Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, as well as that in Ottawa of the Canadian monarch. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 (88 acre) estate at 1 Sussex Drive. Most of Rideau Hall is used for state affairs, only 500 m2 of its area being dedicated to private living quarters, while additional areas serve as the offices of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and the principal workplace of the governor general and his or her staff — either the term Rideau Hall, as a metonym, or the formal idiom Government House is employed to refer to this bureaucratic branch. The house is open to the public for guided tours throughout the year; approximately 200,000 visitors tour Rideau Hall annually.

The building, commonly referred to as the Old City Hall, served this purpose from 1958 to 2000. Today it is officially known as 111 Sussex Drive and is owned by the Government of Canada. Located on Green Island at the merger of the Rideau and Ottawa Rivers, the edifice was designed by John Bland and is considered one of the most important international style buildings in Canada. In 1988, a controversial scheme to expand the building four-fold was initiated. This sparkled a conflict between the architect and the city over a pair of 18-story observation towers, the design highlights. Eventually a compromise was reached and a bare scaffold was erected.

The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The mint also designs and manufactures: collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum (1989–1999) bullion coins; customized medals, tokens, trade dollar watches, and, for a brief time, high end jewellery featuring coin designs. It further offers gold and silver refinery and assay services. The RCM has been at the forefront of currency innovation. Among the mint's technical innovations are its plating process, which consists of a multi-ply technology that allows electromagnetic signatures to be embedded in the coins, assuring readability in the coin-processing industries.

The National Gallery of Canada,located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries. The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988. The Gallery's former director Jean Sutherland Boggs was chosen especially by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to oversee construction of the national gallery and museums. The Gallery has a large and varied collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture and photographs. Although its focus is on Canadian art, it holds works by many noted European artists. It has a strong contemporary art collection with some of Andy Warhol's most famous works. The Gallery organizes its own exhibits which travel across Canada and beyond, and hosts shows from around the world, often co-sponsored with other national art galleries and museums.

The Notre-Dame Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica located in the downtown area of the city of Ottawa. The church was founded in 1844, on the site that was originally home to the St. Jacques Church. The architectural style of this building is Neo-Gothic with some elements, like the main entrance, built in the Neo-classical style. The Basilica is the oldest church in Ottawa, and is worth a look.

ByWard Market, sometimes called simply The Market, represents a shopping area in downtown Ottawa. If you are tired of government and business buildings you can take refuge in this district. Do not hesitate to taste one of the famous local fried dough pastry - beaver tails. Also, you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, throughout the year.

Major's Hill Park is one of the most visited parks in downtown Ottawa. It is a nice and relaxed place, with beautiful views of the National Gallery and the Notre Dame Basilica, and because of its central location behind the Chateau Laurier, Major's Hill Park is used all year round. It is used often for Ottawa's Canada Day celebrations.