Current Time in Ottawa, Canada
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
Dialling: +1
City Details
Ottawa
Lat: 45.4215° N
Long: 75.6972° W
Population: 1,017,449
Time Zone
America/Toronto
EDT
Public Holidays
Canada Day
Jul 1in 3dOrangemen's Day
Jul 12in 14dCivic Holiday
Aug 3in 36d
Time Difference
Business Hours
Daylight Cycle
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Overview
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, with 1 million residents in the city and 1.4 million in the National Capital Region. A bilingual city on the Ontario-Quebec border at the confluence of the Ottawa, Rideau, and Gatineau rivers, it is home to Parliament Hill, the Supreme Court, and 30+ national museums. Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes the world's largest natural ice skating rink in winter.
Administrative Region
Ontario
CA-ON
Local Currency
C$
Technical Assets
- Web Domain.ca
- ISO CodeCA-ON
Secure Identifier Profile
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
The Algonquin peoples inhabited the Ottawa Valley for millennia before European settlement. The site was first settled by Europeans as a timber trade centre called Bytown in 1826, during construction of the Rideau Canal linking Ottawa to Kingston. Queen Victoria chose it as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857 — in part because its inland location made it less vulnerable to American attack than Toronto or Montreal, and in part as a compromise between English Ontario and French Quebec. Renamed Ottawa, it became capital of the Dominion of Canada at Confederation in 1867.
🗣️ Languages
✨ Leisure Highlights
- /Parliament Hill — free tours, Gothic Revival masterpiece
- /Rideau Canal — UNESCO, world's largest natural skating rink in winter
- /Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau (across the river)
- /National Gallery of Canada
- /ByWard Market — historic farmers' market and food neighbourhood
🎒 Visitor Tip
Parliament Hill is free to visit and the Changing of the Guard (summer mornings) is a spectacle. The Canadian Museum of History directly across the river in Gatineau is world-class and free on Thursday evenings. In winter, skate the Rideau Canal — rent skates nearby, grab a Beaver Tail pastry. The ByWard Market neighbourhood has the best food and nightlife. The National Gallery of Canada (free on Thursday evenings) houses the Rideau Street Convent Chapel.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Situated at the confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers at approximately 70m elevation. The terrain is flat to gently rolling Canadian Shield and St. Lawrence Lowlands geology. The Ottawa River forms the provincial border with Quebec and the Gatineau Hills rise across the river to 400m. The Rideau Canal runs south from the Ottawa River through the city centre and a chain of lakes. The area is heavily forested, with the Greenbelt — a permanent ring of farmland and forest around the urban core — protecting the city's green character.
Climate Stats
Humid continental (Köppen Dfb) — one of the coldest capitals in the world
Avg Summer
26°C
Avg Winter
-10°C
Annual Rainfall
911 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / DISTANCE
🚄 Rail ConnectionsCITY / DISTANCE
Regional Satellites
Other times compared to Ottawa
Frequently Asked Questions about time in Ottawa
What timezone is Ottawa in?↓
Ottawa is in the America/Toronto time zone (America/Toronto), currently UTCEDT.
Does Canada observe daylight saving time?↓
No. Canada does not observe daylight saving time. Ottawa stays on EST/EDT (UTCEDT) year-round, so the clocks never change.
What is EST/EDT?↓
EST/EDT stands for America/Toronto. It is UTCEDT and is the standard time used in Canada.
What is the time difference between Ottawa and New York?↓
Ottawa is 5 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for Ottawa?↓
The time displayed for Ottawa is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCEDT mean for Ottawa?↓
UTCEDT means Ottawa is aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in Ottawa?↓
Standard business hours in Ottawa are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST/EDT (UTCEDT). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the Canada national calendar.
Is there much time difference between Ottawa and London?↓
Ottawa is within a few hours of London, so scheduling calls is usually straightforward. Always confirm the current local time in both cities, especially around daylight saving time changes.