The Canadian War Museum is a national museum located in Ottawa, Ontario, covering Canadian military history from early conflicts through to contemporary operations. This guide covers opening hours, admission prices, parking, transport, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
Updated May 2026. The plan-your-visit page was last modified 28 April 2026. The Canada Strong Pass returns for summer 2026: from 19 June to 7 September 2026, children’s admission is free and youth receive 50% off. Adult admission is $23, with a 10% saving when booked online. Book your tickets through Viator to lock in your date and save on gate prices.
Quick facts: Canadian War Museum, Ottawa
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 |
| Hours (Mon–Wed, Fri–Sun) | 9:00am–5:00pm |
| Hours (Thursday) | 9:00am–7:00pm |
| Free admission Thursdays | 5:00pm–7:00pm (timed ticket still required) |
| Adult admission | $23 (save 10% online) |
| Senior (65+) | $21 |
| Child (2–12) | $16 |
| Infant (under 2) | Free |
| Family (max 2 adults, 6 people total) | $62 |
| O-Train | Pimisi station (~7 minutes’ walk) |
| Parking | Underground, on site — $2/half hour, $18 daily max |
| Typical visit duration | 3–4 hours |
Canadian War Museum opening hours
The museum is open daily. Thursday has extended evening hours.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday | 9:00am–5:00pm |
| Thursday | 9:00am–7:00pm |
| Friday–Sunday | 9:00am–5:00pm |
Canada Day 2026 (July 1): Extended hours 9:00am–7:00pm.
All visitors require a timed ticket, regardless of age or admission category — including those visiting for free. Tickets are available online or at the on-site box office on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors with free admission (military, Indigenous Peoples, Canoo members) must call the Call Centre on 819-776-7014 or 1-800-555-5621 to reserve.
Canadian War Museum ticket prices
Booking online saves 10% on all ticket types.
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (18–64) | $23 |
| Student (13–17) | $18 |
| Senior (65+) | $21 |
| Child (2–12) | $16 |
| Infant (under 2) | Free |
| Family (6 persons, max 2 adults) | $62 |
Free admission — at all times
- Museum members and volunteers
- Past and present Canadian military personnel (and up to two guests)
- Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis)
- Canoo members (formerly Cultural Access Pass)
- A single attendant accompanying a visitor with a disability
Free admission — specific days
- Every Thursday, 5:00pm–7:00pm (timed ticket still required)
- Canada Day (July 1)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
- Remembrance Day (November 11)
Canada Strong Pass — summer 2026
From 19 June to 7 September 2026, children receive free admission and youth receive 50% off regular admission. Proof of age may be required. Does not apply to group bookings, summer camps, or birthday parties.
Book your admission through Viator to save 10% and confirm your timed entry slot.
Ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
Why book the Canadian War Museum in advance?
- 🏅 Canada’s #1 attraction in Ottawa: Ranked number one on TripAdvisor’s Things to Do in Ottawa, the Canadian War Museum draws visitors from across the country and around the world to its award-winning building on the Ottawa River.
- 🪖 Memorial Hall and the Unknown Soldier: At the heart of the museum, a single beam of light falls on the gravestone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier every November 11 at 11:00am — one of the most quietly powerful rooms in any museum in Canada.
- 🛡️ LeBreton Gallery: Walk among an extraordinary collection of tanks, artillery, aircraft, and military vehicles — one of the most comprehensive displays of 20th-century military hardware in North America.
- 🎖️ Free Thursday evenings: Every Thursday from 5pm to 7pm, admission is free for all visitors. A timed ticket is still required — book in advance to guarantee entry during this popular window.
- 💰 Save 10% by booking online: Advance online tickets cost 10% less than gate prices. Booking through Viator locks in the saving and confirms your timed entry slot before you arrive.
How to get to the Canadian War Museum
The museum is at 1 Vimy Place on LeBreton Flats, at the corner of Booth Street and Kichi Zibi Mikan, west of Parliament Hill on the Ottawa River.
By O-Train (light rail): The Pimisi station on the Confederation Line is approximately seven minutes’ walk north of the museum. This is the most straightforward option from downtown Ottawa and from Ottawa Train Station.
By bus: OC Transpo routes serve the area. Use the OC Transpo trip planner to find the best route from your starting point.
By bicycle: The museum sits on the Ottawa River Pathway. Bike racks are available at the front entrance and along the cycle path at the rear of the building.
By water taxi (summer): Water Taxi, Eh! runs a seasonal eco-friendly shuttle between the Ottawa Locks jetty (below Parliament Hill), Richmond Landing (near the museum), and the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. A scenic and practical alternative in summer.
By car: From Highway 417 (the Queensway), take the Booth Street exit north and follow signs for the museum.
Parking at the Canadian War Museum
The museum has an underground pay parking garage. The maximum vehicle height is 1.98 metres (6 feet 6 inches). Eight spaces are reserved for accessible parking permit holders on level P1.
| Parking | Rate |
|---|---|
| Per half hour | $2 |
| Daily maximum | $18 |
| EV charging (4 level 2 stations, P1) | $1.50/hour via FLO app |
Pay at the pay stations inside the museum (P1 and P2 elevator lobbies) by cash, card, or mobile, or use the contactless exit terminal by card or mobile. Limited paid street parking is also available on Vimy Place out front.
How long to spend at the Canadian War Museum
Allow three to four hours for a thorough visit. The museum covers Canadian military history from early Indigenous conflicts through to Afghanistan, with permanent galleries, the LeBreton Gallery of vehicles, Memorial Hall, and rotating special exhibitions. Many visitors note needing more time than expected.
Accessibility at the Canadian War Museum
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible throughout. All levels are connected by elevator, and ramps exist where required. A limited number of wheelchairs, walkers, ear defenders, and strollers are available free of charge — these can be reserved in advance online or requested at the Information desk.
The permanent exhibitions use immersive sound effects and lower-than-natural lighting (to protect artefacts). There are no strobe or flashing lights. Visitors are welcome to bring noise-cancelling headphones. The Barney Danson Theatre and LeBreton Gallery use an induction loop system — set your hearing aid to the T position.
ASL and LSQ sign language interpretation is available for tours and programmes on request with 15 business days’ notice.
All children under 12 must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over.
Inside the Canadian War Museum: what to see
Memorial Hall is the museum’s most quietly significant space. A single gravestone — that of Canada’s Unknown Soldier — sits in the centre of the room. On Remembrance Day (November 11), a beam of natural light falls precisely on the stone at 11:00am, aligned with the building’s architecture. The hall also has brighter light and no sound effects, making it a respite from the immersive galleries.
LeBreton Gallery is on the lower level and houses the museum’s collection of large military equipment — tanks, artillery pieces, aircraft, armoured vehicles, and landing craft from multiple conflicts. The scale of the collection is extraordinary; most pieces are original. The gallery is accessible by elevator or a very long ramp.
Regeneration Hall (Moriyama Hall) is the striking entrance space, designed by Raymond Moriyama. The building’s angular copper-clad roof and dramatic interior corridors are part of the visit in themselves — the architecture is one of the most discussed features of the experience.
Permanent galleries cover Canadian military involvement from early conflicts before Confederation through WWI, WWII, the Korean War, peacekeeping operations, and Afghanistan. Personal stories from veterans and civilians are woven throughout.
The Café is open Monday–Wednesday and Friday–Sunday, 9am–4pm, and Thursday 9am–6pm. Outside food is permitted in the Main Lobby and Café area but not in the exhibition galleries. A complimentary self-serve coat check and rentable lockers ($1) are also available.
Practical visitor tips for the Canadian War Museum
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Everyone needs a timed ticket | This applies regardless of age or admission category, including free admission days and free Thursday evenings. Book online or collect at the box office on arrival, first-come, first-served. |
| Thursday 5–7pm is free | Free admission every Thursday evening. A timed ticket is still required — book in advance, as this window is popular. |
| Large bags go to coat check | Bags larger than 35cm × 30.5cm × 19cm must be left at the free coat check. All bags may be subject to inspection at entry. |
| Summer 2026: children free, youth 50% off | The Canada Strong Pass applies from 19 June to 7 September 2026. Proof of age may be required; does not apply to group bookings. |
| The LeBreton Gallery requires extra time | Most visitors underestimate the lower gallery. Allow at least 45 minutes for the vehicles and equipment alone. |
Frequently asked questions about the Canadian War Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Canadian War Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. Open 9am–5pm on Sundays and all other days. Thursday hours extend to 7pm. |
| Is admission free on Remembrance Day? | Yes. Free admission on November 11, July 1 (Canada Day), and September 30 (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation). A timed ticket is still required. |
| Do you need to book in advance? | Timed tickets are required for all visitors. Book online to save 10% and guarantee your slot; walk-up tickets are available at the box office subject to availability. |
| Is the museum free for military personnel? | Yes, at all times, for past and present Canadian military personnel and up to two guests. Contact the Call Centre at 819-776-7014 to reserve a free timed ticket. |
| Is photography allowed? | Yes, including flash photography, with hand-held equipment. Tripods require pre-approval from the Information Desk. Some special exhibitions may restrict photography — signs will indicate where. |
Things to do near the Canadian War Museum
National Holocaust Monument (corner of Wellington and Booth streets, immediately adjacent, free) is open daily from 7am to 9pm and is titled Landscape of Loss, Memory, and Survival. A natural companion to the War Museum.
Interzip Rogers (accessible from near the museum) is the world’s first interprovincial zipline, crossing the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau. A dramatic contrast to the museum’s contemplative spaces.
Parliament Hill (~20 minutes’ walk east along the Ottawa River Pathway) is the seat of Canadian federal government, with free guided tours of the Centre Block and year-round programming on the Hill.
Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau, across the Ottawa River, ~15 minutes by water taxi in summer or by car) is Canada’s national history museum, housing the Grand Hall and the Canadian Children’s Museum.
Byward Market (~25 minutes’ walk east) is Ottawa’s historic market district with independent food stalls, restaurants, and shops, and the adjacent Rideau Centre shopping complex.
What to visit tomorrow: military and history museums within two hours of Ottawa
Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum (Carp, ON, ~45 minutes west) is a four-storey underground bunker built in secret between 1959 and 1961 to house the Canadian government in the event of a nuclear attack. Guided and self-guided tours available; one of Canada’s most distinctive history museums.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Ottawa, ~20 minutes east) is one of the world’s finest aviation museums, covering Canada’s aviation history from the first flights through to the space age, with over 130 aircraft on display.
Fort Wellington National Historic Site (Prescott, ON, ~1 hour east) is a preserved British fort from the War of 1812 on the St. Lawrence River, with costumed interpreters and period demonstrations during summer.
Fort Henry National Historic Site (Kingston, ON, ~2 hours east) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a 19th-century British fort above the St. Lawrence River with regular military pageants, drills, and living history programming.
Military Communications and Electronics Museum (Kingston, ON, ~2 hours east) is a specialist museum covering 200 years of Canadian military communications, signals, and electronic warfare, on the grounds of CFB Kingston.
More Canada travel
Other Canada travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- How to get cheaper tickets for the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
- The way to get cheaper tickets for Casa Loma in Toronto.
- What you see on a helicopter tour over Toronto.
- Would you dare take on the CN Tower Edgewalk?
- Plan your visit to the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
