Sight guide · Ottawa · Canada
Visiting Canadian Museum of History
Douglas Cardinal's curving, wave-like building on the Gatineau riverbank holds one of Canada's most-visited museums.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Canadian Museum of History is a museum in Old Hull, Gatineau, Ottawa. Allow 3 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Old Hull, Gatineau
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, kids, rainy day and architecture
- Best months
- May and December–January
About Canadian Museum of History
Douglas Cardinal's curving, wave-like building on the Gatineau riverbank holds one of Canada's most-visited museums. Its Grand Hall has a row of Pacific Northwest totem poles in front of a wall of windows facing Parliament, and the Canadian History Hall covers 15,000 years. The Canadian Children's Museum is in the same building.
Tip: Walk across the Alexandra Bridge from the National Gallery; the view of Parliament from the bridge is one of the city's best.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Old Hull, Gatineau, french-speaking Quebec bars and the Museum of History across the river.
Best time to visit Canadian Museum of History
Canadian Museum of History is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- December: -3°C (27°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- May: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, busy crowds.
- January: -6°C (21°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Ottawa has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Ottawa itinerary visits Canadian Museum of History on day 2, together with Rideau Canal Skateway, National Gallery of Canada and ByWard Market.
- No. 5 of the 18 sights in our Ottawa things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in museums in Ottawa.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Ottawa.
- A family favourite in Ottawa with kids.
If you like Canadian Museum of History
- Parliament Hill — Downtown and Parliament Hill, 1.5–2 hours with a tour
- National Gallery of Canada — ByWard Market and Lowertown, 2–3 hours
- Canadian War Museum — LeBreton Flats, 2–3 hours
- Canadian Museum of Nature — Centretown, 2–3 hours
Staying near Canadian Museum of History
Stay in Old Hull, Gatineau ($$) to walk here: french-speaking Quebec bars and the Museum of History across the river. All areas to stay in Ottawa.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Canadian Museum of History?
Plan 3 hours.
+Is Canadian Museum of History free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Canadian Museum of History?
May and December–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Walk across the Alexandra Bridge from the National Gallery; the view of Parliament from the bridge is one of the city's best.
+Do I need to book Canadian Museum of History in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Canadian Museum of History good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Ottawa. Ottawa is excellent for families: hands-on national museums, a Children's Museum inside the Museum of History, canal skating and Winterlude snow slides, and big parks.