A Jail That Became a Journey.

What was once Ottawa's most formidable house of detention is now one of Canada's most unique places to rest your head. HI Ottawa Jail Hostel occupies the original Nicholas Street Gaol — a stunning sandstone gothic structure that stood at the heart of the city for over a century.

The jail housed thousands of inmates and even hosted Canada's last public hanging in 1869. Today, it shelters a very different kind of traveller — adventurous, curious, and always ready for a story to tell back home.

Hostelling International transformed the historic building into a world-class budget accommodation without erasing its remarkable past. The cells became rooms. The gallows became a gathering story.