Local Tip
OC Transpo buses and O-Train gates accept a tap from a contactless bank card or phone, so you can ride Line 4 in from the airport and leave changing money until you reach the Rideau Centre.
Where to change money in Ottawa
Ottawa Tourism points visitors to banks and exchange counters, and a few hotels and shops take foreign notes. The central bureau we could confirm is in the Rideau Centre.
- Calforex, Rideau Centre Unit 350B on the third floor of the CF Rideau Centre, 50 Rideau Street, near the Westin hotel and OC Transpo; the mall's directory lists it. Calforex gives 10:00 to 21:00 Monday to Saturday and, on Sundays, 11:00 to 18:00, with the centre's holiday hours applying on public holidays.
- ICE, Ottawa airport Two landside counters, in the Level 1 Arrivals Hall and on Level 3; see below.
Changing money at the airport
ICE has two counters at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW), both before security, and the airport's amenities page lists the same pair, but their hours differed in October 2026. For the Level 1 Arrivals Hall counter, ICE shows 10:00 to 19:30 and the airport 09:00 to 21:00; for the Level 3 counter facing Tim Hortons, ICE shows 04:00 to 19:30 and the airport 03:30 to 19:30. ATMs work at all hours on Levels 1 and 3 before security, and on Level 2 airside.
ATMs and cards in Ottawa
Ottawa Tourism says ATMs are found in bank branches and many other spots, often with an added service charge, and that most major credit cards are taken. For Canadian account holders, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada puts the convenience fee at another bank's machine at C$1 to C$5; a UK card may be treated differently, and your bank's foreign-use fee comes on top. If an Ottawa card reader offers pounds, stay in Canadian dollars, as MoneySavingExpert finds the shop's conversion often worse.
Paying for transport in Ottawa
An adult OC Transpo ride costs C$4.10 in 2026 by card and C$4.15 in cash, after council approved a 2.5% fare rise in its December 2025 budget (CTV News). Bus readers and O-Train fare gates take a tap from a credit card, debit card or phone, so visitors can skip the Presto card; at the 2023 launch OC Transpo said a day of tapping would never cost more than a DayPass. From the airport, O-Train Line 4 leaves from the north end of Level 3 for South Keys from 06:00 to midnight, and route 105 buses run every 30 minutes around the clock. Taxis queue outside the centre door on Level 1; ride-hail cars collect from pillars 12 and 13.
Good to know
- Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax of 13% is added to most purchases. Ottawa Tourism suggests arriving with Canadian dollars already in hand rather than relying on businesses to take foreign currency.
- Ottawa Tourism calls a 15% tip on the pre-tax bill normal for good restaurant service, and bar, salon and spa staff and taxi drivers expect one too. Where a service charge is already on the bill, usually for large groups, nothing extra is expected.
Key Areas in Ottawa
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Ottawa travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Ottawa?
Downtown, Calforex has a bureau on the third floor of the Rideau Centre at 50 Rideau Street, open seven days, and Ottawa Tourism also mentions banks. At the airport, ICE runs two counters before security. Compare the number of Canadian dollars each offer actually hands you, and rely on a low-fee card for most purchases.
Can I tap my bank card on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train?
Yes. Bus readers and O-Train fare gates, including those at the airport's Line 4 station, accept contactless credit and debit cards and phones. An adult ride costs C$4.10 by card in 2026, so you do not need Canadian cash just to get into the city.
Is the ICE counter open when I land at Ottawa airport?
It depends on the time. ICE lists its Level 1 Arrivals Hall counter as open 10:00 to 19:30, while the airport's directory says 09:00 to 21:00. Outside those hours, use the ATMs on Levels 1 and 3, or tap a card on the O-Train and change money in town.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Ottawa International Airport Authority · ICE Canada · Ottawa Tourism · Calforex · CTV News · CF Rideau Centre
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