27 beautiful photos of Ottawa in the winter that will make you want to visit

If you’ve never been to the nation’s capital during the holidays, it may be time to change that.

Besides its incredible Rideau Canal Skateway, which should be opening soon, Ottawa glows in the winter.

Parliament Hill lights up during Christmas season, and the snow adds natural beauty to the region. And while we don’t necessarily enjoy their hockey team, there’s no doubt that Ottawa is a place to visit in the winter.

Just a road trip away, this winter beauty is waiting for you.

Scuola in centro ha i suoi vantaggi… #ottawa #canada #dawn

A photo posted by federico gerbino (@federico.gerbino) on Dec 21, 2016 at 1:55pm PST

You know it’s cold when the weather report issues a frostbite warning, and it’s -30 degrees. At least it’s pretty though 🌅

A photo posted by Lara Hornby (@lara_hornby) on Dec 16, 2016 at 8:07pm PST

A lone Birch tree lit by a path light down by the Rideau Locks with the National Gallery in the background. Out for a night walk with my buddy @krismurlee89 we walked down by the locks to see if we could do something with the full moon a couple of nights ago. Please contact me if you’re interested in a framed fine art or gallery wrap canvas print. . . . . . #myottawa #ottawatourism #ottawa.online #ottawaphoto #ottawa #ottawalivin #ottawalifemag #photodaily #photoday #photoftheday #kings_shots #narcityottawa #pocket_canada #prestige_pics_ #pocket_world #ig_great_shots_canada #bella_shots #photodaily #canada #DiscoverON #EnjoyCanada #bestofOntario #ig_great_shots_canada #bella_shots #igersmood #ImagesofCanada #sharecangeo #bestcitybreaks #postcardplaces #discoverontario

A photo posted by Mark Hogan Photography (@markhogan100) on Dec 16, 2016 at 12:14pm PST

Happy first day of winter ❄️ Here’s a shot from the last snowfall of the @fairmontlaurier!

A photo posted by LittleMissOttawa (@littlemissottawa) on Dec 21, 2016 at 4:59pm PST

Christmas is coming – Ottawa, Canada. #ottawa #canada #ontario #christmas #オタワ #カナダ #オンタリオ #クリスマス #snow #smile #lights #night #peacetower #parliamenthill #couple #clock #rideaucanal #magic #peaceful #happy #walk #winter #wonderland #season #calm #bright

A photo posted by Dan Neutel · ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ · (@dan_neutel) on Dec 20, 2016 at 5:13am PST

A very christmassy (and cold) view of downtown Ottawa #myottawa #ottawaphoto #narcity_ottawa #christmas #explorecanada

A photo posted by Troy Curtis (@thelifeoftroy) on Dec 16, 2016 at 1:46pm PST

City Wide Panic 🕷 . . #Maman #mamanspider #LongExposure #UnitedStatesEmbassy #OttawaArtGallary #Wintertime #FreeThursdays #LowExposure #Art @ngc_mbac #NGC #NationalGalleryOfCanada . . #Canon #CanonT3i #CanonCanada @CanonCanada . . #Ottawa #MyOttawa #OttawaArtist #Ottawalove #loveottawa #Igersottawa #OttawaTourism @ottawatourism @igersottawa @ottawalive @ottawa_2017

A photo posted by Muhammad Faateh Malik (@thebeardedchild) on Dec 22, 2016 at 5:30am PST

Lights. Castle. Christmas! (📸:@gregkolz) #MerryChristmas #ChateauLaurier #MajorsHillPark #ChristmasLights #NightPhotography #Ottawa #Canada #PhotoOfTheDay #MyOttawa

A photo posted by Greg Kolz (@gregkolz) on Dec 22, 2016 at 5:33am PST

#Noel en #Outaouaisfun #Gatineau #museecanadienhistoire #winter #Canada #MyOttawa #snow #christmastree

A photo posted by Jean Boileau (@jeanboileau) on Dec 22, 2016 at 4:53am PST

It’s the #FirstDayOfWinter & the start of my favourite season! Call me crazy, but I just love how beautiful the world looks with a fresh blanket of #snow. It has me reminiscing about my longest bucket list item – skating the #RideauCanal which I finally completed in 2015! It also has me thinking of all the fun activities you can do in the #winter – head to IveBeenBit.ca & see how they’ll have you embracing the season! #IveBeenBitTravel

A photo posted by Lindz @ I’ve Been Bit! (@ibbtravel) on Dec 21, 2016 at 7:35pm PST

Wow! The clouds above @fairmontlaurier this am. #ottawa #myottawa #majorshillpark #sunrise #igersottawa #coldmorning #snowincanada

A photo posted by Alexandra C. (@alexcookiemons) on Dec 21, 2016 at 5:15am PST

Some amazing colours around Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier, the Christmas lights are on and looks well with the colours of the Chateau. #myottawa #explorecanada

A photo posted by Roland Bast 🇨🇦 (@rolandbast) on Dec 12, 2016 at 3:56pm PST

Walking in a #winterwonderland ❄ ❄ ❄ #Ottawa #snow #trees #RideauCanal #whitechristmas

A photo posted by Zosia Zielinski (@zosiazielinski) on Dec 22, 2016 at 8:57am PST

#parliament #ottawaphotographer #nighttimephotography #ottawatourism #iphonephotography #myontario #lightshow

A photo posted by Debbie Miller (@dhmphotography) on Dec 17, 2016 at 6:46pm PST

#ottawaart #myottawa #canonnz #canoncanada #ottawatourism

A photo posted by @jonny_collision on Dec 14, 2016 at 12:37pm PST

I just wanted to take the time to thanks everyone who is supporting me with my photography. I have reached some very big milestones in the past couple of days! Firstly I reached over 1000 followers on Instagram! That’s huge!!! Secondly I reached over 200 likes over my images! Thank you once again for everything!!!

A photo posted by Nicholas Place (@nicholasplacephoto) on Dec 14, 2016 at 10:10am PST

#latergram Frio! Muy frio! ❄️😳❄️

A photo posted by Chris (@cpbm17) on Dec 19, 2016 at 2:14pm PST

let’s take the road less travelled. . . . #Ontario #Quebec #Hull #nationalcapitalregion #frozemybuttoff #explore #exploreontario #alexandriabridge #chateaulaurier #parliament #parliamenthill #ottawa #winter

A photo posted by Jessica Wong (@jessicawoong) on Dec 11, 2016 at 9:52am PST

By pure accident I happened to be near Ottawa City Hall today where for the first time “Ottawa 2017” flame was lit for short period of time. You see that flame in the picture. Unfortunately the flame was turned off at 6pm today. If you want to see the flame, then you have to wait until New Year’s eve, when the flame will be lit again. #ottawa #ontario #canada #ottawaphoto #ottawatourism #ottawa_instaphoto #ottawalivin #outaouais #explorecanada #exploreottawa #exploreontario #ottawalife #ottawaphotography #ottawa2017 #featuremeottawa #flame #canada150 #instaottawa #igersottawa #igersofottawa #ig_ottawa #night_captures #nightphoto #nightphotography #nightshot #nightpicture #ottawacityhall #myottawa #ottcity

A photo posted by Alexei Volossov (@avolossov) on Dec 21, 2016 at 8:30pm PST

Heads up #Ottawa! Some gorgeous #sunrise skies this morning! #ottcity #ontario #canada #exploreottawa #exploreontario #explorecanada #skyscapes #winter #december #christmas #travel #tourism #cityscape #architecture #insta #instagram #instagood #photooftheday #photography #nexus #nexus6p #phonephotography

A photo posted by Luciana Nechita (@luciananechita) on Dec 20, 2016 at 4:40am PST

Quite unusual Christmas decorations are glowing in the darkness on Parliament Hill in Ottawa . #ottawa #ontario #canada #ig_ottawa #instaottawa #igersottawa #igersofottawa #ottawaphoto #ottawaphotographer #ottawatourism #city_captures #hdr_captures #night_captures #nightphoto #nightphotography #nightshot #nightpicture #hdr #hdr_pics #hdrphoto #hdrphotography #explorecanada #exploreottawa #exploreontario #featuremeotta #ottawa_instaphoto #ottawalivin #outaouais #parliamenthill

A photo posted by Alexei Volossov (@avolossov) on Dec 18, 2016 at 2:28am PST

I took this shot of the Vimmy memorial bridge in Ottawa at around 730pm. I used a long exposure to smooth the water and bring out the reflection. Let me know what you think in the comments!!! #exploreottawa #explorecanada #vimymemorialbridge #longexposure_shots #iglongexposures #ig_bliss #nightphotography #artofvisuals #ig_colors #MyOttawa #DiscoverOntario #Canada_pic #ottawa_online #ottawaphoto #TourCanada #ImagesofCanada #myCanadianphotos

A photo posted by Light1Scene (@light1scene) on Dec 13, 2016 at 5:18pm PST

Shaw Centre . . . #ottawaphoto #ottawaest #ottawastyle #ottawalife #ottawatourism #ottawa #downtown #longexposure #lighttrails #fatalframes #moodygrams #myottawa #myottawa

A photo posted by Matt Peschisolido (@hatmesh) on Dec 22, 2016 at 9:23am PST

Walk in the city!☕️❄️🎄 #ottawalife #parlement #citylights #winter #hollidays #downtown #rideaucanal

A photo posted by Alex Rousseau (@alexrousso1) on Dec 21, 2016 at 2:04pm PST

Look at you Ottawa. 😍

A photo posted by Erwan 🕴 (@e.jnls_11) on Dec 21, 2016 at 8:09am PST

A festive Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario. #rideaucanal #ottawa #christmaslights

A photo posted by Trevor Paddock (@h.trevor.paddock) on Dec 15, 2016 at 1:49pm PST

I foolishly went out last night and almost froze my delicate little fingers off taking this shot. This is just a piece of a much larger panorama that you can see by clicking on my Flickr account in my bio. . . . . #ottawa #myottawa #mycity #613 #discoverontario #discoveron #explorecanada #ohcanada #canada #moodygrams #urban #outaouaisfun #beautiful #explore #getoutdoors #igers #iconic #igersottawa #ig_great_shots #igs_can #landscape #longexposure #neverstopexploring #photooftheday #ottcity #instagood #architecture #parliament

A photo posted by Nathan Skolski (@nathanocracy) on Dec 17, 2016 at 9:05am PST

See also

• 11 spectacular photos of Niagara Falls new light installation
• This incredible light festival is just 3 hours from Toronto (PHOTOS)
• 9 places you can go dogsledding near Toronto this winter