Sight guide · Ottawa · Canada
Visiting Canadian War Museum
The museum's angular building on LeBreton Flats traces Canada's military history from early conflicts through both world wars to peacekeeping, with tanks, artillery and personal stories.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Harleyd613, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Canadian War Museum is a museum in LeBreton Flats, Ottawa. Allow 2–3 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- LeBreton Flats
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and architecture
- Best months
- May and December–January
About Canadian War Museum
The museum's angular building on LeBreton Flats traces Canada's military history from early conflicts through both world wars to peacekeeping, with tanks, artillery and personal stories. In Memorial Hall, a single window is aligned so that sunlight falls on the headstone of Canada's Unknown Soldier at 11am every 11 November.
Tip: Allow time for the First World War gallery, which is the most powerful section, and the LeBreton Gallery of large vehicles.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: LeBreton Flats.
Best time to visit Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum 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 War Museum on day 3, together with Canadian Museum of Nature and Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
- No. 8 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.
If you like Canadian War Museum
- 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 Museum of History — Old Hull, Gatineau, 3 hours
- Canadian Museum of Nature — Centretown, 2–3 hours
Staying near Canadian War Museum
Where to stay in Ottawa compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Canadian War Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Canadian War Museum free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Canadian War Museum?
May and December–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Allow time for the First World War gallery, which is the most powerful section, and the LeBreton Gallery of large vehicles.
+Do I need to book Canadian War Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.