When you’re planning a holiday, it would be fair to expect that a city nicknamed ‘the most boring’ might not be the most tempting.

That’s the sort of tongue-in-cheek award that Ottawa, Canada’s capital, has received in previous years, from rivals such as Toronto and Vancouver. Still, I wasn’t put off and decided to take up the opportunity to go and explore it for myself.

After being, admittedly, positively influenced by a few too many TikTok vlogs, I had one mission in mind: to find out what to do in Canada beyond the obvious tourist route. Ottawa was a simple choice, given it’s easy enough to reach with direct flights from London Gatwick with Air Transat (and with return fares from £357pp, it’s surprisingly affordable compared to other long-haul routes).

Our base for the week was a far cry from boring; the Fairmont Château Laurier, set against Parliament Hill and the scenic Rideau Canal, looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale. Inside the stone château you’ll find huge chandeliers, grand corridors, and the air of a place that has hosted innumerable state visits, world leaders, celebrities and cultural touchstones over the years.

To keep jet lag at bay, we decided to start with the basics – exploring the city’s neighbourhoods and main points first. But why walk when you could do all of that on an e-bike?

Our guided electric bike tour with Escape Tours set off from central Sparks Street in the morning light. Within minutes, we were moving along a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rideau Canal was originally built to deter potential advances from the USA after the Civil War, but was never used for that purpose. In winter, it freezes over to become the world’s largest ice rink.

Around the centre, we spent a morning looking at perfect scenery and spotting joggers, cyclists, locals walking dogs, and boats zipping around – both in Ottawa and after crossing a bridge to get to Quebec.

It was a great first taste of the city, and allowed us to take in the architecture. I had expected this to be a mix of American and European, but quickly found it to have its own identity and influences.

However, Ottawa’s charm lies not just in what’s in the city centre, but also what’s outside of it.

A short drive away is Parc Omega, in the neighbouring Outaouais region, a vast wildlife reserve where animals roam across open land, and visitors drive through in their own cars. You can take an open top bus ride to watch the likes of elk, bison, deer and wolves from afar, although sightings require some luck, given the animals roam through 2,200 acres of forest, lakes and open terrain. I forgot I was in a city at all as we took in the various habitats.

I was convinced nothing could top this, but the next day I was proven wrong. I’m from a country in South America that doesn’t, in my opinion, pay enough mainstream attention to its Indigenous history and culture, so seeing how Canadians celebrate their heritage was truly memorable. References to the First Nations are everywhere, even in urban areas, and the name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word adawe, which translates to “to trade” or “buying and selling”.

Mādahòkì Farm is one of the clearest expressions of that appreciation. Set within the Greenbelt, it’s a working cultural and agritourism site that blends land, food, storytelling and heritage. There, visitors of all ages can find entertainment and learning experiences with Ojibwe Spirit Horses, walking trails, a marketplace showcasing Indigenous artists, and seasonal programming that changes throughout the year.

What stands out most is the way the space feels lived-in, and not like a theme park of sorts. There are animals, open fields, food experiences rooted in tradition, and a passion for the land that can be felt by listening to locals tell their family’s ancestral habits and stories.

Ottawa is a city that feels unlike any other, and our next adventure saw us transported to the Netherlands – at least conceptually – thanks to its sprawling tulip fields. In gratitude for Canada’s role in liberating the Netherlands during World War 2, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs in 1945 – a gesture that quite literally planted the seeds of what would become one of the most beautiful spring traditions in the world.

Since then, spring visitors are greeted by a city-wide bloom of all colours and an atmosphere of pure, warm peace – at its most vibrant in Commissioners Park.

But we wanted to take things a step further, so we headed about 30 minutes outside the city to a year-round activity hub dedicated to the spring tradition once a year.

Saunders Farm is part countryside escape, part seasonal festival, part nostalgic family day out. In spring, it becomes Tulipfest, with sweeping fields of colour, walking paths through blooms, and photo spots everywhere you turn. In summer, it offers hedge mazes and outdoor activities while autumn brings pumpkins, cider and Halloween fun.

There, the couple of owners hosted us warmly with house-brand ciders, freshly made pizzas, fruit pies, and, tales of about the local community and its families. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking through rows of blossoms, open fields and carefully designed seasonal displays that made for endless photo ops.

Of course no city break is complete without plenty of food stops, and on that front Ottawa more than delivers. At no point on this trip was I left hungry. Whether it’s street food stalls, local cafes or bars, Ottawa is a foodie’s paradise.

Canada is famed for its poutine, but that was just one of the many, many different dishes I tried while out there. There was a clear mix of influences everywhere – French-Canadian comfort food, modern café culture, Asian-fusion Michelin-star meals, Indigenous-inspired dishes and classic North American. Did you know Hawaiian pizza is Canadian? I didn’t.

After four days packed with everything there is to see in and around Ottawa it was time for a bit of resting up, and the world’s largest outdoor spa seemed a fitting stop.

Nordik Spa Nature Chelsea Village is divided into three zones – whisper, silent and social – and is built around the Scandinavian thermal cycle of heat, cold and rest. Saunas, cold plunges, waterfalls, heated pools, silent zones, firepits and quiet outdoor spaces all blend into a kind of slow rhythm that can be enjoyed alone or in groups, and the main thing to note is perhaps that six hours passed in what felt like two.

Guests pay a single entry fee to stay however long they wish until the complex closes at 11 pm, and I remember distinctly thinking – at 11 am – that I could not remember a single problem I had left back home in London.

By the time I touched down at London Gatwick, I was already finding myself recommending a Canadian getaway to friends and family and telling them I’d join if only to go feed carrots to elk or float in a saltwater hot tub again.

Book the holiday

Air Transat offers direct flights from London Gatwick to Ottawa with return fares from £357 per person. Book at airtransat.com. The airline also offers year-round direct flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow to Toronto.

Many Brits will be flocking to Europe’s beaches in the next few weeks, often heading to favourites such as the Costas in Spain or Greek islands.

But the best beach in Europe has been revealed in a new index, and surprisingly it’s in a country that gets a fraction of the visitors of Mediterranean destinations such as Italy. While it offers sandy shores and twin coves, many Brits won’t have heard of this sun-drenched location.

The index, put together by Quotezone.co.uk, looked at beaches across European holiday destinations, taking into account factors such as temperature, average hotel costs, the price of beer, and reviews from visitor.

Coming in at number one, beating perennial favourites such as Nissi Beach in Cyprus and Praia da Falesia in Portugal was Montenegro’s Mogren Beach. Montenegro is becoming a more popular tourist destination as people look for off-the-beaten track alternatives to overcrowded Med destinations, and with less than three million visitors a year, there’s less chance of needing to fight for a sunbed.

Set on 350-metres of Adriatic coastline, the beach is split into two separate coves, connected by a bridge or a tunnel through the caves. The coast has tiny pebbles, and is set around peaceful bays where the water is calm and clear, almost turquoise in colour, looking like something from the Caribbean rather than Europe.

The beach is on the outskirts of Budva, sometimes called the party capital of the Balkans, although it tends to be quieter than the beaches close to the city. Here, you can simply hire a sunbed and umbrella, and enjoy a peaceful swim.

If you prefer a livelier spot, head to Beach Greco, just a short walk from Budva’s city centre. This long stretch of beach has a busy harbour at one end and a promenade with restaurants and bars. You can take a boat tour, hire a jetski, or try lots of different water sports.

Take a stroll to the 2,500-year-old walled Stari Grad – or old town – which is set on a peninsula. A lot of it was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1970s, so don’t expect all the buildings to be authentic. However, it still has old libraries, churches, and rustic stone homes.

Montenegro also cinched the title thanks to its relatively inexpensive costs compared to classic holiday destinations. Staying close to Mogren Beach averages just under £195 for three nights, while beers can be enjoyed for around £1.50.

Previous winner, Nissi Beach in Cyprus, was knocked off the top spot by Montenegro, but retained second place. It scored highly for water quality and warm sea temperatures, which reached about 27C in the summer. However, its average cost of £318.85 for a three-night stay saw it lose the number one ranking.

In third place was Playa de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, a three-mile stretch of beach that connects to a huge nature reserve of sand dunes. The destination was praised for its reliable-year round sunshine including average temperatures in July of 27.8C.

Helen Rolph from Quotezone, discussing the 2026 European Beach Index, said: “This year’s results show Montenegro leading the way, with Mogren Beach outperforming many of Europe’s more established destinations thanks to its warm conditions, striking Adriatic coastline and some of the lowest overall costs.

“Cyprus and Spain continue to perform strongly with consistently high temperatures and excellent visitor ratings, but higher demand and holiday costs mean they sit just behind Montenegro in this year’s index. In many cases, popularity could be pushing up prices, making them less desirable for a budget-friendly trip.”

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