StayAreasIs ByWard Market & Rideau a good place to stay in Ottawa?
Yes, especially for a first visit, food and nightlife. Parliament is a short walk away, though bars can be loud late.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Food lovers
- Couples
Look elsewhere if
- You want quiet nights
- You're on a tight budget
- You want a residential feel
Hotels in ByWard Market & Rideau
All ByWard Market & Rideau hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in ByWard Market & Rideau
The ByWard Market is the liveliest place to stay in Ottawa. Restaurants, pubs and market stalls are on the doorstep, Parliament Hill and the National Gallery are a short walk away, and the O-Train stops at the edge of the market.
The market has been the heart of the city's social life for almost two centuries. Locals shop for produce and maple syrup at the stalls, tourists queue for BeaverTails pastries, and the patios fill with government workers after office hours. At night, students and visitors pack the pubs on York and Clarence Streets.
The downside is the noise around the bars late on weekends, and hotels here are some of the city's priciest. Some streets near the Rideau Centre can feel rough at night.
What makes the ByWard Market special is how much is within a few blocks. You can see the National Gallery in the morning, eat your way around the market at lunch and walk to the Château Laurier and Parliament Hill in the evening.
Getting around
- ByWard Market3walk
- Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica8walk
- Fairmont Château Laurier9walk
- National Gallery of Canada11walk
- National Arts Centre13walk
- Parliament Hill16walk
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)42
ByWard Market & Rideau questions
Is ByWard Market & Rideau a good area to stay in Ottawa?
Yes, especially for a first visit, food and nightlife. Parliament is a short walk away, though bars can be loud late. It suits first-time visitors, food lovers and couples.
How much does a hotel in ByWard Market & Rideau cost?
A typical double is around $350 a night at a budget hotel, $400 mid-range and $500 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to ByWard Market & Rideau?
About 42 minutes door to door: Taxi or rideshare from the airport to the ByWard Market.
How far is ByWard Market & Rideau from the main sights?
Door to door from ByWard Market & Rideau: ByWard Market 3 minutes on foot, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica 8 minutes on foot, Fairmont Château Laurier 9 minutes on foot and National Gallery of Canada 11 minutes on foot.