The Best Museums and Galleries in Ottawa

In a single trip to Ottawa, you can stand under a giant bronze spider, walk through West Coast longhouses, peer at submarines, and wander galleries so good you'll lose track of time. Canada's capital is packed with world-class museums, and most of them are an easy walk or a short ride from downtown.

Here are the museums and galleries we visited, what we loved about each one, and the five still on our list for next time.

National Gallery of Canada

This was by far my favourite gallery in Ottawa, and the one I'd tell you not to miss. The artwork is extraordinary, and the building itself is a piece of art.

My biggest tip: give it a full day. The gallery is huge, and I didn't plan nearly enough time, so I felt rushed the whole way through. I could easily have spent all day.

Ava's highlight came before we even stepped inside. Maman, Louise Bourgeois's giant spider sculpture, stands outside the entrance, and she recognized it right away from a show she'd recently watched. Seeing it in person was a thrill.

Good to know: The Royal Canadian Mint is just down the street on Sussex Drive, so the two pair nicely if you have time left over.

Ottawa Art Gallery

Free admission and an interesting collection of contemporary art make this one an easy yes. It's a smaller gallery, so you can see it in an hour or less without feeling rushed.

It was also right next door to our hotel, Le Germain, which made it especially handy to pop in.

Canadian War Museum

The immersive experience here is top-tier, and the building alone is worth the visit. The architecture is stunning, and the displays are thoughtfully put together.

I'll be honest: seeing images of war really bothers me, so I moved through this one quickly. But if you're interested in the subject, I can promise you'll enjoy it. Don't skip the bottom level, where you can see military vehicles and submarines up close. Even rushing through, I found that part fascinating.

Canadian Museum of History

This one was a highlight for all of us. The museum is full of West Coast Indigenous art, and you can walk through enormous longhouses that make you feel like you've stepped into somewhere else entirely.

There's also an IMAX theatre inside. We watched a film about sharks, and Ava loved it.

The museum is technically in Gatineau, Quebec, but it's just a short Uber ride or a walk across the bridge from downtown Ottawa. Leave time to explore outside, too. The grounds are beautiful, with lots of paths and gorgeous views back across the river to Ottawa.

More Ottawa Museums Worth Adding to Your List

We ran out of time for these on this trip, but each one is high on our list for next time.

Canadian Museum of Nature

Dinosaurs, a complete blue whale skeleton, and live insects all under one roof make this a natural pick for families. The museum is set in a striking castle-like building that once served as Canada's Parliament, about a 20-minute walk from Parliament Hill.

Inside are four floors of galleries covering Canada's geology, wildlife and fossils, including dazzling gems and minerals, Pacific tide pool creatures and incredibly lifelike dioramas of Canadian mammals and birds.

Good to know: General admission has been free on Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm. Check the museum's website before you go, since hours can change.

Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Imagine walking through a four-story bunker buried underground, built in secret to protect Canada's government during a nuclear attack. That's the Diefenbunker. Built in the early 1960s, it served as the country's central communications headquarters during the Cold War and, thankfully, never had to be used for its intended purpose.

Today it's a National Historic Site and museum. You enter through a long blast tunnel and can explore rooms that look much as they did during the Cold War. The museum also runs escape rooms if you want to turn your visit into a game.

Good to know: The Diefenbunker is in Carp, about 30 km west of downtown Ottawa, so you'll need a car to get there.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

More than 130 aircraft fill this museum, the largest aviation collection in Canada. Highlights include a restored Second World War Lancaster bomber, the nose section of the legendary Avro Arrow and the original Canadarm used on the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

The museum sits on a former military air base about 5 km northeast of downtown. There's also a flight simulator if you want to try your hand in the cockpit.

Good to know: Admission has been free daily from 4 to 5 pm, and the museum has been closed on Tuesdays. Double-check current hours before you go.

Bytown Museum

Tucked beside the Rideau Canal locks, right where the canal meets the Ottawa River, this little museum has one of the prettiest settings in the city. It's housed in Ottawa's oldest stone building, built in 1827 to store supplies during the canal's construction.

The museum tells the story of how a rough canal settlement called Bytown grew into Canada's capital. Look for the original stone vault on the main floor, which once stored money, supplies, and gunpowder for the canal project.

Good to know: It's just below Parliament Hill and next to the Château Laurier, so it's easy to pair with a walk along the canal.

Royal Canadian Mint

Where else can you hold a solid gold bar worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? At the Mint's Ottawa headquarters, which has been making coins in the same historic building since 1908, you can do exactly that.

Guided tours last about 45 minutes and walk you through how collector coins, gold and silver bullion, and medals are made. On weekdays, you may be able to watch coins being produced, depending on the production schedule. The Ottawa location makes collector and commemorative coins, while everyday circulation coins are made in Winnipeg.

Good to know: Booking ahead is recommended. The Mint is on Sussex Drive near the ByWard Market, a short walk from the National Gallery.

Tips for Planning Your Ottawa Museum Days

• Pair museums by neighbourhood. The National Gallery and the Royal Canadian Mint are neighbours on Sussex Drive. The Bytown Museum and Ottawa Art Gallery are both right downtown. The Canadian Museum of History is just across the river.
• Plan for a car for two of them. The Diefenbunker and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum are outside the downtown core.
• Don't underestimate the big ones. The National Gallery and the Canadian Museum of History can each easily fill most of a day.
• Look for free hours. Several museums offer free admission at certain times, so check websites before you go.