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Canada🇨🇦 | attractionsNational Gallery of CanadaBronze spider, Rideau chapel, Group of Seven, Safdie glasswork | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in National Gallery of Canada
👍 Recommendedattraction ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Free admission on Thursday evenings (5 to 8 pm) and for kids is the easiest way to see the National Gallery of Canada without a dent in your wallet. It sits in Canada’s capital, on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, just north of Parliament Hill and a short walk from the ByWard Market. Regular tickets run around US$11 to 16, and special exhibitions cost extra, so check what you actually want. Crowds thin out on weekday mornings, though school groups can swarm the Indigenous galleries. I bought a flat white from the café for about US$4 and drank it on the glass-walled ramp, the milk foam still warm while the Great Hall’s light slid over pale granite. The place ends with Louise Bourgeois’s spider, Maman, rising over the plaza on spindly bronze legs.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 attraction in CanadaWhat sets this place apart

The National Gallery of Canada holds the country’s most complete picture of its own art, and that is the strongest reason to come. Here you can follow a single thread from Group of Seven canvases of Ontario lakes and Algonquin pines through to contemporary Inuit and First Nations work, all under one roof. Seeing Tom Thomson and Emily Carr in person shows brushwork and color that reproductions flatten completely.

The second draw is the Rideau Chapel, a reassembled convent chapel with a fan-vaulted ceiling that you will not find in any other gallery. It is a quiet, odd, wonderful room.

On a route through eastern Canada, the gallery works as an easy culture anchor between Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It suits a rainy afternoon, since the whole visit happens indoors, and a couple of hours is enough for the highlights.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Maman by Louise Bourgeois: the 9-meter bronze spider on the plaza is the gallery’s best-known sight. Walk beneath it to see the marble egg sac hanging from its body. Free to see at any hour.
  2. Canadian and Indigenous Art galleries: the permanent collection follows Canadian art from early colonial painting to the present, with Indigenous works placed in the same conversation.
  3. Group of Seven and Tom Thomson: rooms of bold landscapes, with thick paint and strong colors that look different up close.
  4. Rideau Street Chapel: a 19th-century convent chapel saved from demolition and rebuilt inside the gallery, with a delicate fan-vaulted ceiling.
  5. Great Hall and glass colonnade: Moshe Safdie’s design, with a long ramp and glass pavilion looking over the Ottawa River and Parliament’s Gothic towers.
  6. European and
… read more 👉
  1. Maman by Louise Bourgeois: the 9-meter bronze spider on the plaza is the gallery’s best-known sight. Walk beneath it to see the marble egg sac hanging from its body. Free to see at any hour.
  2. Canadian and Indigenous Art galleries: the permanent collection follows Canadian art from early colonial painting to the present, with Indigenous works placed in the same conversation.
  3. Group of Seven and Tom Thomson: rooms of bold landscapes, with thick paint and strong colors that look different up close.
  4. Rideau Street Chapel: a 19th-century convent chapel saved from demolition and rebuilt inside the gallery, with a delicate fan-vaulted ceiling.
  5. Great Hall and glass colonnade: Moshe Safdie’s design, with a long ramp and glass pavilion looking over the Ottawa River and Parliament’s Gothic towers.
  6. European and American galleries: Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet and Van Gogh sit among the masters, a good counterpoint to the Canadian rooms.
  7. Contemporary Art galleries: rotating installations, video and sculpture that tend to be the most conversation-starting rooms of the visit.
  8. Water Court: a calm interior courtyard with a reflecting pool, handy for a rest between floors.
For a first visit, start with the Canadian and Indigenous galleries, since nothing else tells you as much about the country in as little time.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around National Gallery of Canada

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Ottawa Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Summer (June to August): Highs run 24 to 27°C (75 to 81°F) and daylight lasts about 15 hours. Crowds and hotel prices peak, and the Major’s Hill Park lawn next door fills with picnickers.
  • Fall (September to October): Days of 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F) suit walking across the Alexandra Bridge. The maple colors along the Ottawa River are at their best in early October, and rates ease after Labour Day.
  • Winter (December to March): Highs sit between -10 and -2°C (14 to 28°F), with daylight of 9 hours. Rooms are cheapest, the gallery is quiet, and Winterlude in February brings skating on the Rideau Canal.
  • Spring (April to May): Temperatures of 5 to 17°C (41 to 63°F) and showers. Tulip Festival crowds arrive in May and push up beds.
Visit on a weekday morning in the shoulder months for the quietest rooms and the lowest prices.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
canada-attraction-national-gallery-of-canada
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

ByWard Market is the best base, about a 10 minute walk from the National Gallery of Canada. It is the most social part of Ottawa for backpackers, with hostels, pubs, bakeries and cheap late-night food within a few blocks. Streets are lively and well lit into the evening, though the busiest stretch around George and York Streets gets rowdy on weekends, so solo travelers may prefer rooms on the quieter side streets.
Lower Town, just east and south of the market, is calmer and still walkable to the gallery, Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It suits people who want sleep over nightlife.
Centretown, … read more 👉
ByWard Market is the best base, about a 10 minute walk from the National Gallery of Canada. It is the most social part of Ottawa for backpackers, with hostels, pubs, bakeries and cheap late-night food within a few blocks. Streets are lively and well lit into the evening, though the busiest stretch around George and York Streets gets rowdy on weekends, so solo travelers may prefer rooms on the quieter side streets.
Lower Town, just east and south of the market, is calmer and still walkable to the gallery, Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It suits people who want sleep over nightlife.
Centretown, south of Parliament Hill along Elgin and Bank Streets, offers more local cafes and a bit lower prices, with the O-Train and frequent buses nearby. Expect a 20 to 25 minute walk to the gallery, or a short bus ride.
Across the river in Gatineau, prices can drop, but you will cross the bridge each day, and the area is better for car travelers than for first-timers.
Best hostels in Canada


Best quality hotels in Canada

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A day around the National Gallery of Canada runs about US$62 to 78 for a backpacker who pays admission and sleeps in a hostel dorm in high season. The National Gallery of Canada charges adults roughly US$11 to 15 for general admission (paid in Canadian dollars), and the permanent collection is the main draw. Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm are free for everyone. Special exhibitions can add a few dollars.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
AdmissionUS$11 to 15Free Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm. Youth rates are lower and children are usually free.
Special exhibitionsUS$4 to 8 extraOptional add-on. The permanent galleries and the Maman spider sculpture outside cost nothing to see.
Accommodation (high season)US$32 to 42Hostel dorm bed in downtown Ottawa, summer. Off-season beds drop to about US$25
… read more 👉
A day around the National Gallery of Canada runs about US$62 to 78 for a backpacker who pays admission and sleeps in a hostel dorm in high season. The National Gallery of Canada charges adults roughly US$11 to 15 for general admission (paid in Canadian dollars), and the permanent collection is the main draw. Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm are free for everyone. Special exhibitions can add a few dollars.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
AdmissionUS$11 to 15Free Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm. Youth rates are lower and children are usually free.
Special exhibitionsUS$4 to 8 extraOptional add-on. The permanent galleries and the Maman spider sculpture outside cost nothing to see.
Accommodation (high season)US$32 to 42Hostel dorm bed in downtown Ottawa, summer. Off-season beds drop to about US$25 to 33.
Local transportUS$0 to 3The gallery sits beside ByWard Market, and downtown hostels are a walk away. A single OC Transpo ride costs about US$2.50 to 3.
FoodUS$12 to 18Market cafes and food counters around ByWard Market. The gallery café costs more.
Audio guide or extrasUS$0 to 4Optional. Coat check and lockers are inexpensive or free.
Total Daily BudgetUS$62 to 78Covers admission, a dorm bed, local transit and food.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQFrequently asked questions about National Gallery of Canada

Plan two to three hours at the National Gallery of Canada to cover the highlights, including the Canadian and Indigenous Art galleries and the reconstructed Rideau Street Chapel. Art enthusiasts can easily fill four hours with the European and contemporary wings. The building sits beside ByWard Market, so a half day pairs the gallery with lunch nearby.
Yes, the National Gallery of Canada is worth the roughly US$11 to 15 adult admission, because it holds the country’s largest collection of Canadian art plus European masters, all in a Moshe Safdie building with views of Parliament Hill. Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm are free for all visitors. Special exhibitions cost a few dollars extra, while the outdoor Maman spider sculpture is free to see.
The National Gallery of Canada is on Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa, about a 10 to 15 minute walk from Parliament Hill and next to ByWard Market. From the VIA Rail station it is a 10 to 15 minute bus or taxi ride, and from Ottawa airport roughly 25 minutes by bus and light rail with a transfer or by taxi. The O-Train Confederation Line stops at Rideau, about a 10 minute walk away, and a single transit fare is about US$2.50 to 3.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

The National Gallery of Canada is at its best on a weekday morning right after opening, when the Group of Seven rooms are nearly empty and the light through the glass is soft. I would go in winter, when the warmth inside is a pleasure, and save the plaza spider for a walk afterward.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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