Best Museums in Ottawa

Located just across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, this Museum showcases Canada's social and human history. Visitors should explore the impressive grand hall featuring towering totem poles and learn about indigenous cultures and Canadian achievements.

The Museum of Civilization (Canadian Museum of History) is a significant museum in Ottawa.

An impressive museum housed in a castle-like building featuring exhibits on Canada's diverse flora and fauna. Visitors can explore galleries dedicated to dinosaurs, mammals, birds, and minerals and enjoy interactive displays and temporary exhibitions.

The Kids' Museum is located within the Canadian Museum of Civilization, offering attractions for children.

The Canadian War Museum explores Canada's military past, with exhibits covering conflicts from the 16th century to modern peacekeeping roles, and includes a collection of military vehicles.

Discover the thrilling evolution of flight at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, home to an incredible collection of aircraft and space artifacts. It's a must-see for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs.

Main hall in Canada Aviation and Space Museum that shows how Canadian aviation has changed from the early 1900s to today.

Located in the Canadian Museum of Nature and features diaramas of Canadian animals.

The First People's Hall in the Canadian Museum of History showcases the diverse history of Canada's first peoples.

Located in the Canadian Museum of History and shows key events, Canadian personalities, and diverse experiences of real people.

A kid-focused museum inside the Canadian Museum of History offering interactive exhibits about different world cultures where kids can freely touch, play, and explore.

Housed in the 1827 Commissariat Building, it marks the beginning of Ottawa and was the depot for British engineers constructing the Ottawa locks.

Once the residence of two Canadian prime ministers, showcasing period furniture and the third floor library used as his private office.

Delve into the fascinating world of money and economics at the Bank of Canada Museum. Explore interactive exhibits on Canada's financial history and the role of its central bank.

A recently renovated interactive Museum that explores Canada's technological innovations and scientific discoveries. Visitors can engage with Hands-On exhibits, see vintage locomotives, and learn about Canada's contributions to space exploration.

Located in Quebec, this museum allows visitors to explore recreations of Canada's past, including log cabins and 1800s storefronts.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature featuring dinosaur skeletons and fossils.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature showcasing climate, geography, and first nation's perspective on the Arctic region.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature featuring over 450 species of birds.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature with a display of minerals and rocks including a Moon Rock.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature featuring a massive blue whale skeleton.

An exhibit within the Canadian Museum of Nature featuring grizzly bears, wolverines, bison, and caribou.

The Museum of History is technically in Gatineau, but it has a really awesome kids section and is one of the seven national museums.

The Museum of Nature is one of the seven national museums in Ottawa.

The Science and Technology Museum is one of the seven national museums in Ottawa.

The Aviation and Space Museum is one of the seven national museums in Ottawa.

The Agriculture and Food Museum is one of the seven national museums in Ottawa.

Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum, is located in a large underground facility constructed in the early 1960s to protect the Canadian government in the event of a nuclear war and now houses a museum dedicated to the Cold War era.

A preserved Cold War-era bunker built to house government officials in the event of a nuclear attack. It offers a fascinating and chilling glimpse into a period of intense global tension.

Explore Canada's military history from ancient times to the present day through compelling exhibits, artifacts, and personal stories. It offers a comprehensive and moving perspective on the nation's role in global conflicts.

Ignite your curiosity with interactive exhibits covering everything from space exploration to digital technology and Canadian innovation. It's a fun and educational destination for families and science enthusiasts.

Explore Canada's rich aviation and space heritage with a vast collection of aircraft and space artifacts. From early bush planes to modern jets, it's a thrilling journey through flight history.

A fascinating Cold War-era bunker built to protect Canada's leaders during a nuclear attack, now a museum that reveals Canada's Cold War history and features an escape room.

A museum housing actual war and civilian planes dating back to the early 1900s, including the Avro Lancaster X and the space suit of astronaut Chris Hatfield, with interactive exhibits on space and aviation.

An underground bunker built during the Cold War, designed to house key government personnel in the event of a nuclear attack, now open to the public as a museum.

A world of art wonders with 40,000 pieces, including Inuit sculptures and modern marvels, and a giant spider sculpture outside.

A former underground nuclear bunker that has been transformed into a fascinating Museum chronicling Canada's role during the Cold War. Visitors can tour the impressive four-story bunker, see the prime minister's Suite or for a unique experience book an escape room.

The Silver Dart, the first plane to fly in Canada, is on display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

The Carlton County Jail offers a historical view of escapes, executions, and riots.