Ottawa

Entry/Visa
Depending on which country you come from you might need a visa, however when coming from most European countries a visa is not required to enter Canada. One has to bring a valid passport.

Vaccines
Other than the standard vaccinations, when travelling to Ottawa there are no special vaccinations needed.

Climate
Ottawa’s temperature is extremely different each season; it has a humid continental climate. Summers get very warm reaching up to 38°C, whilst winters on the other hand can get very cold reaching up to -38°C. Springs and autumns vary as the weather becomes very unpredictable, and on average both these seasons’ temperatures vary between 10°C and 30°C. Therefore depending on what season one travels it is best to see how the temperature has been in that particular season due to the unpredictability of the weather.

Currency
The currency in this city is the Canadian Dollar.

Language
The official language in Ottawa is English however French is the dominant language amongst many inhabitants. Therefore both these languages are spoken in Ottawa.

Customs / Culture / Traditions
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, in 1826 it was known at Bytwon and by 1855 it was named Ottawa. A lot of history and culture lies in the city, today it is known to be the political and technological center of Canada. Before the Europeans came into Ottawa the city was home to the Algonquin people, and before it became a multicultural bilingual city is was initially an Irish and French Christian settlement. Within the cultural scene in Ottawa the main traditional focal points are the ByWard Market in the Lower Town, the Golden Triangle located in the Centre of Ottawa and Downtown. In addition to the historic culture the modern development is visible in many other areas. Due to the great history many traditional festivals occur such as the celebration of the Canadian day.

Religion
The official religion in Canada is Christianity, however due to the multicultural development many other religions have been introduced to this city.

Airports / Car rental
Ottawa’s main airport is the “Macdonald-Cartier International Airport” which receives international and domestic flights coming in and out on a daily basis. The airport also offers a variety of public transport directly from it. Therefore it is easy to reach your destination from the airport through a variety of different public transportation services. If you however want to rent a car, it is possible to rent a car at the airport, however you should order this in advance.

Public transport
The Public transportation in Ottawa is operated by the OC Transpo which includes regular buses, a bus rapid transit and a light rail transit known as O-Train. The regular buses rotate in the city of Ottawa, the bus rapid transit also operates in the city however also travels to longer distances just as the light rail transit. It is also possible to hire a bicycle or to simply walk to many sights and areas.

Taxis / Infrastructure
Taxis can be found at taxi stands, at the airport, on the road or can simply be ordered via the hotel or by calling the central taxi service.

Events / Lifestyle
Each year there are various events occurring in Ottawa which also speak for the lifestyle led by the inhabitants. They are respectful people, who appreciate their history and enjoy celebrating it. Amongst these events the main ones include:
- Ottawa Jazz festival (during the summer)
- Ottawa International Chamber Music festival (during the summer)
- Bluefestvial (during the summer)
- The Fringe Festival ( during the summer)
- Winterlude ( during the winter)
- The Tulip Festival (during spring)
- Canada Day ( July 1st)

Culinary Specialities
Due to the multicultural development the cuisine has also gone in many directions. You can find all different types of cuisine in Ottawa however, the traditional local specialty is a classic “beavertail” which you eat with sugar and cinnamon.

Sights
Due to Ottawa’s great history there is a lot to see and do. The Rideau Canal is worth visiting as it is the oldest canal system in North America; there are also 24 different National Historic sites of Canada in Ottawa amongst which you will find the Gullies Grove, the Manoir Papineau and the Langevin Block. There are many other things to see such as the Scotiabank Place, many art galleries, many different types of Museums and a lot more.