Gatineau Hotels With an Indoor Pool
Gatineau sits on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, facing Parliament Hill, and its hotels with an indoor pool are a practical base for both cities. The four on this page fall into two areas. Around Lac-Leamy, Hilton Lac-Leamy is connected to the casino and has indoor and outdoor heated pools, Holiday Inn Gatineau - Ottawa has a saltwater indoor pool, and Le Parc Gatineau sits across from the Casino du Lac-Leamy with a pool and spa. In downtown Gatineau, Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown adds an indoor saltwater pool and family rooms, close to the Canadian Museum of History.
Gatineau is the Quebec city across the Ottawa River from Canada's capital, French-speaking and linked to Ottawa by several bridges. Its riverbank holds the Canadian Museum of History, Lac-Leamy brings together a casino, a park and a beach, and Gatineau Park opens a large area of forest and lakes on the city's northern edge.
Saltwater Pools, Spas and the Casino District
An indoor pool matters in Gatineau, where winters are long and cold and the outdoor beaches of Lac-Leamy and Gatineau Park are a summer affair. Each hotel here keeps swimming available all year, and all four are a short drive or a bridge crossing from downtown Ottawa, so you can split the day between museums and the pool.
Hilton Lac-Leamy is the most complete pool hotel in Gatineau. It is connected to the Lac-Leamy Casino and has both indoor and outdoor heated pools, a spa and wellness centre and a fitness centre, with a range of restaurants and a cigar lounge on site. Some rooms look over the lake, and the hotel is pet-friendly and family-friendly, with a 9.0 rating. In summer the outdoor pool adds to the indoor one, and in winter the heated indoor pool keeps the routine going. I would pick it for a weekend that mixes swimming, the spa and an evening at the casino.
Two hotels near the casino offer saltwater pools, which many swimmers find gentler than chlorinated water. Holiday Inn Gatineau - Ottawa by IHG, rated 8.7, has a saltwater indoor pool, a fitness centre and a family-friendly restaurant, close to Casino Lac-Leamy and the main attractions. Le Parc Gatineau, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, sits across from the Casino du Lac-Leamy with an indoor pool, a spa and the Risotto Pasta & Grill restaurant; its rooms have jetted tubs and electric fireplaces, which suits a couple's stay more than a family one.
In downtown Gatineau, Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown has an indoor saltwater swimming pool, a fitness centre and free on-site parking. Some of its family rooms have balconies and kitchen facilities, useful for a longer stay with children. From the downtown side of Gatineau, the Canadian Museum of History is within reach on the riverbank, and the bridges over the Ottawa River lead to Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market. Its rating of 7.4 is the lowest of the four, so I would choose it for space and kitchens rather than polish.
Gatineau works as a base for an Ottawa trip, and a pool helps families end a museum day well. The Canadian Museum of History is on the Gatineau side, the National Gallery of Canada and Parliament Hill across the river, and Gatineau Park, with its trails and lakes, starts just north of the city. After a day outdoors in winter or a long walk through Ottawa's museums, returning to an indoor pool at Hilton Lac-Leamy, Holiday Inn or Best Western is the easy option. Free parking at Best Western also helps if you drive between the two cities.
A traveler's takeFor a family weekend in Gatineau I would book Hilton Lac-Leamy: it holds a 9.0 rating, has indoor and outdoor heated pools, and is connected to the Lac-Leamy Casino, with Parliament Hill just across the Ottawa River. For a couple, my pick would be Le Parc Gatineau, for the spa and the rooms with jetted tubs and electric fireplaces.
4.5Hilton Lac-Leamy
Indoor Pool · 562 reviewsA lakefront hotel with a casino, spa, and multiple pools
Why guests love itHilton Lac-Leamy sits on the lakefront in Gatineau, across the river from Ottawa, and gives families more facilities than most city hotels. Children can swim in heated indoor and outdoor pools, and several restaurants on site make meals easy. Parents can use the spa and wellness centre or the fitness centre, and some rooms look out over the lake. Note that the hotel is connected to the Lac-Leamy Casino. Pets are welcome. A guest score of 9.0 from 562 reviews is excellent.
4.4Holiday Inn Gatineau - Ottawa by IHG
Indoor Pool · 1334 reviewsComfortable rooms, indoor pool, and family dining near Gatineau's attractions
Why guests love itHoliday Inn Gatineau - Ottawa by IHG is a three-star hotel with an indoor saltwater pool, and I would recommend it to families who want a pool and an easy dinner. A family-friendly restaurant is on site, a fitness centre is available, and rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and free WiFi. Casino Lac-Leamy and the major attractions are close. The rating of 8.7 is strong for this category.
3.7Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown
Indoor Pool · 1441 reviewsFamily-friendly downtown hotel with an indoor saltwater pool and kitchen-equipped rooms
Why guests love itBest Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown is a four-star downtown hotel with family rooms, and I would recommend it to families who want space and parking. Some rooms have balconies and kitchen facilities, the indoor saltwater pool and fitness centre keep everyone busy, and on-site parking is free. It is a convenient base for the city and its surroundings. The rating of 7.4 suggests a practical stay.
3.6Le Parc Gatineau, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Indoor Pool · 269 reviewsSpa, indoor pool, and jetted tubs across from Casino du Lac Leamy
Why guests love itLe Parc Gatineau, Tapestry Collection by Hilton works for families who want a pool and a bit of comfort just across the river from Ottawa. The indoor pool and hot tub keep children busy, every room has a jetted tub and an electric fireplace, and the on-site restaurant, Risotto Pasta & Grill, handles dinner. It faces Casino du Lac Leamy, so the immediate area is geared to adults. The 7.2 score from 269 reviews is more mixed.
Local tips
- 1Cross the Ottawa River on foot or by car to reach Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market from the Gatineau hotels.
- 2Visit the Canadian Museum of History on the Gatineau riverbank, then end the day at your hotel's indoor pool.
- 3Hilton Lac-Leamy has both indoor and outdoor heated pools; in summer you get both, in winter the indoor one.
- 4Choose Holiday Inn or Best Western if you prefer a saltwater pool to a chlorinated one.
- 5Best Western Plus Gatineau-Ottawa Downtown has free on-site parking and family rooms with kitchen facilities.
- 6Drive or cycle into Gatineau Park, just north of the city, for trails and lakes in summer or cross-country skiing in winter.