Transport Options from Ottawa airport to Downtown Ottawa

Ottawa is located close to the Quebec border in southeast Ontario and it’s the capital city of Canada. Although the city is not as large as Montreal and Toronto, it doesn’t fall short when it comes to things and places travellers can enjoy. Ottawa is a lively family-friendly city; its downtown is boasting numerous art museums, jaw-dropping architecture, fantastic food joints, world-class nightlife spots and funky boutiques. There’s undoubtedly something for everyone in the city of Ottawa.

Ottawa Airport is the main international airport serving Ontario, Ottawa, Canada, and the National Capital Region. When you arrive at the airport, you have two transportation options to get Downtown: a taxi or the bus. The quickest way to get from Ottawa Airport to Downtown Ottawa is to take a taxi while taking a bus is the cheapest transport option available.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Ottawa at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€90	20min	24/7
Bus	€10	40min	24/7

How to get from Ottawa Airport to Downtown by taxi

Taking a taxi is the fastest way to get from Ottawa airport to Downtown. It’s also the most comfortable transportation option, whilst taxis are available 24/7. Downtown Ottawa is about 15km away from Ottawa Airport, and the travel time is around 20 minutes.

How much is the taxi from Ottawa Airport to Downtown?

Taxis in Ottawa charge according to a base fare of €2.90 (CAD 4) and a set price per kilometre, which is €1.35 (CAD 1.86). The fares are the same throughout the day, but there may be additional surcharges. With that said, a trip from Ottawa airport to Downtown Ottawa by taxi should cost around €90 (CAD 121).

Cost

€90 (CAD 121)

Trip Duration

*Your final taxi fare may vary unless you book in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Ottawa Airport.

Where do I get the taxi from?

Taxi ranks are located outside of the Ottawa Airport Terminals, both at Level 1 (Arrivals) and Level 3 (Departures).

Convenience

Taxis are the fastest and most comfortable transport option from Ottawa airport to Downtown, and they are readily available at the airport. Therefore, you can get a taxi to your destination immediately after landing. The taxis will take you straight to your destination without unnecessary stops on the way.

Editor’s Note

Pre-booking a taxi with a reliable company like Welcome Pickups before you arrive at Ottawa airport will allow you to enjoy a seamless door-to-door transfer. Knowing your driver will be waiting for you, instead of you having to walk up to the taxi rank uncertain about your final taxi fare, will make everything easier!

Useful Tips

Taxis in Ottawa accept credit card payments, but confirming this with your driver before starting the trip is recommended.

A 15% tip on top of the final fare if you’re satisfied with the service you get is the norm.

Always remember to check your taxi has the official City of Ottawa License Plate.

How to get from Ottawa airport to Downtown by bus

The cheapest way to get from Ottawa airport to Downtown Ottawa is by bus. Line 97 bus departs every 30 minutes and is available 24/7 from the airport. You’ll get the Line 97 bus towards Hurdman, alight at Billings Bridge 2A then walk to stop Billings Bridge 4C where you’ll wait for Bus 6 towards Rockcliffe. You’ll get off at Bank/ Slater and would need to walk to your exact destination from there.

A trip from Ottawa airport to downtown by Line 97 and Line 6 bus should take around 40 minutes.

How much is the bus from Ottawa airport to Downtown?

If you’re solo travelling or simply are on a budget, taking the bus is the best transport option for you because it’s the cheapest option available. A combined bus trip from Ottawa airport to Downtown costs €5 (CAD 4) per passenger.

Cost

€5 (CAD 4)

Trip Duration

*Buses depart every 30 minutes during the day, it's worth checking the timetables for the most suitable departure time depending on your flight's landing time.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Buses are available 24/7 at the Ottawa airport.

Where do I get the bus from?

OC Transpo operates the bus service from Ottawa airport to Ottawa, and the 97 bus departs from the Airport Stop outside the Terminal building.

Convenience

Taking a bus is the cheapest transport option available, but not the fastest and most convenient one as Bus Line 97 takes around 40 minutes to get from Ottawa airport to Downtown, you may experience a wait time of up to 30 minutes for it and you’ll need to make a bus change. If you want to get to Downtown Ottawa as fast as possible, taking a taxi will be your best solution.

Timetables

Line 97 Bus

Line 6 Bus

Editor’s Note

Buses are available 24/7 and depart every 30 minutes. Remember to check bus timetables when planning your trip.

Useful Tips

Bus drivers accept credit, debit or cash payments. Just communicate your preference to the driver when boarding.

Buses have space for 1 piece of luggage per passenger. If you wish to travel with more than 1 piece of luggage, you can do so at an extra cost.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

How can I get from Ottawa airport to Downtown?

There are two available transport options from Ottawa Airport to Downtown; taxi and bus. The taxi option is the fastest, but also a more expensive one. If you’re on a budget, you can take the bus instead. However, if you’re travelling with heavy luggage and/or with children, you’ll probably find taxis more comfortable and convenient as they offer 24/7 door-to-door services.

What is the distance from Ottawa airport to Downtown Ottawa?

Admittedly, most travellers like to go straight to Downtown Ottawa when they arrive in the city. The distance from Ottawa airport to Downtown is 14km, taking 20 minutes to reach by taxi or private transfer and about 40 minutes (excluding wait times) if choosing the bus.

How much is a taxi from Ottawa airport to Downtown?

Taxis in Ottawa are metered and regulated by the City of Ottawa, whilst there are no fixed prices for trips. A taxi from Ottawa airport to Downtown should cost around €90 (CAD 121), but the final price depends on several factors, i.e. time and exact distance travelled. For your peace of mind, if you’d prefer a competitive fixed fare for your trip, you may wish to pre-book your ride with Welcome Pickups.

Was this helpful?

The best way to arrive in Ottawa

High-end transfer service at the same price as a regular taxi. Available in 42 destinations.

Learn more

Getting from Ottawa Airport to Downtown

Book a trusted, English-speaking driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular taxi Learn more

How to get from Ottawa Airport to Downtown by taxi