A free, interactive museum exploring economics and monetary history. Home to the National Currency Collection with over 110,000 artifacts, plus hands-on exhibits including a rocket ship inflation simulator and a design-your-own banknote station.

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#museum#indoor#history

Attraction$3-$10

Bytown Museum

Downtown

Ottawa's oldest history museum, housed in the 1827 Commissariat Building at the foot of the Ottawa Locks. Tells the story of how Bytown became Canada's capital, from the construction of the Rideau Canal through the city's transformation into Ottawa.

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Attraction$12.25-$14.50

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Glebe

A working farm in the heart of Ottawa, part of the Central Experimental Farm. Home to cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and rabbits. Especially popular in spring when baby animals are born. Free daily admission 4-5 PM.

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Attraction$11.50-$16.75

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Rockcliffe

Canada's largest aviation collection with over 130 aircraft, the original Canadarm from Space Shuttle Endeavour, and the largest surviving piece of the Avro Arrow. Free admission daily from 4-5 PM.

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Attraction$12.25-$19

Canada Science and Technology Museum

East End

Canada's national science and technology museum, part of the Ingenium network. Features interactive galleries, a children's innovation zone, transportation exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations. Free daily admission 4-5 PM.

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Attraction$17-$24

Canadian Museum of History

Gatineau

Canada's national museum of human history, located across the river in Gatineau with sweeping views of Parliament Hill. Features the Canadian History Hall, an immersive Canadian Children's Museum, and the Grand Hall with the world's largest indoor collection of totem poles. Free Thursday evenings 5-7 PM.

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Attraction$12-$24

Canadian Museum of Nature

Downtown

Canada's national natural history museum, housed in a landmark Victorian sandstone building. Features dinosaur fossils, a blue whale skeleton, the world's largest display of Canadian birds, and an Arctic gallery. Free Thursday evenings 5-8 PM for all.

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Attraction$15-$22

Canadian War Museum

Downtown

Canada's national museum of military history, featuring four chronological galleries, a massive vehicle hall, and the architecturally striking Memorial Hall. Free admission every Thursday 5-7 PM.

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Attraction$13-$19.50

Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

Kanata

A four-storey underground bunker built in 1959 as Canada's emergency government headquarters during the Cold War. Now a National Historic Site, it offers self-guided tours, guided tours, and an escape room experience 75 feet below ground.

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Attraction$7.50-$22

National Gallery of Canada

Downtown

Canada's premier art museum, housed in a landmark Moshe Safdie glass-and-granite building on Sussex Drive. Home to the world's most comprehensive collection of Canadian and Indigenous art, plus European masterworks and contemporary pieces — over 93,000 works in total. Free every Thursday evening 5–8 PM.

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Attraction

Ottawa Art Gallery

Downtown

Ottawa's municipal art gallery, always free to visit. Features rotating exhibitions of Canadian, local, and international contemporary art. Open late Wednesday through Saturday until 9 PM. Located downtown near the Rideau Centre.

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Things to Do (5)

Ottawa Guide

March 5, 2026

Rainy Day Activities in Ottawa

A guide to the best indoor activities in Ottawa for rainy days, from world-class museums and a free art gallery to a Cold War bunker and indoor markets. No weather required.

#indoor#museum#free

Family Fun

March 5, 2026

Best Things to Do with Kids in Ottawa

A guide to the best kid-friendly activities in Ottawa, from dinosaur museums and working farms to hands-on science exhibits and free outdoor spaces. Includes ages, prices, and tips for families.

#family#kids#museum

Ottawa Guide

March 4, 2026

Best Museums in Ottawa

A guide to the best museums in Ottawa, from national institutions with world-class collections to hidden gems like a Cold War bunker and a working farm. Includes admission prices, free hours, and tips for visiting.

#museum#indoor#family

Ottawa Guide

March 4, 2026

Free Things to Do in Ottawa

A guide to the best free things to do in Ottawa, from national museums with free admission windows to parks, markets, and landmarks that cost nothing to visit.

#free#family#museum

Best Things to Do in Ottawa During March Break 2026

Family Fun

March 4, 2026

Best Things to Do in Ottawa During March Break 2026

A guide to family-friendly March Break activities in Ottawa, from free museums and interactive exhibits to sugar shacks and live shows.

#free#family#indoor