OTTAWA: Visit Ottawa Pass
Introduction
Attractions on the Visit Otttawa Pass
Canadian War Museum
The coolest part of the War Museum is the building itself. On the outside in Morse Code is written "Lest We Forget", and the jut-out of the building points directly to the Peace Tower on the Parliament building, so that the impact of war can always point towards peace. Memorial Hall so specifically designed that the room illuminates on November 11th (Remembrance Day), and the most interactive part of the museum is saved until the end: a room full of historic military vehicles.
Canadian Museum of History
I used to have an annual pass to the Museum of History and this attraction is my most visited in Ottawa. Inside the museum is a Children's Museum that you can park your kids at, giving yourself a bit of a break. It has the CINE+ Theatre, and you can watch lots of short (or long) documentaries, included in your ticket. There is a restaurant at the museum that - in my opinion - has some of he best outdoor views of the city of Ottawa. Chances are high you won't get to see everything this museum has in one visit -- but that's part of the challenge, right?
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is both a totally unique landmark in Ottawa, and is full to the brim of Canada's national art collection. Everything about this building considers art, design, and our interaction with it. Celebrating Canadian artists and some of the most important international art movements all under one roof? Sign me up.
Royal Canadian Mint
Come see where "loonies" and "toonies" are made and experience a bit of what its like to work at the mint. You will walk through a metal detector to enter and leave the building -- ensuring that you don't have sticky fingers! Canada's coins are truly special and you have to see it to believe it. In every pocket there really is a "little bit of history" reflected on each coin's "tail." What's your favourite coin?
Diefenbunker
In my opinion, one of the coolest things about the Diefenbunker (beyond it being a one-of-a-kind experience), is that in one location, you can touch on something that every other attraction in the Visit Ottawa Pass has: history, art, the spooky, and a Bank of Canada vault! It's totally unique and if I'm looking for just one thing to do in Ottawa, the Diefenbunker would get pretty close to the top of that list.
Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Suggested 1-Day Itinerary
Fit as much as possible without exhausting yourself with two suggested 1-day itineraries. Unless you power through each attraction and enjoy spending less time at each , there's almost no way to fit all six attractions into one 24 hour period. That being said, the 3rd itinerary does its best to take advantage of the full 24 hours, optimizing the opening hours of each attraction, and their locations.
First 1-Day Itinerary
9:00 am: Canadian Museum of History
12:30pm: Lunch in Byward Market
2:00pm: National Gallery of Canada
4:00pm: Royal Canadian Mint
7:30pm: Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Adult Admission Cost: $22 + $20 + $12 + $25.99 = 79.99
Visit Ottawa Pass Cost: $59.00
Savings: $20.99
Second 1-Day Itinerary
9am: Canadian War Museum
11:30pm: Diefenbunker
2:00pm: Poutine in Carp
3:00pm: Royal Canadian Mint
7:30pm: Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Adult Admission Cost: $20 + $18 + $12 + $25.99 = $75.99
Visit Ottawa Pass Cost: $59.00
Savings: $16.99
Third 1-Day Itinerary (24 hours)
This itinerary takes advantage of the 24-hour nature of the pass. Enter your last attraction before the pass expires and make the most of the final hours of your pass. Swap out the Museum of History for the War Museum if you would like. My suggestion below is based on my preference, and the amount of things there is to do at the History Museum.
10:30am: Canadian Museum of History
12:30pm: Lunch
2:00pm: National Gallery of Canada
4:00pm: Royal Canadian Mint for the final tour of the day
5:00pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Haunted Walk of Ottawa
10:00am: (next day): Diefenbunker
Adult Admission Cost: $22 + $20 + $12 + $25.99 + $18 = 97.99
Visit Ottawa Pass Cost: $59.00
Savings: $38.99
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Cover two attractions a day while your three day Visit Ottawa Pass is active. Why this suggested order? Space out learning about historic conflict over the course of three days. Really explore the neighbourhoods of each attraction. And give yourself the time to commute between the Diefenbunker, lunch, rest and an evening tour.
Day One
Morning: Start at the Canadian War Museum
Lunch: in Hull
Afternoon: Visit the Canadian Museum of History
Day Two
Morning: Start at the Royal Canadian Mint
Lunch: in Byward Market
Afternoon: Visit the National Gallery of Canada
Day Three
Morning: Start at the Diefenbunker
Lunch and Dinner: Anywhere you'd like in Ottawa
Evening: Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Adult Admission Cost: $22 + $20 + $20 + $12 + $25.99 + $18 = 97.99
Visit Ottawa Pass Cost: $59.00
Savings: $58.99
Bonus!
Start your Visit Ottawa Pass on a Wednesday morning at the Canadian War Museum and visit the Diefenbunker on a Thursday. Thursday nights mean free evenings at the Museum of History and the National Gallery.
Want to hit every single attraction in a two day period? Trust the process and follow this itinerary:
10:30am: Canadian War Museum
12:30pm: Lunch
2:00pm: Canadian History Museum
4:00pm: Royal Canadian Mint for the final tour of the day
5:00pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Haunted Walk of Ottawa
10:00am (next day): Diefenbunker
5:00pm: National Gallery of Canada - Book in advance to secure your tickets.
Visit Ottawa Pass Cost: $59.00
Savings: $78.99
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