Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Ottawa, Ontario

Le Germain Hotel Ottawa is a modern, central hotel that welcomes families and pets alike, with major attractions close by for short walks with children. Dining is available on site, which keeps evenings simple after a busy day, and there is a bar for parents. A fitness centre and a spa and wellness focus give adults some time for themselves. Getting to the airport is easy. Guests rate it 9.1/10 from more than 470 reviews.

Suites at the Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa Airport have a fully equipped kitchen and separate living and dining areas, so families get real room to spread out. A hot breakfast is included every morning, the indoor pool and fitness centre cover the evenings, and a communal BBQ area with picnic tables suits summer dinners. Pets are welcome, and the airport is within a five-minute drive. Guests rate it 9.0 from 663 reviews.

I would recommend the Homewood Suites Ottawa Airport to families who want space near their flight. It sits 3 km from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and runs a complimentary shuttle. Family rooms come with kitchen facilities, so simple meals and snacks are easy, and the continental buffet breakfast covers mornings. The indoor swimming pool gives children an evening plan, and the outdoor seating area helps in summer. A fitness room is available.

ByWard Blue Inn puts families in Ottawa's historic ByWard Market area, where markets and food stalls make easy outings with children. Rooms have microwaves and mini-fridges for snacks and simple meals, and a daily breakfast is served. Afternoon tea is a nice touch for a break between visits. Parents can use the hot tub and sauna, part of the hotel's spa and wellness offer. More than 4,200 reviews give it 8.8/10.

reStays Ottawa puts families within walking distance of Parliament Hill, the Peace Tower and the Rideau Locks, and every apartment has a kitchenette for easy breakfasts and snacks. A games room keeps children busy on wet days, while adults can use the sauna and the fitness centre. There is a terrace, and free WiFi and streaming services cover quiet evenings in. Guests rate it 8.8 from 429 reviews.

Families get the best of central Ottawa here: an indoor pool and hot tub for winter afternoons, city-view rooms with air conditioning, and a downtown address close to the capital's main sights, from Parliament Hill to the Rideau Canal. The restaurant mixes American and Spanish dishes, so there is usually something for every age. With an 8.8 score from more than 500 guests, consistency is a safe bet.

The Gold Experience at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier is a premium way to stay in Ottawa with children. The hotel lists kids' meals and a child-friendly buffet, and the indoor swimming pool keeps everyone busy whatever the weather. Private check-in and check-out and a dedicated lounge take some of the stress out of arrival with luggage and tired kids. Pets are allowed too. It scores 8.8/10, though from a smaller pool of about 95 reviews.

Holiday Inn & Suites Ottawa Kanata by IHG suits families who travel by car. The saltwater indoor pool is the main draw for children, and the on-site French brasserie saves a drive at dinner time. Pets are accepted, every room has free WiFi, and Highway 417 puts downtown Ottawa about 20 minutes away by car. Its 8.8 score from 366 reviews is reassuring for a suburban base in Kanata.

A hot breakfast is included every morning at the Hampton by Hilton Ottawa, and coffee and tea are available around the clock, which helps on early starts with children. The indoor pool and exercise room fill the evenings, pets are welcome, and WiFi is free. ByWard Market and Parliament Hill are a short drive away rather than a walk. Guests rate it 8.8 from 2,412 reviews.

Families get a reliable west-end Ottawa base here: an indoor swimming pool, a buffet breakfast to start the day, hypoallergenic bedding and a terrace and outdoor seating area for summer evenings. An American restaurant and bar are on site, so dinner needs no drive. Pets are welcome. It is not downtown, so allow time to reach Parliament Hill or the ByWard Market by car. The 8.7 rating from more than 1,500 reviews is reassuring.

Despite its name, The Business Inn works well for families in Ottawa because every suite is spacious and has a full kitchen, so breakfasts, lunches and picky eaters are easy to handle. A free continental breakfast is included anyway, WiFi is free and parking is available. Each suite also has a computer with a printer, handy for boarding passes. Spa and wellness facilities are on hand for parents. With over 10,000 reviews at 8.7/10, the feedback is very consistent.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Downtown is a three-star suite hotel in the city centre, and I would recommend it to families who want a kitchen in the room. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi and a flat-screen TV, some have river views, and the indoor swimming pool and terrace give children and adults somewhere to go. A fitness centre, a restaurant and a bar are on site. Pets are welcome.

I would book the Holiday Inn Express Ottawa Airport for a family night before or after a flight: it sits about 2 km from Ottawa Airport, so the transfer stays short even with luggage and sleepy children. The indoor pool is the evening plan, and rooms and suites come with a refrigerator and flat-screen cable TV. On-site laundry and dry cleaning help on a longer trip. Parliament Hill and the downtown sights need a drive.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa East-Orleans is a practical family base just off Highway 174. The complimentary hot buffet breakfast gets everyone fed before setting out, and the indoor pool is a reliable treat for children after a day of sightseeing. Rooms have a microwave, mini-fridge and coffee machine, handy for snacks and simple meals, plus a 42-inch HDTV. WiFi and parking are free, and pets are accepted. Guests rate it 8.6/10.

I would recommend the Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa Downtown to families who want the ByWard Market on their doorstep. Markets, cafés and street life are steps away, and the Ottawa Convention Centre and the Alexandra Bridge are a short walk, so outings stay on foot. The indoor swimming pool gives children a reliable end to the day, and a fitness centre is available for parents. Wi-Fi is free throughout. The market stays lively at night.

I would recommend the Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown to families who want Parliament Hill on foot: the Federal Parliament Buildings are about 400 metres away, close enough for an easy walk with children. Rooms are modern and air-conditioned, with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. The on-site restaurant saves a search for dinner, the front desk is open 24 hours, and pets are accepted. A fitness center completes the basics.

Lord Elgin Hotel is a four-star, non-smoking landmark in downtown Ottawa, directly across from the National Arts Centre, and I would recommend it to families who want to walk to the sights. The Parliament buildings and the Byward Market are within easy reach. Rooms are spacious with 49-inch TVs, and the twenty-four-hour fitness centre has a lap pool. It is a heritage hotel, so expect a classic rather than playful stay.

The Westin Ottawa is a family-friendly downtown hotel right next to the Rideau Centre, so a rainy afternoon can turn into a shopping trip without a car. The indoor pool and hot tub keep children busy, and two on-site restaurants plus a bar make meals simple after a long day. Parents can use the spa and wellness facilities or the fitness centre. Pets are welcome. More than 450 guests rate it 8.3/10.

Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa Airport is a practical choice for families with an early or late flight, just 3.5 km from Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. The indoor saltwater pool keeps children busy after a journey, and a fitness centre is on site. Every room has a microwave, mini-fridge and coffee maker, useful for bottles and quick meals, plus a 42-inch flat-screen HDTV. More than 700 reviews give it 8.3/10.

The Keon Hotel suits families who want to explore Ottawa on foot: its family rooms are air-conditioned, with private bathrooms, a TV and a tea and coffee maker, and the main sights are close by. Private and express check-in shortens the wait with tired children, and the hotel accepts pets, which helps if the dog travels too. There is an outdoor seating area but no pool or restaurant listed. Guests rate it 8.1 on ten reviews.