Getting to Ottawa: VIA Rail Train Station (O-Train Connected), YOW Airport & Montreal Buses

Sitting right on the main Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City rail corridor, Ottawa is one of the easiest cities in North America to arrive in without a car: its intercity VIA Rail Train Station has its own dedicated underground Light Rail (O-Train) station right outside the front doors.

1. By VIA Rail Train or Express Bus from Montreal & Toronto

• From Montreal (Downtown Gare Centrale or Montreal Trudeau Airport 'Dorval' Station, 1 Hour 55 Minutes): 5 to 6 daily VIA Rail trains connect downtown Montreal with Ottawa in just under 2 hours. Even better for international flyers: if you fly into Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), a free 5-minute shuttle bus connects the airport terminal to Dorval VIA Rail Station, where trains run straight to Ottawa in 1 hour 35 minutes.
• From Toronto (Union Station) via Kingston, 4 Hours 15 Minutes: 6 to 8 daily trains glide along the northern shore of Lake Ontario and through Rideau lakes country into Ottawa.
• Seamless O-Train Connection at Ottawa Train Station (200 Tremblay Rd): the moment you step out the front sliding doors of Ottawa's VIA Rail Station, walk 50 metres under a covered glass canopy into Tremblay O-Train Station (Line 1): tap your contactless credit or debit card (check the official OC Transpo site for current fares) and the train drops you in the heart of downtown at Rideau Station (ByWard Market) or Parliament Station in just 10 to 12 minutes. Long-distance coaches like Orléans Express, FlixBus and Megabus also stop at Tremblay, St-Laurent or Rideau.

2. Arriving by Air at Ottawa International Airport (YOW, 14 km South)

Located just 14 kilometres south of Parliament Hill, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is served by direct flights from London, Paris (Air France), major US hubs (with US Preclearance right inside YOW) and every Canadian province:

• By Public Transit (O-Train Airport Link & OC Transpo): tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay directly on the fare gate to ride from the terminal into downtown Rideau or Parliament Station in 30 to 35 minutes (check the official site for current single-ride fares).
• By Taxi or Rideshare (18 to 22 Minutes to Downtown): metered taxis wait outside Level 1 Arrivals for the direct drive to downtown hotels.