However you choose to travel, we'll help you find the most convenient way to experience Ottawa's most vibrant destination.

Transit

With frequent train and bus service, OC Transpo is the easiest way to get to and explore the Byward market any day of the week.

O-Train

The O-Train on Line 1 can get you directly to the ByWard market: Rideau station exits right onto William Street, the entrance to the ByWard Market.

Parliament station and uOttawa station are both within walking distance of the ByWard Market.

Line 1 operates until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can get home safely after a late night out.

If you live closer to Line 2 or 4, you can connect to Line 1. Consult our travel planner to learn more.

Visit the O-Train network page.

Buses

OC Transpo offers a variety of routes throughout the city to get you to the ByWard Market. With so many options, buses are a great alternative to driving your car downtown.

Overnight bus service is available at or near most O-Train stations to get you home safely. You can visit the travel planner on the OC Transpo website or download the Transit app to help plan your trip.

Para Transpo

Para Transpo is a shared-ride, book-in-advance, public transit service for customers who are unable to take buses and the O-Train some or all of the time due to a disability. Operators will help you exit safely to your destination.

Service is available between 6 am to midnight. For more information, visit the Para Transpo page.

Park and rides

Don't stress about parking: OC Transpo offers 9,000 free parking spaces across Ottawa and nearby rural areas.

Park at a nearby Park & Ride lot and take transit directly to the ByWard Market. Learn more on our Park & Ride page.

Fares

O-Payment lets you easily ride OC Transpo by tapping your Interac® Debit card, Visa, Mastercard, or mobile phone wallet on all buses and at fare gates.

There are special fares to help get you and your family to and from the ByWard Market:

• Free youth fares. From July 1 until August 31, 2026, pre-teens and youth aged 11-18 ride for free on OC Transpo buses, trains and Para Transpo. To travel for free, purchase a Presto card and set a Pre-Teen or Youth pass on your card. Tap your card on the fare gate or fare reader to board for free!
• Kids 10 and under ride free. If you’re taking a bus, Para Transpo, or Para Transpo Rural, simply board without paying a fare. If you’re taking the O-Train, you can enter at the accessible (wide) fare gate with a fare-paying adult.
• 2-for-1 Passes: On Saturdays, Sundays, and select statutory holidays, two people aged 18 or older can ride all day on a single DayPass ($12.25)
• Fare capping. Daily fares are capped at the price of a DayPass ($12.25) For additional info, visit our fares page.

Transit after dark

Get home safely with OC Transpo. Save yourself a risky drive home or a long walk home after a night out. OC Transpo provides overnight bus service at or near most O-Train stations to get you home safely.

Line 1 operates until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can get home safely after a late night out.

After 7 pm, you can ask the driver to drop you off at a safe spot along the route closer to your destination. To learn more about safety features, visit our Safe Travels page.

If you buy fare between 10:30 pm to 2:45 am, transfers are valid until 4:30 am.

Parking
There are several public and private parking locations for visitors, including:

• ByWard Market Municipal Lot - 70 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 9B8

• Dalhousie Street Municipal Lot - 141 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5P9

• Indigo - 93 George St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5W5

• Parksafe - 116 York St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5T5

• Blue P - 280 St. Patrick St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5K5

• Downtown Parking - 255 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, ON K1N 7E3

• Capital Parking - 186 St. Patrick St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5J8

• Precise ParkLink - 385 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON K1N 5J9

• Capital Parking - 38 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 9K1

• 700 Sussex Building - 700 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON K1N 1K4

• Downtown Parking - 110 Parent St., Ottawa, ON K1N 7B4

• Andaz Hotel (Indigo lot OT442) - 321 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, ON K1N 7G1

Active Transportation

Cycling

Ottawa is a bike-friendly city with well-maintained dedicated cycling lanes. Additionally, the downtown area has bike parking for people to chain their bikes to while exploring the ByWard Market. For those who don’t own a bike, there are also a couple of places to rent one

• Escape Bike Rentals: Located at 65 Sparks Street, Escape Bike Rentals is a great option for bike rentals. With options of renting for one hour up to two weeks, it is very versatile. Additionally, rented bikes come with a helmet, lock, map and a bag or basket.

• RentABike: Located at 2 Rideau Street, below the Plaza Bridge, RentABike is another great option for bike rentals. With options of renting for one hour up to three weeks, so many bike options and repair services, it makes biking around Ottawa easy. Additionally, rented bikes come with a helmet, lock and map.

Walking

The ByWard Market is close to many other areas downtown, so walking can be a wonderful way to enjoy the many exciting areas around the ByWard. If you’re spending the day in Gatineau, the Alexandria Bridge has a walking path that takes you down near the market. Other places like the University of Ottawa campus and Major’s Hill Park are also within walking distance. So, regardless of where you are downtown, make a stop in the ByWard Market district. Take a look at this map for more trails around downtown.

Taxis and Ride-Sharing

If you want a more private trip down to the ByWard Market, a taxi or ride-sharing service can do the trick.

• Blue Line and Capital Taxi are two reliable taxi services in Ottawa. With both services, you can book via calling, texting or booking online.

• Uber is a great on-demand service. As long as you have the app, you can request a ride from wherever you are down to the market.

E-Scooters

For those who want to zip around the city, e-scooters are a great option. Ottawa has partnered with Bird and Neuron, two app-based e-scooter companies. After downloading the app, you can locate the closest e-scooter, pay and start riding. Another option is renting an e-scooter. Escape Bike Rentals offers e-scooter rentals for one hour up to three days, including a helmet and map.

The City of Ottawa and its partners are working together to improve safety and well-being in the ByWard Market through coordinated outreach, community supports, policing, cleanliness and other frontline services.

Supporting people and connecting them to services

ANCHOR
A community-based, non-police response for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises, connecting individuals with appropriate supports and services.

Unsheltered Homelessness Outreach Model (UHOM) – In development
A coordinated, City-wide approach to connecting people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with housing, health and social supports.

Needle Hunters Program
Supports the safe collection and disposal of discarded needles and drug-use equipment in the community.

Increasing safety and visible presence

Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE)
A full-time team of Ottawa Police Service officers focused on community outreach, response and engagement in the downtown core.

Market Safe
A seasonal Ottawa Police Service initiative that increases uniformed presence and community engagement in the Market's entertainment district.

Nightlife Ambassador Program
Ambassadors provide a visible presence on Friday and Saturday nights, supporting de-escalation, bystander intervention and connections to emergency and social services.

Special Constables
Increased Special Constable presence in the Rideau Street area to support safety and security on transit.