Free Things to Do in Ottawa

Ottawa is one of the best cities in Canada for free things to do. The national capital is home to world-class museums, historic landmarks, and kilometres of waterfront pathways — and a surprising amount of it costs nothing.

This guide covers the best free activities in Ottawa, from museums with permanent free admission to those with free evening windows, plus parks, markets, and landmarks that are always free to visit.

Always Free

These places are free every day, no special timing required.

Bank of Canada Museum

The Bank of Canada Museum is completely free, year-round. It's one of Ottawa's most underrated attractions — far more interactive than you'd expect from a museum about money.

Kids can design their own banknotes, launch a rocket ship to learn about inflation, and use an interactive wristband that personalizes their visit. Adults will find the economics exhibits genuinely engaging. The museum is small enough to visit in about an hour, making it easy to fit into any day downtown.

• Location: 30 Bank Street (at Wellington)
• Hours: Wed–Sun 10 AM – 5 PM
• Cost: Always free

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill offers free guided tours of the West Block (House of Commons) and the Senate of Canada Building. It's a chance to walk through the halls where Canadian laws are made — and the Gothic Revival architecture is worth seeing on its own.

The grounds are open year-round. The Centennial Flame, the river views over to Gatineau, and the sprawling lawns are all free to enjoy anytime.

• Tours: Free, book ahead at visit.parl.ca
• Note: Government photo ID required for adults. Arrive 25–30 minutes early for security

Ottawa City Hall

Ottawa City Hall houses two free art galleries on its main level — the City Hall Art Gallery and the Karsh-Masson Gallery. Both feature rotating exhibitions by professional artists and are open daily 9 AM – 5 PM with free admission.

The building itself, designed by Moshe Safdie, is worth a look. Jean Pigott Place, the public square in front, hosts seasonal events throughout the year.

Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ottawa's defining landmarks. Walking, running, and cycling along its pathways is free year-round.

In summer, the canal is lined with joggers, cyclists, and families strolling between Dow's Lake and the Parliament Hill locks. In winter, a 7.8 km stretch becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway — the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink. Skating is free; you just need your own skates (or rent a pair nearby).

Commissioners Park

Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake is a beautiful green space year-round, but it's best known as the home of the Canadian Tulip Festival. Every May, over 300,000 tulips bloom across 26 flower beds — and walking through them is completely free.

Outside of tulip season, the park has pathways along the water, benches, and views of the lake. It connects to the Rideau Canal pathway network.

See our guide to the Tulip Festival → for dates and details.

Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall is the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, set on 32 hectares of gardens, forests, and grounds in Rockcliffe. The grounds are open daily from 8 AM to one hour before sunset — free, no reservation needed.

Free guided tours of the state rooms are available (schedule varies by season — summer has the most tours). The grounds include flower gardens, a heritage greenhouse, a picnic area with playground, and a free outdoor skating rink in winter. It's one of Ottawa's quietest and most beautiful green spaces.

• Location: 1 Sussex Drive, Rockcliffe
• Hours: Grounds open daily 8 AM to one hour before sunset
• Tours: Free, contact [email protected] or 1-866-842-4422 for times

ByWard Market

The ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. Walking through the market — browsing vendors, checking out street art, soaking in the atmosphere — is free.

The indoor ByWard Market Building is open year-round with food vendors and shops. In warmer months, outdoor stalls sell produce, flowers, and crafts. It's a good destination for a free afternoon of wandering, even if you don't buy anything.

Free on Thursday Evenings

Several of Ottawa's major museums offer free admission on Thursday evenings. This is legitimately one of the best deals in the city — you get access to world-class collections without paying a cent.

National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is free every Thursday from 5–8 PM. The collection includes Canadian, Indigenous, and European art, plus the famous reconstructed Rideau Street Convent Chapel. Thursday evenings often include live music, free art-making activities, and themed tours.

• Free hours: Thursday 5–8 PM
• Regular admission: $16–$20
• Location: 380 Sussex Drive

Canadian War Museum

The Canadian War Museum offers free admission every Thursday from 5–7 PM. The LeBreton Gallery — a massive hall filled with tanks, armoured vehicles, and a fighter jet suspended from the ceiling — is worth the visit alone.

• Free hours: Thursday 5–7 PM
• Regular admission: $15–$22
• Location: 1 Vimy Place

Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature is free every Thursday from 5–8 PM. Highlights include dinosaur skeletons, a full blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling, and over 450 Canadian bird species on display.

• Free hours: Thursday 5–8 PM
• Regular admission: $12–$24
• Location: 240 McLeod Street

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau is free every Thursday from 5–7 PM. It's Canada's most-visited museum, and it's just a 15-minute walk from Parliament Hill across the Alexandra Bridge.

The Grand Hall — with floor-to-ceiling windows facing Parliament Hill and the world's largest indoor collection of totem poles — is worth the visit alone. The Canadian History Hall spans 15,000 years, and the Canadian Children's Museum is one of Ottawa's best destinations for kids.

• Free hours: Thursday 5–7 PM
• Regular admission: $17–$24
• Location: 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau

Planning a Thursday Museum Crawl

You can realistically visit two museums in one Thursday evening if you plan it right. A few options:

• War Museum (5 PM) → National Gallery (6:30 PM) — Both are near each other along the Ottawa River. Walk or take a short bus ride between them
• Museum of History (5 PM) → National Gallery (6:30 PM) — Walk across the Alexandra Bridge from Gatineau back to Sussex Drive
• Museum of Nature (5 PM) → National Gallery (6:30 PM) — The Museum of Nature is a 15-minute walk south of downtown; head north to Sussex Drive after

The War Museum and Museum of History close their free windows at 7 PM (earlier than the others), so start with one of those if you want to hit two.

Free Daily Window

Three museums in the Ingenium network offer free admission every day from 4–5 PM. It's a short window, but each museum is manageable in an hour if you focus on the highlights.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum offers free admission every day from 4–5 PM. The museum houses over 130 aircraft, the original Canadarm, and the nose section of the Avro Arrow.

• Free hours: Daily 4–5 PM
• Regular admission: $11.50–$19
• Location: 11 Aviation Parkway, Rockcliffe
• Tip: Arrive around 3:30 PM, browse the gift shop, then enter the galleries at 4

Canada Science and Technology Museum

The Canada Science and Technology Museum is free every day from 4–5 PM. A great choice for families — exhibits are designed to be touched, tested, and experimented with. Highlights include the Zoom children's innovation zone, the Crazy Kitchen (a tilted room that plays tricks on your balance), and vintage locomotives in the transportation gallery.

• Free hours: Daily 4–5 PM
• Regular admission: $12.25–$19
• Location: 1867 St Laurent Blvd, East End

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is free every day from 4–5 PM. It's a working farm in the heart of Ottawa — you walk between barns to visit cows, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and rabbits. Especially popular in spring when baby animals are born (late March through May).

• Free hours: Daily 4–5 PM
• Regular admission: $12.25–$14.50
• Location: 901 Prince of Wales Drive, The Glebe

Free Seasonal Events

Ottawa hosts several major free events throughout the year:

• Canadian Tulip Festival (May) — Over a million tulips across the city. Free admission to Commissioners Park. See our guide →
• Vanier Sugar Festival (March) — Ottawa's only urban sugar shack. Free admission with maple taffy, live music, and lumberjack competitions
• Canada Day on Parliament Hill (July 1) — Free concerts, ceremonies, and fireworks on the Hill
• Winterlude (February) — Ice sculptures, skating, and snow activities across the city. Most activities are free
• Changing of the Guard (summer) — Free daily ceremony on Parliament Hill

Tips for Free Ottawa

• Thursday is your best day — Four major museums are free in the evening. Pick one or try to hit two
• Bring a lunch — Museum cafeterias are pricey. Pack a lunch and eat in the seating areas or nearby parks
• Walk downtown — Parliament Hill, the National Gallery, ByWard Market, and the Rideau Canal locks are all within a 15-minute walk of each other
• Check for special promotions — Museums sometimes offer free or discounted admission during March Break, Heritage Day, and other holidays. Check individual websites before visiting
• Ottawa Museums Passport — Not free, but if you plan to visit multiple museums at full price, the passport can save money. Available at participating museums