Stand at the back of the Parliament Buildings as the light goes down and you get two things at once: the river below you and the Canadian Museum of History across the water in Gatineau. It is one of the quieter views in a city that arranges its best sights along a short stretch of canal and riverfront.
Ottawa suits travellers who like their sightseeing walkable and their museums national in scale. Most of what follows sits within a compact downtown area, with a few outlying stops for aviation, Cold War and farm life.
This guide covers the main sights, the museums worth your time, and how to string the best of them together if you only have a day.
Top things to do in Ottawa
1. Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill sits in the middle of downtown Ottawa, overlooking the Ottawa River, and is the primary attraction for most visitors. The buildings are a fine example of the Gothic revival style, and the grounds make an excellent starting point for visiting the other points of interest in the area.
Tours of the building run daily in English and French at staggered times, and admission is free, but you need tickets: one for the House of Commons at West Block and one for the Senate at the Senate of Canada Building, both booked online at visit.parl.ca. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes. Keep your order confirmation number, which can be used in lieu of tickets if they never arrive by email. Groups of more than 10 must reserve in advance. The Centre Block and the Peace Tower are closed for renovation and are expected to remain closed until 2031. If tickets are gone or you are waiting for your time, a self-guided walk around the grounds will keep you busy; free booklets are available at the Capital Information Kiosk at 90 Wellington St. The Changing of the Guard takes place daily on the lawns at 9AM from late June to late August. For a good view from the bottom up, walk to the back of the Parliament Buildings, where you also get a river view of the Canadian Museum of History. Behind the buildings at sunset is a sight to remember, and you can walk by the Rideau Canal locks at the east corner and visit the Bytown Museum at the level of the canal.
2. Bytown Museum
This small museum sits at the foot of Parliament Hill at the Rideau Canal locks, between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier, with a focus on Ottawa's early history. It pairs naturally with a walk around the Hill and the locks.
From the Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving Day it opens Fri-Wed 10AM-5PM and Thu 10AM-9PM; the rest of the year it opens Tue-Sun 11AM-4PM. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, students and youth, and $2 for children 5-12.
3. National Gallery
The National Gallery at 380 Sussex Dr holds photography and traditional and modern art from Canadian and international artists, housed inside a glass building with a giant spider structure on the outside.
Adult admission is $22, and admission is free on Thursday after 5PM. It sits on Sussex Drive, so it fits easily into a day that includes the riverfront and the Parliament area.
4. Canadian Museum of History
You do not have to cross into Gatineau to see it: the view from the back of the Parliament Buildings gives you a river view of the Canadian Museum of History, across the river in downtown Gatineau, the former city of Hull.
Treat it as part of a Parliament Hill visit rather than a separate trip, and go late in the day when the light on the river is at its best.
5. Canadian War Museum
At 1 Vimy Place, this museum presents Canada's involvement in armed conflict beginning with battles between the French and British, through the World Wars, Korea, and the country's current involvement in NATO and UN operations.
From September to June it opens Mon-Wed and Fri-Sun 9:30AM-5PM and Thu 9:30AM-8PM; from June to September it opens Mon-Wed and Fri-Sun 9:30AM-6PM and Thu 9:30AM-8PM. Adult admission is $22, with free entry on Thursday after 5PM and on July 1, September 30 and November 11.
6. Canadian Museum of Nature
At 240 McLeod St, the museum holds galleries of fossils, mammals, birds and geology among others. It opens Wed and Fri-Sun 10AM-4PM and Thu 10AM-7PM, and is open on some holiday Mondays.
Admission is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $13 for children 3-12, with free admission on Thursdays after 4PM and all day on Canada Day, July 1.
7. Canada Aviation and Space Museum
At 11 Aviation Parkway, at Ottawa/Rockcliffe Airport, this former RCAF base displays 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 Endeavour's Canadarm, a Canadian-built robotic arm. Guided tours and a boutique are available.
It opens Wed-Mon 10AM to 5PM and is closed Tuesdays. Admission is $15, $13 for students and seniors, and $10 for youth aged 3-17.
8. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
At 861 Prince of Wales Dr, this is a working animal farm in the city. You can visit animal barns, see demonstrations and exhibitions, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon, and there is a playground and picnic area. It is popular with young children and a welcome change of pace for kids who have seen enough history at the other sights.
Exhibitions run 9AM-5PM daily from late February to late November, and the animal barns are open 9AM-5PM daily all year. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, $4 for children 3-14, and $16 for families of two adults and three children, with children under 3 free. Seniors are free on Tuesdays, and admission to the animal barns is by donation during the time of year when the exhibitions are closed.
9. Science and Technology Museum
Several displays here are popular with children, including massive locomotives inside the building and electricity demonstrations. It reopened on November 17, 2017, after years of renovations because of a mould problem, and is even more family-friendly than it was before its forced closure.
It opens Tue-Sun 9AM-5PM. Admission is $17 for adults, $11 for youth aged 3-17, and $13 for seniors 60+ or students.
10. Bank of Canada Currency Museum
At 30 Bank St, this is a collection of historic and current currencies from Canada and around the world, along with the history of the Bank of Canada and the application of interest rates in society and the economy. Admission is free.
It opens Thu-Mon 10AM-5PM, so plan it for the start or end of a week rather than a midweek slot.
11. Laurier House National Historic Site
At 335 Laurier Ave, this 1878 house is the former residence of two Canadian prime ministers: Sir Wilfrid Laurier, for whom the house is named, and William Lyon Mackenzie King.
From May 1 to June 30 it opens Thu-Mon 10AM-5PM. Admission is $3.90 for adults and $3.40 for seniors 65+, and free for youth 17 and under.
12. Diefenbunker — Canada's Cold War Museum
At 3911 Carp Rd in Carp, this once-secret bunker was built to protect the government from nuclear attack and is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. The name is a play on Diefenbaker, the Canadian prime minister in the 1950s who authorized its construction. Self-guided tours run 11AM-4PM daily, and guided tours are by reservation only.
Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $8 for youth 6-18, and $40 for families of two adults plus three youth, with children 5 and under free. From Ottawa, take Hwy 417 west to exit 144, then go north on Carp Rd and watch for the sign on the left side of the road. Without a vehicle, the trip involves a 50-minute bus ride plus a $30 taxi.
13. Ottawa Art Gallery
At 50 Mackenzie King Bridge, this municipal art gallery offers art exhibitions and educational events, and admission is free.
It opens Tue, Wed and Sun 10AM-6PM and Thu-Sat 10AM-9PM, and is closed Mondays.
14. Carleton University Art Gallery
In the St. Patrick's Building at 1125 Colonel By Drive, this gallery mounts art exhibitions and educational events that explore and activate the ideas shaping contemporary society. Admission is free.
It opens Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM and Sat-Sun noon-5PM, and is closed Mondays.
15. Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
About 25 km east of downtown Ottawa, this museum village features buildings from the early 20th century, including a railway station.
Bus 221 runs to the stop Old Montréal / Ad. 2907 if you are travelling without a car.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Parliament Hill, where the Changing of the Guard takes place on the lawns at 9AM from late June to late August. Book your free House of Commons or Senate tour in advance at visit.parl.ca, or pick up a free self-guided walking tour booklet at the Capital Information Kiosk at 90 Wellington St if tickets are gone.
Afternoon. Walk down to the Rideau Canal locks at the east corner of the Hill and spend time in the Bytown Museum at the level of the canal. From there, head to the National Gallery at 380 Sussex Dr, which is free on Thursday after 5PM if your day falls late in the week.
Evening. Return to the back of the Parliament Buildings at sunset, where you get the view from the bottom up and a river view of the Canadian Museum of History across the water in Gatineau.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need tickets to tour Parliament Hill?
Yes. Admission is free, but you need tickets: one for the House of Commons at West Block and one for the Senate at the Senate of Canada Building, both booked online at visit.parl.ca. Keep your order confirmation number, which can be used in lieu of tickets if they are never received by email. Groups of more than 10 must reserve in advance.
When can I see the Changing of the Guard?
Daily on the lawns of Parliament at 9AM from late June to late August. The Governor General's Foot Guards can also be seen at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at Rideau Hall.
When is admission free at the museums?
All museums in Ottawa have free admission on Canada Day, July 1, although they are generally very crowded then. Several also have weekly free windows: the Canadian Museum of Nature is free Thursdays after 4PM, the Canadian War Museum and the National Gallery are free Thursday after 5PM, and the Bank of Canada Currency Museum, the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Carleton University Art Gallery are free at all times.
What should I do if Parliament tickets are sold out?
A self-guided walking tour around the grounds of Parliament Hill will keep you busy, and free booklets are available at the Capital Information Kiosk at 90 Wellington St. You can also walk by the Rideau Canal locks at the east corner and visit the Bytown Museum at the level of the canal.
Pick your dates, book your Parliament tickets at visit.parl.ca, and start building the rest of the day around the canal and the riverfront.