Haunted places in Ottawa you can eerily visit with transit 👻
In the heart of the nation's capital and a bit beyond, hides a darker, more mysterious side. With roots stretching back to the lumber trade, political scandals, and tragic accidents, our city is full of ghosts, ghouls, and spirits that continue to send chills down the spines of locals and visitors alike.
Experience the darkness for yourself: Here are spooky places in Ottawa you can easily get to with OC Transpo buses and trains.
Ottawa Little Theatre
Canada’s oldest community theatre has a ghostly resident affectionately known as Martha. Believed to be connected to the old Eastern Methodist Church that once stood on the site, she’s said to roam the aisles and dressing rooms, moving props and watching rehearsals. Actors and staff have spotted her apparition in a white gown, silently observing the stage she loves.
How to visit: Attend one of the theatre’s regular productions. While not part of official ghost tours, staff are often open to sharing Martha’s story.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
On Rideau:
On King Edward:
Fairmont Château Laurier
Ottawa’s castle-like hotel opened in 1912 — but not before tragedy struck. Its owner, Charles Melville Hays, died aboard the Titanic days before the grand opening. Guests and staff claim to see his ghost roaming the halls, and phantom piano music is often reported.
How to visit: Book a stay, dine in its restaurants, or join a walking tour that includes the hotel’s haunted history.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
At Rideau Station (300m walk) :
On Elgin (at Wellington):
Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel
Once one of the most notorious prisons in Canada (Carleton County Gaol), this 19th-century jail saw hangings, overcrowded cells, and grim conditions before it closed in 1972. Today, it’s a hostel where brave guests can sleep in converted cells. Many report hearing footsteps in empty corridors and feeling ghostly presences.
How to visit: Stay overnight at the hostel as a guest and get an included tour, or book a separate tour.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
At Rideau Station (400m walk):
On Nicholas:
Lisgar Collegiate Institute
One of Ottawa’s oldest high schools, dating back to 1843, Lisgar Collegiate is the setting for countless ghost stories. Students have claimed to hear phantom piano music, footsteps in empty halls, and doors slamming without cause.
How to visit: The school is active, so public tours aren’t offered, but you can admire the Gothic architecture from outside.
Nearby transit routes
At uOttawa Station (600m walk):
On Elgin:
Also a 1.5km walk to:
- Rideau Station
- Parliament Station
Canadian Museum of Nature
This castle-like museum has long been linked to ghost stories, some dating back to its use as a military hospital during World War I. Staff have reported lights turning on after hours and unexplained movement among the exhibits.
How to visit: Explore during museum hours, or enjoy its gothic exterior on a night ghost walk.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
On Metcalfe:
On Elgin:
On Bank:
On Catherine:
Rideau Canal
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is as eerie as it is beautiful. Built in the 1820s, the project claimed hundreds of workers’ lives due to disease and accidents. At night, ghostly figures are said to wander the locks, and eerie cries echo along the water.
How to visit: Walk or cycle along the canal during the day or experience it after dark.
Bytown Museum
Ottawa’s oldest stone building is also one of its spookiest. Once a military storehouse, the museum is now filled with artifacts from the city’s early days. Visitors report whispers, footsteps, and shadowy figures lurking in the stairwells.
How to visit: Explore the museum by day, or join The Haunted Walk’s “Ghosts of the Bytown Museum” night tour with lanterns.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
At Rideau Station (600m walk):
At Parliament Station (800m walk):
On Elgin (at Wellington):
Billings Estate & Cemetery
Built in the 1820s, this is Ottawa’s oldest standing house and home to eerie stories about the pioneering Billings family. Several members are buried on the grounds, and guests have reported apparitions and unexplained noises in the house.
How to visit: Open seasonally as a museum, with Halloween events and ghost-themed programming in the fall.
Plan your trip
Nearby transit routes
On Pleasant Park:
On Bank:
Beckta Dining & Wine
Formerly Grant House, now one of Ottawa’s finest dining establishments, the building has a haunted reputation dating back decades. Diners and staff have reported glasses moving on their own, lights flickering, and an unseen presence watching from the shadows.
How to visit: Reserve a table for dinner and ask the staff about the building’s paranormal past.
Nearby transit routes
On Elgin:
At Parliament Station (750m walk):
At Rideau Station (800m walk):
On Slater:
Whether you’re a skeptic or into the supernatural, Ottawa’s haunted places definitely add a spine-tingling layer to the city’s already rich history.
For the ultimate spooky experience, book with Haunted Walk of Ottawa. Their lantern-lit tours stop at several of the sites on this list and bring the city’s darkest tales to life.
So the next time you’re out and about, keep your eyes open. You never know who (or what) might still be wandering the streets.
