Most Insta-worthy Spots in Ottawa

Photos by Kat Walcott

With the warm, spring weather finally kicking in, there is no better time than now to follow your blogger aspirations and snap some aesthetic outdoor shots for your Instagram page! Ottawa is a city full of art, architecture and beautiful views so it really is an ideal place to exercise your photography skills. Here are some places and landmarks that have that Insta-worthy feel and are sure to have your followers tapping that little heart like crazy!

Ottawa Sign (York Street)

Like Toronto and Hollywood before it, Ottawa finally has its own name sign! The sign is located on York Street and is big enough for you to sit inside, making for the cutest and most tourist-y shot ever. If you take your pics on a clear day, the white letters of the sign against the bright, blue sky, framed by the old architecture of York Street, is aesthetic-perfection and will have your followers wanting to visit this beautiful city for sure!

Tuunganarniq (George/Dalhousie)

This brightly-coloured, large scale painting on the exterior wall of the CTV building, backing the parking lot, is so eye catching! It depicts a whale with a variety of abstract objects inside of it. The piece is a collaboration between Inuit art collective Embassy of Imagination and the Ottawa School of Art and is just so vibrant and perfect for any artsy or brightly-themed Insta feed. We suggest going at a time when the parking lot isn’t too busy to snap some fun shots in front of this gorgeous work with your friends.

Wooden Art Cubes (York/Dalhousie)

For that real hipster, city feel, use the awesome art blocks at the corner of York and Dalhousie, right across from Smoque Shack, as a backdrop for selfies or outfit-of-the-day shots! The three wooden blocks are painted by three different artists– one features an adorable, life-like raccoon, the second features a colourful butterfly and the third features an absurd, but cool image of a face done by Ottawa-based painter Dom Laporte.

Tavern on the Hill (Major’s Hill Park)

If you’re Insta-aesthetic is more about natural landscapes and city views, you’ve got to take some shots from Tavern On the Hill! Tavern on the Hill is an outdoor bar and lounge located in the back of Major’s Hill Park and offers some of the most beautiful views of the city. Its location offers the perfect view of the stunning National Gallery building, Parliament, and the Samuel De Champlain statue at Nepean Point. The lounge is about to open for the season so make sure to drop by to take advantage of the gorgeous views. The Tavern also serves awesome, gourmet hot dogs, so you can get some great foodporn shots at the same time!

27 York Street Art (York street)

This art piece is relatively new and easily missed as it’s hidden in a little enclave right between The 27 Club and Tattoo & Art Emporium at 27 York Street. This street art reminds us of colourful graffiti you’d see in hip cities like Los Angeles or New York, so we love the cool, quirky flair it gives to Ottawa! This is the perfect backdrop for fashion and lifestyle photos in the summer. Can’t you just picture yourself in a cute summer dress with an ice cream cone standing in front of this?

Tag us @OttawaLifeMag if you take any shots at these locations, we’d love to feature them on our feed!