Ottawa is a city of Museums. Like the Smithsonian of Washington DC, Canada’s Capital houses many of the great museums of our nation.
We have visited Ottawa several times. So often, that it feels like a second home to us.
During our most recent visit, we finally ticked off the last of the Ottawa museums to see and we can finally write (with confidence) a guide to help you choose which museums to visit when you visit the Capital of Canada.
Ottawa is home to seven of Canada’s 9 national museums, but there are several other museums to visit as well.
Museums of Ottawa Canada
1. Diefenbunker
It took us at least a half a dozen visits before visiting the Diefenbunker, boy we should have done this earlier.
But then again, if you’ve watched the series Chernybol on HBO, it might have more of an effect on you now than before.
The Diefenbunker is a nuclear bunker that was constructed during the Cold War, it was named after our Prime Minister of the time, John Diefenbaker.
Built in 1959 at the height of the nuclear crisis, it was built as a bunker for government employees that had an important skill.
Nobody was allowed to bring their family, not even the prime minister and they had to be prepared to live underground for the next 30 days not knowing what they would face once they came out after a nuclear war.
It is an eerie walk through time and totally reminded me of the sets used in Chernobyl with side paneling, old radios and computers, and stark meeting rooms.
I would not want to be stuck in there at all.
Details
Opening Hours: 10:30 – 4:00
Location: 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa
Cost: You can take Self Guided or Guided Tours. Take the guided tour, it is fascinating. Cost for either – $15.49
Parking – Free
Website: Diefenbunker
2. Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Our favourite museum to visit in Ottawa is the Aviation and Space Museum. It’s probably our favourite because each time we go, we either book a helicopter flight or a biplane flight from there.
The museum is inside a huge hanger and it is where scenic flights leave to take you on a tour over Ottawa.
You can walk right to the back wall to book them.
But the museum itself is extremely interesting with planes on display from every era of Canadian aviation.
The update it with new aircrafts regularly. We just saw a new huge jet during our last visit.
Details
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 5:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
Location: 11 Aviation Parkway
It is easiest to drive, but it is also located on the River Pathway, so a bicycle is a good option there are city bikes to rent all around town.
Transit: OC Transpo route 129
Cost: Adult $15 / Student $13 / Child $11
Parking: Paid metre parking
Website: Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
3. Canadian Museum of Nature
This is another museum that took us a few visits to Ottawa before seeing and now we’ve been back twice!
The moment you walk into the Canadian Museum of Nature, you are in awe of the architecture.
This building was designed as the first building to house a national museum in Canada.
Built-in 1905 it was designed to mirror the Centre Blog of Parliament. When you enter, there is a massive facade that has revolving displays of art hanging from the ceiling.
This modern design is a beautiful complement to the historic castle-like stone structure and makes it one of the top places to visit in all of Ontario.
Everything you can imagine is housed in this museum from dinosaurs to butterflies and our personal favourite, the Canada Goose Arctic Gallery.
Details
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 5:00 / 9:00 – 8:00 Thursdays
Location: 240 McLeod Street
20 Minute walk from downtown or you can talk the bus, several routes stop nearby.
Check schedules here
Cost: $15 adult/ $13 students / $11 children
Parking: Paid metre parking on the street and parking lot.
Website: Canadian Museum of Nature
4. Canadian Museum of History
Located across the river in Gatineau, this building is truly a standout.
It is also the perfect place to get that postcard shot of the Parliament buildings.
When entering the building, the Grand Hall hits you with a huge display of totem poles and indigenous architecture from the West Coast of Canada.
The Canadian history hall is an interactive floor that takes you through the history of our great country and besides all the other displays, there are many Instagram worthy locations outside and within the building to capture its unique architecture and design.
Details
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 5:00 / 9:00 – 8:00 Thursdays
Location: On the river in Gatineau.
Getting there: Take the water taxi or even walk across the bridge (20 minutes) from Ottawa.
Cost: Adult $20 / Student $18 / Child $12
Parking: Paid metre parking in underground parking lot.
Website: History Museum
5. Canadian War Museum
This is as authentic as it gets. Do you know how I know this? It’s because soldiers were visiting the museum at the same time as us.
So you know it must be spot on!
There are fascinating exhibits detailing Canada’s war efforts with displays recalling Canada and the Cold War, WWI and WWII, and the early wars of Canada between Aboriginal People, the French and the English.
Memorial Hall though is a place for reflection and is where you can see the grave of the Unknown Soldier.
Details
Opening Hours: 9:30 – 5:00 Thursdays: 9:30 – 8:00 pm.
Location: 1 Vimy Place Ottawa
Cost: Adult $17 / Student $13 / Child $11 / Senior $15
Parking – Paid metre parking on street and parking lot.
Website – Canadian War Museum
6. National Gallery of Canada
I love the National Gallery. Every time we visit Ottawa, we stop to have a look at Maman.
Even if we aren’t going inside, the famous sculpture of a spider with eggs always catches our eye.
There are many rotating and permanent displays and our favourite is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
You feel as if you are in a cathedral complete with a choir bellowing from 20 speakers.
There is a beautiful glass ceiling in the foyer and it is worth strolling around the museum not only to look at the best exhibit of art in Canada, but to take in the stunning architecture.
Details
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 5:00 (closed Mondays)
Location: 380 Sussex Drive
Cost: Adults $16 / Students and Youth 24 and Under $8 / Seniors $14
Parking – Underground Parking paid. But it is easy to walk from anywhere in Ottawa too.
Website – National Gallery
7. Bytown Museum
This little museum is often missed in Ottawa. Located directly on the canal, it is a lovely display of the history of Ottawa (formerly known as Bytown)
Take a walk through its three stories to view the making of the Ottawa Canal, the war efforts by the people of Ottawa and the indigenous history of the area.
Don’t forget to walk through the cafe to see the vault in the back.
Details
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 5:00 pm (limited winter hours)
Location: 1 Canal Lane at the foot of the Rideau Canal
Cost: $2 (best deal in the city!)
Parking – Paid metre parking on street and parking lot.
Website – Bytown Museum
8. Fairmont Chateau Laurier Historic Display
Whether you visit during summer, winter, spring or fall, it is worth ducking into the Chateau Laurier to escape the heat or cold.
While you are in there, walk to the back of the hotel to view the photographs on display showcasing the history of Ottawa.
Learn of the Titanic connection with Ottawa and see how Winston Churchill spent his time in the city.
There are some great photographs from the turn of the 20th century.
Details
Opening Hours: anytime
Location: Inside Chateau Laurier Hotel
Cost: Free
Parking – valet parking at hotel. Best to park on the street and walk to the museum.
Website – Chateau Laurier
9. Laurier House National Historic Site
Laurier House is a National Historic Site that was home to not one but two Prime Ministers of Canada.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie lived here in the heart of Canadian politics from the late 1800s to the mid-1950s.
Visitors can tour the historic site to see how our prime ministers lived back in the day. Or you can do as we did, take a ghost tour of Laurier House.
Wilfrid Laurier was known to have seances in the house and many people died here. It is an eerie place to visit at night.
Details
Opening Hours: May – Sept 10am – 5pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesdays)
Location: 335 Laurier Ave East – 20 minute walk from downtown.
Cost: Adult $3.90 / Senior $3.40 / youth Free
Parking – Paid metre parking on street
Website – Laurier House
10. Rideau Hall
Details
Opening Hours: Tours booked by appointment 10am – 4pm
Grounds – 8 am to sunset year-round
Location: 1 Sussex Drive
Cost: Free
Website – Rideau Hall
11. Canada Science and Technology Museum
This is a fun museum for the kids. Similar to the Science Centre in Toronto, this museum takes you for a walk through the history of Science and Technology.
A highlight is the slanted kitchen. Kits flock to that to feel the pull of gravity and we loved the display of old computers and TVs.
It’s interactive and there is even a big train area. Who doesn’t love trains?
Details
Opening Hours: 9am – 5 pm daily (closed Mondays in off season)
Location: 1867 St Laurent BLVD
Cost: Adult $17 / Senior $13 / Studen $11
Parking – Paid metre in parking lot.
Website – Museum of Science and Technology
12. Women of Canada History
Okay, so it might not be a proper museum, but this is a must visit. Located directly outside the senage across from the Chateau Laurier is a wonderful display of Canadian women through history.
This display celebrates women who broke barriers, made a difference and have historical significance.
From our first (and so far only) female Prime Minister Kim Campbell to Viola Desmond, an activist who now graces our $10 bill.
Details
Opening Hours: anytime
Location: in front of The Senate across from Chateau Laurier
Cost: free
Parking – Paid metre parking on street.
13. Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum
Growing up in rural Ontario I have seen a lot of farms and livestock.
But for people who want to learn of how our food is grown, raised and produced, this is an interesting museum.
I think that foreign visitors would really like this exhibit. It’s the world’s only working farm in a capital city.
I grew up in the heart of the Dairy Capital of Ontario and saw a lot of Holstein cows. This museum has many of the main cattle breeds of Canada plus other farm animals like horses, goats, al pacas, and chickens.
Kids will love watching the sheep sheering and seeing how honey bees are collected.
Details
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm daily (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Location: 901 Princes of Wales Drive
Cost: Adult $12 / Senior, student and youth $10
Parking – Paid metre parking in parking lot.
Website – Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum
14. Upper Canada Village
It’s a little bit of a drive outside of Ottawa, but this is an excellent way to get to know the history and culture of how Canada was built.
Walk through the display of buildings dating back to 1860 to see how people lived in Upper Canada.
There are traditional displays and demonstrations. There are more than 40 buildings that were moved from the Saint Lawrence before the development of the Saint Lawrence Seaway project and are protected on this site that sits on the War of 1812 Battle of Crysler Farm site
Details
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 5pm (Autumn season has limited hours)
Location: 11km east of Morrisburg. Visit the Website for directions.
Cost: Adult $22 / Student $16 / Youth $13
Parking – Free
Website – Upper Canada Village
15. Mackenzie King Estate
Mackenzie King Estate is a museum and outdoor experience all at once. Located in Gatineau Park, this estate was the rural retreat to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie.
He left the beautiful 231 hectare estate to Canada to enjoy the great outdoors and to tour the cottage which have been turned into museums.
Our favourite part of this visit was strolling through the Abbey Ruins and the beautiful gardens complete with pillars and an Arch du Triomphe.
Details
Opening Hours: Weekdays – 10am – 5pm Weekends 11am – 6pm
Closed Tuesdays
Location: Gatineau Park
Cost: Free
Parking – Paid metre parking in parking lot.
Website – Mackenzie King Estate
And there you have it. Our favourite museums to visit in Ottawa. Have you been to Ottawa? What do you think are the best things to do.
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Our trip to Ottawa is in partnership with Tourism Ottawa. All opinions are our own. Visit their website for more information on travel to Ottawa.
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SAHIL NR says
As mentioned its Awesome almost every museum is there, i would love to visit space and aviation museum and get a ride.
how much it cost for Ride?