Parking and public transit Recommendations
Around the ByTowne (325 Rideau)
There is usually street parking on Rideau or Nelson which is free on weekends or after 3:30 pm.
$ Loblaws Rideau (1 min walk)
363 Rideau - enter on Nelson
$5 for 2.5 hours - or for the day on Sat / Sunday
Do not use for a late show, though, because this lot closes at 10pm.
Around the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank)
Sometimes you can get lucky and get street parking on Bank but otherwise drive into Willard, Belmont and those surrounding streets.
Around the Ottawa Art Gallery (10 Daly)
There is some street parking on Nicholas, Besserer, Daly, and the surrounding streets, but it is now free only after 7:30 pm and on Sundays.
$ University of Ottawa Desmarais Garage (1 min walk to OAG)
55 Laurier - drive in off of Nicholas - underground
Pay and Display or use the HotSpot app (#4002)
$5.50/hour with $9.00 Max after 3 pm and on weekends
$ Gilad Parking (1 min walk to OAG)
90 Besserer Street - on street - pay and display
The evening rate is $8, and the all-day rate is $8 on Saturday and Sunday (and you can go in and out)
$$$ Rideau Centre - Green Garage (1 min walk)
72 Besserer Street Lot 113
Day rate (12 hours) $20.00 / $14 for 2.5 hours
Public Transit
Getting around the city is easy with OC Transpo and the O-train! Simply tap your Interac® Debit card, credit card or Google Pay or Apple Pay mobile wallet on the fare reader on buses and fare gates at O-Train Line 1 stations. Read more. Or purchase a Presto card for only $4 and load it with your fare(s) in advance. Coming in from Toronto? Your Toronto Presto cards are valid here too!
The train is a convenient way to get to the Ottawa Art Gallery. Get off at the Rideau Centre, exit on Rideau and walk away from the Chateau Laurier. Turn right where Joey’s restaurant is. Keep walking past the Doubletree until you get to Daly.
For the ByTowne - jump on the 7, 12, 14, or 18 - wait by the Indigo.
Day passes are also available for purchase and can be bought as a 1, 3, 5, or 7 day pass. The DayPass lets you ride on OC Transpo, Para Transpo and STO from the time of purchase until it expires. To ride, just tap your DayPass at the fare gate or show it to the operator as you board the bus. Having a pass will make it easy and convenient for getting to and from the OIAF venues, especially if you are staying near the LRT (O-Train) or a downtown bus route.
Visit Prices for all your fare rates and options.
Buy your Presto card online or at an OC Transpo Customer Service Centre or participating Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, and Real Canadian Superstore locations.
OC Transpo Ticket Machines can be found at all O-Train stations and the Ottawa airport has an OC Transpo Ticket Machine located on Level 1: Arrival and Baggage claim.
Still need more information?
Please visit OC Transpo https://www.octranspo.com/en/ For all the information you need about Ottawa’s bus and O-train service! You can also call 613-560-5000.