Ottawa. Open, friendly and welcoming gay and lesbian travelers.

Canada's Capital has an LGBT pedigree that extends back to the first-ever gay and lesbian public demonstration in Canada (1971), and that in recent years included perhaps the most public gay marriage of all time between two gay stars of the TV program The Amazing Race.

Today, Ottawa is home to a proud and active gay and lesbian community with an ever-expanding variety of clubs, organizations, activities and events – including a very boisterous annual Pride Week celebration – that reflects the diversity of the local community.

Bank Street and Somerset in the downtown core has a growing gaybourhood of shops and bars and is the home base for local institutions serving the LGBT community.

Explore it by day—or by night. But don't feel you have to limit yourself to one neighbourhood. There are things happening all over. On Sunday evenings, for example, there's a lesbian coffee club in suburban Barrhaven. You'll find gays and lesbians all over the city, doing the active things Ottawans do.

Capital Sights
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	As the country's Capital, Ottawa offers visitors a wealth of quintessentially Canadian experiences. Impressive national sites greet visitors around every corner in Ottawa. Most visitors start with a trip to historic Parliament Hill, the seat of Canada's national government and the setting for pomp, ceremony and celebration, including the annual Canada Day celebrations July 1, dramatic Sound and Light shows, and the summertime Changing the Guard ceremony. More Info
Capital Fun
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	After exploring the gaybourhood at Bank and Somerset, enjoy the fine dining, music scene and gay-friendly bars in the ByWard Market. Or join the rest of Ottaw outdoors in the summer when the city is alive with music. Try your luck at Casino du Lac-Leamy or check out the full ineup of music, dance and theatre at the National Arts Centre. More Info
Capital Hoods
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	Ottawa's unique neighbourhoods feature distinctive shopping, dining and nightlife. The ByWard Market is an outdoor farmers market and chic shopping district by day, and a meeting place of restaurants, pubs and clubs by night. Bank Street is home to the gaybourhood while little further south The Glebe offers a unique mix of local restaurants and retailers. Little Italy, Chinatown, Beechwood Village, Wellington Village and Westboro Village are all well worth a stop. More Info
Capital Outdoors
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	Ottawa is a natural for outdoor fun. Some of the best whitewater anywhere is available on the Ottawa River. The city's vast network of recreational and mountain biking paths are ideal spring, summer and fall. And in winter Ottawa is like an urban ski resort, with hundreds of kilometres of groomed cross country trails and ski resorts just minutes from downtown. More Info
Capital Spring
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	Spring in Ottawa means tulips - but also great festivals and exhibitions plus the prestigious Ottawa Marathon. But the city has things to see, do, and experience all year 'round. Summer means Capital Pride and outdoor music festivals. And autumn sets the Capital aglow in vibrant colours and features events like Mr Leather Ottawa. Winter is all about fun in the great outdoors - with the world's largest skating rink and North America's greatest winter festival. More Info
Capital Events
Credit: Ottawa Tourism	Ottawa is a city of celebration, with festivals and special events all year round such as Capital Pride in August and Mr Leather Ottawa in November. Winterlude, the Canadian Tulip Festival, summer jazz, blues and chamber music festivals and Canada Day celebrations on July 1 are just some of the reasons to come to Ottawa throughout the year. More Info