The Best Ottawa Museums for Families: Where to Go and What to Expect
Ottawa has more national museums per square kilometre than any other city in Canada, and most of them are genuinely good for families. The trick is knowing which ones match your kids' ages, how long to budget, and which are worth the admission price. This guide covers the major museums, what works for different age groups, and how to plan a museum day that does not end in a meltdown.
Canadian Museum of History
Located at 100 Laurier Street in Gatineau, just across the Alexandra Bridge from downtown Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of History is the top pick for families. The building sits on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, and the walk across the bridge is part of the experience, with panoramic views of Parliament Hill.
The museum has two main draws for families. The Grand Hall on the main floor features full-size reproductions of West Coast Indigenous architecture, including towering totem poles that immediately capture attention, even from toddlers. The scale of the room is impressive, and kids respond to it.
Downstairs, the Canadian Children's Museum is one of the best children's museums in the country. It is designed for ages 3 to 12 and built around the concept of a journey around the world. Kids walk through recreated environments from different countries, including a Pakistani rickshaw, a Nigerian market stall, and a Japanese house. There are costumes to try on, stamps to collect in a passport, and hands-on activities in every section. Plan for at least 90 minutes in the Children's Museum alone.
Adult admission is approximately $23, children ages 3 to 12 are $14, and kids under 3 are free. Thursday evenings after 4 p.m. offer reduced admission. The museum has a cafeteria with reasonable prices and decent food, plus a gift shop that is well stocked without being overwhelming.
Best for: All ages, but especially families with kids ages 3 to 10. Budget 2 to 3 hours total.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum at 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard reopened after a major renovation and is now one of the most interactive museums in the city. The building is about a 15-minute drive from downtown, or reachable by bus (Route 86 from Hurdman Station).
The exhibits are heavily hands-on. The Crazy Kitchen, where the entire room is tilted at an angle but the furniture appears level, has been delighting kids for decades. The Steam: A World in Motion gallery has full-size locomotives. The technology and innovation floors have building stations, coding activities, and physics demonstrations.
Unlike the downtown museums, this one requires a transit ride or a car to reach, so factor that into your day. It is spacious and rarely feels crowded, even on weekends. Adult admission is around $18, children 3 to 17 are $12.
Best for: Kids ages 5 to 14. Younger children enjoy it too, but the interactive exhibits work best with kids who can read instructions and manipulate objects. Budget 2 to 3 hours.
Canadian Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature at 240 McLeod Street sits at the southern end of Metcalfe Street, about a 15-minute walk from Parliament Hill. The building itself is a beautiful Victorian structure with a modern glass addition, and the dinosaur gallery on the upper floor is the main draw for kids.
The Fossil Gallery has several complete dinosaur skeletons, including a large Tyrannosaurus rex cast that dominates the room. The Water Gallery features a life-size blue whale skeleton. The Bird Gallery has interactive stations where kids can listen to bird calls and examine feather structures.
There is also a small but good Nature Live area on the main floor with live animals, including turtles, frogs, and insects that kids can observe up close. Staff are usually on hand to answer questions.
The museum is well laid out for families. Stroller access is good throughout, there is a coat check near the entrance, and the cafeteria on the lower level has high chairs and a kids' menu. Adult admission is about $17, children 3 to 17 are $12. Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. offer free admission.
Best for: All ages. The dinosaurs work for toddlers through teenagers. Budget 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada at 380 Sussex Drive is not a typical family museum, but it can work surprisingly well with kids if you approach it the right way. The building, designed by Moshe Safdie, is filled with natural light and open spaces that feel welcoming rather than stuffy.
Start with the Contemporary Art galleries on the upper floors, where the installations are large, colourful, and often interactive in ways that engage children. The Rideau Street Chapel, a fully reconstructed 19th-century chapel inside the museum, is visually striking and holds kids' attention for a few minutes.
The gallery often runs family programs on weekends, including art-making workshops and guided tours designed for children. Check the National Gallery website for current programming. Adult admission is around $16, youth 12 to 17 are $10, and children under 12 enter free.
Best for: Families with kids ages 6 and up, or any age if you keep the visit short (60 to 90 minutes) and focus on the interactive elements.
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum at 1 Vimy Place is a powerful museum that works best for older children and teenagers. The exhibits on World War I, World War II, and peacekeeping are detailed and sometimes confronting. There is a tank gallery with full-size military vehicles that younger kids find exciting, but the emotional weight of the other galleries requires a certain maturity.
The building itself, designed by Raymond Moriyama, is architecturally fascinating. The roofline is planted with grass and slopes toward the Ottawa River, and there are sight lines built into the structure that align with specific landmarks, including the Peace Tower.
Adult admission is approximately $18, children 3 to 17 are $13. The museum is about a 20-minute walk west of Parliament Hill along the river pathway, or one stop on the LRT to Pimisi Station followed by a short walk.
Best for: Families with kids ages 10 and up. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum at 11 Aviation Parkway is located near the Rockcliffe neighbourhood, about a 15-minute drive northeast of downtown. It houses one of the best collections of aircraft in the country, with planes ranging from early biplanes to modern fighter jets displayed in a massive hangar.
Kids can sit in a cockpit replica, watch flight simulators, and walk among aircraft that span the entire history of aviation. In summer, biplane rides are available for an additional fee. The museum is spacious and uncrowded, making it a stress-free option for families with active kids.
Adult admission is about $17, children 3 to 17 are $12. It is harder to reach by transit, so a car or Uber is recommended.
Best for: Kids ages 4 to 14, especially those interested in planes and space. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours.
Planning a Museum Day
Two museums in one day is the sweet spot for most families. Three is possible but risks exhaustion. If you only have time for one, choose the Museum of History for younger kids or the Museum of Nature for dinosaur-obsessed ones.
Consider buying a museum passport if you plan to visit three or more. The Canadian Museum of History and the War Museum offer a combined ticket at a discount. Several of the national museums also offer free admission on certain evenings or on Canada Day (July 1).
Pack snacks. Museum cafeterias are fine but expensive, and having a granola bar in your bag can prevent a hangry breakdown at 2:30 p.m. Most museums have water fountains and clean washrooms on every floor.
For a broader family itinerary that includes museums and outdoor activities, see our family weekend guide. If you are visiting with older kids who can handle more walking, our 48-hour Ottawa itinerary incorporates museum stops into a full weekend plan. And for families planning to explore beyond the city, check our best day trips for families.