To the north, the city is bordered by the Ottawa River, offering plenty of opportunities for recreation, fishing, and camping. Across the river lies Quebec. Heading west from Ottawa’s boundary, you’ll enter the Ottawa Valley. From there, Montreal is less than two hours away, Ogdensburg, New York, is an hour’s drive, and Toronto is four hours. Ottawa is a beautiful and diverse city, divided into distinct areas. Let iottawa.net serve as a brief guide to Canada’s capital.
Kanata
This western Ottawa suburb blends essential amenities with a strong sense of community.
Kanata is known for its tech sector and is a significant family neighbourhood with modern infrastructure and schools. It’s home to the Canadian Tire Centre, where the Ottawa Senators play. Kanata’s tech sector includes a number of prominent firms, and there’s also the huge Centrum shopping complex, plus plenty of parks and skating rinks.
Kanata offers many popular restaurants, pubs, and cafés. Among the most frequented are Viamarzo Kitchen & Wine, Big Bone BBQ & Wicked Wings, and Tahini’s.
South Kanata includes Bridlewood-Emerald Meadows, mostly farmland until the 1960s. It quickly expanded and became a leafy and attractive part of Kanata. The oldest home here dates to 1971. This area is largely English-speaking, with a smaller percentage speaking French or other languages. South Kanata also includes Emerald Meadows/Trailwest and Glen Cairn.
Central Kanata is Katimavik. The oldest property in this neighbourhood, built in 1847, stands next to a cemetery; most homes date from 1974–1994.
North Kanata features Beaverbrook, Village Green, Kanata Lakes—which many guides rank among Ottawa’s best places to live—and Grant Morgan/Shirley’s Brook.
Stittsville
Next to Kanata is Stittsville, known for its tranquil small-town vibe and cohesive community. Located southwest of Kanata, it boasts numerous parks and a certain historical charm. Families often choose it for its peaceful suburban lifestyle.
The number of local eateries and farm-to-table restaurants and cafés is on the rise—places like Main Street Café, NeXT, and Poco Pazzo. Stittsville also sits near local breweries that appeal to craft beer enthusiasts.
Stittsville may feel like a small village, yet it provides all the conveniences of a bigger city. It’s typically split into:
- Old Stittsville (main street/rail crossing)
- North Stittsville (Maple Grove Rd./Johnwoods St./Stittsville Main St. North)
- Stittsville East (Amberwood Golf and Country Club/Fringewood Park)
- Stittsville West (Kittiwake Park/West Ridge Dr.)
- Stittsville South (Fernbank Rd./Flewellyn Rd.)
Bells Corners
Located nearer Ottawa’s urban core, Bells Corners blends suburban living with convenient access to major routes. The area has a variety of shops and green spaces.
Its restaurant scene features both classic diners and international cuisines, along with pubs—highlighting the diversity of Bells Corners itself.
West Ottawa: Popular Areas
On the map, this region appears somewhat central, incorporating Westboro and Central Park. However, there are more affordable neighbourhoods nearby, such as around Bayshore Shopping Centre and Pinecrest.
West Ottawa offers a broad spectrum of living, recreation, and work options. Some key advantages of West Ottawa include well-developed infrastructure—lots of malls, stores, restaurants, cafés, and other amenities. Parks and green spaces allow for relaxation and outdoor activities.
Many prestigious educational institutions, including schools and colleges with high-calibre programs, enhance the area’s attractiveness to families with children.
Excellent transit connections make West Ottawa readily accessible from downtown and other parts of the city.
Nepean
Nepean merged officially with Ottawa in 2001. Known for its abundant recreational opportunities, it’s home to Algonquin College, Centrepointe Theatre, and the Nepean Sportsplex.
Nepean balances the quiet feel of a suburb with big-city conveniences. Residents value its accessibility, natural beauty, and active community life. Its mix of historic and modern architecture fuses a sense of heritage with up-to-date comfort.
Barrhaven
A rapidly growing community in Ottawa’s south, Barrhaven benefits from an LRT line offering easy downtown access. More and more people—young and not so young—are choosing this neighbourhood for a comfortable lifestyle. Barrhaven is steadily developing, with new stores, restaurants, schools, and shopping centres popping up. There are also many parks and green spaces, great for unwinding close to nature. Barrhaven is regarded as an up-and-coming area.
Ottawa West Centretown
This section includes multiple ethnic communities: Little Italy, Chinatown, Island Park/Wellington Village/Hintonburg, and the Civic Hospital district. More than just a residential area, Ottawa West Centretown is a vibrant cultural centre featuring an array of events and festivals. You’ll find art galleries, theatres, and music venues.
You can easily relax by choosing any of the numerous cozy cafés or international restaurants—perfect for those into food and cultural experiences.
South Ottawa
This area borders the Rideau River to the north and west. It’s large and diverse, with scenic views and access to nature.
South Ottawa has a variety of housing options, from quiet suburban enclaves to busy urban quarters. It includes The Ottawa Hospital General Campus/Alta Vista, Elmvale Acres/Hawthorne Park Shopping Centre, Billings Bridge Plaza/Heron Park, Riverside Dr./Mooney’s Bay, South Keys Shopping Centre/Hunt Club East, Ottawa Airport/Uplands Dr., Hunt Club South/Albion Rd., Riverside South, and Findlay Creek.
Central Ottawa
As the city’s core, Central Ottawa encompasses downtown, the ByWard Market, and university culture. It houses Parliament’s buildings and governmental offices.
Central Ottawa includes Lower Town/ByWard Market, University of Ottawa/Sandy Hill, Downtown/Golden Triangle/Elgin St., Colonel By Drive/Old Ottawa South, and The Glebe/Dow’s Lake.
East Ottawa
This sector includes New Edinburgh/Lindenlea, Rockcliffe Park, Manor Park, Vanier, St. Laurent Shopping Centre/Overbrook, Montfort Hospital/Aviation Parkway/Carson Grove Park, Beacon Hill North/Rothwell Heights, Gloucester Center/Beacon Hill South/Pineview Park, and Blackburn Hamlet.
Orléans
In the city’s eastern reaches, you’ll find a large francophone community. Orléans Chapel Hill and Orléans Village-Chateauneuf are also among Ottawa’s top neighbourhoods.
Rural Ottawa West and South
Rural Ottawa West consists of farming communities just minutes from Ottawa: Cumberland, Rockland, Navan, Vars, Limoges, Ember, and Russell.
Rural Ottawa South is about 30 minutes from Kanata, with areas like Arnprior, Fitzroy Harbour, Constance Bay, Galetta, Kinburn, Dunrobin, and Dunrobin Shores, Carp.
Rural Ottawa South West
Many city dwellers look to the rural south for a countryside lifestyle. This zone includes Greely, Manotick, Osgoode, Kars, Metcalfe, North Gower, and Richmond.
In the rural southwest there are two mini-neighbourhoods, Almonte and Carleton Place, which combine family-oriented living with modern comforts and, if desired, space for agricultural pursuits.
Hence, Ottawa is both incredible and diverse—a city well worth exploring, as there’s always something new to discover.
- https://davidandmarie.com/ottawa-guide/ottawa-neighbourhoods/
- https://accoravillage.com/blog/nepean-neighbourhood-guide-explore-ottawas-best-area/
- https://davidandmarie.com/resources/ottawas-best-neighbourhoods/
- https://ottawatourism.ca/en/about-ottawa/neighbourhoods/kanata-stittsville-bells-corners