Best Western Hotels in Ottawa: A Guide to Choosing Where to Stay
Ottawa is Canada's capital, a compact city built around the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill, with museums, government buildings, and a walkable downtown core. Best Western operates hotels across many North American cities, and Ottawa travellers looking for a reliable, mid-range option should check current listings directly on bestwestern.online, since availability and specific properties change. This guide focuses on how to think about neighborhoods, timing, and booking so you pick the right base for your trip regardless of which specific hotel is live at the moment you search.
About Ottawa
Ottawa sits on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River, directly across from Gatineau, Quebec, which means some travellers end up comparing hotels on both sides of the river. The downtown core, centered on Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, and the Rideau Canal, holds most of the sightseeing draws: national museums, government tours, and canal-side walking or skating depending on season.
Outside downtown, Ottawa has quieter residential and business districts near the airport and along the major highways (417 and 174), which tend to suit travellers attending conferences, visiting government offices outside the parliamentary precinct, or driving in from other parts of Ontario or Quebec.
Winters are cold and the canal often freezes into the world's longest skating rink; summers bring festivals and long days. Both seasons pull visitors, so book early if your trip lines up with Winterlude in February or Canada Day in July.
Planning Your Stay
Decide first whether you want to be within walking distance of Parliament Hill and the museums, or whether a location near the airport or highway makes more sense for your itinerary. Downtown puts you closer to sightseeing but usually means less parking space and higher demand during peak events. A location further out can mean easier driving and parking at the cost of a short commute into the core.
Most first-time visitors do well with two to three full days: one for Parliament Hill and the national museums, one for the ByWard Market and canal, and a spare day for a side trip to Gatineau or a museum you didn't get to. Add a day if you're travelling with kids and want a slower pace.
Getting in from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to downtown is straightforward by taxi, rideshare, or the OC Transpo bus network. If your hotel is outside the core, check whether it's near a transit line or highway exit before booking, since Ottawa's public transit doesn't cover every suburb equally well.
How to Book the Best Rate
Rates for any hotel fluctuate with season, events, and how far in advance you book, so treat any number you see as a snapshot rather than a fixed price. Book directly on bestwestern.online to see live rates for Ottawa-area properties without needing an account or dealing with third-party booking fees.
Booking direct also tends to simplify changes and cancellations, since you're dealing with the hotel's own system rather than a middleman. If your travel dates are flexible, compare a few nearby dates on the site, since even a one-day shift around a major event like Winterlude can change availability and pricing noticeably.
If you belong to a hotel loyalty program, check whether direct booking still lets you earn or redeem points; this varies by brand and is worth confirming before you commit to a rate.