The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada’s national museum of natural history, founded in 1912, and it stands in central Ottawa a 15-to-20-minute walk south of Parliament Hill — near enough to combine with a morning on the Hill, far enough that a tired child will feel the distance on the way back. Arriving without a car is straightforward: OC Transpo handles journeys within Ottawa and STO routes come over from the Quebec side, with several of them stopping at the corner of Albert and Metcalfe streets close to Parliament Hill, which leaves the same walk at the end. The main entrance is on McLeod Street. The one rule to sort out before you set off is admission itself: every visitor needs a ticket, including the occasions when tickets cost nothing, so a free-entry visit still means a ticket in hand for each person rather than walking straight in.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canada's national natural history museum, founded in 1912, standing in central Ottawa a 15-to-20-minute walk south of Parliament Hill.
Family Intelligence
Why kids will love it
Natural history is among the easiest kinds of museum to walk into with children, because what stands in the galleries is what they already ask questions about. This is the national museum of the subject, founded in 1912, and its position close to the middle of Ottawa makes it a half-day rather than an expedition — you can reach it on foot from Parliament Hill and walk back afterwards. For families who need arrival to be simple, it is: there is an accessible drop-off at the main entrance, and reserved parking and mobility aids are available to visitors with disabilities.
Plan your visit
Also compare: Canadian Museum of Nature tickets on Tiqets (affiliate link)
More things to do nearby
Family hotels nearby
Guides that mention this
We use cookies to measure how the site is used and to track bookings made through our partners, such as GetYourGuide. Accept Cookie policy