The best museums in Ottawa in September 2025

These are the top 20 best museums in Ottawa, Canada, ranked by their rating and popularity in 2025. Click a museum for more information about the museum, including visitor information, exhibitions and reviews.

For a complete overview of museums in Ottawa, their exhibitions and discount cards & passes, see our overview page with all museums in Ottawa.

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Looking for the best museums in Ottawa? These are the best ones:

  1. Parliament Hill1

    Parliament Hill

     Ottawa
  2. National Gallery of Canada2

    National Gallery of Canada

     Ottawa
  3. Canadian Museum of Nature3

    Canadian Museum of Nature

     Ottawa
  4. Canadian War Museum4

    Canadian War Museum

     Ottawa
  5. Watson's Mill5

    Watson's Mill

     Ottawa
    Watson's Mill, located in Manotick, Ontario, Canada, is a unique attraction as it is the only working museum in the Ottawa area and one of the few operating industrial grist mills in North America. This historic flour and gristmill offers a rare glimpse into the past, showcasing the industrial processes of the past in a fully operational setting.
  6. Canadian Museum of Science and Technology6

    Canadian Museum of Science and Technology

     Ottawa
  7. Bytown Museum7

    Bytown Museum

     Ottawa
  8. Canadian Aviation and Space Museum8

    Canadian Aviation and Space Museum

     Ottawa
  9. Bank of Canada Museum9

    Bank of Canada Museum

     Ottawa
  10. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum10

    Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

     Ottawa
  11. Diefenbunker - Canada's Cold War Museum11

    Diefenbunker - Canada's Cold War Museum

     Ottawa
    The Diefenbunker is a significant historical site in Canada, built as a nuclear fallout shelter between 1959 and 1961. Located in Carp, just outside of Ottawa, the bunker was constructed to protect Canadian government officials in the event of a nuclear attack. The construction of this shelter was a secret operation, reflecting the tense political climate of the Cold War era.
  12. Pinhey's Point Historic Site12

    Pinhey's Point Historic Site

     Ottawa
  13. Billings Estate National Historic Site13

    Billings Estate National Historic Site

     Ottawa
  14. 14

    Little Ray's Nature Centre

     Ottawa
  15. 15

    Nepean Museum

     Ottawa
  16. James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre16

    James Bartleman Archives and Library Materials Centre

     Ottawa
  17. National Gallery of Canada17

    National Gallery of Canada

     Ottawa
  18. 18

    Museum of Classical Antiquities

     Ottawa
    The museum is run by University of Ottawa, Department of Classics and Religious Studies. There is a wide range of unique historical artifacts.
  19. 19

    Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

     Ottawa
  20. 20

    Dickinson House Museum

     Ottawa

All museums in Ottawa