Getting Around Ottawa: O-Train Light Rail (Tap Credit Card), 800km Bike Paths & Aqua-Taxi

Downtown Ottawa is flat, compact and linked by pedestrian bridges and underground light rail. OC Transpo's 'O-Payment' system lets you tap any contactless Visa, Mastercard, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay directly on O-Train fare gates and buses, so you do not need to buy a plastic Presto card or carry coins.

1. Using 'O-Train Line 1' & Automated Daily Fare Capping

Running in an underground tunnel right through the middle of downtown from east to west, O-Train Line 1 (the Confederation Line) connects four stations that every visitor uses:

• Tremblay Station: the VIA Rail Intercity Train Station.
• uOttawa & Rideau Stations: the Rideau Canal, Fairmont Château Laurier, Senate Building, Rideau Centre and ByWard Market (use the William Street exit for ByWard Market).
• Parliament Station: two blocks south of Parliament Hill, Sparks Street and the Bank of Canada Museum.
• Lyon & Pimisi Stations: stop at Pimisi Station to walk 4 minutes to the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats.
• How Contactless Tap Capping Works: tap your credit card or phone on the green reader when entering for a 90-minute transfer window including STO buses into Gatineau (check the official OC Transpo site for current fares). If you take three or more rides in one day using the same card, the system automatically caps your daily charge at the rate of an Unlimited 1-Day Pass.

2. The Electric 'Aqua-Taxi' to Gatineau & 800 Kilometres of Capital Bike Pathways

• The Ottawa River 'Aqua-Taxi' (Bottom of the Rideau Canal Locks to Canadian Museum of History): at Lock 1 right on the Ottawa River edge below the Ottawa Locks, board the 12-passenger electric Aqua-Taxi boat (May to October; check the official operator site for current one-way and return fares), which glides across the river in 6 minutes to the rear dock of the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.
• Cycling the 800-Kilometre Capital Pathway Network (Rent a Bike under Plaza Bridge): rent a bike or e-bike at RentABike underneath the Plaza Bridge opposite the Château Laurier to ride car-free paved paths along the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and across the Chief William Commanda Pedestrian & Bike Bridge into Gatineau.