Canada · MUSEUMS

The 15 Best Museum Visits in Canada

44 tours  ·  from $10

On a wet afternoon in November a museum is not a fallback, it is the plan. The 15 below cover the big national collections and the small local ones, with entry prices and which tickets skip the queue.

Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum Admission Ticket - Start With the Natural History Galleries
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum Admission Ticket

1.Royal Ontario Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,237 reviews · 1 day · from $19Our pick

Use your one-day admission to explore Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum, home to more than 18 million objects and specimens. See Barosaurus Gordo, a Ming Dynasty tomb, Egyptian artifacts, First Peoples galleries, fossils, paintings, and more. Special exhibits require the appropriate ticket option.

“Great experience! The building itself was stunning. My 4 year old absolutely loved the dinosaur exhibit. Didn't have enough time to properly explore all floors. Next time!”

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Royal Ontario Museum Admission - Entering the museum with a mobile ticket
Museums, Toronto Tours, Tour Reviews

Royal Ontario Museum Admission

2.Royal Ontario Museum Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 411 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $19

Use a mobile ticket to explore Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum independently. Set aside at least three hours for more than 30 galleries covering dinosaurs, mummies, Indigenous objects, Chinese art, meteorites, jewels, and family exhibits. General admission excludes some temporary shows.

“Almost everything,first of all the buildings, love to see all the stones,dinosaurs fossils birds,antique furniture”

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Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario General Admission Ticket - The works that reward a slower look
Museums, Tickets, Toronto Tours, Tour Reviews

Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario General Admission Ticket

3.Art Gallery of Ontario General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 251 reviews · 1 day · from $21

Spend a full day at Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario with general admission to more than 120,000 works, including Canadian, Indigenous, European, and contemporary art. See The Marchesa Casati, Frank Gehry’s spiral staircase, the Thomson ship models, AGO Bistro, and shopAGO. Special exhibitions cost extra.

“Take your time when you view any of the art; lots to explore. The mountain paintings and frontier/colonial looking paintings were very beautiful.”

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Britannia Mine Museum General Admission - Riding the train into the former mine
Museums, Squamish Tours, Tour Reviews

Britannia Mine Museum General Admission

4.Britannia Mine Museum General Admission

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 233 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $32Top rated

Explore Britannia Mine Museum with a timed entry, a 45-minute guided underground train tour, the BOOM! mill show, hands-on exhibits, and gold panning. Guides including Anna, Chris, Spencer, Max, Glen, and Tessa have brought the mine’s working past to life for families and adults.

“Unique experience. They had us ride a mining train. Then took us in various mine tunnels and explained the process. Lastly the information film about the working of the mill was cherry on top. Our guide Anna was very informative and explained the entire process. Definitely recommend this adventure even for younger kids.”

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Ottawa: Canadian War Museum Admission - Why the LeBreton Gallery deserves extra time
Museums, Ottawa Tours, Tour Reviews

Ottawa: Canadian War Museum Admission

5.Canadian War Museum Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 232 reviews · 1 day · from $18

Spend a full day at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum, exploring permanent galleries, tanks, artillery, war art, and special exhibitions. The building itself tells a story through Morse-code windows, rough concrete, and Memorial Hall. Admission includes a multilingual guide and coat check.

“A really well put together and informative museum lots of things to learn ? Every day is a school day . Well done Canada 🇨🇦”

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Gatineau: Canadian Museum of History Admission - Start with the Canadian History Hall
Historical Tours, Museums, Tour Reviews

Gatineau: Canadian Museum of History Admission

6.Gatineau: Canadian Museum of History Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 230 reviews · 1 day · from $20

Spend a full day at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, across from Ottawa. Explore four floors of galleries, the Canadian History Hall, monumental totem poles, Indigenous exhibits, special shows, the Children’s Museum, and Ciné+ at your own pace.

“j’avais deux heures devant moi, ce qui m’a permis de voir l’exposition sur l’histoire du Canada.”

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Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature Admission - Dinosaurs, Fossils, and the Blue Whale
Museums, Ottawa Tours, Tour Reviews

Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature Admission

7.Canadian Museum of Nature Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 226 reviews · 1 day · from $19

Spend a full day exploring Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature, a castle-like former Parliament building with four floors of dinosaurs, mammals, minerals, Arctic displays, live insects, tide pool creatures, and a complete blue whale skeleton. Admission covers permanent galleries and special exhibits, subject to capacity.

“What a great experience for young and old alike. Great visit and the cafe was good too. Highly recommend a visit.”

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Museum of Illusions Admission in Toronto - The Tilted Room, Infinity Room, and Best Photo Stops
Museums, Toronto Tours, Tour Reviews

Museum of Illusions Admission in Toronto

8.Museum of Illusions Admission in Toronto

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 214 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $26

At Toronto’s Museum of Illusions, you’ll test your balance, perception, and problem-solving skills through optical illusions, holograms, puzzles, and photo-friendly rooms. Visit at your own pace, ask staff for help with pictures, and allow 30 minutes to two hours depending on how long you play.

“It is a nice place to visit with my daughter. she liked it very much. All the illusions specially the tilted room were awesome”

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Canadian War Museum Admission - Arriving at the Canadian War Museum
Museums, Ottawa Tours, Tour Reviews

Canadian War Museum Admission

9.Canadian War Museum Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 213 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $18

Spend about three hours at Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum with admission to permanent and special exhibitions. See tanks, weapons, photographs, artwork, personal accounts, and memorial spaces at your own pace. Guided tours, food, drinks, and transportation are not included.

“Seeing Hitler's car, the battle-damaged equipment, and the warehouse full of tanks were all very memorable”

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Calgary: 3.5-Hour Bus City Tour with Gasoline Alley Museum - Starting beneath the Calgary Tower
Calgary Tours, City Sightseeing Tours, City Sightseeing Tours in Calgary, City Tours, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours

Calgary: 3.5-Hour Bus City Tour with Gasoline Alley Museum

10.3.5-Hour Bus City Tour with Gasoline Alley Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 205 reviews · 3h 30m · from $55

Start at Calgary Tower and ride through downtown, East Village, Inglewood, Beltline, Heritage Park, and Canada Olympic Park. Your English-speaking guide, often including Adelaide or Amanda, explains Calgary’s past and present, with photo stops and entry to Gasoline Alley Museum.

“Excellent, fully inclusive tour with a wonderful tour guide. Calgary is a wonderful city and should be toured.”

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Art Gallery of Ontario: General Admission - Starting with Canadian and Indigenous art
Museums, Toronto Tours, Tour Reviews

Art Gallery of Ontario: General Admission

11.Art Gallery of Ontario: General Admission

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 160 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $22

Visit Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario at your own pace with general admission to its Canadian, Indigenous, European, and contemporary collections. Allow 2 to 3 hours for more than 120,000 works, including Rubens, Picasso, Monet, Henry Moore, and the Group of Seven. This is a self-guided visit, not a guided tour.

“Perfect spot to relax and study some Indigenous Canadian or Canadian contemporary art. If you are artistically-inclined I highlight recommend bringing a sketchbook or memory book of some kind to document the exhibits that speak to you. Great variety in art styles to take in. Highly recommend going midafternoon on a weekday to avoid large crowds and school trips.”

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Canadian Museum of History (Canadian Children's Museum included) - The Canadian History Hall links people, events, and change
Historical Tours, Museums, Quebec City Tours, Tour Reviews

Canadian Museum of History (Canadian Children’s Museum included)

12.Canadian Museum of History (Canadian Children’s Museum included)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.)

Spend 2 to 3 hours or longer at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec, near Ottawa. See the Canadian History Hall, Indigenous artifacts, the Grand Hall’s totem poles, special exhibitions, CINÉ+, and the Canadian Children’s Museum. Mobile admission is offered in English.

“My tickets were not delivered on time for visit. Had to purchase tkts at counter. Waiting for reimbursement”

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Toronto: Bata Shoe Museum Entrance Ticket - Rotating Exhibitions Beyond the Main Collection
Museums, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Toronto: Bata Shoe Museum Entrance Ticket

13.Bata Shoe Museum Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 133 reviews · 1 day · from $11

Visit Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum for a self-guided look at 4,500 years of footwear. Explore four galleries, including the permanent All About Shoes exhibition and changing displays on fashion and social history. The bright, accessible museum is easy to reach from downtown and suits a one-to-two-hour visit.

“Awesome. Very interesting and informative. Great history of footwear.”

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Museum of Illusions Montreal - 70+ Illusions to Explore - More than 70 exhibits, with perception doing the heavy lifting
Montreal Tours, Museums, Tour Reviews

Museum of Illusions Montreal – 70+ Illusions to Explore

14.Museum of Illusions Montreal – 70+ Illusions to Explore

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 103 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $26

At Montreal’s Museum of Illusions, you’ll explore more than 70 hands-on exhibits that twist your sense of size, balance, space, and motion. Plan on 45 to 75 minutes, bring a partner for the best photo effects, and expect a playful visit that mixes simple science with plenty of laughs.

“This is a great outdoor family time activity. We got to learn a lot of new stuff. And it was fun to see the kids reaction.”

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Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission & Tour - Give the 20-minute film a place in your schedule
Halifax Tours, Museums, Tour Reviews, Tours

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission & Tour

15.Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission & Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 95 reviews · 1 day · from $13

Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax for a guided English or French tour, the 20-minute film *In Canada*, and exhibits tracing immigration from the past to today. You can also research family arrivals at the Scotiabank Family History Centre.

“Very emotional visit for me as my ancestors arrived here from Naples, Italy between 1952 and 1956. I could only imagine their fears and apprehensions as they started a whole new life in Canada. Guided tour very interesting and informative. Artifacts nice to see. Definitely recommend a visit here.”

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New in Museums

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★ 4.5McCord Stewart Museum – AdmissionFrom $1617 reviews
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★ 4.0Halifax Small Group Walking Tour with Citadel + Maritime MuseumFrom $8113 reviews
★ 4.5Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 Admission & TourFrom $148 reviews
★ 4.5Calgary to Royal Museum | Drumheller – PRIVATE TOURFrom $42927 reviews
★ 4.5Drumheller: Royal Tyrrell Museum, Hoodoos and Horseshoe CanyonFrom $11815 reviews
★ 4.5Badlands Tour: Drumheller with Museum, Hoodoos & DinosaursFrom $1268 reviews
★ 4.7Sydney: Highland Village & Bell Museum Cruise ExcursionFrom $14020 reviews
★ 4.3Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria: Full-Day Admission TicketFrom $2217 reviews
★ 4.7National Gallery of Canada AdmissionFrom $189 reviews
★ 5.0Oshawa: Canadian Tank Museum AdmissionFrom $105 reviews
★ 4.5Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum EntryFrom $2411 reviews
★ 4.6Museum of Illusions Entry TicketFrom $2525 reviews

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