Gatineau

No reviews yetCity Quebec, Canada

Hull sits directly opposite Parliament Hill on the north shore of the Ottawa River, Gatineau, Quebec

The Grand Hall displays a large collection of totem poles, Gatineau, Quebec

The casino overlooks Lac de la Carrière and its large fountain, Gatineau, Quebec

Promenade du Portage is the main downtown strip in the Hull sector, Gatineau, Quebec

About Gatineau

Gatineau sits on the north bank of the Ottawa River, facing Canada's capital from the Quebec side. It is a French-speaking city with its own identity, formed from the merger of Hull, Aylmer and several neighboring communities, yet it is closely tied to Ottawa through bridges, government offices and daily commuting. The result is a place where two provinces and two languages meet across a single stretch of water.

The Canadian Museum of History anchors the riverfront, and its curving building offers one of the finest views of Parliament Hill across the water. Inside, the Grand Hall displays monumental totem poles, and the Canadian Children's Museum keeps younger visitors busy. Evenings may lead to the Casino du Lac-Leamy beside its lake, to restaurants along the Promenade du Portage, or to a junior hockey game featuring Les Olympiques. Moore Farm Estate adds gardens and a heritage setting a short drive away.

Gatineau Park is the city's great outdoor asset, a large green wedge of hills, forest and lakes stretching north from the urban edge. Meech Lake is a summer favorite for swimming, and the Interzip line crosses the Ottawa River for a different perspective. The city suits travelers combining capital sightseeing with nature. Fall foliage and winter skiing extend the appeal beyond summer.

Best seasonLate spring to early fall for the park and river; fall color and winter cross-country skiing are also excellent.

Ideal stayTwo to three days, ideally paired with time in Ottawa across the river.

ArrivingMost travelers fly into Ottawa's international airport and cross the river by car, bus or bridge.

WiserMap travel guideGatineau Quebec Museum of History and Lac-LeamyGatineau, Quebec's capital-region city, offers the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau Park trails, Lac-Leamy and festivals across the river from Ottawa.Read the guide

12 Ways to Experience Gatineau

Museums 2

Canadian Museum of History

Facing Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River, the Canadian Museum of History is Canada's most visited museum, housed in sweeping...

Canadian Children's Museum

Located inside the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Children's Museum is a playful space where young visitors can travel t...

Parks 3

Jacques-Cartier Park

Stretching along the Ottawa River in the Hull sector beside the Alexandra Bridge, Jacques-Cartier Park offers wide lawns, shady tr...

Lac-Leamy Park

Leamy Lake Park is a green space managed by the National Capital Commission at the confluence of the Gatineau and Ottawa rivers, j...

Gatineau Park

Covering more than 360 square kilometres of forested hills just north of the city, Gatineau Park is the National Capital Region's...

Entertainment 2

Casino du Lac-Leamy

Opened in 1996 on the edge of Lac de la Carrière, a lake formed in an old limestone quarry, the Casino du Lac-Leamy is a large gam...

Interzip Rogers

Interzip Rogers is a zipline that crosses the Ottawa River between two provinces, launching from Chaudière Island on the Ontario s...

History 2

Moore Farm Estate

The Moore Farm estate, on Alexandre-Taché Boulevard in the Hull sector, is a heritage farm property of about twelve hectares whose...

Ruisseau de la Brasserie

Ruisseau de la Brasserie, or Brewery Creek, is a narrow channel of the Ottawa River that loops around the old island core of Hull...

Neighborhoods 2

Promenade du Portage

Promenade du Portage is the main street of downtown Hull, running from the Portage Bridge toward the city's historic core. It is l...

Aylmer

Aylmer, the western sector of Gatineau, was its own town until the 2002 municipal merger and still has a distinct village atmosphe...

Events 1

Festival des montgolfières de Gatineau

Held each year on the Labour Day weekend at the end of the summer, the Festival des montgolfières de Gatineau is the largest hot-a...

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