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OttawaMuseums & exhibitions

Our most recommended Ottawa Museums & exhibitions

Ottawa: Best of Ottawa Small Group Tour with River Cruise

1. Ottawa: Best of Ottawa Small Group Tour with River Cruise

Enjoy a half-day tour to visit some of Ottawa's most popular attractions including various Parliament buildings. After exploring these landmarks, take part in a canal cruise and catch a glimpse of must-see sites throughout the capital city. Start the day with pickup from your downtown Ottawa hotel. While heading to your first stop on the tour, which is Parliament Hill, your guide will give you your first introduction to the city. They are able to answer questions, provide you with fun facts and point out important landmarks and sites. On your tour of the Parliament headquarters, get a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the-art facilities. There will be plenty of free time available where you can explore the surrounding buildings, wander the grounds, and capture some amazing photos of the nearby sites.  Finish the day with a relaxing 1.5-hour river cruise that will have you leisurely floating down Rideau Canal (seasonal availability from mid-May to mid-October). After your memorable experience, your tour guide will take you back to your downtown Ottawa hotel.

Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature Admission

2. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature Admission

Discover Canada’s diverse nature under one roof when you visit the Canadian Museum of Nature. Located a 20-minute walk from Parliament Hill and easily accessible by public transportation or car, the museum offers world-class galleries housed in a striking historic “castle” that once served as Canada’s Parliament. Explore 4 floors full of galleries showcasing the geology, ecology, and paleontology of Canada as live exhibits. Your admission includes access to all permanent galleries as well as the special exhibition, “Rendez-vous hiboux”. Encounter giant dinosaurs, iconic Canadian mammals, a complete blue whale skeleton, dazzling gems and minerals, Canadian birds, live insects, Pacific tide pool creatures, and more. Discover the mysteries of water and Earth, as well as the creatures that inhabit our planet now and in the past. Touch real ice and immerse yourself in Canada’s Arctic in the spectacular "Canada Goose Arctic Gallery", an Ontario Signature Experience. Explore Canada's mysterious, vulnerable and unique Arctic through immersive hands-on and interactive displays. Additional Option: Special Exhibit: Under the Canopy – Animals of the Rainforest Venture into the rainforest in this engaging exhibition where you’ll meet some of the fascinating animals that live under the canopy. Explore the importance of rainforests for the planet. See 15 species of live creatures in their attractive habitats, including snakes, geckos, an iguana, and a two-toed sloth! Learn about biodiversity, ecology, and why rainforest conservation is vital. Through interactive games, discover species at risk, how slow species survive, and cold-blooded vs. warm-blooded animals. Four giant sculptures provide fun photo ops. Pose next to a gorilla. Children will love climbing on top of a huge frog, crocodile or tortoise. The exhibition was developed by Little Ray’s Nature Centres.

Ottawa: Canadian War Museum Admission

3. Ottawa: Canadian War Museum Admission

The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Designed by Japanese–Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, the Museum’s structure and surrounding grounds reflect the concept of regeneration. From windows spelling out “Lest We Forget / N’oublions jamais” in Morse code, to uneven floors and rough concrete walls, the building acknowledges the price of conflict, while also showing hope for a more peaceful future. The Museum brings Canada’s military history to life for visitors of all ages through thousands of personal stories, objects, works of art, photographs, interactive presentations, and immersive environments. In addition to a series of galleries exploring Canadian military history from early wars in Canada to contemporary conflicts, the Museum features an impressive collection of large artillery and military vehicles in the LeBreton Gallery, as well as thought-provoking temporary exhibitions on everything from the First and Second World Wars to art produced by women in conflict zones. Memorial Hall and several additional spaces in the Museum encourage quiet reflection on the cost of war. To stand in the presence of the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier in Memorial Hall is a powerful and moving experience, as is experiencing the Moriyama Regeneration Hall and visiting the Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour. The Canadian War Museum’s collections are among the finest military holdings in the world, comprising rare vehicles, artillery, uniforms, medals, small arms, and rare books and archives, as well as the outstanding Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. In addition to showcasing exhibitions from around the world, the Museum hosts vehicle demonstrations, scholarly lectures, engaging family programming, and a wide range of special events.

Gatineau: Canadian Museum of History Admission

4. Gatineau: Canadian Museum of History Admission

The Canadian Museum of History is Canada’s national museum of human history. Located in Gatineau, Quebec, along the scenic riverfront across from Parliament Hill, the Museum is housed in an iconic building designed by Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal. The Museum is one of Canada’s most popular cultural institutions, with a collection of more than 4 million items — including archaeological material, cultural objects, works of art, documents, and audiovisual material. In collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, the Museum shares the stories of the resilience and diversity of Indigenous cultures and histories across Canada. The Museum has the world’s largest indoor display of monumental poles, six traditional Native house fronts arranged in the shape of a 19th-century Northwest Coast village, contemporary works of Indigenous art, and a gallery dedicated to the achievements and traditions of Indigenous Peoples. The Museum is also home to the popular Canadian History Hall — a stunning showcase that provides access to 15,000 years of social history through personal stories and 1,500 authentic artifacts, many of which are national treasures. The Museum’s exhibitions examine the events, personalities and cultures that have shaped Canada. Sharing stories through multiple perspectives and voices, the Museum celebrates Canadian achievements while also exploring some of the country’s darker chapters. The Museum is also a destination of choice for major international exhibitions, which are often produced in partnership with the world’s most renowned institutions. In addition, you can explore the world through play with your children at the Canadian Children’s Museum and watch an inspiring, larger-than-life documentary films at Ciné+.

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What people are saying about Ottawa

Loved that we travelled in a mini van as it allowed us to easily travel around Ottawa. Also, a smaller vehicle made the experience much more intimate and converse easily with our guide. There were opportunities to get out at Rideau Canal locks, Parliament Hill and the War Memorial. We drove past many of Ottawa’s historic sites and notable buildings, Jason our guide, provided lots of commentary and information. Being in a smaller vehicle allowed us to drive around the neighbourhood where all the ambassadors live, large tour buses are not allowed in there. This was an unexpected but amazing part of the tour. The Rideau Canal tour was also excellent and very enjoyable as welll.

This was a very informative and fun tour. Jason, our guide, was knowledgeable in many aspects of Canadian history and current events. Was great about answering questions ( we had a lot) and kept the walking pace easy as we are an older couple. The boat ride was nice and relaxing but Jason was the best part. We learned so much from him. He was excellent.

Very emotional experience in learning the dark history of Canada's indigenous population being persecuted and oppressed, which still is ongoing today. But the overall, museum experience was fantastic in every way and suitable for all ages, also very good value for money.

If you are interested in history and wars expect to pass more than 3 hours in there. Really well done.

Very interesting and good for teenagers and family