Parliament Hill is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa. Its Gothic revival suite of buildings — the parliament buildings — serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada, and contains a number of architectural elements of national symbolic importance. Parliament Hill attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year. The Centre Block contains the Senate and Commons chambers, and is fronted by the Peace Tower on the south facade, with the Library of Parliament at the building's rear. The East and West Blocks each contain ministers' and senators' offices, as well as meeting rooms and other administrative spaces. Gothic Revival has been used as the unifying style of all three structures, though the Centre Block is a more modern Gothic Revival, while the older East and West Blocks are of a Victorian High Gothic manner. This collection is one of the most important examples of the Gothic Revival style anywhere in the world.

Sparks Street is one of the most prestigious historic streets in Ottawa, holding a number of heritage buildings. Founded in the early 1800s by Nicholas Sparks – hence the name - it was made a fully pedestrian street in 1966, which makes it one of the first outdoor malls in North America. Nicholas Sparks, one of the Fathers of Ottawa, was a farmer who in the mid-nineteenth century cut a path through the forest toward his house that has ultimately become the well known Sparks Street.

Today, the street runs from Elgin Street to Bronson Avenue, and contains a number of outdoor restaurants, beautiful works of art and many lovely fountains. One portion of the street is reserved for pedestrians, while the two final blocks west of Lyon Street form a regular road. Sparks became a bustling commercial center of the Ottawa Valley after the selection of Ottawa as the capital of Canada by Queen Victoria. A number of government offices and homes for parliamentarians were built here. The most notable of the street tenants was Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a prominent journalist, who in 1868 was killed outside his house at the corner of Sparks and Metcalfe.

In the early twentieth-century, the street saw booming activities. A number of Beaux-Arts buildings of that period are still visible. However, with the expansion of the city, the street became less centralized and commerce spread into the neighbouring areas. Government ministries in need of larger offices also moved elsewhere. Sparks' business was further damaged in 1959 when the streetcar line was closed.

In 1961, the street was temporarily – just for the summer – turned into a pedestrian mall in order to give the local commerce a boost. This undertaking proved successful and eventually, the street was permanently closed to vehicles. Today, the pedestrian mall extends from Elgin to Kent Streets, and is open all year round.

Sparks is a home to some of Ottawa's major attractions too, such as the National War Memorial and the National Arts Centre. Many of the city's oldest buildings like the Post Office, the Ottawa Electric Building and branches of several Canadian banks are located on the eastern side of the street. Some newer buildings can also be seen in this part of the mall, including Ottawa Broadcast Centre and Thomas D'Arcy McGee Building, shaped somewhat like a squat "7" and visually very captivating.

The mall and most of the buildings on the south side are owned and administered by The National Capital Commission, while those on the north side are run by Public Works and Government Services Canada. It is through the combined effort of these two bodies that Sparks street has become one of the most important tourist attractions in Ottawa.

Opened in 1980, Canada’s Currency Museum holds the largest collection of Canadian bank notes and coins in the world. It is situated on the ground floor of the historic building of The Bank of Canada in Ottawa. The Museum appears as “a hidden gem” to those who find it centrally located, just across the street from both Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court. A visit to this museum will help you learn more about the Canadian nation, reflected in its money. In particular, you will know that the first currency circulated in Canada were playing cards from New France and shaved off pieces of coin. In the course of many decades, the museum has hosted a number of exhibitions and educational programs highlighting the importance of money. It has a library that contains more than 8,500 books, documents and pamphlets dating back as far as the Middle Ages. Many educational programs for students and general public are offered in both English and French. There are over 100,000 relics held in the museum, including coins, bank notes, bank and government ledgers, weights and scales, cash registers, wallets, and other money-related items from the National Currency Collection. James Coyne, Governor of The Bank of Ottawa, first suggested the idea of the museum for the collection of the national currency. In 1959, the services of G.R.L. Potter were used for building up the collection of Canadian currency that spanned the past 150 years. Sheldon S. Carroll became the first curator of the Bank in 1962 and developed a complete collection of Canadian paper money and coins along with a collection of ancient, medieval and modern foreign currency. It was during under his guidance that a thorough collection of Canadian currency was established. There are tropical gardens at the museum, too, where visitors can relax and enjoy a picnic.

The Supreme Court of Canada is the top of the Canadian judicial pyramid and was established on 8 April 1875. Its decisions are binding upon all lower courts in the country. In 1933, the Supreme Court was formally made the court of last instance for criminal appeals and in 1949 for all other appeals. The increased importance of the Court has been mirrored by the number of its members, rising from six judges upon the establishment in 1875 to nine judges recently. In 2000, Beverly McLachin was appointed Chief Justice, followed by Justices Charron and Abella appointed in 2005, which made The Supreme Court of Canada the world's most gender-balanced national high court, with four female members out of nine.

The Supreme Court status prohibits judges from holding any governmental position, federal or provincial, or being involved in any business activity. The judges are obliged to live in or within 40 kilometres the National Capital Region and retire at the age of 75; they can be removed from office prematurely, though, if found incapable or guilty of misconduct. The Supreme Court of Canada offers pamphlet containing information about the history and role of the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as other general info, presented in twelve languages apart from English and French.

The Court performs a unique function in terms of dealing, at the request of Governor-in-Council, with legal issues concerning matters of national importance, although this does not happen very often.

The Supreme court sits in the Main Courtroom in the centre of the building on the first floor. A bronze model of the original Supreme Court Building, a present from the Canadian Bar Association in 1975, is located at the foot of the staircase. The courtroom is equipped with a video-conference system allowing litigants to present their cases from distant locations.

The building itself is quite impressive, both exterior and interior. If you are keen on architecture, this site is a must see. Situated just west of the Parliament Buildings on a cliff overlooking the Ottawa River, and secluded from a busy Wellington Street by a vastness of lawn, this building offers a noble setting befitting the country's highest tribunal.

The Canadian War Museum is a national museum that documents Canada’s military history and its influence on the nation. The museum's exceptional exhibitions tell about Canada’s rich military past, spanning a period from centuries ago to the present day. Among other exhibits presented here are personal accounts of people who took part in action as well as those who waited for them back home, outlining Canada’s engagement in various wars, peacekeeping missions and other military conflicts. Originated in 1880, the museum houses a collection of military artifacts in the possession of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian War Museum was officially established in 1942. It has its own modern conservation laboratories and storage facilities to preserve, repair and store the items of historical importance. The Canadian War Museum has a vast permanent exhibition comprising several galleries and a number of smaller display spaces. Its four main exhibitions include “Battleground” which covers the pre-Confederation period covering military confrontation with Natives, the conflicts between the British and the French, and the those between the British and the Americans; “For Crown and Country” deals with Canada’s early days wars up until 1931; “Forged in Fire” is dedicated to the Second World War and Canadian involvement therein; and “A Violent Peace” which covers the post World War Two period, including the Korean War, the Cold War, and recent peacekeeping operations. For those interested in arms, LeBreton Gallery is a definite must-see, featuring a Voodoo jet, tanks, artillery, and a wide range of military vehicles. The Canadian War Museum also includes over 13,000 works of art from World War I to the present day. There is a boutique at the Museum which offers a variety of souvenirs and gift items for all tastes and budgets. The museum also houses a Memorial Hall that contains the headstone of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War. On Remembrance Day, which falls on 11th November each year, the headstone is directly lit by the sun at 11 a.m. In 2005, the museum was moved to its current location. Acknowledged for its modern architectural design, the building has won several awards. The Canadian War Museum is a completely new attraction and the one you must not skip on your trip to Ottawa.

Old Carbide Wilson's abandoned Mill is located on Victoria Island and is a historical relict of former calcium carbide mill. Thomas Leopold Wilson, its founder, discovered the unique production method and established here chemical production that made him rich and famous. The four-storey building is now abandoned, but despite industrial look, it features spacey and period innovative interiors. Near the mill there is an interesting wooden totem, representing native Indian themes. Victoria Island Waterfront offers breathtaking views of Ottawa Downtown banks and The House of Parliament.