About the Neighbourhood
Sandy Hill, located in central Ottawa, surrounds the University of Ottawa. The mostly residential streets are also home to interesting shops, cozy coffee houses and restaurants with student-friendly pricing. The neighbourhood is bordered by the ByWard Market, the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, making it a great choice for students and outdoorsy types.
Living in Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill offers quick and easy access to the Rideau Centre, the ByWard Market and Centretown.
The Byward Market
A short walk from Sandy Hill, The ByWard Market is one of Ottawa’s liveliest (and most touristic) neighbourhoods. Farmers and vendors set up stalls of produce, flowers, crafts and prepared food in the summer and early fall. Be sure to stop by the BeaverTails stand to try Ottawa’s claim to pastry fame—you won’t be disappointed.
A Lively Scene
When the sun goes down, Sandy Hill residents take advantage of the lively bar and club scene in the ByWard Market—the centre of Ottawa nightlife—as well as on Elgin Street and in Centretown. For those who like to stay even closer to home, there’s no shortage of events happening in Sandy Hill on any given weekend, and residents don’t need to go far to find a spot to hang out, study or eat.
The Rideau Canal
In the winter, residents of Sandy Hill can also enjoy skating on the Rideau Canal. Designated as the world’s largest skating rink, it hosts about a million skaters each year. Every February, the skateway is also home to Winterlude—a festival that reminds us of the joys of winter and encourages us to make the best of the cold Ottawa weather.
