National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is a national gallery in Ottawa. The gallery began in 1880 and the current building, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, opened in 1988. The structure is 10 m high and sits at an elevation of 70 m. It is one of the most looked-up sights in Canada on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The warmest months are July and August, with daily highs reaching 26 °C. January is the coldest month, with lows of -14 °C. Rain is common throughout the year, with about 10 to 16 rainy days each month. The highest monthly rainfall occurs in June and September, with about 93 mm. The gallery is 1 km from the center of Ottawa. The nearest airport is Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport, which is 5 km away, and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is 12 km away.
The gallery is near several other sites, including the Rideau Canal (0.4 km), Parliament Hill (0.5 km), the Canadian Museum of History (0.8 km), 24 Sussex Drive (1.7 km), and Rideau Hall (1.9 km). Adult admission is $22, but entry is free on Thursdays after 5 PM. The facility is wheelchair accessible. From May to September, it is open 09:30-18:00 Friday through Wednesday, and 09:30-20:00 on Thursdays. From October to April, it is open 10:00-17:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and 10:00-20:00 on Thursdays.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -5 | -2 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 6 | -1 |
| Average low, °C | -14 | -13 | -7 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 5 | -1 | -9 |
| Rainfall, mm | 68 | 58 | 62 | 73 | 85 | 93 | 89 | 89 | 93 | 88 | 83 | 76 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
