat of the Federal government, Parliament is an important part of Canadian history and culture. Guided tours of the buildings are available when the government is not actively in session - a tour schedule is available on the Parliament of Canada website and tour slots can be booked in advance to ensure you have a reservation.

The 9-hectare grounds of Parliament Hill feature not only the buildings that house the Canadian Government, but also greenspace used to host large public events like the annual Canada Day celebrations. The Hill, as it's known to locals, overlooks the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, both of which have great walking trails to explore after your tour of the Parliament buildings.

While visiting the Parliament buildings after your Calgary to Ottawa flight, keep your eyes peeled for some of the gargoyles and grotesques carved into the building. These unique creatures and features will delight and amuse the keen-eyed visitor. Also, you can see over a dozen statues of prominent Canadian figures located throughout the Parliament Hill grounds. The ever-burning Centennial Flame sits in the courtyard of Parliament Hill, where it has burned since 1967 when it was lit to commemorate 100 years of Canadian confederation.

While the Prime Minister obviously spends a lot of time in Parliament, his offices are actually located directly across the street from Parliament Hill in a building that you'll notice is architecturally similar to the ones that house Parliament.

Rideau Canal

Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, the Rideau Canal will certainly be a highlight of your trip from Calgary to Ottawa.

Built 200 years ago, the Rideau Canal stretches over 200 km from Lake Ontario, through Kingston, all the way through Ottawa to the Ottawa River. Originally built to ensure military supply lines remained uninterrupted after the War of 1812, the canal was never required for military purposes and became an important commercial waterway in 19th century Ontario.

In modern times, the Canal - as it's known to locals - serves as an amazing recreational resource, with scenic walking, running and biking trails along both sides of the waterway.

There's a lot to see and do along the canal, including the Bytown Museum, where you can explore the history of Ottawa and learn about how the canal was built. Need to take a break or want to grab something to eat as you wander the canal trail? Great parks and restaurants are easily accessible just off the main canal walking trail.

See Ottawa from a different perspective by paddling your way along the water, or booking a leisurely boat cruise. Along the way you might encounter the eight lift locks that connect the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa River - still operated in the same way they were when they were built almost two centuries ago!

If you're taking a flight from Calgary to Ottawa in the winter, go for a skate along the canal - a classic Canadian experience. Listed as the world's longest skating rink in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Rideau Canal Skateway stretches along 7.8 km of the waterway, with entrances and exits all along the way - many people in Ottawa even commute along the skateway! Visitors will also find skate rentals, warming huts, food vendors and rest areas along the canal.

Whether you are just out to explore or using the walking paths to get from one place to another in the city, the Rideau Canal is a must-visit after your Calgary to Ottawa flight.