National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The National Gallery of Canada is committed to offering a welcoming and safe place for our visitors, employees and volunteers. Discover contemporary and historical artworks - including paintings, sculptures, photographs and multimedia installations - in this landmark site located near the vibrant ByWard Market area.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Neighbourhood: Byward Market Area
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- PookyCakeVictoria, Canada14,734 contributionsAn Artistic Reflection of the CountryFounded in 1880, the current edifice that houses the National Gallery of Canada opened in 1988. It was designed by Moshe Safdie as a contemporary and postmodern take on the architecture of Canada’s Parliament buildings, which it strategically faces across the Rideau Canal. I think this is quite apt because any art gallery that calls itself a “national” one should look and feel the part. Thankfully, our National Gallery of Canada does just that. It is grand in scale, but – and almost contradictorily – understated in its presentation of the artworks, modern and classical, inside. True to form, the National Gallery gives nearly equal weight to traditional heavyweights – the Group of Seven and Emily Carr, for example – and emerging voices, including from our diverse Indigenous and multicultural communities. It’s a beautiful thing and one could easily spend hours ambling about this space and learning about this place. The National Gallery of Canada represented the second major stop during our all too brief visit to Ottawa. All told, we spent about three hours here and could’ve easily spent longer, but time was of the essence. While I enjoyed looking at the works of Carr and Group of Seven, the Indigenous artworks – and especially those by the Inuit – really captured my attention. The amount of detail carved into bone and tusk was nothing short of amazing. I also enjoyed a rather large installation called “Non Orientable,” which used scrap materials to comment upon capitalism and commodity. In some ways it reminded me of works by Douglas Coupland (I know this was not his). In any event, when it’s all said and done, the National Gallery of Canada succeeds in one of its primary goals; that is to say, it does an exceptional job of walking us through the nation’s history and its ever-expanding cultural development. In short, the gallery is a physical manifestation of our beautiful mosaic. Oh! And while you’re outside the gallery, be sure to spend a few moments admiring Maman – the giant spider (see my earlier review on this site). At a micro level, Maman is a protector of the National Gallery; at a macro level, it comments upon our country as a symbol for shelter and home. Now we’re getting deep . . . ;)Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten December 14, 2023
- Stephanie H6 contributionsGreat, potentially all-day, experienceBring your walking shoes! There is so much to see! I was surprised by the sheer size of the building and number of displays I could have easily spent the day, and returned again, but we were subject to a timeframe. When you go, be sure not to miss the chapel- the sound is amazing. Definitely wish I was closer so I could make this a regular part of my weekVisited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten March 28, 2024
- dominiquemariscotesHermitage, Tennessee33 contributionsAllocate Two HoursSpontaneously decided to walk here from Parliament Hill, and definitely spent a good two hours here browsing the art. If your resident artist enthusiast can creep past the front sculpture, you are in for a treat. The architecture caught my eye and did not leave me disappointed. The interior structure is well-lit and allows for plenty of ambient light. The inside garden court and the second floor's sitting area is a nice reprieve, though there was not a lot of room to rest in the garden court. This is ADA-accessible with elevators and an entrance ramp. Art enthusiasts need to allocate their time wisely to peruse the hundreds (if not thousands) of pieces of art. During my visit, I primarily saw paintings of different times with few sculptures of various styles. Personally, I am not an art enthusiast, but there were small pieces that captured my attention. My favorite part of the exhibit was the Kan Azuma exhibit and nods to Indigenous pieces.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten April 20, 2024
- Nico Samneil Sy SaladoNewport, Vermont2,001 contributionsClean and big2024: now, we are able to visit. Pretty neat and organized. Has a gift shop and up to date bathroom technology. Bathrooms are clean and smells good. Has a coat place, gift shop and restaurant. Entrance is CAD 20. Child & stroller friendly place. 2022: A spacious, elegant looking and looks informative place to go to. We just dont have the time to go in. The spider statue does not make sense and looks scary for the childrenVisited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten April 22, 2024
- ronUtica, New York12 contributionsExcellent collection, especially strong in First Nations and the Group of SevenWe thoroughly enjoyed the Gallery. Very impressive collection, with especially strong holdings of First Nations art (both historic and contemporary) and the Group of Seven, a great favorite of ours whose contributions should be more fully understood by those of us from the US. Superb group of Lawren Harris paintings and a lovely collection of David Milne, Emily Carr, Tom Thomson and much more. The cafe offers great window seating of the lawns and sculptures. If you want to visit the entire collection, count on several hours. (And parking is available on site!)Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 6, 2024
- retireeVancouverVancouver, Canada1,828 contributionsA Gallery to be proud ofWe spent 4 pleasant hours in this spacious modern art gallery looking at Canadian art as well as specimans of European art from several art periods. In early May, we easily bought tickets at the door. Cloak room has an attendent with no charge. We used their excellent map of the gallery, provided with the ticket, to guide us through the many spacious rooms on 2 levels. The first level had a very good collection of the Group of 7's landscape paintings of northern Ontario on the walls as well as quite a few of Emily Carr's from the Pacific Northwest. I also enjoyed seeing works by early Canadian painters like Paul Kane, Krieghoff. I would have thought there would have been more paintings than just one by the Nova Scotian artist, Alex Colville, on display. There were many more paintings by other Canadian artists as well as works by Indigenous artists on Level 1. Level 2 had the European and Contemporary paintings. I enjoyed seeing a representative painting from famous Renaissance and Impressionist artists. Some of the rooms also had sculptures. Benches were available in the middle of some of the rooms. Both levels had the same floor space with views into a small courtyard planted with ferns and another featuring a water fountain. It was strange to hear church choral music in these courtyards, but upon investigating the source of the music I came upon a make-up interior of a cathedral with 45 audiospeakers where visitors could hear the special parts of the music being played. The gift shop was excellent to browse through with many lovely things on display including art books, pottery, and fabric pieces. The cafe, overlooking the Champlain statue pointing towards the Ottawa River, offers grilled foods like grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers as well as cold sandwiches and salads ($10), soup, drinks and sweets. Another spacious sunny area on Level 1 - the Great Hall - offers seating for large groups who may have brought their lunches with them. Near the gift shop is a coffee shop with sweets and wraps. Outside is the Tavern, a most pleasant area offering pizza. The art gallery is close to other attractions in Ottawa. On our way to the art Gallery, we particularly enjoyed our stroll through Major Hill Park with its beautiful tulip beds in bloom in early May and, later, a stroll around Parliament Hill looking at the PM statues, followed by a cruise boat ride on the Rideau canal.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 21, 2024
- lorrainetSeattleEdison, Washington196 contributionsThis is a Must Visit in OttawaThis is a must see, but give yourself plenty of time. The building itself is special. But the art and the spaciousness, design and flow of the galleries is wonderful. We could have spent many more hours in the Indigenous and Canadian sections alone. Getting to see exceptional piece, after exceptional piece in such a lovely space was a treat. Loved itVisited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten June 5, 2024
- JenRyanBirmingham, Alabama249 contributionsEverything A Gallery Should BeThis is a beautiful and well thought out gallery from the exhibits to the design of the gallery itself. Every step you take leads you intentionally from one beautiful space to the next. The color choices used to display the art and the grandeur was delightfully impressive. I especially loved the large and vibrant collection of indigenous art, so bold and touching. Of course the giant egg-carrying arachnid cast in bronze out front is a sight of its own, curiously beautiful.Visited July 2024Travelled soloWritten July 24, 2024
- TERRAvelistaLondon, United Kingdom18,546 contributionsGreat place to return toA return to Ottawa requires a return to this place: - we booked our tickets in advance and arrived here as soon as the opened mid week, meaning the place was rather empty, lucky us - we are always interested in seeing the European masters around the world, so started with this and yes, they have a good selection including some Klimt which is a temporary hence not allowed to take pics but you have the usual French, British, Italian and Dutch masters - lots of Canadian artists and some not very well known artists, way better than some masters - also a very beautiful building with lots of seating area in the inner courtyard - located near Canadian mint and free entry Notre Dame cathedral, plus nearby Byward market with lots of amazing restaurant and Gatineau centre as you walk south (Farm Boy is on the lower ground)Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten August 8, 2024
- Wlad FToronto, Canada62 contributionsOne extra piece in my cultural brick wallAmazing collection! I can't wait to go back, because we wanted to see everything, so we can be more focused the next time. All collections tell a story, the curators did a great job. The wife here prefers the European pieces, I like the more modern Canadian ones. The chapel is definitely worth visiting, and I loved the fountain.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten August 16, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,131 reviews
Excellent
1,986
Very good
892
Average
197
Poor
34
Terrible
22
tshep42
Halifax, Canada4,166 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
Even if you’re not an artist or a real art lover (like me), it’s worth a visit. They do have some big name artist displayed there that even I recognized.
I wish galleries could figure out how to make the building design intuitive so you don’t end up backtracking and always feeling like you may have missed something. There’s nothing easy about the layout of this museum.
The gift shop is great with lots of unique gift ideas for the artist or art lover in your family. Interesting kids stuff too.
It wasn’t busy when I was there in a Thursday afternoon and it was free after 5:00 PM (otherwise, just over $18).
You’ll pass by “Maman,” the large spider, on your way in but do walk around the back of the building for the neat outdoor sculptures. Keep going up the hill and you’ll get a great view of the Ottawa River and the back of the Parliament Building. Also, don’t miss Notre Dame Basilica across the street from the National Gallery.
The location is just past Byward Market a long Sussex Street.
I only spent an hour and focused on the European and Canadian galleries, but to do it properly, you’d need 2-3 hours. There is a tapas bar and a Second Cup.
I wish galleries could figure out how to make the building design intuitive so you don’t end up backtracking and always feeling like you may have missed something. There’s nothing easy about the layout of this museum.
The gift shop is great with lots of unique gift ideas for the artist or art lover in your family. Interesting kids stuff too.
It wasn’t busy when I was there in a Thursday afternoon and it was free after 5:00 PM (otherwise, just over $18).
You’ll pass by “Maman,” the large spider, on your way in but do walk around the back of the building for the neat outdoor sculptures. Keep going up the hill and you’ll get a great view of the Ottawa River and the back of the Parliament Building. Also, don’t miss Notre Dame Basilica across the street from the National Gallery.
The location is just past Byward Market a long Sussex Street.
I only spent an hour and focused on the European and Canadian galleries, but to do it properly, you’d need 2-3 hours. There is a tapas bar and a Second Cup.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis T
Montreal, Canada240 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
This became the focus of our trip when a rainy day prevented us from doing anything else. It is free for members, but that day, it seemed to be free for everyone
The good: You can rent an electric vehicle for free. Building stunning. Art wonderful. Lots of different kinds of art from different eras. Very spacious and does not feel busy, even on a Saturday afternoon. Benches at various places.
The bad: Elevators way too small for wheelchairs or electric vehicles. You can easily get lost in there and miss portions of the museum (bring a map!) No cafeteria (due to covid). Portions of the museum closed (due to covid).
Covid restrictions: Staff wearing masks and disinfecting knobs and such on bathroom doors. Spacious museum make it easy to social distance. Staff controlling entrance for social distancing. Hand sanitation at entrance only.
This ended up taking our whole afternoon and it was very enjoyable. A must for any art lover.
The good: You can rent an electric vehicle for free. Building stunning. Art wonderful. Lots of different kinds of art from different eras. Very spacious and does not feel busy, even on a Saturday afternoon. Benches at various places.
The bad: Elevators way too small for wheelchairs or electric vehicles. You can easily get lost in there and miss portions of the museum (bring a map!) No cafeteria (due to covid). Portions of the museum closed (due to covid).
Covid restrictions: Staff wearing masks and disinfecting knobs and such on bathroom doors. Spacious museum make it easy to social distance. Staff controlling entrance for social distancing. Hand sanitation at entrance only.
This ended up taking our whole afternoon and it was very enjoyable. A must for any art lover.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra M
Ottawa, Canada117 contributions
Aug 2021
Visited the Rembrandt in Amsterdam exhibit in August 2021 with my sister. You need tickets which can be purchased online and as well you need to select a timeslot. You cannot bring in your own water but if you ask it is made available. Masks must be worn at all times. Our time slot was 1:00 pm. We arrived early and were allowed to enter when we arrived as they are always aware of how many patrons are in the exhibition at any one time. It is definitely worth visiting. Review the exhibit information online prior to visiting as there is much information available on the website. Allow a minimum of 2 hours.
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,946 contributions
Oct 2021
Although I took a detour through the European section of the permanent collection, I soon joined my wife and our friend in the Exhibition of prints, the Collectors‘ Cosmos. It is a fascinating overview mainly of 16th and 17th century Netherlandish art, well worth the price of admission. The exhibition ends in November; try to see it if you can.
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ParentsView
2 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
I would recommend you go to the NAC instead if you have kids. The national gallery used to be the go to- great for families, but recently, the security is very intense. Even though they still have child programming, it’s become much less of an overall supportive place for families. The great hall used to be a public meeting area and new moms could use the egg chairs for privacy while breastfeeding, but they took out those chairs. It’s so dense with security. Staff have shamed children for just running a little or playing in the great hall even though they’re not causing issues, nor are they in a gallery- they’re just excited, being kids. I recommend any other museum in Ottawa or the NAC over the national gallery if you’re with children. The climate and overarching feel with intense security guards stopping you throughout makes the whole experience less relaxing and enjoyable time if you’re with kids. I found the welcoming community atmosphere has really changed recently. Most parents are opting for the NAC as a better alternative to this national art gallery, because at the NAC, you’re never approached by security guards, they have a fabulous cafe and an amazing variety of kids programming which is often free.
Written February 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FoodandTea_Lover
Kemptville, Canada359 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
I am only going to comment on the venue as each person’s expression of art or appreciation of art is different.
As a venue, this gallery is well situated in the heart of Ottawa’s Byward Market area. There is a nice car drop-off and pick-up area and underground parking. I dropped my coat and bag at the free coat check near the entrance. The ticket booth is a long walk up a ramp. I was there around 11 AM Sunday and it was quiet. When I left 3.5 hours later, it was quite busy.
Pick up a map when you get your ticket because I found I had to use it quite a bit. There was some rooms that were really dark and was showing a film. I found it a bit too dark and a bit unsettling to be seated there. Most of the gallery spaces had guards standing around so I should not have worried. Still...
There is a wonderful atrium with a garden in the centre of the museum. I get really tired under artificial light and found it refreshing to get some natural light sitting in the atrium.
As a venue, this gallery is well situated in the heart of Ottawa’s Byward Market area. There is a nice car drop-off and pick-up area and underground parking. I dropped my coat and bag at the free coat check near the entrance. The ticket booth is a long walk up a ramp. I was there around 11 AM Sunday and it was quiet. When I left 3.5 hours later, it was quite busy.
Pick up a map when you get your ticket because I found I had to use it quite a bit. There was some rooms that were really dark and was showing a film. I found it a bit too dark and a bit unsettling to be seated there. Most of the gallery spaces had guards standing around so I should not have worried. Still...
There is a wonderful atrium with a garden in the centre of the museum. I get really tired under artificial light and found it refreshing to get some natural light sitting in the atrium.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MissGeorgiana
Montreal, Canada674 contributions
Sept 2020
We visit the National Gallery every few years and are never disappointed.
The Gallery itself is stunning. There is a great deal of natural light and artworks are well presented.
The permanent exhibit has some important pieces and there are always some amazing artworks on loan as well.
On our September 2020 visit, we really enjoyed the Beautiful Monsters special exhibit and were impressed with all the COVID-19 measures in place.
The Gallery itself is stunning. There is a great deal of natural light and artworks are well presented.
The permanent exhibit has some important pieces and there are always some amazing artworks on loan as well.
On our September 2020 visit, we really enjoyed the Beautiful Monsters special exhibit and were impressed with all the COVID-19 measures in place.
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PAdeniyi
Washington DC, DC6 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Very enjoyable experience. First time visiting Ottawa, and I decided to check out this World Class Gallery with a friend. They several forms of Art pieces including art from indigenous artists around the world.
Written February 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brynlea W
Waterloo, Canada185 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
The gallery is beautiful. It tends to offer special exhibits. I had wished there was a stronger native art presence although the canadian art section is already quite spectacular.
It is amazing to stand amongst picassos, Rembrandt, degas, Monet and realize that you stand st the same spot the artist did so long ago. You can see each brush stroke. Just amazing.
It is amazing to stand amongst picassos, Rembrandt, degas, Monet and realize that you stand st the same spot the artist did so long ago. You can see each brush stroke. Just amazing.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaFamilleBourgeois
19 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
A fantastic visit. So much to see. Our kids 6/7years visited the Canadian Exhibit - it was their first time visiting an art gallery. We didn'tknow what to expect. It was affordable as kids 11 and under are free so we figured we'd try it out. The gallery has a booth with wonderful bilingual staff and activities specific to little kids.. perfect for 5-10years in our opinion (bingo activity was the best). I never expected my littles to become so involved and excited to visit the exhibit and see the art on display. A great early learning experience for them. I fully recommend :)
Written July 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Young Y
Ottawa, Canada
i dont really understand how does the canadian exhibit reflects canadian identity? thanks just wondering
Written January 30, 2016
NGC-MBAC
Ottawa, Canada
Hi, That's a great question. The Canadian and Indigenous Galleries provide the ideal setting to tell a more complete story of artmaking in this land, which dates back thousands of years. We worked closely with partner institutions and Indigenous communities to create a meaningful display, representative of Canada’s unique diversity and heritage.
Written August 17, 2018
What is the next major exhibition you will be featuring? My husband and I came from Detroit area to see Carravagio. It was fantastic!! Waiting for another one like this, or this one again.
Written December 22, 2014
NGC-MBAC
Ottawa, Canada
Hi Cheri,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the Caravaggio exhibition. It was so incredible to have so many Caravaggios in one space and to see the influence he had on his followers.
Our next big summer show is Alex Colville, one of Canada's most celebrated artists.
We hope you'll be able to come see it! It will be up from April 24 to September 7.
Thanks for your interest in the National Gallery of Canada!
Lexie
Written January 13, 2015
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