Museums and galleries in Ottawa

Museums and galleries in Ottawa

1. See

   Bank of Canada Currency Museum

   A collection of historic and current currencies from Canada and around the world, history of Bank of Canada and the application of interest rate in the society and economy.

   Thu-Mon 10AM-5PM·Free

2. Eat

   BeaverTails

   Try the tasty BeaverTail, a fried-dough pastry associated with Ottawa, although a number of places claim to have created it. It's available in sweet and savoury versions, topped with cinnamon, sugar, icing sugar, etc. In the winter, many places will offer it on the canal. During the summer, the only places downtown to offer it are in the Byward Market on George St., and a small counter in a corner of the Canadian Museum of History. There are a variety of toppings and the taste of the beaver tail stands out more with the classic sugar & cinnamon. However, the locals' favourite is the Killaloe Sunrise, a topping of cinnamon sugar and lemon juice.

   Sun-Wed 10AM-8PM, Thu 10AM-11PM, Fri Sat 10AM-midnight

3. See

   Bytown Museum

   A small museum at the foot of Parliament Hill with a focus on Ottawa's early history.

   Victoria Day weekend-Thanksgiving Day: Fri-Wed 10AM-5PM, Thu 10AM-9PM. Rest of year: Tue-Sun 11AM-4PM·$5 adults, $4 seniors/students/youth, $2 children 5-12

4. See

   Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

   A working animal farm in the city. You can visit animal barns, see various demonstrations and exhibitions, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon. The museum also has a playground and picnic area. It is very popular with young children and a welcome change of pace for kids who have seen enough history after visiting some of the other sights.

   Exhibitions: 9AM-5PM daily late Feb-late Nov. Animal barns: 9AM-5PM daily all year·$7 adults, $6 students/seniors, $4 children 3-14, $16 families (2 adults and 3 children), free for children under 3. Seniors free on Tuesday. Admission to animal barns is by donation during time of year when the exhibitions are closed

5. See

   Canada Aviation and Space Museum

   Former RCAF base with civilian and military aircraft ranging from pre-World War I to modern, including 1920s-1940s bush planes, war planes from both World Wars and the Cold War, surviving components of the 1950s' Avro Arrow interceptor and Space Shuttle Endeavor's Canadarm, a Canadian-built robotic arm. Guided tours, boutique.

   Wed-Mon 10AM to 5PM, closed Tuesdays·$15, student/seniors $13, Youth (ages 3-17) $10

6. See

   Canadian Museum of Nature

   Galleries of fossils, mammals, birds and geology among others. Free admission Thursdays after 4PM and all day Canada Day (July 1st).

   Wed Fri-Sun 10AM-4PM; Thu 10AM-7PM. Open on some holiday Mondays·$17 adult (general admission), $15 senior/student, $13 child (3-12)

7. See

   Canadian War Museum

   The museum presents Canada's involvement in armed conflict beginning with battles between the French and British, through to the World Wars, Korea, and the country's current involvement in NATO and UN operations.

   Sep–Jun: Mon–Wed Fri–Sun 9:30AM–5PM, Thu 9:30AM–8PM; Jun–Sep: Mon–Wed Fri–Sun 9:30AM–6PM, Thu 9:30AM–8PM·$22 for adults. Free on Th after 5PM, and Jul 1, Sep 30, Nov 11

8. See

   Carleton University Art Gallery

   Art exhibitions and educational events to explore and activate the ideas that shape contemporary society.

   Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun noon-5PM (closed Mon)·Free

9. See

   Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

   A museum village featuring buildings from the early 20th century including a railway station.

10. See

    Diefenbunker — Canada's Cold War Museum

    Built to protect the government from nuclear attack, this once-secret bunker is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. "Diefenbunker" is a play on "Diefenbaker", the Canadian prime minister in the 1950s who authorized the construction of the facility. In addition to preserving and promoting Canada's Cold War history, the museum offers a variety of visitor programs and services. You can learn, play or shop as you discover the bunker's secrets and relive the experience of the Cold War. Guided tours by reservation only. If you do not have access to a vehicle and are willing to do a 50 minute bus ride plus pay a $30 taxi, you can # take the OcTranpo #95 or #97; # Transfer to the #93 at Lincoln Fields; # Get off at the Legget / Ad. 515 stop; # Walk 3 minutes to Brookstreet Hotel; # Take a taxi to the Diefenbunker.

    Self-guided tours 11AM-4PM daily·$14 adults, $13 seniors, $10 students, $8 youth 6-18, $40 families (2 adults plus 3 youth), free for children 5 and under

11. See

    Hartwell's Lockstation

    Picturesque lock station within a park along the Rideau Canal. One could walk across the locks and continue north to Dows Lake near Carling O-Train station, or northwest to the Canada Agriculture Museum.

12. See

    Kiwekì Point (formerly Nepean Point)

    A quiet place to watch the sun set, or to take photos of Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, the Museum of History, and the Royal Canadian Mint from angles that don't usually end up in the tourist brochures. Kiwekì (pronounced key-WHECK-ee) Point is also home to a statue of Samuel de Champlain, and the Astrolabe Theatre (one of the better places to watch the fireworks from on July 1). As of May 2025, the point is wheelchair-accessible.

    always open

13. See

    National Gallery

    Photography, traditional and modern art from Canadian and international artists. Housed inside a glass building with a giant spider structure on the outside.

    $22 adult; Free admission Th after 5PM

14. See

    Science and Technology Museum

    Several displays are popular with children, including massive locomotives inside the building and electricity demonstrations. Re-opened on November 17, 2017, after years of renovations because of a mould problem, this museum is even more family-friendly than it was before its forced closure.

    Tue-Sun 9AM-5PM·Adult $17, youth (3-17) $11, senior (60+) or student $13

15. Buy

    Sparks Street

    A pleasant pedestrian street one block off Parliament Hill; a common tourist thoroughfare for seeing the sights. Along this street you'll find the majority of the tourist shops selling postcards, magnets, and maple syrup. The Astrolabe Gallery, located on this street, is a treasure trove of antique maps and vintage posters. There are several outdoor cafés and restaurants to choose from.

16. Buy

    Wellington West

    Wellington West is the commercial district of Hintonburg and Wellington Village, located in the west end between Little Italy and Westboro. It is home to independent businesses in Ottawa, such as boutiques, restaurants and food shops, and local art galleries, as well as the Parkdale Market. Notable shops include Hintonburger, Suzy Q Doughnuts, Elmdale Tavern and several others.

17. Do Not mapped

    Doors Open Ottawa

    Doors Open Ottawa, the second-largest Doors Open architectural event in North America, takes place during the first weekend in June. Over 100 buildings (many of which are normally closed to the public, such as embassies, official residences, museum storage buildings, and city infrastructure facilities) open their doors to the public, offering free admission to part or all of the premises. Most participating buildings also allow photography. While the event takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM, not all buildings are open both days. It is a hybrid event, with virtual and physical visits. Reservations required at some participating buildings (including the US Embassy).

18. See

    Ottawa Art Gallery

    Municipal art gallery.

    Tue Wed Sun 10AM-6PM, Thu-Sat 10AM-9PM (closed Mon)·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Ottawa (CC BY-SA 4.0).