National Gallery of Canada Museum

Address: 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4, Canada

Website: https://www.gallery.ca/

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is the country’s principal national art museum, housing major collections of Canadian, Indigenous, European and contemporary art. The gallery’s building, designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, features a dramatic glass-and-granite Great Hall.

Permanent collections include Canadian historical and contemporary painting and sculpture, a growing collection of Indigenous art, European Old Masters and modern and contemporary international works; rotating temporary exhibitions present thematic and travelling shows. The grounds and approaches display large-scale outdoor sculptures.

The institution was established to build and preserve the nation’s art heritage and has grown its collections through purchases, donations and national programs since its founding in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The National Gallery sits on Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa, close to Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River, forming part of the capital’s cultural and civic corridor.

• Building and opening: The gallery building was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and opened in its present form in 1988, becoming a prominent modern landmark on Ottawa’s museum strip.

What to See#

• Great Hall: The Great Hall is a glass-and-granite atrium that functions as the building’s central space and offers views toward Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River.
• Canadian and Indigenous galleries: Dedicated galleries present Canadian and Indigenous art, with a focus on national artists and major Indigenous collections and exhibitions.
• Sculpture and outdoor installations: Outdoor grounds include notable contemporary sculpture installations, including the large spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois known as “Maman.”

The National Gallery of Canada sits on Sussex Drive beside Major’s Hill Park in downtown Ottawa. It’s a short 5-10 minute walk from the ByWard Market and Parliament Hill area. From Ottawa’s VIA Rail (train) station the gallery is about a 20-30 minute walk or a short OC Transpo bus/taxi ride.

Street access is direct from local downtown roads (Sussex Drive); there are nearby parking facilities but downtown parking can be limited.

• Visit early on a weekday when the National Gallery opens to enjoy quieter galleries and better sightlines to major works; weekends and late-afternoon school visits increase crowding around highlights.
• Make time for the Canadian and Indigenous art wings first-these national collections are core to the Gallery and can be surprisingly busy later in the day as tour groups converge on them.
• Step outside to see the large outdoor sculpture installations and the view toward Parliament Hill from the gallery's plaza-many visitors miss the exterior works and the vantage points they offer.