The Canadian Museum of Nature occupies the Victoria Memorial Museum Building, a turreted limestone landmark on McLeod Street that once housed Canada's Parliament after the fire of 1916. Today it is the country's national natural history museum, with four floors of permanent galleries on Canada's natural diversity. Its dinosaur and fossil galleries are the big draw for families, and there are marine life displays, bird and mammal exhibits, minerals and a gallery on Arctic life. Special exhibitions run alongside: at this time Wild Colour is on through 10 January 2027, and The Power of Knowledge: Innovation and Community runs until 6 September 2027. The museum is walkable from Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, and its interactive displays suit all ages. It is a good warm refuge on a cold November day.
Planning: the museum is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed on Tuesdays, according to the current Tiqets listing, so confirm on the official site if your dates are tight. An entry ticket and a combination ticket with the Canadian War Museum are available through Tiqets. The Thursday late opening is a good way to see it after the other museums have closed.
What to prioritise: start with the Fossil Gallery for dinosaurs and ancient life, then the mammal and bird galleries, then the geology and mineral rooms, whose gems glow on a dark winter afternoon. The Arctic gallery is a good counterpoint to a snowy visit. Interactive displays and hands-on areas keep children engaged, and the building itself, with its sweeping stairs and towers, is part of the attraction.
Fitting it in: the museum is a ten-to-fifteen minute walk from the Rideau Centre and Parliament Hill, or a short drive. Most visitors spend two to three hours, but families with young children often stay longer. Pair it with the Canadian War Museum on a combined ticket or with a canal walk. Check the museum website for current special exhibition ticketing, since these can be separate from general admission.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced walk through four floors of natural history galleries in a historic castle-style building, with special exhibitions.
Best time
A weekday morning, or Thursday evening when the museum stays open until 8 p.m.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with young children.
Tips
Check the Tuesday closure, consider a combo with the War Museum and look at the special exhibition tickets separately.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and anyone who likes dinosaurs, minerals and natural history.
- Families
- One of the best family stops in Ottawa, with dinosaur skeletons and hands-on areas.
- Couples
- Visit on a Thursday evening for a quieter pace and dinner afterward.
- Pair with
- The Canadian War Museum on a combo ticket, or the Rideau Canal walk nearby.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Which day is the museum closed?+
According to the current Tiqets listing, the museum is closed on Tuesdays and stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Confirm on the official site before you go.
What special exhibitions are on?+
Wild Colour runs through 10 January 2027 and The Power of Knowledge: Innovation and Community runs through 6 September 2027. Special exhibition tickets may be separate.
Is it good for young children?+
Yes. The dinosaurs and interactive displays are popular with children, and the museum is a good indoor option in cold weather.
Can I combine tickets?+
Tiqets lists a combination ticket with the Canadian War Museum. It suits visitors doing both on one trip.
Where is it?+
It is at 240 McLeod Street in downtown Ottawa, a short walk from the Rideau Canal and about fifteen minutes from Parliament Hill.
