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Free museums and galleries in Ottawa: times and ticket rules
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Compare three Ottawa art and museum visits, including what to see, free admission times, locations, and ticket requirements.
Explore Ottawa museums →Silent video with English on-screen text and AI-assisted illustrations. Illustrations are not on-site footage.
Before you go
- Ottawa Art Gallery is a free daytime art option near the Rideau Centre; check opening hours and Monday closures.
- National Gallery of Canada offers free admission Thursdays from 5–8 PM; a free ticket is required.
- Canadian Museum of Nature offers free general admission Thursdays from 5–8 PM; every visitor needs a ticket.
Video text
Three free museum and gallery options in Ottawa. Here's how to choose.
Ottawa Art Gallery is near the Rideau Centre, and admission is always free. Choose it when you want a daytime art stop. It's closed Mondays, so check the hours.
For Canadian and Indigenous art, choose the National Gallery of Canada on Sussex Drive. Thursday admission is free from five to eight p.m. You still need a free ticket, online or at the box office.
For dinosaurs and fossils, choose the Canadian Museum of Nature on McLeod Street. General admission is free Thursdays from five to eight p.m. Every visitor needs a ticket, even when it's free.
Daytime art: Ottawa Art Gallery. Thursday art: National Gallery. Dinosaurs and natural history: Museum of Nature.
Use the official links below to check tickets and plan your visit.
Plan your visit
Sources and updates
Hours, admission, and availability can change. Check the official sources before heading out.
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