The Ottawa Tulip Festival: When to Go and What to See

Every May, Ottawa plants more than a million tulips, a gift that started when the Dutch royal family sheltered here during the Second World War. The festival is free, spread across several sites, and much less crowded than the dates suggest if you go at the right hour.

Where the tulips actually are

Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake holds the largest concentration, with beds running along the water. Major's Hill Park has the postcard view with Parliament behind the flowers. The grounds of the Canadian Museum of History across the river add a third option, and the Rideau Canal's banks fill in between them.

Timing

The festival usually runs for about ten days in mid-May, but peak bloom depends on the spring: some years the beds are best in the first week, others in the third. Check the bloom report before booking, and go before 10:00 or after 18:00 to avoid the coach groups. Weekday mornings are calmest.

Practical notes

• Parking at Dow's Lake fills by mid-morning; use the O-Train to Carling and walk.
• Tulip beds are fragile: stay on the paths, and do not step into the flowers for photos.
• Bring a jacket; May mornings by the canal are cold even when the afternoon is warm.

One day is enough for the tulips and the market. Combine it with Parliament Hill in the afternoon for a complete spring visit.