Bring your camera to the Canadian Tulip Festival

Maps and Publications

Commissioners Park Tulips, 2012 (2.66 MB)

Tulip Palette, 2012 (403.25 KB)

Find out where the tulips are! The NCC grows close to one million tulips each spring. See the tulips at Parliament Hill, the National War Memorial, national museums, Rideau Hall, and in planters throughout downtown Ottawa–Gatineau.

The best tulip-viewing locations, however, are the following parks and gardens. Grab your camera and get ready for some amazing floral displays.

Commissioners Park, Ottawa

The region’s most extensive gardens are at Commissioners Park, on the banks of Dows Lake in Ottawa. Some 300,000 tulips are grown in the park, in a variety of different gardens and designs. Prime photo spots are marked by signs in the park, as well as on the Commissioners Park Tulips map. The map also lists the types of tulips in each garden. Match the names to tulips using our Tulip Palette or by viewing our Flickr collection.

Olympic Garden, Ottawa

(Queen Elizabeth Driveway, near Lansdowne Park)

Like our athletes, the tulips in this garden are outstanding performers. Commemorating the 1988 Olympic torch relay, Olympic Flame tulips provide the backdrop to Vilem Zach’s sculpture, Share the Flame. The Olympic garden is a two-kilometre stroll from Commissioners Park. To get there, follow the pathway beside the Rideau Canal.

Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa

Major’s Hill Park is in downtown Ottawa, at the intersection of St. Patrick Street and Mackenzie Avenue. Photos taken here capture the contrast of colourful tulips against the limestone of the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Ottawa. The National Gallery of Canada and the Parliament Buildings also provide spectacular backdrops.

Malak’s Bed, Gatineau, Ottawa

(Ottawa River shoreline behind the Canadian Museum of Civilization)

This garden honours the photographer Malak Karsh, “ambassador” of Canada’s Capital Region. The famous tulip photo Karsh took here appeared on Canada’s one-dollar bills, as well as on Canadian postage stamps.

Jacques-Cartier Park, Gatineau

Jacques-Cartier Park, on the shore of the Ottawa River, offers some of the most spectacular views of Rideau Falls, Nepean Point and Parliament Hill.

Garden of the Provinces and Territories

This calm and restful park is a hidden gem in downtown Ottawa. With Christ Church Cathedral (built in 1873) as a backdrop, photos taken here showcase tulips blooming in the city.

Montcalm-Taché Park, Gatineau

This charming little park is at the intersection of Montcalm Street and Alexandre-Taché Boulevard. In addition to the tulips, you’ll find the Wright-Scott House and the Théâtre de l’Île. These properties once belonged to the Wrights, one of Hull’s (now Gatineau’s) founding families.